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2015-16 Subgrantee Application Instructions

Please be advised: The regulations and guidance for administering AmeriCorps programs change frequently.

Regardless of your prior or current experience with AmeriCorps programs, please read the enclosed instructions carefully, as many details and several key documents have changed.

The links and resources contained in this application instruction packet supersede previous versions.

CVN AmeriCorps resource listings on the CVN and OnCorps websites and in the CVN AmeriCorps handbooks will be updated over the coming weeks.

Application submission via SURVEYMONKEY.COM: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HWG3KNN Due Dates: Application is due by Monday April 20, 2015, 5:00 p.m. EST We anticipate slot allocation announcements will be made in late May 2015. Please note that slot allocations are not final until the final Notice of Funding from CNCS is received. Late Applications: CVN may, at its discretion, consider applications received after the deadline. These will be considered after on-time applicants have been reviewed and scored and based upon the availability of any remaining slots. CVN may also invite potential sub-grantees to apply for remaining slots when such programs will directly support target outcomes. All applications will be subject to the same level evaluation process and scoring rubric. CVN Catholic Volunteer Network, the prime grantee for the CVN CompassionCorps grant

CVN CompassionCorps

the title of CVN’s AmeriCorps program, implying a unified theory of change and program components that make it distinct from those CVN member programs that do not participate

AmeriCorps a federal program (grant opportunity) of the Corporation for National and Community Service designed to engage citizens in service, successful participants earn an Education Award to offset education costs incurred or expected

CNCS The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency with direct oversight of AmeriCorps and other National Service programs and initiatives

Program Refers to the CVN member or affiliate program that applies to be a subgrantee of CVN for the purpose of participating in CVN CompassionCorps

Member the participant in the Program who is enrolled as an AmeriCorps Member through CVN CompassionCorps

Site The program’s service partner that hosts the Member and provides direct daily supervision. Sometimes the program is, itself, the site.

CHC National Service Criminal History Check, this is different from a general background check and has very specific requirements

Prohibited Activities

A list of activities that Members may not engage in while counting hours towards their AmeriCorps service or while representing AmeriCorps.

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2015-16 Subgrantee Application Instructions

A OVERVIEW OF CVN COMPASSIONCORPS,

THE AMERICORPS PROGRAM OF THE CATHOLIC VOLUNTEER NETWORK AMERICORPS 101 AmeriCorps was established in 1993 as a way for Americans to give intensive service to their communities and country and earn money for college in return. AmeriCorps members address critical community needs in education, healthy futures, clean energy/environment, veterans and economic opportunities. AmeriCorps members receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for successfully completing a term of service, which can be used for future educational expenses or repayment of student loans.

CVN CompassionCorps is the new AmeriCorps program of the Catholic Volunteer Network. CompassionCorps has applied for funding through the AmeriCorps State and National program. AmeriCorps National provides grants directly to national public and nonprofit organizations that sponsor service programs, Indian tribes, and consortia formed across two or more states, including faith-based and community organizations, higher education institutions, and public agencies. Grants assist these groups in recruiting, training and placing AmeriCorps members to meet critical community needs. CVN CompassionCorps applies for EDUCATION AWARD ONLY (EOP) funding. This funding category allows our CompassionCorps “Members” to qualify for the Eli Segal Education Awards upon successful completion of a term of service. These funds, administered by the National Service Trust, can be used to repay student loans or offset the costs of future education. CVN receives modest funding at a per-MSY (member service year) level to offset the expenses of managing an AmeriCorps grant: providing training and technical assistance to program staff, supplementing member recruitment and development, and monitoring for compliance.

CVN COMPASSIONCORPS and The BRIDGE TO SELF SUFFICIENCY Our Theory of Change is hundreds of years old – we will end poverty and suffering through compassionate service. CVN CompassionCorps members are eliminating poverty one person as a time as they provide the referrals, services and intensive relationships of support and dignity that will help people achieve greater degrees of self-sufficiency. While CompassionCorps is open to all persons, regardless of their spiritual practice, it also provides participants with unique opportunities to intentionally explore what happens where #faithandservice meet. CVN CompassionCorps recognizes that ending poverty requires multiple strategies and a range of resources – the mix of housing, family stability, health/wellness, education and employment programs that CVN service partners offer. The Bridge to Self Sufficiency is a conceptual framework developed to help individuals and their supporters to recognize how these strategies and interventions relate. Successfully navigating these resources and paths requires long-range thinking, goal-setting and executive functioning skills. Recent studies show that for many, long-term exposure to conditions of poverty and trauma can “hijack” this kind of cognitive thinking. They also prove that these skills can be learned. And our partners with the Crittenton Women’s Union have integrated this research into their Bridge to Self Sufficiency model, with great results.

Watch a quick overview about Crittenton Women’s Union and the impact of the Bridge to Self Sufficiency model https://vimeo.com/65098534

Learn more about the “Bridge” model. Download the graphic reference and explore the research. http://www.liveworkthrive.org/research_and_tools/bridge_to_self_sufficiency

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WHAT DO CVN COMPASSIONCORPS MEMBERS DO? CVN CompassionCorps Members will serve in a variety of roles to help economically disadvantaged individuals and families progress along the Bridge’s five key domains. AmeriCorps Members are not employees, and may not displace or duplicate the services of employees. Some members may act like “case managers**” helping clients to set and achieve goals across multiple domains. Others may serve in roles that focus on only one or two. Review this list to see how your proposed service sites and activities would align with this model.

Family Stability: housing and needs of household dependents o Emergency shelter, transitional shelter, rental assistance, SROs, apartment location services,

homeownership, construction/repair o Day care, senior care, early childhood education o Safety, custody, citizenship

Well-being: health and behavioral health care, social networks o Reducing barriers to care, enrolling in insurance, health education o Primary care, disease management, fitness and nutrition o Fostering connections to churches, neighborhoods, schools, recovery communities, etc

Education and Training: educational attainment o High school completion, GED instruction, ELL/ESL classes, certification, skill training, college prep

Financial Management: savings and debts o Financial literacy, budgeting, opening accounts, loan programs, credit counseling, escrow accounts

Empowerment and Career Management: Earnings levels o Soft-skills training, employment searches, job placement programs, workstudy, career planning

CVN CompassionCorps will issue service position description templates that reflect the most typical roles requested by service site partners. This is not intended to diminish the unique needs of our partners; rather, it will inform site placement negotiations by clearly and consistently outlining roles and activities that are pre-approved by CVN to count towards AmeriCorps service requirements. Members may not be assigned to perform “Prohibited Activities” as outlined my AmeriCorps and all placements must comply with AmeriCorps policies regarding supplantation, nonduplication and nondisplacement. Details about these restrictions are provided in these instructions. ** If your members serve as case managers, consider taking part in our Mobility Mentor pilot. Participants will receive more training (in person/remote), access peer networks and resources developed by Crittenton Women’s Union to help them become more effective coaches. We are especially interested in piloting with programs where multiple members serve at the same agency and that agency expresses an interest in integrating the model.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CVN member or affiliate member programs that have paid their dues for the year, and which meet AmeriCorps program requirements, are eligible to apply for participation in CVN CompassionCorps.

