VISTA Member Accomplishments

In the last fiscal year, MCVP's AmeriCorps VISTA members have demonstrated an incredible impact on communities across Montana. Here are the highlights of VISTA member accomplishments from 10/1/2021 - 09/20/2022:

Total Cash Leveraged by VISTAs: $646,528
Total Value of In-Kind Donations: $183,129

Total Number of Volunteers Recruited and Managed: 850 volunteers
Total Hours of Service Volunteers Contributed: 3,702 hours

History & Impact

The Prevention Resource Center (PRC), was founded in the summer of 1996 as the working arm for the Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) for state prevention programs. The VISTA project started alongside the PRC with the intent to implement programs at the community level and to assist in the development of collaborative community prevention councils which will promote social welfare and public health through cooperative programming. The short term goal of the program was to assist in development of the informational and organizational infrastructure to support volunteers and the development of community coalitions.

The first community VISTAs started in early February of 1997. These 14 members were a diverse group, including four Montanans, and coming from as far away as Massachusetts and New York to serve in communities throughout the state (Anaconda, Billings, Lame Deer, Hamilton, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, Red Lodge, etc.).

For years, the number of VISTAs on the project fluctuated in the upper-teens and low-twenties, with a jump to 42 VISTAs in January of 2010 thanks to additional funding from the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act.

In 2011 the PRC welcomed the first group of Summer Associates who served a 10 week term from June-August supporting summer learning activities and Summer Food Service Programs.  To date 30 Summer Associates have served with the PRC.

In 2020, the PRC VISTA project moved into the Human and Community Services Division in DPHHS, and expanded the program to include a focus area of Economic Opportunity. With the growth of the program to include projects beyond prevention, the program was re-named the Montana Community VISTA Partnership.
 

MCVP's Impact

For MCVP Member Impact Statements, Host Site Impact Statements, and Alumni Stories please contact the VISTA Program Specialist at (406) 417-0934.