working with americorps vista volunteers by amy hatter june 7, 2013 10:30am iaais conference 1

Working with AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers

By Amy Hatter

June 7, 2013

10:30am

IAAIS Conference

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My experience with VISTA

• First VISTA at Radio Eye in 2008

• Worked with and supervised 6 VISTAs since 2009

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What is VISTA

• Part of the AmeriCorps system– State, National, NCCC, RSVP also programs in

AmeriCorps

• “Domestic PeaceCorps”• VISTA members work in poverty, helping

people in poverty for a year.

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VISTA Mission

“To start, strengthen, or expand programs, systems, or services that help people move out of poverty.”

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What you need to know about VISTA

• Capacity building, not direct service“Tasks and activities to create, expand, or strengthen systems or processes in order to increase an organization’s ability to function effectively and meet its mission.”

• Yearly grant

• Lots of reporting! (More about this later)

• Training requirements: PSO & OSOT

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VISTA Network

• Site level

• Local networko “Sponsoring organization” – VISTA supervisor

levelo Each network gets certain number of VISTAs;

doled out to sites.

• State level

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Benefits of VISTAS

• Can do special projects you’ve been wanting to do but haven’t had the time for (example: website, social media)

• Full-time staff person for 1 year for very little money on your part (cost-share).

• Build capacity, streamline procedures!

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PROCESS OF GETTING A VISTA

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Timeline

Radio Eye’s timeline•February: Apply to network (VAD, etc.)•March/April: notification from local network and/or state network of approval/denial•May: interview applicants•July-August: VISTA goes to PSO•August: VISTA starts 1 year term•July/August next year: VISTA’s term ends.

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Application

• VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)

• Performance Milestones

• Letter to advisory board (not all networks have an advisory board). Used at local level.

• On-site Orientation & Training (possibly)

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VISTA Assignment Description

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Performance Milestones

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Advisory Board letter

• General information about your organization.

• How you will use your VISTAs.

• How VISTA will be able to help your organization succeed.

• Statement on ability to pay the cost-share.– This goes up every year the network receives

VISTAs.

• How your organization fights poverty.13

OSOT

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Approval/Denial Notification

• Local approval (advisory board) to be in network grant

• State approval (number of VISTAs the network received)

• Local approval, part2– At this point, even if your organization was

approved at the local level, you may be cut.

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CONGRATULATIONS, YOU’VE BEEN APPROVED!

. . .Now what?

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What’s next?

• Post the job opening

• Interview applicants

• Approve applicant – network paperwork and state approval

• Approved applicant attends pre-service orientation, and network orientation.

• Applicant starts work!

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Job Listing

• Network supervisor will list your opening on www.americorps.gov

• You can list it wherever you would list a job or volunteer opening.

• Colleges are especially good.

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What you need to tell your applicants

• The stipend (very low – typical $900-$1,100/month)

• Cannot take another job

• Can go to school

• Health/childcare benefits

• Moving reimbursement

• End-of-service stipend or education award

• Go over VAD during interview19

What’s next?

• Select your candidate.

• Let your network supervisor know.

• Connect them with the network supervisor, who will take them through the VISTA paperwork.

• State sends to PSO.

• That’s it – for now!

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PSO Schedule – for Southeast region

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After PSO

• First day: your VISTA will meet with the network supervisor for a network orientation

• First day with you: orient your VISTA with your On-Site Orientation & Training

• Start them on their tasks.

• Good luck with your new VISTA!

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VISTA Reporting

• Service logs– VISTA completes – you sign

• Monthly reports– VISTA completes and sends to network

supervisor• Quarterly reports

– Quantitative chart (you complete)– Site PPR form (you complete)– Milestones (VISTA completes)– Updated VAD (you compete)

• Weekly reports– NOT a network requirement – but it’s nice to

have.23

WHAT CAN VISTAS DO ANYWAY?

KEYWORD: CAPACITY BUILDING

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Website overhaul!

Old site New site!

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Train/Manage volunteers!

• Streamline volunteer management – New orientations– Manuals on how to

train readers, control board ops, etc.

– Volunteer committees!

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Fundraising!

• Write grants• Plan fundraising

events• Coordinate

appeals• Find grants for

you to write

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Any project that will raise your organization’s ability to do good!

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What VISTAs can’t do

• Be the receptionist (answer phone & door exclusively)

• Do direct service– Examples: be a reader or control board operator

• Work outside of their VAD– It’s very important to stick to their VISTA

Assignment Description when assigning them tasks – this is what you’ll be reporting on!

• Duties paid staff or existing volunteers already do.

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If a VISTA doesn’t work out

• Be proactive about correcting problems.• Only the corporation (Corporation for

National & Community Service) can terminate a VISTA.

• Need lots of documentation.• Keep in touch with your network

supervisor and your state supervisor.• Read the Supervisor’s manual at

www.vistacampus.org 30

Best Practices

• Pick the right person– Can manage living in poverty– Motivated– Lots of people coming to VISTA during the

recession just for a job– Wants to help people

• Stay in touch with network• Weekly meetings with VISTA!

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Who to contact first

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My contact information

Amy Hatter, Executive DirectorRadio Eye1733 Russell Cave Road, Lexington, KY 40505amy.hatter@radioeye.org859-422-6390606-706-5446

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