More information about CVN Membership/Affiliation dues and benefits https://catholicvolunteernetwork.org/become-member

The 2015-16 CVN CompssionCorps program year starts August 1, 2015. This is the first day that a Member could start earning

hours for training or service, provided all enrollment documentation is complete and criminal history checks have been initiated. Regardless of the term of service, AmeriCorps members will have up to 12 months to complete the program from their enrollment date. You may enroll throughout the year if that is your program design.

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NEW Benefits under the revised CVN COMPASSIONCORPS program CVN made a deliberate move to eliminate the old program compensation system so that we can offer more valuable services and expand opportunities for programs and members to access funds.

CVN will assume the lead for compliance with Criminal History Checks and the costs for conducting the checks for half- and full-time members. Stay tuned for details, we’ll still need your assistance.

New AmeriCorps Gear packages will be issued to Members to ensure they’re serving with the “A”

Mobile time reporting with automated reminders and “alerts” will dramatically reduce the amount of time spent tracking down timesheets and resolving errors

Compensated training opportunities will allow programs and site partners to share their expertise on various topics via 90-120 minute webinars, with compensation of up to $1,000 per session.

Mobility Mentoring training provided by trained staff will be available to participants in the pilot; depending upon participation, this may be extended to service site staff at no or reduced-cost.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Mini-Grants ($500 -$1000) will be available to participating Programs

Innovation Funds will allow Members to propose innovative solutions and service projects, funding would be awarded by CompassionCorps peer votes on-line.

Alumni and Community Outreach Funds will help programs host events that engage their champions of service in learning more about CVN CompassionCorps and support networking for Members

CompassionCorps Ambassadors will be selected from various programs for recruitment and speaking engagements across the country to share their impact stories

Program Benefits Site Benefits Member Benefits Orientation, training, and technical

assistance throughout the year;

Travel stipend (now a flat $600 per program) to attend the required program director’s training, a pre-conference of the CVN Annual Meeting

Member management and training support;

Access to the My AmeriCorps nation-wide recruitment system;

Program components that readily align with best practices in the field and funders

Promotion of program activities and success on the national level;

Networking and training opportunities with state service commissions and other national service partners.

Member management and training support;

Access to training in using the Bridge to Self-Sufficiency and Mobility Mentoring techniques;

Promotion of program activities and success on the national level;

Networking and training opportunities with state service commissions and other national service partners;

Affiliation with National Service Movement.

Skills, knowledge, personal growth and leadership opportunities;

Access to AmeriCorps member events and networking opportunities;

Loan forbearance and interest accrual payment on qualified student loans during their term of service, qualification to participate in the Public Service Loan Program;

Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards are awarded to CVN CompassionCorps Members who successfully complete a required term of service for the program in which they are participating.

Pathways to career options with the new Employers of National Service program

EDUCATION AWARDS CVN AmeriCorps is an AmeriCorps National Education Award Program that provides funding for the education award only. Payments are issued through the National Service Trust, not through programs or individuals. AmeriCorps participation enables individuals to qualify for loan forbearance and Public Service Loan Program.

Bookmark and review more information about education awards and tax implications http://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/edaward Information about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness option and AmeriCorps http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/08_1210_ccraa_faqs.pdf Watch CVN’s vimeo about student loans, forbearance, deferment and public service options Strongly recommended viewing for all program directors. https://vimeo.com/102128302

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REQUIREMENTS CVN CompassionCorps, as the prime grantee on the grant assumes primary responsibility for:

Providing orientation and training materials for program directors, site supervisors and Members to meet program requirements and adhere to policies and procedures

Maintaining web-based systems for accurate time, activity and data reporting

Managing the allocation of slots through a competitive subgranting process

Conducting Member status changes (enrollments, exits, suspensions) in eGrants, the official AmeriCorps registry

Provides overall grants management and oversight, monitors for compliance and communicates requirements and policies with subgrantees

Prepares and submits general progress reports, grant proposals, audit findings and other reports to CNCS on behalf of CVN CompassionCorps subgrantees

Program Requirements Site Requirements Member Requirements Identify resources sufficient to

provide appropriate living allowances and member benefits

Negotiate appropriate service placements for Members

Recruit, screen, select and train CVN CompassionCorps Members

Provide orientation and training to site supervisors, monitor for compliance

Prepare member enrollment and exit materials within 15 days of such change in status

Approve member time, activity and data reports in a timely manner

Cooperate with CVN reporting and monitoring activities

Demonstrate affiliation with AmeriCorps/CVN CompassionCorps

Support Member development throughout the year; including Member performance reviews

Engage with State Service Commissions

Ensure compliance with CVN and AmeriCorps policies at the program and site levels

Participate in an orientation, webinars, conference calls and other training as needed

Attend the CVN Annual Training, October 1, 9a-3p Houston, TX ($600 stipend per program provided)

Communicate any questions, concerns or unusual incidents to CVN staff

Identify roles for Members that are consistent with AmeriCorps allowable and unallowable activities and align with CVN CompassionCorps’ commitment to provide direct services that help individuals and families achieve increasing degrees of self-sufficiency

Provide orientation, training and resources sufficient for the Member to successfully and safely perform assigned duties

Provide daily supervision, direction and feedback; conduct mid-year and year-end performance reviews with Members

Facilitate and document accompaniment for Members awaiting CHC results

Approve member time, activity and data reports in a timely fashion

Allow Members to attend required program activities

Complete a Site Supervisor Contract at the beginning of the term and a site impact survey at the end of the term, cooperate with additional reporting as needed

Demonstrate affiliation with AmeriCorps/CVN CompassionCorps

Comply with CVN and AmeriCorps policies as outlined in the site supervisor handbook

Communicate any questions, concerns or unusual incidents to program or CVN staff

Satisfy eligibility and criminal history check requirements

Attend and participate in program, site and CVN CompassionCorps required training components at orientation and throughout the term

Satisfy BOTH the program requirements and the minimum service hours requirements

Perform duties as trained in a manner consistent with service site policies and expectations

Submit time, activity and data reports in a timely manner

Demonstrate AmeriCorps affiliation while in service (gear, nametags, etc.)

