1. Demonstrating Grant Compliance: Common Findings
AmeriCorps Advantage: CaliforniaVolunteers Grantee Training Conference, July 2017
Demonstrating Grant Compliance: Common Findings
Kari MacDonald, Senior Program Officer, CaliforniaVolunteers
Daniel Barutta, Program Officer, CNCS
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

2. What is CV’s role in Compliance?
Our Responsibility/Our Requirements
Prime Grantee Responsibilities
CFR/OMB Guidelines
Stewardship of Taxpayer dollars, etc.
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

3. How do we ensure compliance?
Monitoring Activities
Member File, Staff File and Desk Reviews
Site Visits (particularly Unallowable Activities)
Progress Reports
Check-in calls
Contracting (Program Readiness Review)
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

4. What is CNCS’s role in Compliance?
How do we monitor Commissions?
Monitoring Tools, Site Visits, Desk Reviews
Philosophy of Compliance
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

5. Getting Ready for the Program Year
Member Listings
Common Issues and Potential Land Mines
A TEST – can you spot the potential for noncompliance?
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

6. Now that the Program Year has begun: Common Findings - MFDRs
Overview of MFDR Process
Timeline
Review and Feedback
Program Response and Resolution
Disallowance
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

7. #1 Finding: Criminal History Checks
Findings Related to STAFF CHC:
Lack of Signed Consent
Not all staff on budget (including Match!) has proper checks
Long-term staff not brought up to current requirements
Relying on others (HR Depts) for proper checks
Improper Record Keeping
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

8. #1 Finding: Criminal History Checks
Findings Related to MEMBER CHC:
Lack of Signed Consent
NSOPW run same day as member starts
Not all states report on NSOPW
Incomplete documentation (particularly NSOPW)
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

9. #1 Finding: Criminal History Checks
Findings Related to DESK REVIEW CHC:
CHC Policy not updated to current requirements (accompaniment, vulnerable populations, etc.)
Use of a national policy that does not comply with CV standards
A TEST – Can you spot the noncompliance?
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

10. #2 Finding: Member Service Agreements/ Contracts
Service Dates incorrect, outside of contracted dates, or not individualized per member
Living Allowances stated incorrectly, as whole amounts, allowing catch up
Fundraising Clause (even if no fundraising allowed)
Drug Free workplace clause
Amount of Education Award
Signatures of member and program manager
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

11. #3 Finding: Member Applications
No indication whether member has served a prior terms
Eligibility Requirements not listed
My AmeriCorps Portal
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

12. AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017
#4 Finding: Timesheets
No delineation of Service, Fundraising, Training Hours
No indication that lunch breaks are not counted towards service hours
Lack of required signatures
FOR STAFF: Lack of functional timesheets
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

13. AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017
#5 Finding: Branding
Prioritizing Program Branding over AMERICORPS Branding
Lack of signage at sites
Members don’t wear shirts (choosing lanyards or pins instead)
Lack of AmeriCorps presence on web pages
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

14. I have a “finding” – how can I resolve it?
Knowledge Network Resources
AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities:
Managing AmeriCorps Grants: Rules, regulations & provisions, Financial Management, etc.
Learning and Best Practices (including an Online Learning Center)
2017 New AmeriCorps Program Staff Webinar Series
Member Assignment Listings (Common Mistakes, Minimum Requirements, Checklists)
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

15. I have a “finding” – how can I resolve it?
CV Grantee Central Resources
Program Readiness Resources
(Criminal History Checks, Member Service Agreements, Timesheets, Training Plans etc.)
Program Monitoring and Implementation Resources
(In-depth Criminal History Check Resources, Monitoring Tools, etc.)
CV Policies & Requirements, Regulations, OMB Circulars, etc.
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017

16. Questions? I have a “finding” – how can I resolve it?
Your Program Officer!
Questions?
AmeriCorps Grantee Training Conference 2017