AmeriCorps 101

The CAP Center

The CAP Center

The CAP Center: • serves over 140,000 children and families each year.• educates over 50,000 parents.• provides training to over 300 agencies and 10,000

professionals annually.

Intro to PCA CA:

Two AmeriCorps Programs:

1. First 5 Service Corps• 115 Members

2. Child Welfare System Improvement• 60 Members

Intro to PCA CA:First 5 Service Corps

• F5 Service Corps Program partners with:o Schoolso Family Resource Center’s (FRC’s)

• AmeriCorps members serve :o Children to build skillso Parents to build literacy routines

Intro to PCA CA:CWS AmeriCorps Program

• CWS AmeriCorps Program partners with:o Family Resource Centers (FRCs)o County Child Welfare Services

• Service Activities of CWS AmeriCorps members:o Crisis Intervention Serviceso Family Supportive Services/Referrals/Infoo Parenting Education Workshops

• Settings AmeriCorps members serve clients:o At the service site o Home visits

Intro to CAPC:

Two AmeriCorps Programs:

1. Birth & Beyond AmeriCorps • 90 Members

2. Youth Investment Center AmeriCorps• 40 Members

Intro to CAPC:Birth and Beyond

• B & B partners with:o Family Resource Center’s (FRC’s)o Crisis Nurseryo First 5 Sacramento

• Service Activities of B & B AmeriCorps members:o Parent Support & Education

Home Visitation Parenting Workshops

o Volunteer Recruitment

Intro to CAPC:Youth Investment Center

• YIC partners with:o School Districtso Youth Serving Agencieso United Wayo Private Foundations

• Service Activities of YIC AmeriCorps members:o Life Skills Developmento Academic Supporto Mentoring

Tali adds CNCS Flow Chart

Timeline: 1961

President John F. Kennedy proposes the establishment

of the Peace Corps.Congress authorizes it on

9/22/61. President Kennedy states,

“The wisdom of this idea is that someday we will

bring it home to America.”

Timeline: 1964President Lyndon B. Johnson

creates VISTA orVolunteers in Service to

America,a National Teacher Corps, the Job

Corps, and University Year of Action.

These programs will become important components of what we

now know as the

“War on Poverty”

TIMELINE: 1993

• President Bill Clinton signs the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, creating AmeriCorps and CNCS

TIMELINE: Sept. 1994In recognizing the first

class of AmeriCorps members ~ 20,000

strong ~ President Clinton

states,“Service is a spark to rekindle the spirit of

democracy in an age of uncertainty… Today you are doing what is right – turning your words into

deeds.”

TIMELINE: 2009

TIMELINE: 2009• In April, President Obama signs the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

• Sweeping expansion of national service.

• Most excitement in national service since AmeriCorps was created!

• Changes include increased Ed Award and extended term limits

Member Contract

Member Gear

Member Gear

• Member Gear package for the 2014-15 Program year will include: 1 Lanyard, 1 T-Shirts (grey), and 2 Polo Shirts (blue and black). (pg. 34)

National Service Days

National Service Days

• Throughout the year, AmeriCorps members have opportunities to cometogether for special events called National Service Days. (pg 40)

• These days are intended toconnect members and communities across the country to a network of National Service Programs.

National Service Days

Day of Remembrance(September 2015)

Make a Difference Day (October 2015)

Martin Luther King Day (January 2016)

Cesar Chavez Day (March 2016)

AmeriCorps Week (TBD 2016)

AmeriCorps

Benefits

AmeriCorps Benefits

• Education Award (pg. 95)– 1700 hour: $5,730– 900 hour: $2,865

• Living Allowance (pg. 99)• Child Care Benefits (pg. 104)• Healthcare Benefits (pg. 105)• Loan Forbearance for qualified loans (pg. 109)• College Cost Reduction and Access Act (pg. 111)• Member Development (117)

Education Award

• Members who successfully complete their term of service will earn an education award of $5,730.00 for 1700 hours

• Members can receive up to the equivalent of two full-time education awards

• Members can serve up to a maximum of 4 terms, not to exceed the equivalent oftwo full-time terms of service.

