National Service 101: A TOOLKIT FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
CONTENTS Who We Are ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction to National Service ...................................................................................................................................... 4
How AmeriCorps Can Support Afterschool Programs ......................................................................................... 5 Benefits of Having AmeriCorps Members in Afterschool .................................................................................... 6 Using National Service in Afterschool ............................................................................................................................. 7
AmeriCorps State and National ................................................................................................................................ 8 AmeriCorps VISTA .................................................................................................................................................. 10 AmeriCorps NCCC .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Selecting the Program that Best Fits Your Needs ......................................................................................................... 13 Applying for an AmeriCorps Grant ................................................................................................................................ 14
Intermediaries and Grant Management.................................................................................................................. 15
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WHO WE ARE America’s Service Commission (ASC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing and promoting the 52 governor-appointed state service commissions across the United States and territories. ASC’s mission is to advance national service, volunteerism, and the state service network. Our vision is that all states will embrace service as a strategy to build community in solving local challenges.
We focus on capacity building, advocacy, and activation of the state network.
ABOUT THIS TOOLKIT This toolkit was developed to provide organizations in the afterschool field with ideas on how AmeriCorps members can strengthen communities and services to create positive change. The toolkit highlights ways that AmeriCorps members make a positive impact in afterschool placements, and how they can maximize that impact in your community, school, program, or organization. It was produced with grant support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.
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INTRODUCTION TO NATIONAL SERVICE AmeriCorps, the federal agency (also known as the Corporation for National and Community Service or CNCS) is a U.S. federal agency that provides over $1 billion in funding annually to support schools and organizations across the country through grants and national service programs known as AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors.
AmeriCorps is committed to education and is made up of three main programs, AmeriCorps NCCC, AmeriCorps State and National, and AmeriCorps VISTA. Each program takes a slightly different approach to tackling local challenges and strengthening communities through service. Each year, the AmeriCorps federal agency invests more than $800 million in funding and places more than 270,000 individuals with nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations. AmeriCorps members are mission-driven and help address critical community needs. They are passionate about making a positive difference and striving towards the greater good. Your local state service commission receives funds from AmeriCorps, the federal agency, to distribute AmeriCorps grants to organizations and programs in all U.S. states and territories. State service commissions also partner with local AmeriCorps Seniors programs including RSVP, Foster Grandparents, and Senior Companions. Your state service commission can connect you to local AmeriCorps Seniors programs.
52 State Service Commissions (Governor-Designated)
AmeriCorps NCCC
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AmeriCorps State and National
AmeriCorps VISTA
AmeriCorps NCCC
AmeriCorps State and National
AmeriCorps VISTA
HOW C AN A MERICORPS MEMBERS SUPPORT AFTERSCHOOL PROGR A MS? AmeriCorps provides assistance in the creation and implementation of afterschool programs. Having an AmeriCorps member in your afterschool program provides additional resources and increases overall capacity. AmeriCorps members can help expand and sustain your program goals by managing program activities, providing student and community outreach services, and performing other essential duties.
A MERICORPS MEMBERS SERVE IN URBAN AND RUR AL SCHOOLS, NONPROFITS, TRIBAL COM MUNITIES, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZ ATIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND COM MUNITY ORGANIZ ATIONS.
Mentoring
Sustainability
Academic Enrichment
Health
Family Support
AmeriCorps members are flexible to the needs of the community and can be guided to perform duties essential to your program’s needs, including, but not limited to: • Reading
• Family Engagement
• Environmental Stewardship
• Financial Literacy
• Wraparound Services
• Drug Prevention
• Tutoring and Mentoring
• College Access & Success
• Food Accessibility
• STEM
• Volunteer Recruitment
• Health and Wellness National Service 101
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BENEFITS OF HAVING A MERICORPS MEMBERS IN AFTERSCHOOL PROGR A MS Program Support AmeriCorps members support afterschool program needs by providing resources to staff,
teachers, and students to achieve program goals.
Development AmeriCorps members create partnerships, collect data, fundraise, perform outreach, and recruit
and supervise volunteers.
Grant-Funded Support AmeriCorps member placements are grant-funded by your local state service
commission to fulfill your program goals and mission.
Technical Assistance The state service commission can help you apply for and manage your AmeriCorps grant
to ensure you have the knowledge and training needed to complete requirements and maintain compliance.
Capacity Building Professional development is provided through training workshops to increase your knowledge
and skills to better administer your program or project.
