Ameri. Corps 101
Welcome Ameri. Corps Members of 2013 -2014 New Jersey Ameri. Corps Launch November 18, 2013
Celebrating 20 Years of Service!
Way, Way Back…. You are part of a long history of Americans in service Back in the day….
1933 -1942 Serving the Needs of the Nation
1933 -1942 Serving the Needs of the Nation Franklin D. Roosevelt was one of the first elected leaders to use the concepts of William James’ Moral Living to create public policy.
Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 1933 -1942 Provided opportunities for young men and boys related to the conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by federal, state and local governments.
1950 -1961 Engaging Americans “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. ”
On March 1, 1961, President Kennedy signed the Executive Order that officially started the Peace Corps
1960’s Continuing a Legacy Seniors Serving their Nation
1964 Domestic Volunteer Act Creation of VISTA
1988 -1990 A Kinder, More Gentle Nation President Bush comments about individuals serving their neighbors being like a “thousand points of light”
1991 -1992 A Call to Service During the Presidential campaign, Governor Bill Clinton visits a number of college campuses and urban communities and is intrigued by the National Service movement.
September 1993 President Bill Clinton signs the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, creating Ameri. Corps and the Corporation for National Service to expand opportunities for Americans to serve their communities.
January 2002 USA Freedom Corps l In his state of the Union address, President Bush called on us to dedicate at least two years to the service of others, and created the USA Freedom Corps to help all Americans answer his call.
2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act reauthorizing and expanding national service programs.
Which Brings Us to You!
As you start YOUR term of service… Begin with the End in Mind
Begin with the End in Mind What will your Life after Ameri. Corps look like? l Are you prepared to make the most of training, service and leadership opportunities? l Have you begun Detailed Journaling? l Are you learning Organizational Culture? l l Have l Did l Will your student loans grown? you file for Deferment? interest compound? l Have you set a reminder for interest accrual?
Be Prepared for Life After Ameri. Corps service l What is the culture of your organization? l Have you become part of that? l Are you Pro-Active? l What is your personal email address? l What does your Facebook, Twitter look like? You will be judged! Really, you will…
Understanding your Role… Does everyone understand that you are AMERICORPS first! You are not an Employee! You are an Ameri. Corps MEMBER and you will get things done for your community!
Ameri. Corps Service and Funds l Every program wrote an application with clear targets and goals for communities served. The program is judged on these performance measures. l What are your programs performance measures? Do you know? Insist that you know!
Know Your Ameri. Corps Member Contract! l When is your start/enrollment date? l When is your last day? l How many hours MUST YOU SERVE PER WEEK? l How many hours must you serve for the term? l Know your rights & responsibilities! l Benefits only while serving, hours commitment, timesheets, time off, grievance procedure ? !
Know Your Ameri. Corps Member Contract l What are the expectations on you? l What are your expectations? l Who is your direct supervisor? l Did you get a signed copy of your contract? Was your contract discussed with everyone? l What is the grievance procedure? Who do you contact? - not your manager.
The Very Basics of Ameri. Corps. . . Just the Facts….
Ameri. Corps is. . l People of All Backgrounds who have made a COMMITMENT to a specific TERM OF SERVICE not longer than one year. Ameri. Corps has… l Lots of benefits for members & the community l LOTS of regulations that MUST be followed by organizations, staff and members.
Ameri. Corps is NOT l. A JOB l A JOB’S PROGRAM l An INTERNSHIP l FREE LABOR l A STAFF BUILDER
Ameri. Corps is… * National Service Program (Domestic Peace Corps) • Service to the Community • Education Awards For Service
AMERICORPS in New Jersey
FUNDING PROCESS l Ameri. Corps is by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) l administered by the NJ Commission on National and Community Service l hosted by the Department of State l funded
Ameri. Corps Programs in NJ l New Jersey CDC l St. Paul’s CDC l Montclair University l The Salvation Army l NJ DEP Watershed Ambassadors l The College of New Jersey
MORE Ameri. Corps in NJ l Jersey Cares l Boys & Girls Club of NJ l Great Oaks Charter School l United Way of Central Jersey l Enable Inc. l Jewish Renaissance Foundation l United Way of Monmouth County l Center for Family Services
Ameri. Corps in New Jersey You ARE NOT ALONE! There will be hundreds of Corps Members serving in all areas of New Jersey this program year!
Ameri. Corps in New Jersey Focus Areas of National Service l Disaster Services l Veterans and Military Families l Economic Opportunity l Education l Environmental Stewardship l Healthy Futures
Ameri. Corps Members must meet these REQUIREMENTS to Serve: l Must be 17 years of age or older. l Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident of the US. l Proof: Birth Certificate &/or Specific LIMITED Acceptable Documents PROGRAMS MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS (Age, Education)
More REQUIREMENTS to serve: l Must have a High School Diploma or Equivalency, or must be working towards their GED. l Must complete your Term of Service. 1700 hours (FT) 900 hours (HT) 450 hours (QT) 300 hours (MT)
Ameri. Corps Members support the nation and the community through DIRECT SERVICE!
