Company description

The Food and Health Network (FaHN) is an eight-county coalition of diverse stakeholders working to build food-secure communities and a strong regional food system through collaboration. FaHN is a program of the Rural Health Network of South Central NY based in Binghamton, NY. The Rural Health Network’s mission is to advance the health and well being of rural people and communities.

Job description

The Farm to School Corps is a part of the Food and Health Network’s (FaHN) regional Farm to School program that works collaboratively with 26 school districts in South Central New York. Farm to School Corps members will work as part of an expanding regional team to develop, implement, grow, and evaluate programs to bring healthy, local food to students. Members will work with staff, students, parents, farms, and community partners to increase capacity for hands-on learning, local procurement, and creating a school-wide culture of health.

These are 1200 hour positions with an average commitment of 32 - 35 hrs/week for one year. 

 

Program goals:

• Increase access to healthy, locally grown food through school meals including breakfast, lunch and snacks;
• Engage students in hands-on learning through growing, cooking, and tasting new foods in order to build their skills, food literacy, and healthy food preferences;
• Cultivate farm to school leadership among students, staff, and volunteers;
• Build capacity and sustainability through improved coordination, community outreach, parent involvement, and volunteer recruitment and management.

 

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Develop and maintain relationships with Farm to School partners; including School Food Service, school staff and administration, farmers, and community organizations;
2. Create and deliver educational programs and special events including taste tests, after-school or summer clubs, workshops, and harvest celebrations;
3. Maintain a regular presence in school cafeterias to promote healthy options, local food, and NY Thursday menus;
4. Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers to support school gardens, meal programs, and other programming;
5. Organize and facilitate a Farm to School Committee in each school and create action plans;
6. Coordinate communication about farm to school programs within the school community;
7. Collaborate with community organizations and staff to improve coordination of activities;
8. Assist school staff, students, and volunteers with school garden maintenance and hands-on learning opportunities;
9. Collect, analyze, and report data for program evaluation, including Tray Waste studies, surveying, and focus groups

 

Skills/Knowledge/Training Necessary to be a successful AmeriCorps Member in this position:
 

Must be confident with the following:

• Passion/interest in working with underserved populations and with youth and diverse populations
• Interest in health, community development, and or/social justice issues.
• Knowledge of local food systems, sustainable agriculture, and gardening
• Independent and self-motivated
• Maintaining effective working relationships with co-workers and community partners and contacts
• Working independently with multiple priorities and effectively coping with change
• Learning quickly
• Public speaking, writing, and organizational skills
• Responding to the public in a positive, professional manner
• Establishing and maintaining appropriate records, reports and correspondence
• Using computer programs and technology such as word processing, google docs, publishing, and databases.
• Organizational skills that result in consistent, high quality performance.

 

Education & Experience: Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, and/or experience in: Education (particularly K-12), Farming/gardening, Sustainability, Public Health, Culinary Arts, Organizing for community change, Social justice.

Benefits: 

• Living Allowance paid bi-weekly: total of $9,612
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $4,144 (end of service)
• Healthcare coverage (if applicable)
• Childcare coverage (if applicable) 
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments (if member qualifies)

Compensation

this position is: stipend / non-monetary compensation

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline