Courtesy of Website
UTICA, N.Y. — Students across the State University of New York system are preparing to help communities handle disasters through a new training program.
According to SUNY, the inaugural Empire State Service Corps Disaster Relief Training Program, run by the American Red Cross, has already trained 568 Empire State Service Corps members.
The program was expanded last year to include 1,000 spots across 58 SUNY campuses and now covers disaster recovery as a new service area.
“The American Red Cross training ensures Corps members are ready to be mobilized around the State in the event of a disaster or crisis, regardless of their regular service area. Additionally, after completing training, members will engage in service hours assisting the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Dispatch Hotline: a statewide support line that connects crisis-impacted New Yorkers with immediate relief and response resources,” according to SUNY.
Students in the Empire State Service Corps dedicate at least 300 hours each year to paid community service and can earn an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of up to $1,400 for their service.
The program is New York State’s largest AmeriCorps initiative, according to SUNY.
In 2025, applications outnumbered available spots by four to one for the second year in a row.
Locally, new campuses joining the program this year include Herkimer County Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College and SUNY Poly.
From SUNY:
“Service areas Empire State Service Corps members traditionally work in include:
“Civil Discourse and Civic Engagement: Students will serve either on or off campus with organizations such as local nonprofits related to civic engagement and civil discourse, including nonpartisan voter outreach and voter registration.”Education:”K-12 Tutoring: Students will partner with local school districts for regular tutoring sessions with students in the community who need more academic support.”Early Childhood Education: Students will serve at a host site dedicated to early childhood education and/or development (for example, daycare or Head Start centers).”Student Success Coaching: Students will work with elementary, middle, and high school students to support academic achievement and combat common challenges external to academics like addressing chronic absenteeism, access to socio-emotional learning, mentoring, and mental health support.”Economic Opportunity:”FAFSA Completion: Students will serve local communities, in visits to local high schools and through work on campus, to support students in completing the FAFSA or other financial aid forms.”Healthy Futures:”Food Insecurity/SNAP & Basic Needs: Students will serve on or off campus supporting students and others with SNAP outreach as well as basic needs support (which could include shifts at a campus food pantry) or with other food insecurity-aligned work.”Independent Living: Students will promote independence and quality of life for aging populations and individuals with alternative abilities.”Justice-Impacted Support: Students will support reentry and stability by connecting justice-impacted individuals to resources, opportunities, and community networks.”Mental Health & Substance Abuse Support: Students will be trained to serve as a mental health educator, supporting peers or community members either on- or off-campus with building strong mental health practices and overall wellness initiatives. Students will promote well-being by expanding access to mental health resources, prevention efforts, and supportive services.”Environmental Stewardship:”Sustainability: Students will serve in campus roles and with local nonprofits and State agencies on sustainability work, such as recycling campaigns, tree planting, pollinator gardens, and sustainability outreach.”Climate Action: Students will advance long-term climate initiatives through research, education, and resilience-building that supports healthier communities (e.g. supporting local municipalities, climate-focused campus initiatives, climate outreach campaigns, etc.).”Veterans Affairs & Military Families Outreach: Students will serve at host sites dedicated to supporting active military or veterans’ affairs for individuals, families, or affiliated groups through outreach, resource connection, and responsive services.”There are two optional teams for Empire State Service Corps members to participate in:”Disaster Relief Team”The Empire State Service Corps Member Disaster Relief Team Program is focused on connecting any interested SUNY corps members from around NYS to various disaster relief organizations, and to ensure they receive thorough citizen preparedness trainings. Members who have successfully attended the preparation training will have the option, should a state or national disaster arise, to respond to and perform necessary disaster relief work. All interested corps members have the option to participate in the program.”Ambassadors Team”The Empire State Service Corps Member Ambassador Team Program is focused on connecting returning SUNY corps members from around NYS to share ideas, generate thoughtful dialogue, and expand their leadership on campus. Campuses have the opportunity to nominate one student representative to serve as their campus Ambassador,” according to SUNY.