Welcome to the COMMISSIONER ORIENTATION

Enabling Legislation National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993

Role of State Commissions Responsible for developing a comprehensive National Service Plan ---using service as a strategy to address state and local needs Assembling applications for funding and approved national service positions ---run fair and open grant competition Administer national and community service programs in the State --- monitor for compliance and provide T/TA

Requirements for State Commissions Commission Board Members are Governor appointed The board will consist of voting members Not more than 50% plus one of the board may be from the same political party

Requirements for State Commissions The Chairperson is elected by the voting members of the Commission Board CNCS will designate one of its employees to serve as a representative to each state or group of states

Alphabet Soup Exercise

Why a Corporation? Part of the Federal Government's move to reinvent government and operate in a manner similar to large businesses and corporations –Board of Directors –Performance-based workplans and assessments –Create a flatter organizational structure –Be able to accept corporate resources –Minimize government red tape Allow CNCS to be more streamlined, more accountable to Congress and grantees, and customer service-based

CNCS Mission The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

Guiding Principles Put the needs of local communities first. Strengthen public-private partnerships. Build stronger, more efficient, and more sustainable community networks capable of mobilizing volunteers to address local needs, including disaster preparedness and response. Measure and continually improve our programs' benefits.

Guiding Principles Build collaborations wherever possible across our programs and with other Federal programs. Help rural and economically distressed communities obtain access to public and private resources. Support diverse organizations. Stimulate life-long civic engagement.

Strategic Initiatives Baby boomers Youth from disadvantaged circumstances Higher education Volunteer generation

Links to Congress Two step process for establishing and funding federal agencies and programs –Authorization Establishes and continues the agency –Appropriation Provides the money annually

The Corporation for National and Community Services Programs

Senior Corps Foster Grandparent Program Senior Companion Program RSVP

AmeriCorps AmeriCorps*State and National AmeriCorps*VISTA AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps

AmeriCorps*State Grants through state commissions Formula and competitive Matching Operating and member support Education Award Only

AmeriCorps*National National Direct Tribes National Professional Corps National Education Award Program National Planning

AmeriCorps*VISTA Full-time members Serve in community organizations and public agencies Build capacity Focus on poverty

AmeriCorps*NCCC Full-time residential program Men and women aged Direct, team-based national and community service.

Learn and Serve America Schools Higher education institutions Community-based organizations Engage students, their teachers and others in service to meet community needs.

Roles Within the States CNCS State Office State Service Commission State Department of Education

State Service Commissions Created by National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 Governor appointed public agencies or private nonprofit organizations

State Commission Activities Administer AmeriCorps*State Broader vision of service as a strategy to address local needs

State Commission Structure Governors/Lt. Governors Office Free standing or stand alone state agency Embedded in a State Agency Non-profit

State Commission Focus Areas Youth Development Volunteer Generation K-12 Education Children, Youth & Family Community Development Disaster Relief Environment

Administrative Standards History Spring Present –A Standards Working Group May-Sept 1999 –The Standards Pilot Project completed February 2000 –OMB approved the State Administrative Standards Reviews –All State commissions completed an Administrative Standards Review –Seventeen commissions completed a second Administrative Standards Review May-Sept 2007 –Six to seven additional commissions will complete a second Administrative Standards Review

PURPOSE To ensure that State commissions have adequate operational systems in place for the administration of federal funds in order to implement national service The Corporation has an effective tool for assessing state commission systems State commissions with quality administrative capacities are recognized

STANDARDS OBJECTIVES To establish basic competencies of state commission operation To provide: –a set of standards that all commissions must meet without prescribing the strategy each commission uses to achieve the standards –a consistent strategy for assessing the capacity of all state commissions To help: –state commissions identify areas for continuous improvement and technical assistance needs –the Corporation identify priorities for training and technical assistance in order to strengthen the capacity of commissions

OVERVIEW of ASR TOOL Part I: Commission Operations (Planning, Communications, and Resource –4 standards Part II: Commissions Oversight of Subgrants (Program and Fiscal Management) –4 standards

Commissioner and Staff Roles ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE PROGRAM SUPPORT ROLE VISIONARY ROLE

Commissioner Quiz Exercise

COMING SOON! Online Commissioner Orientation Use as a: –Refresher for Experienced Commissioners –Resource to Help You Orient Your New Commissioners