DIRECT SERVICE includes l Tutor Students l Educate communities about their environment l Renovate and Rebuild Abandoned Homes l Provide Mentoring During (Non) School Hours
DIRECT SERVICE also Includes l Recruit Volunteers l Assist Homeless Individuals l Provide Support to People with Disabilities l Assist Families with Young Children
(Let me explain)…. Ameri. Corps Direct Service IS NOT l Office work l Answering phones l Clerical work, Administrative duties l Janitorial duties l Supervising other members l Managing paperwork or financial issues l Anything that is connect to Prohibited Activities – directly or indirectly
What Do Ameri. Corps Members Receive? All Members Receive Training & the Experience of a Life Time! PLUS… Full-Time Members l l l 1, 700 Hours of Service Education Award Living Allowance $12, 100 Health Insurance Child Care Loan Forbearance and Interest Accrual Half-Time Members 900 Hours of Service Education Award Living Allowance (varies) l Loan Forbearance and Interest Accrual l
2013 -2014 Terms of Service TERM Full Time l Half Time l Quarter Time l Minimum Time l HOURS 1700 900 450 300 ED AWARD $5550 $2775 $1468 $1175
Term Limits An individual may receive (a living allowance, child care and health care) for no more than four terms of service in an Ameri. Corps State & National program, regardless of whether those terms were served on a full-, part-, or reduced parttime basis.
Educational Award Education Award can be used in the following ways: l Repay qualified existing or future student loans ** FEDERAL STUDENTS LOANS ONLY** l Pay all or part of cost of attending an institution of higher Education (including certain vocational programs) l Pay expenses incurred while participating in an approved school-to-work program
Educational Award l Must be used at an institution or program that has been approved by the US Dept. of Ed, for participation in Title IV programs. l Earn up to the equivalent of 2 full time education awards - in no more than 4 terms l Taxable **upon use**
Education Award l You have up to seven years to use you award l Education Award can l be used at more than one institution l help pay more then one loan. l Education Award can be used outside of the United States
Deferment and Interest Accrual l. Stop paying loan payments during your service. l. Interest continues to grow unless you defer AND file for Interest Accrual You could save so much!
Education Award l ONLY Transferable IF… l l You began service on or after October 1, 2009; and l l You were at least 55 when you enrolled; and You are serving in an Ameri. Corps State or National program. Only awards earned in terms beginning on or after Oct. 1, 2009, are eligible for transfer.
Partial Education Award l Must complete at least 15% of your service hours to be eligible for a prorated Education Award due to compelling personal circumstances. l These are reasons BEYOND the member’s control. (going to school is NOT CPC)
Prohibited Activities While charging time to the Ameri. Corps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the Ameri. Corps program or CNCS, staff and members may not (directly or indirectly) engage in the following activities
Prohibited Activities a. Attempting to influence legislation; b. Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; c. Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing; d. Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements;
Prohibited Activities e. Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office; f. Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials;
Prohibited Activities g. Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization;
Prohibited Activities h. Providing a direct benefit to— i. A business organized for profit; ii. A labor union; iii. A partisan political organization;
Prohibited Activities h. Providing a direct benefit to— continued… iv. A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) related to engaging in political activities or substantial amount of lobbying and
Prohibited Activities i. Conducting a voter registration drive or using CNCS funds to conduct a voter registration drive; j. Providing abortion services or referrals for receipt of such services; and k. Such other activities as CNCS may prohibit.
Prohibited Activities Keep in Mind Individuals may exercise their rights as private citizens and may participate in the activities listed above on their initiative, on non-Ameri. Corps time, and using non-CNCS funds. Individuals should not wear the Ameri. Corps logo while doing so.
Prohibited Activities l Guess What this means? ?
Prohibited Activities l You can do all this as a private citizen– not on Ameri. Corps time, not with Ameri. Corps supplies, equipment and Definitely not in your Ameri. Corps gear!
2 REASONS FOR LEAVING RELEASE FOR Compelling Personal Circumstance Cause
REASONS FOR LEAVING a member has a Compelling Personal Circumstance and has completed at least 15% of your service, they MAY receive a portion of the educational award. l If l This means that the situation is absolutely beyond the member’s control (e. g. illness). l Documentation provided by member is MANDATORY.
REASONS FOR LEAVING l RELEASE FOR CAUSE-If a member leaves for other reasons, they will NOT receive an educational award. reasons include a new job, going back to school, dissatisfaction with the program, etc. l These
Supervision of Ameri. Corps Members Each program is required to have a qualified supervisor to provide members with regular and adequate oversight on a daily basis. Members are prohibited from supervising another member. Do you know who your supervisor is?
Training l Training needs to include at LEAST: l. Orientation Includes Ameri. Corps 101 l. Citizenship Training l. Life After Ameri. Corps l. Content Skills Training
New Jersey THANKS YOU!
Have a Fantastic Journey in National Service!
Congratulations on YOUR Commitment to…
Getting Things Done for America!
CONTACT INFORMATION NJ Commission on National and Community Services NJ Department of State 225 West State Street, 4 rd Floor PO Box 456 Trenton, NJ 08625 -0456 609 -633 -9627
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