AmeriCorps produces long-lasting results and is a cost-effective solution to solving critical challenges facing our communities and nation. 6
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USING NATIONAL SERVICE IN AFTERSCHOOL
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A MERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL AmeriCorps State and National members commit anywhere from 100 to 1,700 hours, generally 3 to 12 months, and can engage in direct services and/or capacity-building activities. State and National members focus on a variety of areas to effect change in the communities they serve: • Youth Development
• Native American Affairs
• Legal Assistance
• Community Development
• Health and Nutrition
• Energy and Conservation
• Workforce Development
• Veterans and Military Families
Having AmeriCorps members involved in afterschool and summer programs can bring unique experiences and vantage points that can enrich students’ lives, help students develop new perspectives, and inspire creativity.
AMERICORPS STATE & NATIONAL MEMBERS CAN HAVE A DIRECT POSITIVE IMPACT ON A YOUNG PERSON’S LIFE.
AmeriCorps members serving in education-centered programs can help identify and recruit youth to provide resources and increase academic performance. They can provide instruction, valuable one-on-one tutoring and mentoring sessions, and work to increase college readiness by assisting with college fairs, test preparation, financial aid, college tours, and wraparound family support. AmeriCorps members serving in community development capacities can provide health education workshops, interventions, and extracurricular activities. They promote sustainability and conservation in the communities they serve. AmeriCorps members placed with organizations addressing food accessibility help grow and distribute food throughout the school year including summer when children do not have access to meals provided by schools. Overall, AmeriCorps State and National members can have a direct positive impact on a young person’s life. 8
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Case Study Example of Afterschool State and National Members Aspire! Afterschool Learning provides afterschool and summer programs in Arlington,
Virginia for low-income children in grades 3-5 who are at-risk of falling in the achievement gap. Aspire! Afterschool uses AmeriCorps State and National members to implement student enrichment activities and provide parent and community outreach. AmeriCorps members are assigned to five public elementary afterschool sites to help students with homework assignments and provide reading support to English Language Learners. During parent workshops, AmeriCorps members provide resources and share ideas to help address challenges and strengthen community relationships. Aspire! has hosted AmeriCorps members for nine years, and for the past four years, more than 90% of Aspire! students have improved their reading level.
The Providence Children’s Museum in Rhode Island hosts AmeriCorps State and
National members to deliver STEM learning experiences for children in out-ofschool time programs. In partnership with local Boys and Girls Clubs, AmeriCorps members deliver museum activities to over 250 students in grades 2-4. Members serve as museum educators and run play-based programming to develop a growth mindset and increased knowledge of math concepts. AmeriCorps members develop strategies for family involvement and community engagement in the museum, local parks, neighborhood libraries, and head start programs. The Providence Children’s Museum has hosted an AmeriCorps program since 1997 and service members have instilled a lifetime love of learning in children who would otherwise have limited exposure to the museum’s educational experiences.
After-School All-Stars in Washington, D.C. (and other locations across the country)
is one of the largest school-based afterschool providers in the country. They provide STEM activities, visual and performing arts, and college and career readiness to 6-8th grade students. The mission of the After-School All-Stars is to provide students with a safe space and help them succeed in school and life. AmeriCorps State and National members help students develop academic plans and service-learning projects. AmeriCorps members provide small group mentoring and tutoring services. They provide educational support on robotics, video game production, and coding activities to increase students’ skills and interest in STEM careers. WINGS for Kids is an afterschool program that teaches youth from low-income rural
communities skills in behavior management, decision-making, and building healthy relationships. WINGS uses a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum with AmeriCorps State and National members carrying out programming for three hours per day, five days per week. State and National members provide small group mentoring and engage students in lessons, activities, and games that increase selfreflection and self-awareness. Program outcomes show that WINGS participants receive 51% fewer office referrals than non-WINGS students and have a 6% absence rate compared to 16% nationally.
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A MERICORPS VISTA AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members are a catalyst for change and serve in many capacities to reduce poverty, inequity, and unemployment. Members commit full-time to a full year (12 months) of service anywhere in the country. VISTA members in afterschool programs provide indirect services and typically serve in a professional setting to perform capacity-building duties including grant writing, fundraising, partnership development, and coordinating volunteers and events. VISTA members can help organizations map and understand the afterschool landscape to better serve the community. They can perform research to identify focus areas and locations that need support. Members can create new programs and recruit and train volunteers. VISTA members can also help organizations increase their marketing and social media footprint by managing online platforms, designing marketing materials, and developing communication and media outreach strategies. Members can create materials to increase awareness of afterschool programs and support the professional development of afterschool staff.
