New Jersey Bonner VISTA Fellows Program Site Supervisor Training

2011-2012

• Introduction of Foundation & Center Staff

• General project overview

• Introductions Community Partners & the work VISTA Member will do at site

I. Welcome and Introductions

A. The Corporation for National and Community Service

B. The National Service Network Programs and Partners

C. What is AmeriCorps VISTA?D. History of AmeriCorps VISTA

II. National Service Overview: History of National Service, VISTA, CNCS

The Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, strives to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in voluntary service opportunities to their communities and country. The Corporation is the nation’s largest grant maker supporting national and community service programs and volunteerism.

A. The Corporation for National and Community Service

B. The National Service Network Programs and Partners

AmeriCorps

Local ProjectsSponsoring AgenciesState Offices

Nat’l Demonstration Projects

HQNat’l Organizations

National, Regional & Local Projects

SE Region CampusNE Region CampusCentral Region CampusWestern Region CampusCapital Region Campus

State GrantsState Commissions

Ed Award Program GrantsState CommissionsNat’l OrganizationsTribes & Territories

Tribes & Territories Grants

National Directs GrantsNat’l Parent Organizations

AState & National

ANCCCAVISTA

Sponsoring Agencies

VISTA LeadersHQSponsoring Agencies

Foster GrandparentsSponsoring AgenciesState Offices

RSVPSponsoring AgenciesState Offices

Senior CompanionsSponsoring AgenciesState Offices

Nat’l Demonstration ProjectsNat’l OrganizationsSponsoring Agencies

Senior Corps

C. What is AmeriCorps*VISTA?

• A National Service Program Designed to Fight Poverty through Capacity Building.

• Members complete a term of service. They receive a living allowance and an education award or cash stipend upon successfully completing the term.

• AmeriCorps*VISTA is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• AmeriCorps*VISTA is a Federal program that has LOTS of regulations that MUST be followed by organizations and Members.

• Member complete a term of service

• 1963: President John F. Kennedy envisions a national service corps “to help provide urgently needed services in urban and rural poverty areas.”

• 1964: President Lyndon Johnson's Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 creates the VISTA program

• 1966: Over 3,500 VISTA members in service across the United States

• 1970s: VISTA merges with Peace Corps and the National Senior Service programs, and the ACTION agency was born.

• 1990: President Bush signs the National and Community Service Act of 1990

• 1993: President Clinton signs the National and Community Service Trust Act, creating AmeriCorps and the Corporation of National and Community Service. VISTA merges with AmeriCorps.

D. History of AmeriCorps*VISTA

• Subsistence Allowance

• End of Service Benefits

• Life Insurance, Health Benefits

• Child Care Benefits

• Relocation Allowance

• Taxes

• Personal/Medical Leave

• Political and Outside Employment Restrictions

III. AmeriCorps*VISTA Terms and Conditions

Please refer to the AmeriCorps*VISTA Member Summary Information sheet

A. Role of Sponsor Organizations1. Sponsor Organizations & VISTA Leader• Bonner Foundation• TCNJ Bonner Center• VISTA Leader

2. Overall Project Management3. Reporting4. Training

IV. Project Management

B. Organizational Roles and Responsibilities

1. On-Site Supervision of a VISTA Membera. Weekly Meetings, Professional Development, Networkingb. Investing Time for Professional Developmentc. Networking VISTA d. Timesheets – BWBRS

• Sponsor Organization Certifies VISTA Pay• VISTA Member must log hours 1st & 3rd Friday of each month• 10 Vacation Days• 10 Sick Days• Follow your own Organizational Holidays

e. Disciplinary Issues – NEVER BE AFRAID TO CALL!• 1st offense – discussion• 2nd offense – written warning• 3rd offense – suspension• 4th offense - termination

IV. Project Management (cont..)

B. Organizational Roles and Responsibilities (cont.)

2. Training, Reporting & Evaluationa. Template & Calendar

• Check-in calls (every other week)• VISTA Member monthly reports (Survey Monkey)• Quarterly Reports (Survey Monkey)

b. CNCS Reports Reporting Period Due Date• 04/24/11-09/30/11 - 10/14/11• 10/1/2011-12/31/11 - 01/13/12• 01/01/2012 - 05/05/12 - 04/18/12

c. Evaluations of Member & Supervisor (Quarterly)

IV. Project Management (cont..)

Progress Reporting TemplateDemographics: Volunteers Generated, $ RaisedProject ChallengesResource Development: Money and Volunteers

SustainabilityMember Accomplishments:

Awards member receive, media spotlights on members, service projects coordinated by VISTA members

Great StoriesAttachments: Agency Newsletter, Project Newsletter,

News Articles, Thank you lettersProgress Made Towards Milestones

B. Organizational Roles and Responsibilities (cont.)3. Travel Reimbursement• Must Reimburse for Travel• Mileage rate determined by your Organization (Federal level .50 / mile)

4. Financial Contributions• Housing• Food• Donations

5. Project check-in• Bi-weekly check-in• Next Meeting – Thursday, January 12, 2012

IV. Project Management (cont..)

C. Workplans1. What they are & how they’re used 2. Milestones3. Contractually obliged to workplan4. Review of Revised Versions

D. VADS (VISTA Assignment Description)1. What they Are

• Breakdown of Workplan • User Friendly for VISTA Member

2. Need to be revised 3. Submit to Sponsor Organizations by Friday, August 54. Distribute to VISTA Member before PSO

IV. Project Management

A. PSO Training – Concentration on PovertyB. SPONSOR TRAINING – Preparing for Work Sites

1. Review of PSO2. Additional Topics

• General Project Overview • Orientation to Area – Trenton & New Brunswick• VISTA Member terms, benefits, resources, responsibilities & expectations• Capacity Building – meaning & ensuring sustainability• Work Culture

• How they work • Office Environment

• Communication Styles• Race Relations

V. VISTA Member Training

C. On-site Orientation 1. Importance of Orientation

2. Topics to Cover– Tour of Organization – offices & staff members– Orientation to office culture & procedures– Desk area & reporting responsibilities– Communication styles (how to communicate & to whom)– Policies & Procedures

» Vacation requests» Ordering Materials» Phone Usage» E-mail address» How to use equipment » Office & Community Meetings» Travel reimbursement Procedures

V. VISTA Member Training

C. On-site Orientation 1. Importance of Orientation

2. Topics to Cover– Tour of Organization – offices & staff members– Orientation to office culture & procedures– Desk area & reporting responsibilities– Communication styles (how to communicate & to whom)– Policies & Procedures

» Vacation requests» Ordering Materials» Phone Usage» E-mail address» How to use equipment » Office & Community Meetings» Travel reimbursement Procedures

V. VISTA Member Training (cont..)

D. Monthly Meetings w/ VISTA Members1. Builds companionship2. Connects Projects together3. Helps to train them4. Develop resources amongst each other5. Dates

– TBD– Potentially Thursday Mornings

6. Suggested Topics?

E. Feedback

V. VISTA Member Training

VISTA Resources

My AmeriCorps Portal - my.americorps.gov

VISTA Campus – www.vistacampus.org

Education Award Information - Edaward.org

Seven Corners – americorps.sevencorners.com

Food Stamps www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/programs/foodstamps

VISTA Member Support Unit

Toll-free Office Number: 800-942-2677 Fax: 512-916-7021

New National Service VMSU Hotline Webpage: https://questions.nationalservice.gov/

VISTA Member Handbook