Adhere to the terms of the Member Service Agreement, including the Code of Conduct

Refrain from engagement in prohibited activities while logging hours for national service

Communicate concerns, questions, unusual incident or compelling personal circumstances with the program staff in a timely manner

Comply with CVN and AmeriCorps policies as outlined in the Member handbook

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B. APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA AND SCORING

All sub-grantee applications are reviewed and scored according to defined criteria.

Points Heading Questions considered in scoring

0 Program Information

30 Program Design and Projected Impact

9. Assessment of Need 10. Alignment with Bridge to Self Sufficiency (theory of change model) 11. Use of Members to Address Needs 12. Site Selection 15. Non-displacement/Non-duplication 16. Performance Measures/Target Outcomes

10 Member Recruitment and Selection

17. Participant Application (submitted separately) 19. Recruitment Strategies 21. Fair and Equitable Selection

20

Member Orientation, Training and Development

25. Member Training (required policies and expectations) 26/27. Member Training 28/29. Member Development 31. Member Affiliation

20 Organizational Capacity 32/33. Capacity/staffing 34. Staff Training 36. Prior experience with AmeriCorps/federal grants 37. State Commission Engagement 38. Local/Elected Officials Engagement * For returning subgrantee applicants, prior performance is also considered (10 points) and includes a review of ontime enrollment/exit rates, fill/retention rates, submission of performance measures data and mid/year end report. For new programs, the full 20 points is based upon how you convey that your program will be able to satisfy program requirements.

20 Site Supervision, Monitoring and Measuring Impact

40. Monitoring Plan 41. Supervisor Training 43. Data Validity 44. Sharing Impact

0 Assurances

In the clarification period, CVN will seek further information or evidence to satisfy any outstanding questions or concerns. Slots will not be assigned until clarification issues have been satisfactorily addressed. All sub-grantee applications are subject to review by CNCS. CVN CompassionCorps cannot make any guarantees regarding slot allocation numbers or levels. All slot allocations are contingent (and subject to change) until the final Notice of Funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is received. Versions of the new CVN CompassionCorps logo available for use.

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Instructions and applicable policies for subgrantee applicants Programs participating in CVN AmeriCorps are considered sub-grantees of CNCS and are subject to the CVN AmeriCorps policies, AmeriCorps Special Provisions, AmeriCorps General Provisions, AmeriCorps Regulations and Corporation requirements. Specific policies and technical assistance resources are designated for each section as appropriate. In submitting your application for consideration, you signal that you have reviewed and understand these policies and procedures.

More information about AmeriCorps Regulations and Provisions http://www.nationalservice.gov/build-your-capacity/grants/managing-americorps-grants

Program Information and Affiliation: (0 points) 1. Program Name: enter your program name as it is listed in the CVN RESPONSE directory 1. Contact Information: for “name,” enter the name of the “Program Director,” the person who will assume

responsibility for implementing CVN CompassionCorps components.

2. Social Media: if your program does not have any social media presence, enter www.catholicvolunteernetwork.org as the website and leave the other spaces blank

3. Mission Statement: enter as it appears on your website and/or official publications.

4. Eligibility: Participation in the CVN CompassionCorps program is strictly limited to CVN member programs or affiliates in good standing, with membership dues paid for the 2015-16 year. We will not consider your application if your dues are not paid by the application deadline.

5. Slot Request: Enter the total number of slots you request for each type in whole numbers. Programs may choose one or a combination of all three terms of service. Programs are required to use assigned AmeriCorps slots and inform CVN AmeriCorps when slots will not be used. Uncommitted slots will be reclaimed by CVN. CVN will consider requests for additional slots on an ad hoc basis, subject to availability and demonstrated program capacity.

Be sure that your program will offer Members the opportunity to log the appropriate number of service hours (within a twelve month period). At least 80% of the minimum hours must be in direct service; up to 20% may be in training. Use the grid below and CVN’s “hours calculator” (Excel sheet, attached) to assist in planning. Slot type Award

Amount Minimum total hours

Minimum service: (80%) Only activities listed in the service position description count toward service. Lunch/breaks do not count toward service. No unsupervised time (prep from home). National Days of Service or hours responding to declared Disasters may also count.

Maximum training: (20%) Program orientation and retreat components, excluding religious activity. Training to perform service tasks, meet agency or certification requirements. In-service weekly reflections, not to exceed 2hrs/week.

Full time $5,730.00 1700 1360 340

Half time $2,865.00 900 720 180

Minimum * $1,212.44 300 240 60 *At this time, CVN is not offering slots for minimum-time only programs. If your program uses full- and/or half-time slots, you may request minimum-time slots. Should any minimum-time slots become available for summer programs, CVN will solicit proposals.

6. Member Living Allowance and Benefits: Programs are responsible for providing any living allowance and benefits. Though AmeriCorps does not require Ed Award Only grantees to offer an allowance, it is typical for CVN programs to offer reasonable packages in accordance with the pillars of simplicity and community.

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For questions #7, enter the total value of the annual allowance and benefits of a full-time participant in your program. Include the stipend/living allowance, travel subsidy, food allowance, rent/housing (as taxable). If your benefits vary by location or tenure, enter the average amount. FT members may not receive living allowances greater than $24,200 per year. A living allowance is not to be considered a salary or a wage. Programs must not pay a living allowance on an hourly basis. Programs should pay the living allowance in regular increments, such as weekly or bi-weekly, paying an increased increment only on the basis of increased living expenses such as food, housing, or transportation. Payments should not fluctuate based on the number of hours served in a particular time period, and must cease when the member’s service ceases. Programs are responsible for compliance with state, local and federal laws related to taxable benefits including (but not limited to): paying FICA, W-4 and W-2 filing for personal income taxes. Some states may require worker’s compensation for AmeriCorps members. If worker’s compensation is not required, programs/site partners must ensure that their general insurance covers in-service injury or incidents. Because CompassionCorps is an Education Award Only grant, programs are not required to provide childcare or health insurance. However, most CVN programs offer health insurance (CVN offers an ACA compliant plan as a brokered service) and all citizens are expected to have health insurance to be compliant with the Affordable Care Act. AmeriCorps members are not considered employees for the purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Need documentation? http://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ogc_flsa1998.pdf

Watch CVN’s vimeo to learn more about how programs manage the taxation of stipends and other issues. This is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. AmeriCorps requirements in the provision supersede CVN advisement. https://vimeo.com/41799122

C. PROGRAM DESIGN AND PROJECTED IMPACT

Priority consideration will go to programs that demonstrate alignment with the CVN CompassionCorps theory of change for addressing poverty. The Bridge to Self Sufficiency model reflects the strengths of CVN program partners – whether they deliver quality services in only one domain or provide supports across multiple domains. While we remain committed to supporting K-12 education outcomes for academically at-risk and economically disadvantaged youth, CVN CompassionCorps is not a literacy program. While we expect to allocate many slots to Members providing K-12 instruction in schools, priority will go to programs that can demonstrate how their interventions will help individuals to move from poverty toward greater degrees of self-sufficiency.

