Commission on Service and Volunteerism

AmeriCorps*State Outreach Community Meeting

Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families

• The Governor’s Office for Children, Youth & Families (GOCYF) achieves the Governor’s vision for strengthened and empowered families and communities by:

• Providing Resources

• Promoting Citizen Engagement

• Leading innovative projects

• Organized into several areas:

• Children

• Community and Youth Development

• Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment

• Women

• Experienced and knowledgeable professionals with expertise in their particular areas staff each area and act as resources to our funded partners.

Community and Youth Development

• Works to support issues relating to national service programs, service-

learning, volunteerism, positive youth development and youth workforce

development.

• Administers AmeriCorps*State programs.

• Staffs the Governor’s Youth Commission, and the Commission on

Service and Volunteerism.

Commission on Service and Volunteerism

• Makes policy recommendations to the Governor for community service

and volunteer-related issues.

• Funds and oversees the administration of AmeriCorps*State programs

• Provides training and technical assistance for national service programs

in Arizona.

• Supports volunteer program development, community service initiatives

and policy issues affecting volunteers.

• Twenty-five members serve by appointment by the Governor and

represent the diversity and unique nature of Arizona’s communities.

Commission Initiatives

• Growth of national service

• Youth Development

• Statewide volunteerism

• Disability in volunteerism and national service

• Civic engagement

• Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards

• Arizona Summit on Volunteerism and Service-Learning

• Quality Training & Technical Assistance

AmeriCorps*State

Through funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS),

the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism awards funds to local

organizations and agencies to support AmeriCorps programs as an effective

strategy that extends organizational capacity to address critical community needs in

economic opportunities, education, emergency preparedness, healthy futures, and

in the environment.

Each of these organizations and agencies, in turn, uses their AmeriCorps funding to

recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members, who provide direct service to

the community in the identified area of need.

After successful completion of their term of service, AmeriCorps members earn a

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that can be used to pay for vocational, college

or graduate school at Title IV schools, or to repay qualified student loans. Fulltime

AmeriCorps members also receive a modest living allowance, health care benefits,

and child care assistance.

Who are AmeriCorps Members?

United States citizen or lawful permanent resident

At least 17 years of age

Meet other program specific qualifications

H.S. Diploma or certificate, GED or promise to complete

From the local neighborhood or recruited nationally

Primarily engage in direct service to community

Recruit and engage a cadre of volunteers

Successfully completed background checks at three levels;

National Sex Offender Public Website, Arizona Department of

Public Safety and FBI

AmeriCorps programs provide meaningful orientation and

ongoing training and support for AmeriCorps members both

during their terms of service and after completing their terms of

service.

Benefits for AmeriCorps Members

After successful completion their terms of service, AmeriCorps members earn a

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that can be used to pay for vocational, college

or graduate school at Title IV schools, or to repay qualified student loans. The

current 2014 value of a Segal Education Award for a full-time terms of service is

$5,645.

Fulltime AmeriCorps members also receive a modest living allowance, health care

benefits, and child care assistance.

http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/segal-americorps-education-award

Who benefits from AmeriCorps programs?

National Service Resources In Arizona 2013-2014

Meeting Community Needs in Arizona: More than 4,400 people of all ages and

backgrounds are helping to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and

increase civic engagement through national service in Arizona. Serving at more than

730 locations throughout the state, these citizens tutor and mentor children, support

veterans and military families, provide health services, restore the environment,

respond to disasters, increase economic opportunity, and recruit and manage

volunteers. This year, the CNCS will commit more than $16,680,000 to support

Arizona communities through national service initiatives. Through a unique public-

private partnership, this federal investment will leverage an additional $5,070,000 in

other resources to strengthen community impact, build local support, and increase

return on taxpayer dollars.

• AmeriCorps – State, National, NCCC, VISTA and Tribal

• Senior Corps – RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companions

•

AmeriCorps*State Opportunity for Funding

• Projected federal funds available: Approximately $2.3 M

• Additional national competitive funding opportunity available

• Projected Application Release Date: October 1, 2014

• Projected Application Due Date: November 15, 2014

• Funding Period: September 1, 2015 to August 30, 2018 (with annual

renewal applications for the second and third years)

State Procurement Vendor Registration

http://SPO.AZ.GOV

Select Commodity Codes:

Request for Grant Application Posting

http://gocyf.az.gov/Grants/index.asp

AmeriCorps Member Service Years

All AmeriCorps Program budgets are based on the number of AmeriCorps

Member Service Years (MSY) that an organization requests.

• Full Time (1,700 hours)

• Half Time (900 hours)

• Reduced Half Time (675 hours)

• Quarter Time (450 hours)

• Minimum Time (300 hours)

AmeriCorps member slots that a organization requests can be all one type of

slot or can be any combination of slots that will best serve to help meet the

identified need (except for Full-Time Fixed Cost and Professional Corps

program models).

2014 AmeriCorps Segal Education Awards

Term of Service Min # of

Hours

Education

Award*

Full Time 1,700 $5,645

One-year Half-time 900 $2,822

Reduced Half-Time 675 $2,150

Quarter-Time 450 $1,493

Minimum -time 300 $1,195

*The Education Award is provided to all AmeriCorps members that

successfully complete their terms of service, at no cost to the AmeriCorps

program. For Budgetary purposes, the Education Award is budget neutral.

Types of AmeriCorps Programs

All AmeriCorps Program budgets are based on the number of AmeriCorps

member slots that an organization requests.

• Cost Reimbursement

• Full-Time Fixed Cost

• Education Award Fixed Cost

• Professional Corps Fixed Cost

Types of AmeriCorps Program Models

• Cost Reimbursement Grants

Organizational Requirement – Capacity to operate at least three month of programming

Can be a members slots with living allowances and other benefits, or a combination of slots

with living allowances and Education Award slots only

Submit for Monthly reimbursement

Match Requirement: starting at 24% documented cash and/or in-kind

Maximum federal share cost for Member Service Year (MSY) - $13,300

• Full-Time Fixed Cost Grants

Provides for only Full Time AmeriCorps member slots with benefits (living allowance, health

insurance and childcare)

Submit monthly for prorated allocation for AmeriCorps members enrolled

No Match requirement

Maximum federal share cost for MSY - $13,000

Types of AmeriCorps Program Models

• Education Award Fixed Amount Grants

Typically a combination of Half-Time, Quarter Time and Minimum Time Member Slots

Provides for only Segal Education Award slot

Submit monthly for prorated allocation for AmeriCorps members enrolled

No Living Allowance or Match requirement

Maximum federal share cost for MSY - $800

• Professional Corps Fixed Amount Grants

Can only be Full Time Member Slots

Provides for only Segal Education Award slot

Submit monthly for prorated allocation for AmeriCorps members enrolled

Members must receive a full salary (from Match sources)

No Match requirement

Maximum federal share cost for MSY - $2,000

Organizations Eligible for Funding

• Community and faith-based organizations

• Nonprofits

• K-12 schools (public, private, charter)

• Community colleges

• Colleges and universities

• Local government

• Tribal government

• Collaborations

• Organizations interested in serving as regional intermediaries

Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Focus Areas for

AmeriCorps programs include:

• Disaster Services – Grant activities will increase the preparedness of individuals, improve individuals’

readiness to respond, help individuals recover from disasters, and help individuals mitigate disasters.

• Economic Opportunity – Grants will provide support and/or facilitate access to services and resources

that contribute to the improved economic well-being and security of economically disadvantaged people.

Grant activities will help economically disadvantaged people to have improved access to services aimed at

contributing to their enhanced financial literacy; transition into or remain in safe, healthy, affordable housing;

and have improved employability leading to increased success in becoming employed.

• Education – Grants will provide support and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute

to improved educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged individuals, especially children. Of

special interest are program designs that support youth engagement and service-learning as strategies to

achieve improved academic outcomes. Grant activities will improve school readiness for economically

disadvantaged young children; educational and behavioral outcomes of students in low-achieving

elementary, middle, and high schools; and the preparation for, and prospects of success, in post-secondary

educational institutions for economically disadvantaged students.

Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Focus Areas for

AmeriCorps programs include: • Environmental Stewardship - Grants will provide support for direct services that contribute to increased

energy and water efficiency, renewable energy use, or improving at-risk ecosystems. In addition, grants will

support increased individual behavioral change leading to increased efficiency, renewable energy use, and

ecosystem improvements particularly for economically disadvantaged households and communities. Grant

activities will decrease energy and water consumption; improve at-risk ecosystems; increase behavioral

changes that lead directly to decreased energy and water consumption or improved at-risk ecosystems;

and increase green training opportunities that may lead to decreased energy and water consumption or

improved at-risk ecosystems.

• Healthy Futures - Grants will provide support for health needs within communities including access to

care, aging in place, and childhood obesity. Grant activities will improve access to primary and preventive

health care for communities served by the AmeriCorps programs; increase seniors’ ability to remain in their

own homes with the same or improved quality of life for as long as possible; and increase physical activity

and improve nutrition in youth with the purpose of reducing childhood obesity.

• Veterans and Military Families - Grants will positively impact the quality of life of veterans and improve

military family strength. Grant activities will increase the number of veterans and military service members

and their families served by the AmeriCorps programs and increase the number of veterans and military

family members engaged in service through the AmeriCorps program. To the greatest extent possible,

proposed activities should be aligned with the Veteran and Military Family National Performance

Measures.

Arizona AmeriCorps*State Priorities include:

• Economic Opportunity

• Education

• Diversity and Inclusion – Intentional efforts to include people of all ages,

backgrounds and abilities in national service and volunteer efforts in

Arizona

Special Consideration will be given for programs that include:

• Youth Development – Positive, effective youth development practices that

help Arizona meet real needs and solve real in communities

• Diversity and Inclusion – Address the engagement of SSI and SSDI

through the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work program

Application Key Components

Real Community Need

Program Design

AmeriCorps Member Activities

Community Outputs and Outcomes

Performance Measurement

Organizational Capability

Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy

Evaluation

Performance Measurement

Communicates potential value of program

Develop a set of aligned performance measures for primary service

activity

Clarify the achievable results

Identify the key program elements to be tracked to assess program’s

effectiveness

Make clear program premises and make visible stakeholder

assumptions

Improve program planning and performance by identifying the ways to

measure program success and areas for improvement

END

OUTCOME

NEED Inputs Activities Outputs

Short

Term

Outcomes

Need - Identified local need to address.

Inputs - Resources that will be used to address the need

Activities - What program does with resources to address need

Outputs - Counts of services delivered/people served

Short-Term Outcomes - Changes in knowledge, skills, attitudes, opinions (KSAO)

Medium-Term Outcomes - Changes in behavior/action that result from KSAO

End Outcomes - Meaningful change in the community/individuals served

Performance-Based Logic Model

Medium

Term

Outcomes

AmeriCorps Member

Slots/Terms of Service

Full-Time Member: (40 hours per week for 6 weeks or more – up to a year) –

Living allowance, health care, child care, full uniform, Education Award.

Part-Time Member: (6-12 months of service) – Living allowance, full uniform,

Education Award.

Education Award or Professional Corps Member: (up to 12 months of

service) - No living allowance or related benefits provided through grant

funds, Uniform, Education Award.

2014 AmeriCorps*Members Slots with Living Allowances and Education Awards

Term of Service Min # of

Hours

MSY

Value

Min. Living

Allowance

Max. Living

Allowance

Education

Award*

Full-Time 1,700 1.000 $12,100 $24,200 $5,645

One-year Half-Time 900 0.500 $6,405 $12,500 $2,822

Reduced Half-Time 675 0.3809524 $4,804 $9,370 $2,150

Quarter-Time 450 0.26455027 $3,127 $6,250 $1,493

Minimum-time 300 0.21164022 $2,135 $4,160 $1,195

2014 AmeriCorps*Members Slots with Education Award Only

Term of Service Min # of

Hours

MSY

Value

Education

Award*

Full Time 1,700 1.000 $5,645

One-year Half-time 900 0.500 $2,822

Reduced Half-Time 675 0.3809524 $2,150

Quarter-Time 450 0.26455027 $1,493

Minimum -time 300 0.21164022 $1,195

*The Education Award is provided to all AmeriCorps members that successfully complete their

terms of service, at no cost to the AmeriCorps program. For Budgetary purposes, the Education

Award is budget neutral.