Morgan Staton of Boys & Girls Code Corps, created
four partnerships with organizations providing STEM learning in Wake County, North Carolina to empower students to succeed in a digital economy.
Valerie Fernando of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico
created a network focused on making linguistic records and materials to revitalize the threatened Laguna Keres languages in the community.
VISTA members’ expertise and outside perspective can provide the hosting organization valuable insight on resolving challenges and the means to effect change. 10
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Case Study Examples of Afterschool VISTA Members North Carolina Afterschool Corps aims
to build the capacity of afterschool programs that serve low-income children, while strengthening these programs’ connection to local colleges and universities. The organization’s AmeriCorps VISTA members provide services that increase the number and training of volunteers serving with afterschool programs, generate funding and in-kind resources to support these programs, expand local awareness of the value of afterschool, and enhance curriculum. Collegiate Pathways leverages
AmeriCorps VISTA members to support its Tech Sassy Girlz program, which aims to develop the next generation of female STEM leaders. With just one VISTA member the first year, they engaged over 300 middle and high school girls in STEM activities, raised $6,300 of in-kind support, and recruited volunteers who contributed 300+ hours of volunteer service to support its STEM programming. Reading Partners places
AmeriCorps VISTA members as development and site coordinators to perform extensive outreach in the community, where they attend neighborhood council meetings and meet with colleges and other organizations to present informational workshops. Through a canvassing approach, VISTA members have created partnerships and secured local funding. VISTA members serving as site coordinators develop volunteer engagement strategies to recruit and train hundreds of volunteers to provide effective reading support and tutoring to children, including in afterschool settings. Coordinators also plan volunteer appreciation events to improve volunteer satisfaction and retention. Currently, Reading Partners holds a 95% satisfaction rate among its volunteers.
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A MERICORPS NCCC AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a full-time, team-based residential service program for 18-26 year-olds. NCCC members represent a wide variety of socioeconomic, cultural, geographic, and educational backgrounds. NCCC members are assigned to one of four regional campuses and then placed into teams ranging between 8-12 members. Each team has a specially trained Team Leader who serves and resides with the team. The teams complete a variety of service projects, which vary in duration, and respond to local communities’ needs throughout the United States and territories. Teams live in the community they serve to help better understand the community, participate in more enhanced service-learning opportunities, as well as build leadership and life skills through service. Each team is provided with one 15-passenger van and fuel is covered by NCCC (for locations in the continental United States). Each team is also allocated funds for food and laundry. All members are background-checked and fully insured by the Federal Tort Claims Act and Federal Employees Coverage Act. NCCC members placed in afterschool settings can provide direct service or capacity-building activities yearround or in short “service spikes” ranging from 3-13 weeks. NCCC teams are especially beneficial for summer programming to align with the months when children are out of school. Site sponsors must provide: • 40 hours of meaningful service, per week per member, for the duration of the service project • Technical oversight and direction on site with the team each day • Project supplies, equipment, materials, and any necessary building permits • Schedule of work & training plan • Lodging with showers (e.g., churches, community centers, dorms, campsites, etc.) • Cooking facilities (unless meals are provided) • Service-learning support and opportunities to understand community impact • Inclement-weather work plans
Case Study Example of Afterschool NCCC Members
In partnership with the Maryland Out of School Time Network, an AmeriCorps NCCC team designed and led literacy and STEM activities for children in grades K-3 in Baltimore’s Weinberg Foundation libraries. The Network is a project of Baltimore’s Safe and Sound Campaign, established in 2007 as a statewide initiative to increase the quantity and quality of out of school opportunities for youth. To learn more and find your nearest NCCC campus, visit americorps.gov.
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SELECTING WHICH A MERICORPS PROGR A M BEST FITS YOUR NEEDS
Use this chart to determine the AmeriCorps program that best fits your needs. CATEGORY
A MERICORPS
A MERICORPS
A MERICORPS
STATE AND NATIONAL
VISTA
NCCC
Direct service and some capacity-building activities.
Indirect service and capacitybuilding activities only.
Sample activities: tutor and mentor youth, restore parks and help recruit community volunteers to expand the reach and effectiveness of the organization where they serve.
Sample activities: create programs and systems, grant write and fundraise, plan events, recruit volunteers, research, and outreach.
Intensive short-term service for specific “hands on” projects provided by a team of AmeriCorps members.
