The Center for State Service Innovation |
This newsletter shares the latest insights and news from the Center for State Service Innovation, recently launched by Service Year Alliance, with state leaders, policymakers, funders, and alums whose work is shaping the future of service years. |
Dear {{First Name}} -
The largest service year program in New York is doubling in size in 2026-2027. This is a significant win for service in New York, and progress on a primary objective for the Center for State Service Innovation.
In her 2026 State of the State Agenda, Governor Hochul called for the expansion of the Empire State Service Corps (ESSC), a service initiative of the State University of New York. The New York Assembly approved this expansion as part of the vote on the state’s budget, which was passed just last week. The service corps’ growth will also include new impact areas to meet needs across the state.
Service Year Alliance has been working with SUNY leadership to expand the ESSC, and ongoing work will continue to strengthen and sustain the service program in the year ahead. We applaud the leadership of Governor Hochul in calling for the program’s expansion, and the leadership of SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. in supporting the program’s growth to date.
It’s a significant milestone and model for how state university systems, with the support of state leadership, can be a hub for service at the local level.
Below are recent highlights from the Center for State Service Innovation and partners across our network. Thank you for reading!
In Service,
Kristen Bennett
CEO, Service Year Alliance |
About the Center for State Service Innovation
The Center for State Service Innovation is a new initiative from Service Year Alliance to grow the number of paid, service year opportunities across America through state-based innovation and investment. |
|
- Arizona: Bi-partisan legislation was introduced by two AmeriCorps alumni— Rep. Aaron Marquez (D) and Rep. Matt Gress (R)—that would create the One Arizona Fellowship Program, a state-funded service program administered by the Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family, the home of the Arizona State Service Commission.
|
- California: California Volunteers hosted the 3rd Annual Corps to Career Fair in March. The event convened 700+ California Service Corps members and alumni, government, non-profit, and business employer partners, and community leaders. The career fair included alumni and employer success stories, highlighting California Volunteers’ commitment to strengthening the corps member to career pipeline.
|
- Maryland: Maryland Youth Mental Health Corps is the newest addition to the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option. State leaders are positioning it as a “win-win” that both expands access to care amid rising youth mental health needs and creates a pipeline into behavioral health careers.
|
- Minnesota: Legislation is being considered in the state legislature to remove state taxation on the AmeriCorps stipend and education award. Similar legislation has been introduced in Virginia.
|
- Missouri: Legislation is in motion to move ServMo, the state service commission, from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.
|
- New Jersey: New Jersey is considering the creation of a Skills Service Corps. The new corps would connect participants to credentialing and workforce training in high-need fields like infrastructure, healthcare, renewable energy, and education.
|
- New York: City Year corps members who serve in New York will be eligible to receive up to 10 academic credit hours at SUNY for their experience.
|
- Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Public Service Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for its 2026-2027 cohort. The program, previously the Serve Philadelphia VISTA Corps, places fellows in city agencies in three focus areas—Data & Systems for Equity, Education Access & Career Readiness, and Healthy Communities—that strengthen economic resilience for all Philadelphians.
|
Do you have an update on state-based service years or innovative funding models that you would like shared in this newsletter? Contact stateinnovation@serviceyear.org. |
The Youth Mental Health Corps: Learnings & Expansion |
The Youth Mental Health Corps announced an expansion to 16 states in 2026-2027. New states in 2026 include Arkansas, Kentucky, Nevada, New Jersey, and North Carolina.
Additionally, 11 more states are actively planning to launch in 2027, including Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington. |
|
Launched as an initiative of Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest, the program’s growth is fueled by new national and local funders, including Ballmer Group, DreamMachine.org, Lululemon, Mae Philanthropies, Pivotal, and The Starbucks Foundation.
Alongside this announcement, the Schultz Family Foundation and Pinterest released a new white paper, "A New Architecture for National Service" offering insights and recommendations for policymakers, funders, and state leaders seeking to replicate and scale the model. |
Service Expansion in Kentucky |
Our team was in Kentucky to join state service leaders for the annual Governor’s Service Awards, and for a day of planning with Serve Kentucky, the state service commission. Kentucky was selected by the Center for State Service Innovation in 2025 to receive individualized support to strengthen and expand service programs in the state. |
|
Together, we explored opportunities to highlight service with workforce leaders across the state, new funding models to bring more non-federal resources to state service, and how we can collect alumni data that would unlock these funding opportunities. |
Find Us at Upcoming Events |
Points of Light
CEO Kristen Bennett will present alongside Joe Bringardner, Executive Director of Serve Kentucky, on state innovation in service. Attendees can learn more about how state partners are working to unlock non-federal funding in support of service years through workforce investment partnerships, forging coalitions to advance legislative proposals and executive action, forming interagency partnerships, and securing philanthropic seed investment.
- When: June 25, 2026
- Where: Points of Light Social Impact Conference in Washington, DC
- Register
|
Jobs for the Future | Horizons Summit 2026
Senior Advisor Yasmeen Shaheen-McConnell will join a panel with Vicky Hausman, American Service Project; Ranita Jain, The Annie E. Casey Foundation; and Sandra Moran Pulles, ServeMinnesota.
The session will explore the value and power of service as an economic mobility strategy and its role in increasing civic trust. The panel will share important perspectives from across the ecosystem, data and evidence, lessons and opportunities, and strategies and recommendations to help employers, educators, funders, and policy makers leverage service to meet our nation’s most pressing issues and expand pathways to economic mobility for more workers and learners.
- When: July 14, 2026
- Where: Horizons Summit 2026 in Washington, DC
- Register
|
- The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators is hosting their National Forum this July in Chicago, IL. The Forum is an opportunity for environmentally-committed state legislators from across the country to network, discuss a wide variety of environmental issues, and develop a proactive agenda for environmental, clean energy, and conservation policy in the states.
|
- Jobs for the Future’s Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning partnered with Rural Youth Catalyst to launch a new platform on rural apprenticeship opportunities. The website includes mixed methods of research about rural apprenticeships, program details and participation rates, and highlights RAPIDS data including program examples and best practices.
|
Find This Email Informative?
Forward this email to friends and allies so they can sign up for future editions. |
|
|
