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AmeriCorps 101

AmeriCorps 101. The Massachusetts Service Alliance. The Massachusetts Service Alliance, established in 1991, is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the governor appointed state commission on community service and volunteerism. Invest Convene Build capacity Advocate.

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AmeriCorps 101

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  1. AmeriCorps 101

  2. The Massachusetts Service Alliance The Massachusetts Service Alliance, established in 1991, is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the governor appointed state commission on community service and volunteerism. Invest Convene Build capacity Advocate

  3. Presentation Objectives • Provide background on National Service Initiatives • History of National Service and AmeriCorps • Different funding streams under CNCS • Explain in detail what an AmeriCorps program entails • What organizations can host an AmeriCorps program • What AmeriCorps is and is not • Getting Things Done, Participant Development, and Strengthening Communities • Explain the elements of strong program design • Provide overview of program and fiscal management requirements • Brainstorm/discuss ways AmeriCorps could fit into your organization

  4. History of National Service

  5. Service Timeline 1933-1942: Franklin D. Roosevelt creates the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to call young citizens to service during the Great Depression 1961: President John F. Kennedy establishes the Peace Corps with the help of Sargent Shriver, sending young citizens oversees to volunteer in foreign countries 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson and Congress create VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), a National Teacher Corps, the Job Corps, and University Year of Action

  6. 1960s/70s: The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (now called RSVP), the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program (which today comprise National Senior Service Corps) are developed 1970s: Federal Youth Conservation Corps and first non-federal state youth corps, the California Conservation Corps, are established to engage youth in community service 1980s: Many non-governmental service organizations are founded, including Campus Compact and Youth Service America Service Timeline (cont.)

  7. 1988: President George H.W. Bush comments that individuals serving their neighbors were like “a thousand points of light,” and the Points of Light Foundation is created 1990: The National and Community Service Act signed by President George H.W. Bush formally launches current national service movement 1993: President Bill Clinton signs the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, creating AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service to expand opportunities for Americans to serve their communities; VISTA and the Senior Corps become part of the new Corporation Service Timeline (cont.)

  8. 2002: President George W. Bush calls Americans to engage in a “lifetime of service,” creating an umbrella network for volunteerism called the USA Freedom Corps and doubling the size of AmeriCorps 2007: Governor Deval Patrick signs state legislation creating the Commonwealth Corps in Massachusetts 2009: President Barack Obama signs the Serve America Act, re-authorizing the Corporation for National and Community Service and calling for AmeriCorps to triple in size over the next several years Service Timeline (cont.)

  9. National Service Funding Streams

  10. The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

  11. National Service Chart

  12. Senior Corps engages over 500,000 citizens over the age of 55 in meaningful volunteer opportunities across the country, including the Foster Grandparents program, Senior Companions program, and RSVP.

  13. Learn and Serve America supports and encourages service-learning across the country, enabling over one million students grades K through college to make meaningful contributions to their community while building their academic and civic skills.

  14. AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 75,000 citizens (nearly 2,000 in MA) each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, the environment, public safety (including disaster preparedness and response), health, etc.

  15. AmeriCorps Service Chart State and National

  16. AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. VISTA volunteers serve individually for one year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, doing indirect service full-time in the area of organizational capacity building.

  17. The administration and oversight of VISTA grants are done directly by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Organizations interested in hosting a single AmeriCorps member should contact the state office of the Corporation for National and Community Service to apply for a VISTA volunteer: Sherry McClintock10 Causeway Street, Room 473Boston, MA  02222-1038   Phone: (617) 565-7006 Email: ma@cns.gov

  18. AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a full-time, 10-month, team-based residential program for men and women ages 18 to 24. NCCC members are assigned to one of five campuses located in California, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, or Mississippi, and travel throughout their assigned region to do direct service by implementing community service projects for various nonprofit organizations and local government agencies.

  19. The administration and oversight of NCCC is done directly by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Organizations interested in requesting the assistance of an NCCC team for a specific six to eight week project should submit a project application to their regional NCCC office: NCCC Atlantic Region VA Medical Center P.O. Box 27 Perry Point, MD 21902-0027 Tel: 410-642-2411 ext. 6852 E-mail: rnixon@cns.gov

  20. The largest of AmeriCorps programs, AmeriCorps State and National provides funds to local and national organizations committed to using national service to address critical community needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. These organizations and agencies use their AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members in direct service opportunities. State and National

  21. State and National

  22. AmeriCorps National Direct programs utilize service and volunteering to address compelling community needs in at least two states. An organization identifies a community need, designs a program to meet that need through the service of AmeriCorps members and volunteers, and applies directly to the Corporation for funding. AmeriCorps National Direct

  23. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to administer and monitor a federal, multi-site, multi-state grant; have developed relationships with organizations in different states that will operate the local programs; and have in place the components of a successful National Direct program. The administration and oversight of AmeriCorps National Direct programs is done directly by the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps National Direct

