ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

[photo, 300 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland]

In 1986, the Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism formed as the Office on Volunteerism (Chapter 13, Acts of 1986), and adopted its present name in 1998 (Chapter 22, Acts of 1998). From January 1997 to 2003, the Office functioned under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

300 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland, March 2004. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism supports and promotes service and volunteer efforts that engage Marylanders to strengthen their communities. By combining traditional volunteerism with modern programs, the Office helps meet pressing needs in the areas of education, health, the environment, and public safety (Code State Government Article, secs. 9-1301 through 9-1310). The Office also provides training and technical assistance to volunteer organizations, "Communities of Promise," and national service programs throughout Maryland. Technical assistance includes telephone and on-line consultations, site visits, workshops, presentations, and printed materials.

300 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland, December 2000. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The Governor names the Director. The Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism assists the Office.

GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON SERVICE & VOLUNTEERISM

Maryland's participation in the National and Community Trust Act of 1993 is overseen by the Commission. The Act requires participating states to develop, update, and implement a three-year strategic plan for service programs. Submitted in May 1994, the plan sets funding and program priorities for allocation of federal funds in Maryland. With the Governor's approval, the Commission may apply to the Corporation for National Service and other public and private sources for additional funding.

The Commission consists of the State Superintendent of Schools and up to fourteen members appointed by the Governor to three-year terms. The Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives serves as a nonvoting member. The Commission elects the chair annually.

AMERICORPS
AmeriCorps, the domestic Peace Corps, offers individuals the opportunity to spend a year serving in Maryland communities. In return, AmeriCorps members receive an education award to help pay college costs or or repay student loans. Maryland has twenty-five AmeriCorps programs serving communities from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore.

Access AmeriCorps seeks qualified persons with disabilities for Maryland national service programs. Initiated by the Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism, this program recruits and provides reasonable accommodations to AmeriCorps members with disabilities.

LEARN & SERVE
Learn and Serve is a federal program that awards grants for states to set up service-learning programs in schools and community organizations. In Maryland, more than 350,000 students (in kindergarden through college) work in service-learning programs.

For high school students in Maryland, 75 hours of service-learning must be completed prior to graduation. Service-learning requires that students apply what they have learned in the classroom to help their community. These projects must address a real need in areas such as health, education, environment, or public safety. They may require research, planning, organizing, scheduling, and problem-solving skills, as well as academic knowledge.

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