MLK Day of Service Reports due to CNCS by 12pm Eastern. Report form now available at http://www.jotformpro.com/tracking/MLK2014 (also see below for details).

Civic Reflection Facilitator Training (Austin, TX). Space is limited. Registration now available at http://www.tfaforms.com/313140 until Monday, February 3^rd.

Happy New Year from OneStar!

Have a safe and happy new year!

Join OneStar on Thursday, January 16^th from 1:00-2:00pm Central for our next Monthly Grantee Peer-Led Call hosted by staff from Breakthrough Austin and Reading Partners-Texas.

Civic Reflection Workshop Registration Now Open

OneStar is pleased to host a Civic Reflection Facilitation Workshop from February 27-28, 2014 in Austin, Texas. This Civic Reflection Facilitation Workshop will teach participants the nuts and bolts of how to facilitate civic reflection discussions in their local communities using curriculum and materials developed by the Chicago-based Center for Civic Reflection ( www.civicreflection.org). The workshop will be led by Jennifer Jefts of Communities In Schools of Central Texas and Gabriela Garcia De Avila of A Community for Education, both of whom have years of experience leading civic reflection discussions with AmeriCorps members and community sites.

If you would like to participate, please register online at http://www.tfaforms.com/313140 by Monday, February 3, 2014. Space is limited and there may be a waitlist depending on the level of demand from the field. A OneStar representative will contact you by mid-February to confirm whether or not you have been accepted into the workshop.

Note: There is no cost to register but OneStar does not have travel funds available; programs may elect to use their “Travel to Commission-Sponsored Trainings” budget line item if needed.

Thank you to those of you who have worked with us to submit questions to CNCS regarding AmeriCorps health care options. We are pleased to let you know that we have received the following responses from CNCS that we think you will find helpful in advising your members as they work to determine their health care options in 2014:

OneStar Question #1: If members register on www.healthcare.gov, how should they designate that they are AmeriCorps members and not regular “employees”?

• CNCS Answer: AmeriCorps members are not employees and therefore are not being offered employer-sponsored plans. In the exchange, members should select “I’m not eligible for insurance through my employer or a family member’s employer”. 

OneStar Question #2: Will members’ living allowances be counted as income or be considered exempt as with food stamps?  If it is exempt, how can they ensure it is not taken into consideration (i.e. where should this be denoted on their application)?

• CNCS Answer: The tax treatment of the living allowance and/or any reimbursements made to members for the purchase of healthcare through the healthcare exchanges is within the jurisdiction of the IRS.

OneStar Question #3: Are AmeriCorps health care plans considered “job-based” plans? (if so, this may prevent members from qualifying for subsidies).

• CNCS Answer: No.  AmeriCorps healthcare coverage may not be considered an employer-sponsored plan; see question 1.

OneStar Question #4: Will AmeriCorps grantees be at risk of incurring a penalty for not providing ACA compliant insurance if members list us as their employer?

• CNCS Answer: See question 1; members shall not be considered to be an employee of the organization receiving assistance under the national service laws.  Members who are not provided coverage that meets the Minimal Essential Benefits required under the Affordable Care Act may be subject to payment under the individual responsibility provision, depending on the member’s individual circumstances.  In some instances, member may not be subject to payment under the individual responsibility provision, depending on the member’s individual circumstances. For more information on the individual shared responsibility and specifically, exemptions, please visit: https://www.healthcare.gov/exemptions.

OneStar Question #5: What is the timeline for programs to have a definite answer on whether grant funds can be utilized to reimburse members for marketplace insurance?

• CNCS Answer: Programs may reimburse members for health insurance premiums through the health insurance marketplace. Programs are required to develop a policy and process for implementation.

OneStar Question #6: Can members have a policy through the marketplace and still stay on the AmeriCorps member health insurance offered by our program?

• CNCS Answer:  Yes.  Programs may continue to offer current coverage (this should not require re-enrollment), may offer a different plan, or direct members to the Health Insurance Marketplace (at www.HealthCare.gov ).  Programs should provide to members all options available (staying on parent’s health insurance plan; purchase coverage through the health insurance marketplace; enroll in Medicaid; or continue to use the current health plan with the understanding that members may be assessed an individual shared responsibility payment (ISRP) if the coverage does not meet the requirements of ACA). It is important to explore all of these options with members and ensure there is no break in coverage if a different plan is being offered.
  

