IN THIS EDITIONAmeriCorps Update | October 13, 2020
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Important Deadlines & Events
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OneStar Webinar Series: Disability Inclusion. 1-2 PM CT. Register
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Updates from the Field Call. 1-2 PM CT. Register
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Disaster Basics Training for AmeriCorps members. 11 AM-12 PM CT. Enter the password americorps to join the training. Register
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Competitive Recompete and Continuation Applications due. Apply
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OneStar closed in observance of Veterans Day.
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New AmeriCorps Staff Orientation. Hosted virtually online. Register
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OneStar closed in observance of Thanksgiving.
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| New AmeriCorps Staff Orientation Registration Open | November 16-19
New AmerCorps Staff Orientation (NASO) is a multi-day training for staff at OneStar grantee organizations who are new to their position or new to working with your AmeriCorps program. The purpose of this training is to equip participants with basic knowledge about AmeriCorps, member management, grant management, and fiscal compliance.
We are excited to share that we are offering the New AmeriCorps Staff Orientation (NASO) virtually November 16-19, 2020. Visit the registration page to view the agenda and for more information on the specific training topics. There is no cost to register for NASO.
Platform information and login instructions will be provided to participants with registration confirmation following the close of registration on October 31, 2020.
The NASO schedule is as follows:
- Monday, November 16, 2020 9:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. CT
- Tuesday, November 17, 2020 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. CT
- Wednesday, November 18, 2020 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. CT
- Thursday, November 19, 2020 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT
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| Texas Nonprofit Leaders COVID-19 Impact Survey
COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the Texas nonprofit sector’s ability to sustain an important workforce and provide critical services all Texans depend on. Now more than six months into the pandemic, COVID-19’s long-term impact to our sector continues to evolve. OneStar is partnering with United Ways of Texas, Center for Nonprofits and Philanthropy, and numerous regional partners to survey Texas nonprofits to better understand your latest needs and emerging trends. Your responses will help us better support and advocate for the Texas nonprofit sector and secure the resources you need to continue your critical mission.
The deadline for completing the survey has been extended to Friday, October 23. This survey is intended to be answered only one time per organization and should be completed by a senior leader or executive with insight into financial and operational impacts. The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete, and all responses are optional and confidential. For more information, visit txnonprofits.org/covidimpact
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| Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Resource Corner
OneStar is furthering its commitment to being more intentional with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work by sharing out a few resources in each AmeriCorps Update to help further our community’s learning and growth around how to create change in Texas.
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NAMI: Personal Stories The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), in an effort to fight stigma, collects personal stories from individuals experiencing mental illness. Read stories from individuals that provide you insight into their real life struggles with their diagnoses.
NAMI: Infographics and Fact Sheets Explore helpful infographics that help us understand the impact of mental illness within our society. You will also find links to different fact sheets (in English and Spanish) about mental illness including specific diagnoses such as ADHD or Depression and other topics such as risk of suicide, crises services, and finding culturally competent providers.
Mental Health Apps It can be difficult, and cost prohibitive, for individuals to access mental health care and the COVID pandemic has only amplified this problem. Mental Health Apps for our smartphones are an increasingly effective (and affordable) way for people to receive help. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has reviewed current apps and provided feedback on their usability and efficacy. You can read their recommendations here. This article provides information about the top 25 Mental Health Apps including general well-being apps as well as apps for specific diagnoses. Finally, the app Shinewas created by two BIPOC women as an inclusive self-care toolkit.
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Session 1: Understanding and using foundational principles of equity, inclusion and social justice. | September 23, 2 PM CT
Session 2: Analyzing patterns in our individual work practices and using critical consciousness to build an AmeriCorps that works in the interest of everyone. | October 28, 2 PM CT
Session 3: Using collaborative approaches to strengthen the impact of AmeriCorps in local communities. | November 23, 2 PM CT
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| AmeriCorps Launches Rebranded New Look
For more than 25 years, AmeriCorps has been bringing out the best in America and creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to make a difference in local communities. We are excited to share the launch of a fresh new look for AmeriCorps that builds on this proud legacy while also creating an opportunity to tell a more unified and connected story of service as we look to the future!