The education award:• Is good for up to seven years• Is transferable for those members 55+; can be

transferred to a child, grandchild or foster child• Can be used to pay current educational

expenses at a Title IV school• The exact use will be determined by the

financial aid department of the institution• May be used to pay existing qualified student

loans

Education Award

• The education award is taxable in the year that it is used

• Members will only be taxed on the portion that has been disbursed

• If a member does not use the entire award within the seven year period, the remainder goes back into the National Service Trust

Education Award

Members may be able to extend the seven-year deadline, if certain circumstances apply:• Serving another term in AmeriCorps or the

Peace Corps during the seven-year period• Being unavoidably prevented from using

the award during the seven-year period• A period of incarceration is not considered

“unavoidable”

Education Award

Living Allowance• Distribution of Living Allowance (pg. 155):CAP Center AmeriCorps programs typically

schedule a member’s first day at the beginning of a pay period.

There are two (2) pay periods in any given month.

First pay period is the 1st through the 15th. The second pay period begins on the 16th and ends on the last day of the month.

Living Allowance

• Distribution of Living Allowance: A full-time member must serve at least 16

hours during one pay period to receive their full living allowance

A half-member must serve at least 8 hours during one pay period to receive their full living allowance

Prorated Living Allowance (pg. 100)

• Child care is available to members who meet eligibility requirements and need the benefit in order to serve in the AmeriCorps program

• The benefit is administered by GAP Solutions

Child Care

Child CareEligibility• Members must be serving in full-time capacity• Must be income eligible• Must not be receiving any other childcare subsidy,

that would continue to be provided during service• Must be a parent or legal guardian, and must reside

with the children they list on the application• Benefit is available for children under

the age of 13

Child Care• Members can choose any legal provider.• GAPSI can pay at the rate the State would pay (rates

are available online).• Unlicensed providers may need to be Trustlined.• Unlicensed providers who live at a member’s address,

where care is to be provided, do not qualify for reimbursement.

• Unlicensed care is reimbursed at a significantly lower rate (although they are increasing to 65% of the Family Child Care Home Ceilings effective 10/1/15).

• The 2015 Terms and Conditions for AmeriCorps State and National Programs require programs to:

“…provide, or make available, healthcare insurance to those members serving a 1700-hour full-time term who are not otherwise covered by a healthcare policy at the time the member begins his/her term of service.”

Healthcare

– further:The grantee must also provide, or make available, healthcare insurance to members serving a 1700-hour full-time term who lose coverage during their term of service as a result of service or through no deliberate act of their own.

Healthcare

– and:Any of the following health insurance options will satisfy the requirement for health insurance for full-time AmeriCorps members (or less than full-time members serving in a full-time capacity):• Staying on parents’ or spouse plan;• Insurance obtained through the Federal Health

Insurance Marketplace of at least the Bronze level plan;

Healthcare

• Insurance obtained through private insurance broker; or

• Medicaid, Medicare, or military benefits.

Healthcare

In other CNCS guidance, programs should provide information on all options available.

Healthcare

The CAP Center offers AmeriCorps healthcare through The Corps Network:• The Corps Network Plan is 100% ACA-compliant plan

for AmeriCorps members, effective 9/1/14, which the CAP Center will make available to full-time members who do not have coverage at the time they begin their term of service.

• Members serving in full-time capacity will have the option to enroll in The Corps Network at a later date if they lose existing coverage as a result of service, or through no deliberate act of their own.

Healthcare

• In addition, the CAP Center will continue to reimburse returning 2014/15 AmeriCorps members who had previously been reimbursed for coverage obtained through Covered California. Members should remain on their Silver level plan; reimbursements will be capped at $200 per member, per month.

• Many AmeriCorps members, but not all, may be eligible for Medi-Cal under the State’s expansion. The cut-off is $16,105 for an individual.

• Members may still be able to stay on their parents’ insurance until they turn26.

• Members may still be able to stay on a spouse’s healthcare plan.

Healthcare

Unfortunately, due to cost increases, the CAP Center will no longer be able to offer dental and vision benefits with The Corps Network plan.

