1. February 24th PD Meeting Updates & Announcements

2. Agenda Welcomes: New at MSA Grants Process Update CNCS Updates
MSA Updates
Site visit season
Upcoming: Member Recruitment

3. Agenda (continued) Atlantic Cluster Conference
Other Upcoming Priorities
Calendar Updates 3

4. New at MSA New MSA Staff: New PO Hire and how will this affect you
Welcome Colin McLaughlin, Administrative Coordinator
New PO Hire and how will this affect you
Portfolio shifting!

5. 2016-17 Grants Process Timeline
March - Clarification period begins
April - Formula Continuations in eGrants
Early May – Competitive funding notifications
June Formula notifications
Late July/early August grants process will begin with the MSA RFP release for concept papers

6. 2016-17 Grants Process Changes to NOFO and Application process
Changes in the review process
Theory of Change and Logic Model and Evidence base sections reviewed first
Increased points for these two sections
20 members slots minimum request
Budget
Programs continue to be allowed to submit modified amount for healthcare
Max cost/MSY increased
Min stipend for Full-time members increased*
New indirect cost rate eGrants feature
*Formula take note

7. CNCS Updates Background Check Monitoring and Noncompliance Assessment
Expanding the scope of review
Disallowance calculation
Self-reporting
Corrective actions
Fieldprint begins offering FBI background checks!
Detailed instructions from the Knowledge Network Fieldprint_as_an_FBI_Channeler- A_Guide_for_CNCS_Grantees.pdf
Expanding the scope of review – 2 or more noncompliant individuals
Disallowance calculation – matrix based on combination of: the % of noncompliant individuals, timing of background check initiations, accompaniment while checks are pending if applicable and vendor checks compliance, if applicable.

8. CNCS Updates AmeriCorps Week – March 5-12
Tell your story (#AmeriCorpsWorks, #GettingThingsDone, #IamAmeriCorps)
Use AmeriCorps facts
More resources on week and _impact_guide_lowres_0.pdf
Share your AmeriCorps Week plan with your PO
AC Week
#AmeriCorpsWorks ,#GettingThingsDone and #IamAmeriCorps in social media
Employers of National Service

9. CNCS Updates FY17 Federal Budget Update
The President’s FY17 budget requests - $1.1 billion for CNCS.
For 88,400 AmeriCorps members and an expansion of AmeriCorps by approximately 13,000 members over FY 2015 levels.
Ed Awards increase - $5,935 for FT members starting in (in line with the Pell Grant)
Funding for State Commissions support grants increased by 6%.

10. MSA Updates
AmeriCorps Opening Day – going back to first Friday in November - 11/4/2016
Kickoff - save the date – Wednesday, July 27 and Thursday, July 28
AmeriCorps Alums Update
Volunteer Week (April 10-16)
Service Year Exchange Update

11. MSA Updates FY17 State Budget Update
- Level funding in Governor’s FY2017 budget proposal for the MSA’s line item ( ) - $1,400,000
- What happens now?
Mid-year progress report – sent out on 3/15, due on 4/15/16
Intake survey – coming soon (before the mid-year report)
Governor’s budget supports AC, CC and volunteer initiatives (National Days of Service, Service Enterprise and Youth Development Volunteer Initiative)
What happens now? - MSA will work closely with its legislative champions to ensure that this level of funding is upheld in both the House and Senate versions of the budget which will be released mid-April and mid-May, respectively. As always, we will turn to our strong service and volunteerism sector to help strengthen our message and educate our legislators on the powerful impact of service across the Commonwealth.

