AmeriCorps Project LINC

ABOVE CENTER PICTURE: Dwight Owens, Life of Mississippi Project LINC Hattiesburg Americorps Member, is presented the 2010 National Americorps Spirit of Service Award at the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service by Patrick Covington, CEO, Corporation for National and Community Service. The National Americorps Spirit of Service Award is the highest possible honor that can bestowed on an Americorps member. There were 325 nominees for The National Americorps Spirit of Service Award out of 15,000 Americorps Members Nationwide - with our Dwight Owens winning the award! For Video Highlights and More Photos of the conference please go to http://www.volunteeringandservice.org/

ABOVE CENTER PICTURE: A visual display of Dwight Owens, Life of Mississippi Project LINC Hattiesburg Americorps Member, as he is recognized for his achievement of 2010 National Americorps Spirit of Service Award at the 2010 It's Up To You Award Ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

ABOVE CENTER PICTURE: Margie Moore, Life of Mississippi Project LINC Coordinator, receives the Spirit of Inclusion Award at the 2008 National Conference on Disability Inclusion and National Service.

PURPOSE

The purpose of Project LINC is to assist individuals with disabilities in their efforts to relocate from an institutional setting back into the community or to insure that independence in the community is maintained. The goals will be met through the provision of independent living’s four core services of skills training, advocacy, peer support and information & referral. Americorps Project LINC is a grant program funded by Living Independence for Everyone (LIFE) of Mississippi and the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service.

GOAL

The primary goal of Project LINC is to insure that individuals with disabilities have a choice in where they live, work, recreate and worship and - that individuals currently residing in institutional settings - or who are at great threat of moving into institutional settings - be able to access the available services needed to live freely in the community.

OBJECTIVES

Project LINC objectives include:

Mississippians of any age with special health care needs receive services necessary to make successful transitions to community life. Services will include information & referral, peer support, skills training, advocacy, and other independent living instruction;
Consumers of Project LINC will receive in-depth skills training in the areas of budget management, personal care assistance management and many other areas necessary to successfully live independently in the community.
Project LINC staff will develop comprehensive resource directories, specific to the area they serve, to be shared with consumers, family members, advocates and other service providers for the purpose of ensuring that all available resources are documented and utilized appropriately.

ACTIVITIES

Activities available through Project LINC will include:

Statewide Services by LIFE staff and AmeriCorps members located in Tupelo, Oxford, Greenwood, Jackson, Meridian, McComb, Hattiesburg and Biloxi Participation in Local Support Groups (Statewide)
Skills Training Classes on various subjects (Statewide)
On-Going Independent Living Services
Opportunities to participate in self-advocacy trainings, conferences, rallies and more.

CONTACTS

Ms. Margie Moore
Project LINC Coordinator and
Ms. Crystal Mitchell
Project LINC Field Trainer

Ms. Christy Dunaway
LIFE Executive Director and
Ms. Augusta Smith
LIFE Assistant Director

1304 Vine Street
Jackson, MS 39202
Telephone: 601-969-4009 or 1-800-748-9398 (Voice or TDD)
Fax: 601-969-1662