Healthcare

Loan Forbearance

Upon acceptance in the AmeriCorps program, members are eligible to apply for a postponement towards the repayment of current qualified student loans and deferment from student loan interest payments

Forbearance should be requested at the beginning of the member’s term of service (if their loans are due):• Member completes Forbearance Request

Form through the My AmeriCorps system• Only the loan holder can determine

eligibility for forbearance• Members should keep making payments

until their request is approved

Loan Forbearance

Members can work with loan holders to bring loans out of default status, access forbearance during service, and utilize the interest accrual feature as well.

Loan Forbearance

Interest Accrual

The National Service Trust will pay a portion of the interest that accrued on the loan(s) in forbearance if:• The member applied for forbearance• The member successfully completed their term

of service

College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRA)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)• Dept. of Education (DOE) – forgive

outstanding balance after 120 qualifying payments.

Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR)• Monthly payments limited based on adjusted

gross income & family size.

College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRA)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)• Payment on a Direct Loan or Direct

Consolidation Loan that is not in default.• Paid under income-based repayment plan,

income-contingent repayment plan, or 10-year standard repayment plan.

• Regular payment made within 15 days of monthly due date.

College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRA)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)• Payment made while employed full-time by a

public service organization or serving in a full-time AmeriCorps or Peace Corps position (not half-time).

• Payments do not need to be made consecutively.

College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRA)

Income-based Repayment Plan (IBR)• Monthly payments are limited to no more

than 15% of the amount by which adjusted gross income exceeds 150% of the poverty guideline for family size, divided by 12.

• Payments can be as low as $0/month.

Member Development

• Member Development is a benefit that the AmeriCorps program offers to members

•Up to 20% of your total time may be spent in Member Development activities.

•Member Development supports you to be a effective, well-trained and valuable team member.

Member Development

• Training attendance is mandatory for all members.

•There are project specific requirements for Member Development

Successful

Completion of

Service

Successful Completion of Service

To complete successfully a member must:

1. Complete number of hours in member contract2. Satisfactorily complete assignments, tasks, projects3. Meet performance criteria which had been clearly

communicated orally and in writing at the beginning of the member’s term of service.

Successful Completion of ServiceRelease for CauseAmeriCorps members who are released for cause will receive no

portion of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Release for Cause –pg. 126 Improper Conduct/Non-Negotiable Code of Conduct-pg. 57-59

Service Abandonment If an AmeriCorps member does not report to their Service Site

for three (3) consecutive days, without contact with their Service Site Supervisor, it will be considered service abandonment.

The Lead Agency or Service Site must notify their CAP Center AmeriCorps Project Manager immediately in this situation.

Successful Completion of ServiceWhen we become concerned…..1. A member falls behind on hours2. A member does not follow through with a completion plan3. Repeated disciplinary issues at a site with no written

documentation4. Members serving if they will not complete hours (taxpayer $$)

5. Members are not aware of their current hours or are not receiving member hours reports, PCA CA updates

6. Sites are not aware of member activities being performed

Prohibited/ Disallowed

Activities

Leaves of

Absence

Leaves of Absence • Family Medical Leave Act (subsequent term members)

• Up to 12 weeks• Specific procedure in member handbook

• Medical and Personal Leaves of Absence• Process

• Request in writing 30 days prior to leave. • Must include:

• Start date of the leave and expected return date • Reason for the leave• Check in dates• Sign & date

Leaves of Absence

• Your supervisor must sign & date an approval• During your leave:

• Address/remedy your situation• Make every effort to return ASAP• Keep your check-in dates with your supervisor

• You do not accrue hours during a leave

Compelling

Personal

Circumstance

Compelling Personal Circumstance

A compelling personal circumstance is one that is beyond a member’s control. Examples of compelling personal circumstances include, but are not limited to:

• A member’s disability or serious illness;• Disability, serious illness, or death of a member’s family member if this makescompleting a term unreasonably difficult or impossible; or• Conditions attributable to the program or otherwise unforeseeable and beyond themember’s control, such as a natural disaster, a strike, relocation of a spouse, or thenonrenewal or premature closing of a project or program, that make completing a termunreasonably difficult or impossible.• Military service obligations; and• Acceptance by a participant of an opportunity to make the transition from welfare towork.

