Serve Nebraska has released their 2023 annual report highlighting all AmeriCorps funded programs in Nebraska, including juvenile probation’s Recognizing Increasing Skills in Education (RISE) Program. The RISE program is grant funded by AmeriCorps with a financial match by Probation through a partnership that was originally developed in 2007. Serve Nebraska acts as the state commission for all Nebraska AmeriCorps funded programs.

The goal of RISE is to improve school success for youth ages 12-18 that demonstrate educational risk factors such as school attendance, disruptive classroom and school behavior, low achievement, and problems with peers and teachers. In 2023, 277 youth were referred to the RISE program across the state of Nebraska.

The grant assists with placing trained AmeriCorps members titled “RISE Specialists” in participating probation districts to facilitate a skill-based curriculum focusing on educational skill development to improve youth school outcomes. When serving youth, RISE Specialists focus on goal setting, motivation, organization, class participation, study skills, and test-taking to help the youth achieve their goals in school and society.

The 2023 annual report showcases a member’s experience to let others know what it is like to be a RISE Specialist.

Read more: Serve Nebraska Annual Report

Photo: Paige Zamora, Nebraska Probation Services Officer