OneStar Question #7: For programs who are launching recruitment campaigns for next year, what is the best language to use with AmeriCorps applicants about the healthcare benefits provided by AmeriCorps?

• CNCS Answer: Programs may refer to the language provided in the letter distributed to members on December 16^th (also found at: http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/current-members/health-care-options).

OneStar Question #8: Will CNCS allow us to consider it an allowable cost on the grant for AmeriCorps programs to reimburse members for the individual $95 penalty/fine if they end up having to pay it because their program is unable to provide an ACA-compliant health care plan to them by January 1, 2014?

• CNCS Answer: CNCS grant funds cannot be used to reimburse members for any individual shared responsibility payments.

Please let your OneStar Grants Officers know if you have follow-up questions or clarifications on any of these or if you have additional questions that are not covered in the above guidance so we can submit them on your behalf.

OneStar has received two important NSCHC updates for AmeriCorps*Texas grantees to be aware of:

1. Statewide ASP Approved – Good news! OneStar has recently received an approval letter from CNCS on our 2011 statewide ASP which acknowledges that Texas state law prohibits Texas-based organizations from maintaining results of State and FBI checks and from sharing such results with oversight agencies. Click here to view our ASP decision letter.

This ASP is both retroactive and prospective. However, please note that CNCS still requires Texas organizations to do the following related to NSCHCs:

• Continue to run, adjudicate, and maintain documentation of all NSOPW.gov checks in member/employee files.
• Keep a memo in member/employee files in lieu of the State and FBI results which must indicate at a minimum:
  • The name and address/website of the source you used for the check components;
  • The date of check initiation;
  • The date that check results were received;
  • Whether the person is considered eligible for service based on their results; and
  • The name and signature of the person who reviewed the results.

2. Updated Effective Dates Document – CNCS has recently updated its NSCHC Effective Dates Document last week, which provides helpful guidance on what requirements applied to members during specific timeframes.

View this document online at:

https://www.nationalserviceresources.gov/files/chc_effective_dates_1_2_14.pdf.

OneStar Foundation is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity. OneStar has received a FY 2013 Volunteer Generation Fund grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to launch the Texas Disaster Volunteer Generation Initiative, which will strengthen the State of Texas’ infrastructure and ability to harness the potential of unaffiliated, spontaneous and other community volunteers generated in times of disaster through increasing the capacity of volunteer connector organizations and their partners.  Information on this funding opportunity is now available on the OneStar Foundation website here.

Notices of Intent to Apply (optional) are due on Friday, January 17, 2014. Complete applications are due by 11:59:59 PM CST on Thursday, January 30, 2014.

Interested applicants are invited to participate in a technical assistance conference call to discuss this funding opportunity and ask questions regarding the submission and preparation of the application.

• Q&A Conference Call: Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. Central Standard Time.
• To attend the webinar you must register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/393376118.

Rice University recently contacted OneStar to inquire about having an AmeriCorps program presence at their upcoming Good Works Internship & Career Fair on February 24^th from 12-2pm with an optional agency workshop/round table held that morning from 8:30 - 11:00am prior to the start of the fair.

Rice is also looking for a few AmeriCorps program staff to potentially participate in a national service Panel Discussion later in the day along with Teach for America and Peace Corps. Below is the information if you are able to participate in any of these exciting activities at Rice that day:

What: Rice University Good Works Internship & Career Fair

Objective: The purpose of the fair is to provide agencies with the opportunity to meet with interested Rice University students, both undergraduate and graduate, and share materials and information about employment, internships, fellowships, and year of service opportunities offered by your organization. The Good Works Fair focuses on summer internships and post graduate opportunities, preferably full-time, paid positions or year of service programs.

 

When: Monday, February 24^th (12-2pm; optional workshop beforehand from 8:30-11am and possible Panel Discussion afterward)

 

Where: Grand Hall of the Rice Memorial Center

 

For more information, register at http://cic.rice.edu/GWICFRegistration/ or contact Kelly Windham, Assistant Director, Rice Community Involvement Center, at kjw2@rice.edu or 713-348-6044.

We hope that some of you can participate and represent AmeriCorps*Texas in Houston!

VISTA: Continuing to Fight the War on Poverty

Congratulations to VISTA on 50 years of fighting poverty!