7. Member Allocation by State: Enter the number of Members you expect to place in each state. Use only whole

numbers, we want to know how many individuals will be in each state. If you are unsure, offer your best prediction. Your response should correlate with the number of slots you request so that you are offer a predication for all anticipated CVN CompassionCorps members in your program. AmeriCorps members must be serving in US states and territories.

8. Assessment of Community Need(s): Describe the unmet community need(s) and conditions of poverty that your CompassionCorps members will address. If your program serves in one neighborhood, city or region, provide recent local data to support your needs assessment. If your program places in multiple states or varied communities, describe how you determine the needs of the communities in which you will place members. What criteria do you use?

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9. Alignment with the "Bridge to Self Sufficiency;" the CompassionCorps theory of change: "The Bridge" model assumes that achieving economic independence requires individuals and families to optimize their lives in five basic "domains." These are 1) Family Stability, 2) Well-Being, 3) Education and Training, 4) Financial Management and 5) Employment and Career Management. Please indicate which "domains" your CompassionCorps members would be addressing with clients through direct services, referrals, case management/coaching or through managing volunteers to provide such services. Check all that apply.

Family Stability: Housing

emergency shelter, transitional housing, housing referrals, shared housing, subsizided housing, rental assistance, rent-to-own, co-op housing, homeownership, construction/repairs

Family Stability: Dependents

enrolling children in school/daycare/aftercare, stabilizing dependent health care needs, addressing dependent legal issues, addressing dependent needs that are obstacles to the parent/guardian employment or education, out-of-school time programming for children

Well-Being: Health & Behavioral Health

enrolling in insurance, establishing primary care relationships, stabilizing crises conditions, chronic disease management, preventative care

Well-Being: Social Networks

helping clients move from isolation or "draining" networks, connecting individuals/families to wider networks of community support

Adult Education & Training

(adults and young adults) ESL, GED/high school equivalency, college prep, job training/certification, college success

K-12 Education Goal setting, pre-employment skills, truancy reduction/retention, financial literacy, health/wellness, teen parenting, parent engagement, academic enrichment, teaching

Financial Management

financial literacy, credit counseling, loans, credit monitoring, escrow accounts

Employment and Career Management

(may include teens who are of legal working age) referrals to job programs, addressing legal barriers to employment, employment searches, resume/interview support, job placement services, soft-skills employment readiness programs

Other After carefully considering the service interventions listed above, if you can identify positions that would not align, offer a very brief description here

10. Using AmeriCorps Members to Effectively Address Community Needs: Describe how the service activities (on-

site) of the CompassionCorps members help economically disadvantaged individuals and/or families to move from poverty toward self-sufficiency.

If you place CompassionCorps members at one location (the program is the site), please briefly articulate the theory and evidence that inform your service delivery model (your intervention). If your CompassionCorps members are placed at varied service sites, discuss how you determine that your members will be engaged in evidence-based service delivery models.

11. Site Selection and Partnering: Describe how your program selects service placement sites. What criteria do you use? What are the responsibilities of the site partner? What does your service site agreement/Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) cover?

12. Acknowledgement: Site Agreements: Programs are responsible for obtaining a Memorandum of Understanding or signed agreement with each service placement site. These are to be forwarded to CVN (instructions provided at a later date). CVN will issue samples at a later date but a quick internet search reveals several. Check the statement to signal that you have read and understand this requirement.

13. Anticipated Service Positions: CVN CompassionCorps plans to create standardized position description templates to help us more clearly and consistently articulate our typical AmeriCorps member activities. They are intended to help programs and site partners to more efficiently negotiate appropriate roles for CompassionCorps members with pre-approved tasks and language that meet CVN and AmeriCorps standards.

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This list was developed in review of more than 600 positions recently approved by CVN with consideration for how they would align with the Bridge to Self-Sufficiency and add value to communities. Prior to Member enrollment, all positions are reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate and allowable activities for an AmeriCorps Member and that they align with the scope of CVN CompassionCorps. CVN reserves the right to reject positions, even if they have been approved for other AmeriCorps programs. Service positions are considered part of the Member Service Agreement. Members may only log AmeriCorps hours for time spent on these approved activities. Changes to position descriptions require advance approval from CVN.

Review and bookmark AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities http://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/acprohibited_activities.pdf

While charging time to the AmeriCorps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or CNCS, staff and members may not engage in the following 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; 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; 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;

h) Providing a direct benefit to— i) A business organized for profit; ii) A labor union; iii) A partisan political organization; iv) A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of the

Internal Revenue Code of 1986 related to engaging in political activities or substantial amount of lobbying except that nothing in these 9 provisions shall be construed to prevent participants from engaging in advocacy activities undertaken at their own initiative; and

v) An organization engaged in the religious activities described in paragraph 3.g. above, unless CNCS assistance is not used to support those religious 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.

AmeriCorps members may not engage in the above activities directly or indirectly by recruiting, training, or managing others for the primary purpose of engaging in one of the activities listed above. Individuals may exercise their rights as private citizens and may participate in the activities listed above on their initiative, on non-AmeriCorps time, and using non- CNCS funds. Individuals should not wear the AmeriCorps logo while doing so.

Learn and practice. This self-paced on-line training reviews the prohibited activities and tests your understanding. This will be required of all program directors and is highly recommended for use in supervisor and member training. http://learning.nationalserviceresources.org/pluginfile.php/27665/mod_resource/content/3/prohibited_activities.htm

Learn and practice. This on-line training offers guidance and tests your understanding of activities that are allowable/unallowable. Realistic scenarios address lunch monitoring, responding to disasters, fundraising and more http://learning.nationalserviceresources.org/pluginfile.php/27638/mod_resource/content/5/CNCS%20Allowable%20Unallowable%20Activities_v3.htm

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For #14, we ask that you predict how many individuals will engage in each set of activities as listed in the table below. If a Member is assigned multiple roles, count the Member once for EACH role. For instance, a Member may coordinate a food pantry (emergency food) and have a case management load should be counted towards totals for both roles.