Additional Information About Living Allowance and Education Awards

Individuals that receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through the

Social Security Administration and that choose to serve in AmeriCorps may

receive AmeriCorps benefits without interfering with receipt of their SSI (The

HEART Act of 2008).

The Education Award is provided to all AmeriCorps members that

successfully complete their terms of service, at no cost to the AmeriCorps

program. For budgetary purposes, the Education Award is budget neutral.

Additionally, Education Awards earned by AmeriCorps members 55 years and

older are able to transfer their award to children and/or grandchildren.

Application Budget

• Based on number of AmeriCorps member slots and Member

Service Years (MSY) requested

• Covers the majority of costs of the added human resource

Calculating the Federal Share of the AmeriCorps*State Program Budget

The federal share of the AmeriCorps program budget is

calculated using the following method:

AmeriCorps Member Slots with Living Allowance

Total of Member Service Years (MSY) x $13,300

AmeriCorps Members Slots with Education Award Only

Total of Member Service Years x $800

Calculating the Federal Share -- EXAMPLE

Full-Time Members – 8 8.00 MSY

Half-Time Members – 16 8.00 MSY

Quarter-Time Members – 16 4.24 MSY

TOTAL 20.24 MSY

20.24 MSY x $13,300 = $269,192

Federal Share = $269,192

Program Match Requirements

Minimum local share is 24% of the overall program costs for the first

three years. Overall local share of total program costs increases

gradually beginning in Year 4 to 50% by the tenth year of funding and

any year thereafter.

It is required that local and/or state sources of both cash and in-kind

match be documented. If it is desired that federal sources be

proposed as match, both federal agencies involved must provide prior

approval.

Calculating the MATCH-- EXAMPLE

If applying for the first time, applicant must match with cash or in-kind

contributions at least 24% of the project’s total Operating Costs

Federal Share = $263,120

269,192 = ___X___

76 24

76X = 6,460,608

X = $85,008

Local Match = $85,008

TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET: $269,192 + $85,008 = $354,200

Matching Funds

• The acceptable sources of matching funds are federal, state, local, private sector,

and/or other funds in accordance with applicable AmeriCorps requirements.

• The source and total dollar amount of cash match from private, state and local and

federal funds, and the source and total amounts of in-kind are included in the

proposed budget.

• Define all acronyms the first time they are used.

• The Corporation’s legislation permits the use of non-Corporation federal funds as

match for the grantee share of the budget. Please discuss your intention of using

their funds to match an AmeriCorps grant with the other agency prior to submitting

your application.

AmeriCorps Program Budgetary Considerations

The program budget must directly support the proposed AmeriCorps program,

and must be broken into the federal share and local share, and includes:

Personnel and benefits costs associated with administering the program

AmeriCorps member living allowance and benefits costs, as appropriate

Other program costs, including:

Staff travel

Member travel

Equipment and supplies

Contractual and consultant services

Staff training

Member uniform and training

Evaluation

Other costs

Background checks (required)

Office space rental

Utilities, phone, internet, etc.

Recognition Costs

Two Methods of Calculating Indirect Administrative Costs

Five Percent (5%) Fixed Administrative Cost Option -- the federal share of

the budget is multiplied by 5.26% to determine the federal share and the total

of the local share is multiplied by 10% to determine the local share.

OR

Federally Approved Indirect Cost Rate Method -- five percent (5%) of the

federally approved rate can be charged to the federal share and the balance

can be charged to the local share of the budget (and used as in-kind match).

http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps

http://www.nationalservice.gov/build-your-

capacity/grants/managing-americorps-grants

https://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/

https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/publicRequestSearch.do

QUESTIONS?