Member Service Terms
Flexible Options: Full-time (1,700 hours), Three-quarter time (1,200 hours), Half-time (900 hours), Reduced Half-time (675 hours), Quarter-Time (450 hours), Minimum-Time (300 hours)
Full time only: 12 months (365 days), but existing VISTA projects can also apply for a VISTA Summer Associates program for short-term summer members on a case-by-case basis.
Project ‘spikes’ last between 3-13 weeks per location. Sponsors must provide 40 hours/week of service activities for the team to complete.
Training and Supervision
Host organization is responsible for all AmeriCorps member training, onboarding, and supervision, with some exceptions as provided by the state service commission.
Federal AmeriCorps agency provides a virtual Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) to all new VISTA members. Site-specific training and supervision is the responsibility of the grantee.
NCCC regional campus provides training, while the host organization provides on-site technical oversight and direction with the team each day.
Stipend, Benefits, and Support Costs
Living allowance/stipend and benefits (required for full-time members) are administered directly by the grantee/host organization. Programs can use federal AmeriCorps grant funds or match funding to cover member support costs.
Typically administered by the federal AmeriCorps agency (unless awarded a VISTA Program Grant).
Administered by the federal AmeriCorps agency, but hosting organizations must provide lodging and cooking facilities for AmeriCorps teams.
AmeriCorps Roles and Activities
Sample activities: summer camps, special event logistics, revitalization projects.
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APPLYING FOR AN A MERICORPS GR ANT The federal AmeriCorps agency and state service commissions are committed to communities across the nation and provide grants to local and national nonprofits, government agencies, faith-based and community organizations, and other groups committed to strengthening communities through service and volunteering.
The following chart provides information on the three types of AmeriCorps grant applications. CATEGORY
Application Submission Process
A MERICORPS
A MERICORPS
A MERICORPS
STATE AND NATIONAL
VISTA
NCCC
State: Process begins with the state service commission issuing a Request for Proposals and applicants applying directly to the state commission for funding.
Begins with a Concept Paper submitted to the AmeriCorps Regional Office (or the state service commission if they sponsor a statewide VISTA project).
Begins with an NCCC Project Concept Form submitted to your AmeriCorps NCCC Regional Campus to provide a tentative project plan and idea before completing a full application.
National: Begins with submission of an application directly to the federal AmeriCorps agency (if multi-state or tribal) Deadline
State: Check with your local state service commission for state-specific deadlines.
Contact your AmeriCorps Regional Office for information. Rolling - no set deadline. Applications typically reviewed quarterly.
Rolling - no set deadline. Applications typically reviewed quarterly.
Awards are typically limited to human capital (VISTA members) with limited support costs and vary depending on scope, location, and term.
Awards are typically limited to human capital (NCCC team) and vary depending on scope, location, and term.
National: Specific annual deadline for Planning Grant applicants and a separate annual deadline for all other grant competitions (typically early January) Awards
Typically three-year grants to support larger, long-term programs. Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis and must be “drawn down” as costs are incurred and documented.
Organizations are encouraged to contact one of the 52 state service commissions to inquire about statespecific AmeriCorps grant and placement opportunities. Visit statecommissions.org to find your local state service commission and to request more information on becoming an AmeriCorps partner and grantee.
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INTER MEDIARIES AND GR ANT M ANAGEMENT One way to increase the ability of afterschool programs to utilize AmeriCorps is through the use of intermediaries that serve as the primary grantee for multiple afterschool programs that may not have the capacity to manage an AmeriCorps grant on their own. Intermediaries can include your statewide afterschool network, libraries, museums, school districts, United Ways, or other local groups interested in serving as the state, regional, or community host for multiple AmeriCorps members serving in afterschool sites. Intermediaries focus on assigning AmeriCorps members to afterschool sites and can be a great way to help create programs in both rural and/or urban under-resourced communities. One effective strategy to minimize the grant requirement for matching funds includes working with multiple programs to write one grant and have AmeriCorps members disbursed to several afterschool programs. This strategy allows for afterschool programs and organizations to collaborate and share a grant where each can provide a smaller financial match to host the AmeriCorps members collectively. An intermediary organization can help you manage and start the grant process. Contact your state service commission for ideas and resources to identify potential intermediaries for your community or program. RESOURCES: •
America’s Service Commissions Afterschool Toolkit: https://bit.ly/asc-afterschool-guide
•
AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities & Resources: • https://americorps.gov/partner • https://americorps.gov/partner/funding-opportunities • https://americorps.gov/partner/faqs
•
Service Years as a Strategy to Expand Access to Afterschool Programs Toolkit: https://resources.serviceyear.org/media/?mediaId=A616B224-CE37-40AC-A9660F814046A216