Table of emerging “standard” CompassionCorps service positions Service role (titles may change)

Domain alignment Typical tasks and assigned duties

Client Advocate/Case Manager

Mobility Mentoring (multiple domains)

helping persons to apply for benefits, identify resources and set goals to move toward self sufficiency

Lifeskills Coordinator/Instructor

Multiple or specific domains, depends

coordinates/implements classes on parenting, financial literacy, stress, nutrition, healthy relationships, and other topics to promote family stability

Homeless Client Outreach/Hospitality

Family Stability provides for basic care and hygiene needs for homeless persons; food, clothing, laundry, showering, phone/computer services, bus tokens, mail, referrals

Hotline/Referrals Specialist

Family Stability provides front-line support for persons in crises needing immediate assistance with food, shelter, physical safety (domestic violence/rape), mental health

Housing Rehabilitation/ Construction

Family Stability services that expand safe, affordable housing options for the homeless and persons experiencing housing instability or that improve safety and independent living conditions for economically disadvantaged homeowners

Adult Educator Education and Training providing instruction and training for ELL/ESL, GED/equivalency, computer and other technical skills

Employment Counselor Employment and Career Management

provides assistance with job searches, resume building, interview prep, "soft skills" training, referrals for job training/placement

Financial Literacy Educator Financial Management coordinates/implements lifeskills classes, workshops or individual counseling to help economically disadvantaged persons to build savings, address debts and achieve financial goals

Legal Advocate/Intake Specialist

Multiple or specific domains

assists economically disadvantaged clients to access legal services, conducts intakes, assists clients in preparing for court, accompanies clients to court, conducts "know your rights" education sessions, provides referrals to other social services

Community Gardener Wellbeing and/or Family Stability

manages community gardens for low-income communities (non-profits, schools, civic groups), teach gardening skills, promotes food security and healthy eating

Health/Wellness Educator Wellbeing (or Family Stability for dependents)

provides or coordinates individual or group instruction in nutrition, physical health, reproductive health, behavioral health, fitness, stress management, addiction/recovery

Companion/Aide Wellness or general Mobility Mentoring

helping low-income individuals to meet basic needs, follow treatment plans, engage in community life and function as independently as possible

Volunteer Coordinator Multiple or specific domains

recruits, screens, trains, supervises, evaluates volunteers (not prohibited activities)

Early Childhood Educator Family Stability provides childcare to low-income children

Teacher Education meets an unmet instructional need in K-12, low-income schools where qualified teachers are not available for hire

Academic Support Specialist

Education provides one on one or group instruction to help academically at-risk students (K-12) in low-income communities

Student Activities Coordinator

Education develops and implements co-curricular programming to support student engagement and school attachment

Student Workstudy Coordinator

Education/Career Management

assists with identifying worksites, mentoring student participants, monitoring attendance and travel

Mentor Multiple or specific domains

intentionally matched individually or in groups to work with young people to meet at regular intervals, builds goal setting skills

Afterschool/Summer Camp Counselor

Family Stability community based/sponsored enrichment activities for low-income youth

Emergency Food Family Stability prepare/serve meals for soup kitchens/dinner programs, food pantry services & distribution

Public and Community Spaces

Wellness community theater, recreation and events that deliberately help low-income communities build social networks & wellbeing

Other Before selecting “other” consider whether the proposed tasks align with any of roles listed above. Provide a brief description

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14. Compliance with nonduplication, nondisplacement and nonsupplantation policies.

CVN AmeriCorps members will enhance an existing program by developing a new project, offering services in a new area or offering supplemental services which would not otherwise be provided by the service site. AmeriCorps members are not employees and must not displace, replace, supplant or duplicate current or recent staff or volunteer responsibilities. Discuss how your program ensures that member roles comply with the AmeriCorps policies regarding non-supplantation, non-duplication and non-displacement. How do you ensure that members are in roles that "add value" to the service site and/or community?

Review and bookmark the these policies in the CFR as 2540.100

Nonduplication. Corporation assistance may not be used to duplicate an activity that is already available in the locality of a program. And, unless the requirements of paragraph (f) of this section are met, Corporation assistance will not be provided to a private nonprofit entity to conduct activities that are the same or substantially equivalent to activities provided by a State or local government agency in which such entity resides.

Nondisplacement. (1) An employer may not displace an employee or position, including partial displacement such as reduction in hours, wages, or employment benefits, as a result of the use by such employer of a participant in a program receiving Corporation assistance. (2) An organization may not displace a volunteer by using a participant in a program receiving Corporation assistance. (3) A service opportunity will not be created under this chapter that will infringe in any manner on the promotional opportunity of an employed individual. (4) A participant in a program receiving Corporation assistance may not perform any services or duties or engage in activities that would otherwise be performed by an employee as part of the assigned duties of such employee. (5) A participant in any program receiving assistance under this chapter may not perform any services or duties, or engage in activities, that—(i) Will supplant the hiring of employed workers; or (ii) Are services, duties, or activities with respect to which an individual has recall rights pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or applicable personnel procedures. (6) A participant in any program receiving assistance under this chapter may not perform services or duties that have been performed by or were assigned to any—(i) Presently employed worker; (ii) Employee who recently resigned or was discharged; (iii) Employee who is subject to a reduction in force or who has recall rights pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or applicable personnel procedures; (iv) Employee who is on leave (terminal, temporary, vacation, emergency, or sick); or (v) Employee who is on strike or who is being locked out. Supplantation. Corporation assistance may not be used to replace State and local public funds that had been used to support programs of the type eligible to receive Corporation support. For any given program, this condition will be satisfied if the aggregate non-Federal public expenditure for that program in the fiscal year that support is to be provided is not less than the previous fiscal year.

Review CVN’s “translation” of these policies in the policies section of the AmeriCorps resource page on our website https://catholicvolunteernetwork.org/handbooks-forms-and-resources

15. Performance Measures and Target Outcomes: Performance measures are the means by which we standardize

some aspects of data collection to show how our outcomes align with national priorities. CVN CompassionCorps uses standard performance measures in housing and employment. For both, we are tracking "outputs” that reflect the numbers of persons receiving services that are made possibly by the work of your CompassionCorps members. We are also tracking "outcomes" (the change we ultimately want to see), the numbers of persons whose conditions improve because of those services. With standardized definitions and indicators, these performance measures help us to quantify the change we make.

While programs are not required to report on these two areas in order to be considered for CompassionCorps slots, CVN seeks to build a portfolio of programs that will help us to meet our target outcomes. We expect to allocate slots to a range of programs and site placements that align with all of the domains represented on the Bridge to Self Sufficiency.

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Please revisit the projections you made in your "Intent to Apply" survey responses and enter revised, realistic projections for the 2015-16 term (relative to activity between August 1, 2015 and July 31, 2016).

National Measure What is counted? Evidenced by* Housing O5 Number of economically disadvantaged individuals receiving

housing placement services such as emergency shelter, transitional shelter, SROs, shared housing, referrals to housing programs, apartment searches, home repair and construction, home ownership programs

Client management software (ETO, HMIS) as used by the site; CVN web-based reporting tools; referral logs

Housing O11 Number of economically disadvantaged individuals (all members of a household) who transition to permanent, safe, affordable housing. This may also include renovation that brings housing to code.