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"For years, we’ve been dreaming of a better way to tell the story of national service. Today, we will start to make that dream come true."
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OneStar understands that implementing the new brand will have varied ramifications for AmeriCorps Texas grantees and may be an overwhelming undertaking for some of our programs. While we encourage you join us in embracing and promoting the new AmeriCorps brand identity, no action is required from your program at this time. Over the coming months, OneStar is committed to sharing clear guidance and robust resources to ensure a successful and impactful transition for all grantees. We will also begin gradually rolling out and modeling the new AmeriCorps assets within OneStar's own branding framework.
If you would like to get a head start and begin planning for your implementation, AmeriCorps has created an AmeriCorps Brand Resources page that includes general brand guidelines, graphics, resources, gear, and registration links for training & "office hour" webinars. Meanwhile please feel free to reach out to your OneStar Program Officer with any immediate questions or concerns.
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| Disaster Basics Training for AmeriCorps Members
OneStar requires that all AmeriCorps Texas programs equip their members with basic disaster training. OneStar Outreach Officer, Taylor Wolter, will be hosting a one-hour virtual training for members and program staff on Thursday, October 22, from 11 AM-12 PM CT to train on basic disaster information and what types of activities members may be asked to support in times of disaster.
Use the password americorps to join the webinar.
Attendance on this webinar will fulfill the disaster training requirement as outlined in the OneStar Terms and Conditions. This webinar will be recorded and shared so those that cannot join live may listed afterward.
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| OneStar Webinar Series Continued
We are continuing the OneStar Webinar Series with more sharing of best practices from programs in the AmeriCorps Texas portfolio. Webinars will be recorded if you cannot attend. Please join us for the following webinar
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Debbie Kizer and Rick Hernandez from Imagine Art will share how their program practices disability inclusion in all aspects of their work including having robust and inclusive policies and procedures, inclusion in member recruitment and management, and creating an inclusive environment for staff, members, and beneficiaries.
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| RESOURCES & TRAINING
Grantee Resource Library + eNewsletter ArchiveLooking for helpful forms and templates? Miss a recent AmeriCorps Update eNewsletter? Make sure to check out OneStar’s online Grantee Resource Library on our website. You can now also find AmeriCorps Update eNewsletters from the past year archived here.
If someone at your organization needs to be added to the AmeriCorps Update distribution list and is not receiving them, you can now directly request to be added to OneStar's AmeriCorps Updates list by registering here.
2020-2021 Grantee Monthly Call Schedule
Recordings of previous Updates From the Field calls can be found here.
Recordings of previous Fiscal Update calls can be found here.
AmeriCorps Texas Grantee Portal
For technical assistance and instructions, please visit our AmeriCorps Texas Grantee Portal Support Hub, which we will continuously update as new functionalities are added. Please contact your Program or Grants Officer if you have further questions or concerns.
You must be an authorized user to access the Grantee Portal. A current authorized user on your grant can add additional users. If you need assistance, please contact Kailee Selzer, kailee@onestarfoundation.org.
Updating Program Contact Information If during the year, you have any changes, additions, or deletions to your program’s contacts, please update your Authorized Representative through the Authorized Rep Update button on your grant record in the AmeriCorps Texas Grantee Portal. As a reminder, OneStar requires the following roles to be designated and corresponding contact information to be on file:
- Legal Authorized Signatory
- Primary Program Contact
- Primary Fiscal Contact
- Secondary Contacts (Primary or Fiscal) – as applicable
- Pre-Award Contact or Grant Manager - as applicable
Please note that it is a grantee requirement to update this form within 10 working days of a change in your program’s key personnel assigned to your AmeriCorps project.
Reasonable Accomodation Request FormThe Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) may have funds available to help cover the costs of providing reasonable accommodations to AmeriCorps members. CNCS promotes inclusive service environments, where disability is valued as a part of the range of diversity that exists in the human condition, and persons with disabilities are welcomed and given every opportunity for full inclusion and participation in national service.
For additional questions about reasonable accommodations and/or reasonable accommodation reimbursement requests, please contact Betty Jo Schafer at bettyjo@onestarfoundation.org.
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