1. October 19th PD Meeting Updates & Announcements

2. Agenda Symposium Highlights Service Year Exchange
AmeriCorps Grants Update
Background Checks
AmeriCorps Alums Updates
Kickoff carry-over: Preparing for a Successful Site Visit
MSA News and Upcoming Dates

3. 2016 Symposium Highlights Updates: Healthy relationships with adults
Every Student Succeeds Act
21st Century Learning
eGrants and Salesforce
Healthy relationships with adults
-buffer against adversity
-practice communication skills necessary to success
-social capital to be successful
Every Student Succeeds
-replaces No Child Left Behind
Focus- early learning and place-based holistic approach
-places more burden on states to create turn-around plans for lowest performing schools and create other standards besides testing to show success of schools and achievements of students
Safe and healthy students
Well-rounded education
Effective use of technology
21st century learning
Formula for funding districts across the country ($1B total)

4. Service Year Alliance Updates
Service Year official launch- November 14
MOU signed with CNCS September 6, 2016
New Northeast Regional Field Director
Marketing and Common Messaging
Recruitment toolkits
AirBnB
2nd round of vouchers for temporary housing/relocation
My AmeriCorps Portal + Service Year Exchange ?
Dynamic online marketplace for members, organizations and funders
New Northeast Regional Field Director: Laura Thompson, based in Washington DC for the northeast Region
2 College Organizing Managers hired- will start officially January
4 regional field directors + 2 College Organizing Mangers  will build relationships on college campuses and through campus career centers
SY outreach to VISTA programs and CNCS AC Program Officers
Marketing and Common Messaging Initiative:
The need to increase incentives. What? How?
Campus access- helpful but time intensive and always changing
SY also has hired a firm to create a common message around service, what is it, and impact on community need
Firm will create recruitment toolkits
Digital tools for content design
AirBnB partnership- 2nd round of vouchers
$25k total ( $750/voucher)
Anywhere in the country (1st round: Austin, Chicago, LA)
Corps members apply directly to Service Year
Voucher for temporary housing/relocation
My AmeriCorps portal and Service Year Exchange
-Some conversations, but still TBD, will most likely be initial entry point into CNC system (My AmeriCorps)

5. Service Year Exchange Service Year website Who used it?
How did it work for you?
Thoughts? Comments?
New MSA network page:
New website features:
Geolocation
Service Year Stories
“Recommend a listing”
New site management roles
Social Media connection
**make sure that if you are still looking form members, the postings are listed as “Actively Recruiting”
**City on a Hill** create page
Double check My AmeriCorps portal postings- status, dates, postings, etc. are up-to-date
Geolocation- can search by location, supported by Google Maps
Will expand geolocation feature to include matching soon
Service Year Stories- why do people serve? Includes photos and videos
“Recommend a Listing” – can sort/narrow results (create a funnel of people in the system)
forward an opportunity to an individual (ie invite to apply)
save to leads (available later in the organization dashboard)
Program Manager Role- account access, recruitment function only
Can add people
Manage candidates/members
Create listings
Next level- “Supervisor”
Manage members only after they have been assigned
Social Media- can share network page on Facebook, Twitter and <copy link>
Individuals can request access to the account
Join find/enroll organization  create account  search org by name  [request to join]

7. <Position Listing>

11. 2017-18 Grants Process 6 applications: 4 new, 2 recompeting
Community Review held September 29
Intent to Apply, in to CNCS on December 7
Competitive Applications Due to CNCS January 18
Mid November- 1st drafts of Full Applications Due
Late Nov/Early Dec- Competitive continuations due
Early May - Notification of funding for competitive applicants
Formula (continuations and recompeting)
20 members minimum requirement
Formula continuations- January after Competitive submissions

12. 2017-18 Grants Process From CNCS:
Continuation Application Clarification Period:
March 24- April 7, 2017
New/Recompete Application Clarification Period:
April 5- April 26, 2017  
Opioid crisis
CNCS grants to support program development work
1-2 organizations interested in developing a related AmeriCorps program
Applications due May/June, program year
Clarifications
-could last into May, make sure someone is available to respond to multiple rounds
New addition to Healthy Futures:
Programs that engage members to reducing and/or preventing prescription drug and opioid abuse will receive priority from CNCS.
CNCS recently awarded grants to some commissions to support program development work.  MSA will focus on opioid crisis. 
Will involve engaging outside expertise to community asset mapping work and help inform program design.
Identify 1-2 organizations interested in developing a related AmeriCorps program
Prepare application to MSA and CNCS for consideration in May/June and provide TA
Reach out to Beth with any questions or suggestions

13. New NSCHC guidance around “not cleared” result, but first a recap:
Four things make someone ineligible to serve:
Listed or required to be listed on a sex offender registry
Murder conviction
False statement around criminal history
Refusal to undergo a background check
Should be using ALL background checks completed to determine eligibility
NSOPW, CORI, state of residence check, FBI check
Fieldprint results are either “Cleared” or “Not Cleared”