Rental agreements, leases, inspection reports,

Employment O3 Number of economically disadvantaged persons receiving job placement services (which may include soft-skills training, job readiness activities and employment search assistance)

Client management software as used by the site; CVN web-based reporting tools; referral logs; class rosters

Employment O10 Number of economically disadvantaged persons obtaining employment.

Offer letters, contracts, paystubs

*CVN places a high value on client confidentiality and will not ask for names or identifiable information. However, appropriate source data must be maintained at the site level to verify data submissions.

Explore and bookmark tools for performance measurement, including the specific definitions and indicators for each of our four performance measures http://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/performance-measurement/americorps

D. MEMBER RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION CVN CompassionCorps expects subgrantees to enroll the full number of Members included in their grant award. Any and all program participants that the program intends to enroll as AmeriCorps Members MUST be recruited specifically to serve with AmeriCorps, in AmeriCorps approved positions. Recruitment and application materials must reference the program’s intent to participate in AmeriCorps, pending funding and approval. AmeriCorps is not a “benefit” to be awarded after selection to those who meet eligibility – rather, CVN sub-grantees agree to recruit applicants to serve in their CVN AmeriCorps programs. 16. Participant application and website affiliation. Email a copy of the application that your prospective

participants/Members use to apply to your program for the 2015-16 term. Email your materials or a link to your on-line form (if all questions can be reviewed by CVN staff without creating a user account) to kcassella@catholicvolunteernetwork.org. Your email subject line should read “[Name of Program] Participant Application 2015-16.” Check the box to indicate that you have submitted your materials. The next field asks you to enter the page on your website that demonstrates your AmeriCorps affiliation. Your participant application is reviewed for the following: a) The CVN AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps logo, signaling that the applicant knows that s/he is applying to an

AmeriCorps program (pending funding and approval). Request logos in different formats via email to

lstephanoff@catholicvolunteernetwork.org. b) Compliance with non-discrimination policies.

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Non-Discrimination Policy Programs participating in CVN CompassionCorps will not discriminate in the selection and participation of AmeriCorps members based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, military discharge, sex, national origin, age,

disability, or any other characteristic unrelated to the ability to perform the essential functions or basic tenents of programs participating in CVN CompassionCorps, or any bona fide occupational qualifications. Programs must make every effort to ensure that service sites have similar non-discrimination policies. This policy governs all aspects of the program, including selection, placement assignment, compensation and access to benefits and training. Any Member with questions or concerns about any type of discrimination in their service site are encouraged to bring these issues to the attention of their immediate supervisor, superior, Program Director and/or CVN CompassionCorps staff. If the service site is found to be engaging in such activities, removal of current Member(s) (and denial of future Members at that service site) can result. In rare circumstances, CVN is able to secure exemptions for gender-based selections when members are housed with vowed religious or with service beneficiaries where housing is restricted by gender. Programs must request such exemptions through CVN CompassionCorps staff at the time of application to CVN CompassionCorps. The majority of our programs have a distinct faith-based heritage, which all applicants will understand represents the spiritual foundation of these programs.

Participation in inherently religious activities offered by the program or its partners can NOT be required or considered a condition of participation in CVN CompassionCorps.

Program applications may not require candidates to disclose their religious affiliation, marital status, disability or medical condition (though such questions can be asked after selections are made).

Review civil rights guidelines for grantees on acceptable interview questions http://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Interview%20Questions%20for%20Grantees%207.25.13.pdf

Disability Inclusion and Reasonable Accommodations Programs and activities must be accessible to persons with disabilities, and the grantee must provide reasonable accommodation to the known mental or physical disabilities of otherwise qualified members,

service recipients, applicants, and staff. All selections and project assignments must be made without regard to the need to provide reasonable accommodation. Bookmark and explore on-line courses and technical assistance to help programs be inclusive to persons with disabilities and to assess requests for reasonable accommodations. http://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/disability-inclusion

17. Determining which participants are enrolling with CVN CompassionCorps. Program staff are responsible for determining eligibility for participating in CVN CompassionCorps.

Member eligibility requirements Programs must determine and verify that applicants are eligible to enroll in AmeriCorps through CVN CompassionCorps. An AmeriCorps participant must:

1. Be at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service 2. Have a high school diploma or its equivalent; or not have dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an

AmeriCorps participant and must agree to obtain a high school diploma/equivalent prior to using the education award

3. Be a citizen, national or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States; 4. Satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check (45 CFR 2540.202)

For a list of documents that verify citizenship/residency, review our eligibility form https://catholicvolunteernetwork.org/sites/default/files/2012%20Eligibility%20Verification%20Form.doc

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An applicant’s ability to enroll may also be affected by the number or value of any previous participation in National Service. Members who do not satisfy the conditions of the criminal history check may not be enrolled. For this question, indicate whether your program design intends to enroll all applicants as AmeriCorps Members. If your (domestic) program offers AmeriCorps participation as an option or if you do not intend to offer the opportunity to all participants, briefly explain how you determine which participants are considered and selected for the AmeriCorps program.

18. Recruitment Strategies. We are most interested in your responses to the following: How do you recruit from the local communities to be served by your program? How do you recruit and engage traditionally underrepresented populations (new Americans, low-income populations, rural residents, older Americans, veterans, persons of color, persons with disabilities, Native Americans and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds)? What steps will you take to reach your recruitment target and fill 100% of your requested CVN CompassionCorps slots?

19. Member Selection Process. For this question, indicate the components of your application screening/selection process for candidates serving 2015-16. Each program has unique considerations; while we expect to see a multi-step process, we do not expect programs to utilize all components. Use the “other” field to share other ways that you screen candidates. Choices: formal application, eligibility screening standards, first interview, reference check, transcripts, skill/experience screening, second interview, sex offender screening, criminal history check, trial service.

Take a moment to check that your interview and application questions are not discriminatory. http://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Interview%20Questions%20for%20Grantees%207.25.13.pdf Some questions should be reserved for after you have accepted a candidate.

Criminal History Checks Visit and bookmark the landing page for official guidance about the CHC http://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/criminal-history-check

Applicants to CVN CompassionCorps are subject to a mandatory National Service Criminal History Check in order to protect vulnerable service beneficiaries and manage risks for all involved. CVN CompassionCorps expects to take the lead role in ensuring that your applicants are screened appropriately and will share updates in the coming weeks. Here are the key components that program staff need to understand:

The National Service Criminal History Check is distinct from other background checks. Deviations from the procedures violate the regulations.

The following will render an applicant ineligible to serve: conviction of murder; ordered to report on the national sex offender registry; refusal to consent to the Check; providing false information for the Check

Programs are strongly encouraged to develop their own criminal history check policies, reviewed by legal counsel. Generally, your criteria should be relative to the safety of the service beneficiaries and the assigned service duties and should not have the effect of discrimination.

