Site Supervisor Training May 22, 2014

Overview  AmeriCorps VISTA  VISTA Map  Benefits  Rules and regulations  Iowa Campus Compact VISTA Program  IACC VISTA Program Information  Site Supervisor Expectations  OSOT & VAD overview  August 29 – IACC VISTA Orientation in Des Moines  VISTA Leader role  Reports  Preparing for a successful VISTA project

AmeriCorps VISTA  Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)  Iowa State Office – Jancy LaFollette  Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA)  Anti-Poverty Focus  Community Empowerment  Sustainable Solutions  Capacity Building FY Program Guidance

Corporation for National and Community Service SeniorCorps RSVP Foster Grandparents Senior Companions AmeriCorps AmeriCorps State & National AmeriCorps VISTA Iowa Corporation State Office Iowa Campus Compact VISTA Sites AmeriCorps NCCC

VISTA Benefits  Living Allowance: ~$11,000  ~$400 bi-weekly (before taxes)  Education Award or End-of-Service Stipend  Education Award $5,500  Cash Stipend $1,500  Health benefits (does NOT qualify as insurance) Health benefits  Childcare benefits Childcare benefits  Maximum benefit is $400 per child per month  Children under age 13  Food & housing assistance (per site)  Note: cannot give cash directly to VISTA (i.e. money for groceries or rent), you can give VISTA members gift cards or can pay directly to their landlord

Rules & Regulations  Prohibited Activities Prohibited Activities  Religious instruction  Political activities  Lobbying  Electoral activities  Demonstrations  Displacement of employed workers  Receiving outside compensation  Act as a supervisor  Serve out of state  i.e. Alternative Breaks or other programs  Conferences and training opportunities are okay with approval from IACC

Sick & Vacation Days  10 sick, 10 vacation  Limits near end-of-service  Emergency leave Emergency leave  up to 5 days  must be approved by state office

VISTA Members  “24/7”  Work ~40 hours a week  VISTA Assignment Description

Appropriate VISTA Activities  VISTA members can do:  Volunteer recruitment, management, engagement  Resource development, sustainability  Indirect service, capacity building  VAD goals and activities  VISTAs cannot do:  General staffing  Not an internship  No clerical or administrative duties  No staffing on-going initiatives  Should be doing new, innovative things and building capacity  Direct service (unless for training, filling in)  Supervise other staff or students

Questions Thus Far? Next: IACC VISTA Program

IACC VISTA Program  Impact Areas  Education: K-12 Success and Post-Secondary Access and Success  Economic Opportunity: Financial Literacy & Employment  Program focus  Partnerships  Building capacity for both HE and CP  History  Past grant cycles – over 75 full-time VISTAs!  Transition from VISTA to part- or full-time staff members, student workers, volunteer programs, etc.  i.e. Coe, Northwestern, Central, Simpson, Wartburg, Catholic Charities, Dubuque Arts Center, Gear Up!, St. Mark’s Community Center

Program Focus: Economic Opportunity  Economically disadvantaged individuals receiving financial literacy services (550)  City of Dubuque Circles Initiative  Mercy College of Health Sciences  Operation: New View Community Action Agency  Project Concern  Economically disadvantaged individuals receiving job training and other skill developments (197)  AIB College of Business  City of Dubuque Human Rights Department  Cornell College  Drake University Adult Literacy Center

Program Focus: Education  Number of disadvantaged youth/mentor matches sustained (250)  Buena Vista University  Central College  Number of students that start and/or complete participation in a K-12 education program (400)  Clarke University  Drake University & ICSAC  Iowa Western Community College & ICSAC  Iowa Wesleyan College

VISTA Site Cycles  RFP process (new sites)  January-February 2015  Current sites do not have to reapply, only submit updated VADs

Expectations of Supervisors  Participate in monthly calls  4th Wednesday, 10 am  August 27, 2014  Dedicate time to supervision  Daily/weekly check-ins  Frequent feedback  Ongoing training  Reporting assistance  Evaluation at end of term – due two weeks before end date

Orienting Your VISTA  Introduce office culture/expectations  Review work style (yours & theirs)  Make plans for regular meetings and feedback  Provide “big picture” of VISTA year and project

Orienting Your VISTA  Common questions after PSO:  Organization mission and vision  Goals  Direct service  Work of past VISTA(s)

VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)  Timeline of service  Should focus on VAD goals  Check in on progress frequently  Align with monthly reports  Make adjustments if needed  Requires approval from CNCS state office

IACC VISTA Program Orientation  August 29, 2014, 9AM-5PM (tentative)  Pappajohn Education Center  1200 Grand Ave, Des Moines  REQUIRED for all VISTAs  Site should cover travel costs  IACC provides lunch and some snacks  Overview, networking, education award information, etc.

VISTA Leader Role  Mentor for VISTA members  Main contact about VISTA members or projects  On-going communication  Weekly s (CC supervisors)  Monthly 1:1 phone calls  Some “site visits”  IACC Orientation  Professional Development – webinars, think tanks, etc.  VISTA cohort Google Site  Reporting  Resources  Announcements/calendar  Google Group Role of VISTA Leader

VISTA Reports  Monthly  VAD specific  Demographics, numbers  Red flag indicators  Quarterly  Narrative  Due in October, January, April, June/July  Evaluations  Member (supervisor  member)  Site (IACC  site)

Preparing for Successful VISTA Year  Common issues/concerns  Unclear expectations  First professional work experience  Lack of communication  Different work styles  Frustration with lack of “results”  Struggles with living allowance/budgeting

Preparing for Successful VISTA Year  Addressing issues/concerns  Discuss work style and communications  Integrate with office, make role clear to all  Provide clear direction and daily check-ins (at least initially)  Communicate ALL expectations  Encourage feedback  Help with ideas on free activities, etc.  Bring issues to IACC early  Encourage communication with VISTA Leader

Resources  IACC web site IACC web site  FAQs, forms, links  IACC VISTA website  Reports, resources, site supervisor Google Group, etc.  In progress…  VISTA Campus VISTA Campus  Supervisor manual & resources Supervisor manual

Questions? Any other questions/thoughts/input?

Contact Information Emily ShieldsJustin Ellis (515) (515) VISTA Leader (TBD) (515)