AMERICORPS: SERVICE PROGRAM FUNDING THREATENED

The region's AmeriCorps program operates from a basement office at Southeast Missouri State University. But it might as well be a bunker.

The Republican-led House and Senate have voted to eliminate future funding for President Clinton's $470 million national service program.

Their actions could kill funding for AmeriCorps at the national administrative level for fiscal 1996.

Clinton, however, may veto any budget bill that doesn't contain AmeriCorps funding. The new fiscal year will begin Oct. 1 with budget matters still to be worked out.

Regardless of which way the budget ax swings, individual AmeriCorps programs such as the one at Southeast would receive funding through the end of September 1996.

The program funds were included in the fiscal 1995 budget, but are being doled out over two years, said Steve Schad, Missouri's community service director.

Fifty-two senators this week refused to fund the AmeriCorps program. Missouri's senators, John Ashcroft and Christopher Bond, were among them.

"AmeriCorps is a $27,000-per-participant boondoggle for kids trying to find themselves," Ashcroft said.

Dr. Johnny McGaha of the criminal justice department at Southeast is the project director for the region's year-old AmeriCorps program. He said this could well be the last year for AmeriCorps.

McGaha defended the program. He said Republicans have targeted AmeriCorps because it is "a visible Clinton program."

McGaha argued that the national program and its 20,000 participants, who are paid for community service work, are worth the cost.

"I think it is a pretty good bang for the buck," he said. Locally, the operation costs about $11,000 per community service worker.

But Ashcroft said AmeriCorps is wasteful and bureaucratic.

At least $15,000 per participant goes into overhead and administrative costs in Washington, Ashcroft said during Senate debate this week.

There are more than 300 AmeriCorps sites across the nation. The Southeast Missouri State University site was one of 60 reviewed by a California consulting firm as part of a cost-effectiveness report for a Senate committee.

The local operation and seven others across the country will be evaluated in a follow-up study by the same consultants. The consultants are being paid by AmeriCorps.

Southeast Missouri Partnership for Community Service is the official name of this region's AmeriCorps program. It is run through the university's College of Health and Human Services.

The Southeast Missouri outpost of AmeriCorps operated with nearly $400,000 in federal funds last fiscal year and will do so again in the 1996 federal fiscal year.

Another $154,000 is provided by the university and participating agencies such as schools and county health departments. About $25,000 of that amount is in cash, paid by participating agencies. The remainder of the local share is in the form of in-kind services.

The fiscal 1996 grant includes funds for 19 full-time and 17 part-time workers.

McGaha receives release time from some teaching duties, but otherwise receives no compensation for heading up the project.

There is a paid staff. Michael Harris is the program manager. He and two staff members run the service program from the basement of a campus house on Normal Avenue.

A sign on the basement door carries an AmeriCorps sign, with the motto: "Getting Things Done."

Harris believes in the creed. "We're kind of a domestic Peace Corps," he said.

The program has worked with county health departments, area schools and other organizations.

AmeriCorps members helped with sandbag operations in flood-threatened areas earlier this year. They have worked with health departments in the Bootheel, encouraging pregnant teens to stay in school. AmeriCorps members have tutored students in Cape Girardeau, Kennett, Hayti and Sikeston schools. From April through June, members tutored 219 students.

Under the program, participants commit to community service and receive money to go to school.

Participants must be at least 17 years old and have a high school diploma or GED, or agree to obtain one.

A part-time member is expected to complete 900 hours of service over a period of up to two years. Part-time members receive up to $2,363 for schooling.

Full-time members put more into the program and get more out of it, Harris said.

They are expected to perform 1,700 hours of community service within a year. During that time, they receive a living allowance of $7,945 issued through the university's payroll system.

They also are provided health-care coverage and, if eligible, child-care benefits. After completing the term, a full-time member receives $4,725 for his or her education.