12. MSA Updates Massachusetts Service & Volunteerism Day
Save the date! Thursday, April 14, 10:00-12:00pm at the State House, Grand Staircase
Testimonials from MSA-supported programs, service Alumni, legislative champions, and optional visits to legislative offices right after the speaking program
RSVP link will go live in early March
Please spread the word among your AmeriCorps Alumni base

13. Atlantic Regional Cluster Conference
Hosted by MSA at Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel in Springfield, May 2nd-4th
Workshops on topics including: compliance which includes Criminal History Checks, Performance Measures, Grants Management, Member Files, fiscal monitoring, budgeting, common OIG findings, disallowance; social media strategies; evaluation; public speaking/engagement and storytelling; data quality; member recruitment, vetting, engagement and retention; life after AmeriCorps; learning through conflict; disability and inclusion; multi-site programming and host site management; engaging veterans; and other relevant topics

14. Atlantic Regional Cluster Conference
Conference scholarships available
$150 registration fee (up to two program people if registered by March 15th)
Your budget
Registration is live
8a&llr=qmeyefnab
Who should attend?
AmeriCorps New Staff Orientation – Monday, May 2, 9 am–2 pm

15. Atlantic Regional Cluster Conference
Special Reception on May 3 (conference attendees are highly encouraged to go!)
Peer Networking Reception at the Basketball Hall of Fame will include a National Service Story Slam hosted by Massmouth, Inc. Earlier in the day, Massmouth will facilitate a workshop “Storytelling for Social Change & Story Slam Prep” – an interactive workshop where attendees will learn how to use their stories to advance their national service work.
Regional members as “ringers”
Members leading an energizer/reflection at opening and/or closing plenary session?

16. FY16 Site Visit Season Risk Assessments being completed now
(updated Risk Assessment form - we can share with you)
Site visits February/March-June
Programmatic and Fiscal
Member file desk review

17. Site Visits Why 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 programs may not be aware of and to offer technical assistance
When?
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

18. Site Visits Site Visit Agenda Meet organization and program staff
Systems 1–10
Discuss your processes
Review your documents
Member Interviews
Member file check
Site Partner Interviews (if applicable)
Informal feedback
Preparing for 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!

19. 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
Documentation of data and data collection tools unavailable
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

20. Common Compliance Findings
Incomplete/inconsistent member files without:
Documentation of interviews/references (and inconsistent numbers of each)
Member eligibility documentation
Confirmation of CORI 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

21. 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

22. Common Compliance Findings
Last Year’s Findings to note:
Logos and gear
Referencing employment vs service
2nd year members in supervisory roles
Electronic timesheet systems
Timesheets missing dates
Late initiation of background checks
Misspelling member names / using a nickname for SORI

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 over

24. Other Upcoming Priorities and Updates
Member Recruitment
Be sure to update position descriptions, including:
stipend - $12,530
education award - $5,775
benefits
prohibited activities
non-discrimination clause

25. Calendar Updates March 5 - 12th: AmeriCorps Week
Mid/late-March: CNCS Clarifications
March 31st: provide independent financial audit to MSA
March/April: Formula Continuations
April 5th: Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service
April 15th: Mid-year progress Report Due; Fiscal Deadline
April 14th: MA Service & Volunteerism Statehouse
May 2 - 4th: Atlantic Cluster Conference in Springfield, MA
Mid-/Late- May: CNCS Competitive Decisions
May 11th: PD Meeting (SCCLS)
July 27 & 28th: Kickoff Conference
Mayors Day of Recognition for Natl. Service - To spotlight the impact of national service and thank those who serve, mayors and country officials will participate in the fourth-annual Mayor and County Recognition Day for National Service on April 5, On this day, mayors and county officials will hold public events and use traditional and social media to highlight the value of national service to the nation’s cities and counties. Last year, 2,786 elected officials representing more than 150 million citizens participated in the third-annual Mayor and County Recognition Day for National Service. The initiative is being led by the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, Cities of Service and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

26. We’ll see you next on May 11th, at SCCLS!
Wrap-up
QUESTIONS?
We’ll see you next on May 11th, at SCCLS!
Before introducing Gretchen mention the program evaluation requirements:
New program – N/A
Recompeting for a first time – evaluation plan
Recompeting for a subsequent time – eval. report and eval. plan