14. New NSCHC guidance around “not cleared” result, but first a recap
“Cleared” does not mean eligible, “Not Cleared” does not mean ineligible
Reasons for Not Cleared result on Fieldprint:
Murder conviction
Sex offense conviction or required to be registered as sex offender
Convicted of a crime of neglect, cruelty or endangerment
Charged with any of the above without evidence that individual was cleared of that charge
Murder does not include: manslaughter, vehicular homicide
Neglect, cruelty or endangerment: willful or unreasonable endangerment or abuse of individuals or animals (e.g. kidnapping, abuse of a child, exploitation of an elderly person)

15. What’s new:
Members can challenge a “Not cleared” result from Fieldprint
Program must leave slot open for 45 days
If results are not challenged you can than decline to select based on results
Challenge entails applicant getting record directly from FBI
Can find clear information on the challenge process in the updated CNCS Fieldprint Instructions
We know this is challenging, and hope to get additional guidance from CNCS
Please contact us if you receive a “not cleared” result for a prospective member
Whether an individual is fit to work or serve with a selecting organization is a matter of discretion for the selecting organization, even though an individual may otherwise be eligible. Selecting organizations have a right and a duty to exercise their discretion in a manner that promotes a safe and effective program, mindful of state and federal nondiscrimination laws. Any eligibility determination must be dated contemporaneously with the determination and must be maintained as a grant record.

16. AmeriCorps Alums Updates
Attending Opening Day!
AmeriCorps Alums Lansdowne Pub 6-8pm
Service event with Ethos
11/15 at 6 PM at Lansdowne Pub
Stay tuned with AmeriCorps Alums Boston
Facebook (General and Ambassador pages)
Exercise caution with the approaching election

17. Preparing for a Successful MSA Site Visit

18. MSA Site Visits Why does MSA complete site visits?
To hold MSA and programs accountable to the grant provisions
To strengthen the field by sharing best practices between programs
To identify the fiscal and programmatic compliance issues program may not be aware of and to offer technical assistance
When do they take place?
Formal site visits are conducted late winter through spring
All programs – one visit during three-year cycle
New programs – site visit in first year
Administered according to risk level determined in Risk Assessment Form

19. Site Visit Agenda and Preparation
Meet organization and program staff
Systems 1–10
Discuss program processes
Review program documents
Member Interviews
Member file check
Site Partner Interviews (if applicable)
Informal feedback
Preparing for a Site Visit
Start with the Binder project, Desk Systems and Objectives
Use the MSA monitoring tools as a guide
Ensure eGrants 30 day compliance (enrollment and retention, etc.)
Talk to your Program Officer!

20. Common Compliance Findings
Systems 1–10:
Materials do not identify position(s) as AmeriCorps service
Members do not receive personal/professional development beyond training for activities
AmeriCorps gear not worn during all service hours
Formal member supervision not occurring
Stakeholders not involved in continuous improvement
Member time sheets (dates and signatures)
Non-compliant electronic time keeping system
Members exiting service early to enroll in another AmeriCorps program

21. Common Compliance Findings
Incomplete/inconsistent member files, missing:
Documentation of interviews/references (and inconsistent numbers of each)
Member eligibility documentation
Confirmation of CORI and NSOPW completion/review and FBI fingerprint checks with compliant dates
No proof of healthcare coverage
Member evaluations
Separation of files: background check/medical information/member files not kept separately

22. Common Compliance Findings
Member interviews:
Lack of AmeriCorps identity and esprit de corps
Members serving in supervisory capacity to other members
Members unaware of reasonable accommodation policies
Members unclear of program goals
Site partner interviews:
No signed site partner agreement/MOU
Little orientation or ongoing support.
Both:
Incomplete awareness of prohibited activities

23. Site Visit Follow-up
Program Officers written report to program within 30 days
Program has 30 days to respond to compliance issues
Best Practice and Continuous Improvement sections are for future reference
When all compliance issues are resolved, the site visit process is finished

24. Election 2016 Encourage all eligible members to register and vote.*
Prohibited activities:
Conducting a voter registration drive or using CNCS funds to conduct a voter registration drive
Encourage all eligible members to register and vote.*
However, the grantee is prohibited from requiring members to register or to vote, and from attempting to influence how members vote.
Members who are unable to vote before or after service hours should be allowed to do so during their service time without incurring any penalties. The site supervisor should determine the length of absence..
Prohibited: Conducting a voter registration drive or using CNCS funds to conduct a voter registration drive

25. Important Dates Opening Day
November 4
Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center
1350 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02120
10:00am-12:00pm- Speaking Program & Pledge Ceremony 12:00-12:30pm- Lunch 12:30-4:00pm- Civic Engagement Tours, Service Projects & Member Development Activities
2017 Massachusetts Conference on Service and Volunteerism
June 12, 2017
Sheraton Framingham

26. Next PD Meeting is December 14th
Host – United Way