Programs must conduct a name-based national search of all applicants using the (free) National Sex Offender Public Registry and must review and document the results before they may be enrolled. Instructions and requirements for documenting this search will be provided later.

All CVN CompassionCorps applicants are to be screened to meet the standards for working, unaccompanied, with vulnerable populations (children, seniors and persons with disabilities). This requires a national finger-print search of FBI records conducted through a designated state repository AND two name-based state searches conducted through the state repositories of a) the state in which the member will serve and b) the state of residence of the member at the time of application. These must be initiated before members begin service or training hours. Specific guidance will be provided.

If your program orientation has included time for group screening (fingerprinting, notarizing, etc.) please continue to hold that time.

CVN expects to fund (through direct vendor billing or reimbursement) the costs of conducting the CHC.

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20. Fair and Equitable Selection Criteria. Briefly discuss how your members are selected in a fair and equitable manner. Programs may require members to have a particular skill or background that will help them to address national service initiatives. Refer to the policies above.

21. Selection by Gender. (0 points) Programs must accept both men and women unless they have received an

exception from CNCS through CVN. Exceptions have been granted when members are housed within a religious community (ie, in a convent or monastery) or with vulnerable client populations housed separately by gender (ie, shelters for female survivors of domestic violence).

22. Key Dates. (0 points) Remember, the first date that successfully enrolled members may begin logging service

and training hours is August 1,2016. If your program has rolling admissions/start dates, you may skip this question. Your responses will inform our planning (especially in terms of the CHC), please offer your best predictions of the dates you expect to: notify applicants, start orientation, complete enrollment documents, conduct fingerprinting/CHC initiation (if applicable), start service at site, end your term.

23. Member Training, Required Components. AmeriCorps and CVN require that programs train members to

successfully execute their service activities. The following list specifies policies and topics that are expected to be covered in your orientation and in-service training/retreats throughout the year, timed appropriately. For this question, check each component to confirm that these will be addressed. Choices include: program mission, program requirements, program policies regarding employment, AmeriCorps 101, Member Service Agreement, code of conduct, prohibited activities, suspension and termination, grievance policies, reasonable accommodations, drug-free workplace/harassment/non-discrimination policies, elevator pitch, AmeriGear, community issues, safety, active citizenship, time/activity reporting, accompaniment, performance measures data collection, Bridge to Self Sufficiency model, Life After AmeriCorps, student loans/Ed Award.

Bookmark and explore sample orientation checklists and agendas as well as CNCS orientation requirements. http://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/member-and-volunteer-development/encorps/americorps-orientation-requirements

Preview and use the AmeriCorps 101: AmeriCorps State and National Member Online Orientation http://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/member-and-volunteer-development/americorps-101-americorps-state-and-national-member

24. Policies and Expectations. Discuss how you communicate program policies and expectations with your

Members. How do you check for understanding?

25. Member Training Inventory. This question poses a list of topics that many CVN programs address during orientation or in-service training/retreats. Each program has unique needs; while we expect that CVN programs help to prepare and challenge Members in many ways, we do not have standard criteria for how you provide member support and development. Check those that apply. Use your response to #27 to discuss topics not listed.

26. Member Training (Narrative). Tell us more about your member training/development. How do you determine development and training needs? What other topics do you address? Skills? What instructional methods do you use? What sessions are you particularly proud of, why?

27. Member Development. For each of the typical member development strategies listed, briefly note the frequency/duration of each. For instance, for community meetings/reflection you might enter “every Monday evening for two hours, by group house.” For in-service retreat you might enter “two retreats lasting Friday evening – Sunday evening, October and April.” As with #26, we expect that you will use a number of strategies, but do not expect that you will use all. Choices include: required orientation, community meetings/reflection, in-service training (ie, skills, guest speakers, formal presentations), in-service retreat, 1:1

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with program staff, year-end retreat, “story” sharing, meeting with assigned mentors, meeting with alumni, meeting with other CVN and/or AmeriCorps programs, other (two slots). Use #29 to offer more details as needed.

28. Member Development (Narrative). Share more details about these items. What opportunities seem to have the greatest impact for your members? Describe any proposed changes to your member development content or activities for this year and discuss how you’ve decided on these modifications.

29. Gear. Members are expected to be “wearing the A” every day they are in service. This may be achieved through various creative ways. CVN will issue basic gear to members to support this effort. Check to confirm that you understand that your program shares responsibility for ensuring that CVN CompassionCorps Members demonstrate their affiliation while in service.

30. Member Affiliation. How will you ensure that Members identify with CVN CompassionCorps and AmeriCorps in general? How will you help to connect Members with the larger National Service Movement? Discuss plans to participate in National Days of Service.

Discover and share plans for National Days of Service and national AmeriCorps events http://www.nationalservice.gov/special-initiatives/days-service/

E. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY 31. Staffing. Discuss your program’s capacity to successfully implement and manage an AmeriCorps program for

the number of members you are requesting. Who will staff the program? What are their roles and how much of their time is allocated to support the AmeriCorps program?

32. Ratio. Calculate the FTE of staff time allocated to support your program's implementation of the CVN CompassionCorps. Consider member recruitment, orientation and in-service reflection, applicant screening, site selection and supervisor training, program monitoring and risk management, fundraising, administration and other support activities (that do not include inherently religious or otherwise "prohibited" activities). FTE = full-time equivalent. MSY = member service year (like the full-time equivalent, 1 MSY = 1 FT member or 2 HT members or 5 MT members).

33. Staff Training. How will you ensure that program staff members have the tools and training to perform these duties effectively? In the event of staff turnover, how would you train new staff to fulfill your CVN CompassionCorps responsibilities?

Download and consider the checklist for new staff of AmeriCorps subgrantees or site. (Not all elements apply to CVN CompassionCorps subgrantees – esp. related to eGrants and finances.) http://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/resource/checklist-for-new-staff-of-americorps-subgrantees-or-sites.pdf

34. AmeriCorps experience. Select the answer that best represents your program’s history with AmeriCorps. If you have not participated with CVN AmeriCorps since 2012-13, note the most recent year in the slot below. If you participated in another AmeriCorps program (not CVN), note the sponsoring program or State source.

35. AmeriCorps or State/Federal Grants Experience. Briefly discuss your program (or staff) experience with AmeriCorps grants. Other federal or state grants/contracts?

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36. State Service Commissions. Share your plans for engaging with State Service Commissions in 2015-16. If your program places in multiple states, tell us how you identify the states you will prioritize for outreach and collaboration in 2015-16.

Find and connect with State Service Commissions http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/contact-us/state-service-commissions

37. Local/Elected Officials (NEW). Discuss any recent success or plans to educate your local elected officials about the work that your CVN CompassionCorps Members are doing in the communities they represent. Note any participation in Mayor’s Day of Recognition or efforts to invite elected officials to visit your Members in service.