  24. AmeriCorps State programs utilize service and volunteering to address compelling community needs in a single state. An organization identifies a community need, designs a program to meet that need through the service of AmeriCorps members and volunteers, and applies to their state commission for funding (in MA, the Massachusetts Service Alliance). AmeriCorps State

  25. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to administer and monitor a federal grant; have developed relationships with organizations in their state that will operate the local programs; and have in place the components of a successful AmeriCorps program. The administration and oversight of AmeriCorps State programs in Massachusetts is done by the Massachusetts Service Alliance. AmeriCorps State

  26. As the state commission, our mission is to catalyze the innovation and growth of service and volunteerism by creating partnerships that maximize resources, expertise, capacity, and impact.

  27. MSA Programs AmeriCorps Commonwealth Corps Mentoring Other Volunteer Initiatives

  28. The MSA Portfolio of 2009-2010 Programs Across the Commonwealth = AmeriCorps = Commonwealth Corps = Mentoring

  29. State and National Mentoring Volunteer Initiatives

  30. Designing Your AmeriCorps Program

  31. Who can apply to develop and host an AmeriCorps Program? • Public or private nonprofit organizations [501(c)3s] including labor organizations • Community organizations, including faith-based organizations • Institutions of higher education • Government entities within states or territories (e.g. cities, counties) • Indian Tribes • A partnership or consortia of the aforementioned are also eligible to apply

  32. AmeriCorps is… A year of stipended service A team of members addressing compelling needs A way to leverage local and federal resources A way to build organizational capacity to meet needs through volunteer generation and partnership building

  33. AmeriCorps is NOT… Cheap labor A staffing system A funding source Program replacement

  34. Overall Goals of AmeriCorps • Getting Things Done • What is the need and what is AmeriCorps doing about it? • Developing Participants • What are the benefits for AmeriCorps members? • Strengthening Communities • How are you engaging community members and building sustainability?

  35. CNCS Priority Areas • Education • Healthy Futures • Economic Opportunity • Clean Energy/Environment • Veterans

  36. A successful program design: • Describes and substantiates the community need(s) • Identifies any gaps in services available to meet that need • Explains why AmeriCorps members are an appropriate strategy to address the need • Describes the specific service activities of AmeriCorps members • Outlines plans to ensure that members will effectively carry out these activities • Forecasts the results of member service activities • Defines how such results will be measured

  37. Community Need • Supported with data, preferably local • NOT the need for the program or activities, but the issue(s) addressed through program activities • Members’ needs may also be additional focus of the program What is the desired outcome or change in the need?

  38. Needs and Service Activities • Direct service – meet needs by providing a direct benefit to the community • Capacity building – activities such as volunteer recruitment and management to meet community needs and ensure sustainability of AmeriCorps-supported activities

  39. Prohibited Activities Members are prohibited from engaging in: • Lobbying; religious instruction; advocacy; some fundraising • Clerical and/or custodial positions • Management of any administrative aspects of the AmeriCorps grant or program • Supervision or management of other members • All prohibited activities outlined in the AmeriCorps Regulations/Provisions and Application Instructions

  40. Program Models • Single Site • Multi-site Local, regional, statewide • Team-based • Residential

  41. Member Service Terms Service must be completed in 12-month period Members may serve the equivalent of two FT terms

  42. Member Service Years (MSY’s) • 1 MSY = 1 full-time year of service • NOT equivalent to FTE – for example: 4 Quarter Time ≠ 1 Full Time • Must request a minimum of 10 full-time members or MSY equivalent; MSA recommends 15 • Can request any combination of types of members

  43. Activities Be specific: • Where does the activity take place? • How many hours per day on each activity? • How many days per week for each activity? • Does service dosage satisfy the need?  ALL activities should be clearly tied to the identified need and the targeted goals of the program

  44. Program Impact • What are the goals of your program? • Outcomes of service activities • Logic Models and Performance Measure Worksheets • Reporting requirements Need  Activities  Outcomes

  45. Developing Participants What do members gain from participating in your program? Civic Engagement – develop lifelong ethic of service Training – receive year-long training Leadership –opportunities for members to develop and practice leadership skills

  46. Strengthening Communities Programs strengthen communities by: • Mobilizing community assets • Generating volunteers • Involving the community • Engaging diverse staff and AmeriCorps members

  47. AmeriCorps Budget

  48. BUDGET • Section I: Program Operating Costs • Personnel & Fringe • Staff and Member Training • Staff and Member Travel • Supplies • Section II: Member Costs • Living allowance • FICA, worker’s comp • Health care • Section III: Administrative/Indirect Costs

  49. BUDGET • 1 MSY = 1 full time service year • Max cost per MSY = $13,000 • Cost per MSY Ed Award only = $800 • Education award not included in cost per MSY or award amount Example: 30 half time members (15 MSY) = $195,000 maximum CNCS request

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