Compelling Personal CircumstanceRelease for Compelling Personal Circumstance:

The CAP Center AmeriCorps program reserves the right to determine whether or not circumstances are compelling.

Situations not listed above will be reviewed and either approved or disapproved by CAP Center AmeriCorps personnel.

The member has the primary responsibility for demonstrating that the compelling personal circumstance prevented him/her from completing the term of service.

Compelling personal circumstances do not include leaving a program:• To enroll in school• To obtain employment, other than in moving from welfare to work or in leaving a program that includes in its approved objectives the promotion of employment

among its members• Because of dissatisfaction with the program• Because of dissatisfaction with the living allowance

p. ___

Supervision &

Coaching

Supervision & Coaching• Service Site Orientation must include the following: Site Supervision Expectations of AmeriCorps members at the

service site Communication channelsAmeriCorps member responsibilities to the

site Review of safety plans and emergency

procedures.

Supervision & Coaching

• Supervision is an important aspect of supporting a member to excel during their term of service.

• At a minimum, members will receive supervision one (1) hour of supervision a week. .

•All supervisors should have an open door policy so members feel they are able to address any concerns and/or issues that arise.

Supervision & Coaching

• Supervision can be used to: Review member hours/member development Discuss service activities Review performance evaluations Discuss professional development Review member’s strengths & challenges Discuss Action Plans

•All supervision time will be categorized as Member Development: Supervision in iEmployee.

Supervision & Coaching

• Member Hour Reports: Will be provided by your Project Manager via email.

Informs supervisors of their members’ status inregard to hours provided in service, member development, and fundraising.

Identify members who are behind/ahead in hours & who are in need of a completion plan.

Supervisors are highly encouraged to track their members hours, as well.

Member:Site:Month/Year:

Current hour statusHours on target- continue at same rateHours falling behind- action needed to catch upHours too far ahead- action needed to slow downLeave/ vacation requested- plan to acquire hours before leave dateLeave/ vacation taken- plan to make up hours missed

Action PlanMember Start Date:

Member Expected End Date:

Midterm Evaluation Due:

Hours/week recommended:

Specific weekly schedule:# Hours/day

Sunday 0.00Monday 0.00Tuesday 0.00Wednesday 0.00Thursday 0.00Friday 0.00Saturday 0.00

Total per week 0.00

Follow-upNext check-in date:

I understand that:1. My site coordinator and I will review this plan as indicated in the follow-up section above.2. I am responsible for following my plan and making progress toward my 1700-hour goal. 3. I will be held accountable through coaching and supervision.4. If I am behind in hours, I may need to serve more hours per week than I have previously been serving and/or serve more than 40 hours/week to catch up.

Member Signature Date

Supervisor Signature Date

Term Completion Plan

Hours to date:

Hours remaining:

Performance

Evaluations

Performance Evaluations

• Performance Reviews will be administered ……3 times/year

• An important way for us to measure our effectiveness in regard to member development.

Final Performance Evaluation

Within the Final 30 days of the member’s term

Evaluation addresses member growth over the course of the term.

Mid-Term Performance Evaluation1/2-way through

the member’s termEvaluation addresses member

strengths, needs for improvement

Initial AssessmentFirst 45 days of Service Initial Assessment of member’s

ability to perform service duties

Performance Evaluations

• Performance Reviews must be signed by both the member and the supervisor.

• Original Hard-Copies must be delivered to your CAP Center Project Manager for inclusion in the Member File (COMPLIANCE!)

Progressive

Discipline

Progressive Discipline-pg. 135

• Verbal Warning• Written Warning Action Plan• Suspension• Termination

Weebly Website

iEMPLOYEE

Online Timekeeping: Timesheets

iEmployee TutorialM

Members submit timesheets to Supervisors 2 times per month.

Supervisors approve member hours and timesheets by due date on Living Allowance Schedule.

Supervisors use the notes section to communicate with members regarding rejected timesheets.

Questions!

Ian will find a picture to add