38. Is your program under consideration for another AmeriCorps grant at this time? If you respond yes, please offer details as appropriate. Programs with applications under review through other AmeriCorps programs are not disqualified from applying to CVN CompassionCorps. Your response to this question helps us to plan appropriately for anticipated slot usage.

F. MONITORING, SUPERVISION AND REPORTING

39. Monitoring Plan. Describe your plans to monitor sites, supervisors and members for compliance throughout the year. How will you prevent and detect compliance issues? How will your program hold itself, members, and sites/supervisors accountable if you detect instances of high risk or noncompliance?

Download and consider CVN’s program and site monitoring tools, available on the CVN website. The program monitoring tool is used by CVN during site visits. The site monitoring tool is for programs to use internally. CVN has required programs to use this tool or a comparable substitute.

https://catholicvolunteernetwork.org/handbooks-forms-and-resources

40. Supervisor Training. Discuss your training and orientation plan for site supervisors. How to you ensure that they understand their role and responsibilities as an AmeriCorps supervisor? How can/do you hold supervisors accountable? Tell us what you will be changing about your site supervisor training for this year and why. Note any activities or strategies that you have found to be particularly effective.

Explore resources in the AmeriCorps Supervisor’s Toolkit, find tips, checklists, timelines, sample documents http://www.nationalservice.gov/resources/member-and-volunteer-development/encorps/supervisors-toolkit

41. Performance Measures Reporting. As noted in the section on program design and impact, CVN CompassionCorps requires in-depth reporting for certain Performance Measures. These tactics will include monthly service accomplishment reporting (from members), tracking the number of persons receiving housing and employment related services as well as the number of individuals securing housing and employment and reporting on client goal setting and progress. CVN will never require the disclose of confidential client information but will require that all data can be validated through source documentation at the site or program level in the event of an audit. To the greatest extent possible, CVN will provide assessments and data submission training and tools. For this question, your check certifies that your program commits to meeting these reporting requirements in a timely and accurate manner. Late, false or incomplete reports jeopardize CVN CompassionCorps standing with AmeriCorps.

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42. Data Validity and Accuracy. Discuss how you will ensure that data and service activity reports submitted to CVN CompassionCorps is accurate? Programs that have participated recently should discuss how your previous experience will inform your plans for reporting in 2015-16.

Review and consider these 11 tips to improve data collection http://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/resource/npm/11-proven-ways-to-improve-data-collection.pdf

43. Demonstrating Impact. We know that our programs and participants achieve great things – but how do you evaluate your effectiveness in meeting objectives? How can you demonstrate what is different in the community because of the work of your Members? What information will you collect? How will you share your findings? Share your recent successes or plans for demonstrating impact.

Learn more about ways to demonstrate the impact of your AmeriCorps program http://learning.nationalserviceresources.org/pluginfile.php/27730/mod_resource/content/2/Demonstrating_the_Impact_of_Service_10-13-2014_KB.htm

G. ASSURANCES

45. Participation in AmeriCorps programs in general, and CVN CompassionCorps specifically requires adherence to many policies and procedures. Several have been included in full text in this application. All are listed here with links to the full source for your reference. Please review for understanding and check each.

CVN membership/affiliate dues https://catholicvolunteernetwork.org/become-member

Non-Discrimination policy (see above)

Reasonable Accomodation policy (see above)

Non-Harassment policy. Programs participating in CVN CompassionCorps will not tolerate harassment of any kind. Harassment includes threatening or insinuating that the refusal to submit to sexual advances will adversely affect admission or program benefits. Harassment may also include conduct such as unwanted sexual flirtation or touches; abuse or degrading language; graphic or suggestive comments; or displaying inappropriate objects or pictures. Any Member who believes that he or she has been subject to harassment of any kind, or who has knowledge about harassment of others, should report the harassment to an immediate supervisor, superior, Program Director, and/or CVN staff. Any Member who is found to have engaged in harassment will be subject to appropriate discipline, up to and including expulsion from CVN AmeriCorps.

Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace policy. In accordance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance (including alcohol) is prohibited in the Member’s workplace. The Member’s participation in CVN CompassionCorps is conditioned upon compliance with the notice requirements. Programs must notify CVN CompassionCorps if a Member is convicted of any criminal drug statute violation occurring in the workplace no later than five calendar days after the conviction.

Prohibited Activities (see above)

General Liability policy. Programs and service sites must have adequate general liability coverage for the organization, employees and Members, including coverage of Members engaged in on- and off-site project activities. Members and service sites must institute safeguards as necessary and appropriate to ensure the safety of Members. Members may not participate in projects that pose undue safety risks.

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KEY DATES/TIMELINE (DRAFT, subject to change) January-March: Programs renew CVN Membership and develop sub-grantee proposals April 20: Programs submit Sub-grantee application and required materials April 21-May 8 CVN reviews, clarifies and approves sub-grantees and position descriptions May 8: CVN shares notice of our overall grant status with CNCS (approved for funding, or not approved) CVN hires program staff May (late): CVN notifies programs of slot allocations (pending CNCS notification, date TBD)

CVN provides training in streamlined Member onboarding and timekeeping CVN, in collaboration with programs, initiates criminal history checks

June 19-21: National Conference on Volunteerism and Community Service, Washington, DC June: Programs sign and return Program Agreements to CVN

CVN issues standard position templates for Programs to complete in site negotiations CVN publishes program manuals on the website and distributes hard copies by mail

July: CVN offers recorded webinars for new directors and time tracking Program staff and site supervisors should complete time reporting training as needed

August 1: First date that enrolled members may claim hours for service or training

August: Programs complete trainings with site supervisors and collect site supervisor contracts Final edits to site descriptions

September 11: Programs and Members National Day of Service: 9/11 Day of Remembrance and Service October: CVN reviews first time/activity entries to provide feedback.

Programs review position descriptions with Members and site supervisors to ensure that they reflect actual tasks and responsibilities

October 1: CVN AmeriCorps National Meeting, 9am – 3pm, Houston, TX (required for sub-grantees).

This is a pre-conference of the 2015 MissionCongress, co-sponsored by CVN in lieu of the annual CVN national conference

October 15 : Programs submit Annual Reports and Performance Measures data to CVN (for previous year) December: CVN submits annual reports to CNCS. January: CVN, Programs and Members participate in the MLK Day of Service.

Members and site supervisors complete mid-year evaluations (relative to start dates) January – May: CVN site monitoring visits. April: Programs and Members participate in AmeriCorps Week June: School-based programs, supervisors and Members collect year-end data for performance measures Members plan appropriately to complete hours, submit data and stories Site supervisors and Members schedule and complete final evaluations

All programs prepare for successful Member exits