working with americorps vista volunteers by amy hatter june 7, 2013 10:30am iaais conference 1
TRANSCRIPT
Working with AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers
By Amy Hatter
June 7, 2013
10:30am
IAAIS Conference
1
My experience with VISTA
• First VISTA at Radio Eye in 2008
• Worked with and supervised 6 VISTAs since 2009
2
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.
3
VISTA Mission
“To start, strengthen, or expand programs, systems, or services that help people move out of poverty.”
4
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
5
VISTA Network
• Site level
• Local networko “Sponsoring organization” – VISTA supervisor
levelo Each network gets certain number of VISTAs;
doled out to sites.
• State level
6
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!
7
PROCESS OF GETTING A VISTA
8
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.
9
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)
10
VISTA Assignment Description
11
Performance Milestones
12
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
14
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.
15
CONGRATULATIONS, YOU’VE BEEN APPROVED!
. . .Now what?
16
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!
17
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.
18
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!
20
PSO Schedule – for Southeast region
21
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!
22
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
24
Website overhaul!
Old site New site!
25
Train/Manage volunteers!
• Streamline volunteer management – New orientations– Manuals on how to
train readers, control board ops, etc.
– Volunteer committees!
26
Fundraising!
• Write grants• Plan fundraising
events• Coordinate
appeals• Find grants for
you to write
27
Any project that will raise your organization’s ability to do good!
28
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.
29
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!
31
Who to contact first
32
My contact information
Amy Hatter, Executive DirectorRadio Eye1733 Russell Cave Road, Lexington, KY [email protected]
33