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| AmeriCorps Update
10.06.2014
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| IMPORTANT DEADLINES + EVENTS
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| October 7, 2014 Ad-hoc Grantee Call: Criminal History Check Compliance Assessment Process (3-4pm Central). See below for call-in details.
October 9, 2014 PER Processing Deadline.
October 15, 2014 2015-16 AmeriCorps Texas Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions will be released for New/Recompete Applicants. See below or click here for details.
October 16, 2014 Monthly Grantee Call: Updates from the Field (REQUIRED). 1-2pm Central. See below for call-in info.
October 16, 2014 Final FFRs/APRs due to OneStar for all 2013-2014 AmeriCorps Programs.
October 20, 2014 G-489 Course: Management of Spontaneous Volunteers in Disasters (Austin). Free; offered for TDEM course credit. Click here to register.
October 23, 2014 PER Processing Deadline.
October 30, 2014 Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply for 2015-16 AmeriCorps Texas Funding (REQUIRED) – New/Recompete Applicants Only. Complete the required Notice of Intent form and submit to grants@onestarfoundation.org no later than 5:00 PM CST on Thursday, October 30, 2014. A full application will not be accepted if this Notice of Intent to Apply form has not been received by this deadline.
October 31, 2014 Service Locations must be updated in eGrants for 2014-15. See below for details.
November 17, 2014 2015-16 AmeriCorps Texas Grant Application Deadline. Late and incomplete applications will not be accepted. See below or click here for details.
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| October is Texas Persons with Disabilities History Awareness Month + National Disability Employment Awareness Month During the 82nd Legislative Session, HB 3616 was passed which designates October as Persons with Disabilities History and Awareness Month. The bill encourages public schools and state agencies to celebrate the accomplishments of people with disabilities. During this time, various schools and agencies will have an opportunity to highlight the achievements of Texans with disabilities who made significant contributions to the state. It is also be an opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary Americans who led the way in the disability rights movement. The bill seeks to increase public awareness of the many achievements of people with disabilities; encourage public understanding of the disability rights movement; and reaffirm the local, state, and federal commitment to providing equality and inclusion for people with disabilities. The bill requires that the Persons with Disabilities History and Awareness Month be regularly observed by appropriate celebration and activities in public schools and other places to promote respect for and better treatment of people with disabilities in this state.
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| Update on 2015-2016 AmeriCorps Notice of Funding Opportunity OneStar Foundation is excited to announce that the 2015-2016 AmeriCorps Texas Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions for organizations interested in administering an AmeriCorps*State program will be available on October 15, 2014 when the NOFO is made publicly available by CNCS. These grants are awarded to organizations that will place AmeriCorps members in service solely within Texas. Selected organizations receive grants to support AmeriCorps member positions that will engage members in service to meet critical needs in Texas. Submission of the Notice of Intent to Apply is required to be eligible for this competition and is due on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 5:00 PM CST by email to grants@onestarfoundation.org. Failure to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply will render an applicant ineligible to apply or submit a full application proposal. The deadline for full applications is Monday, November 17, 2014 at 10:59:59 PM CST. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Sign up today for one of our Informational Webinars To help applicants prepare for the 2015-16 AmeriCorps grant application deadline, OneStar will host a series of informational webinars covering a variety of introductory information related to managing an AmeriCorps program. A recording of each session’s presentation and audio will be available on OneStar's website at the conclusion of the session. Time will be allotted at the end of each session for participant questions. You must pre-register to attend the webinar of your choice by clicking on the date/time below. We encourage interested applicants to participate on these calls: - AmeriCorps 101 Informational Session
- AmeriCorps Program Design Informational Session
- AmeriCorps Budget Informational Session
- AmeriCorps Performance Measurement Informational Session
- AmeriCorps Open Forum Session
All communication relating to this notice must be directed to the contact persons named below: Elisa Gleeson Senior Grants Management Specialist, OneStar Foundation Availability: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM CST, Monday to Friday *Available only via Email Emily Steinberg Director, National Service Programs, OneStar Foundation Phone: 512-287-2008 Availability: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST, Monday to Friday
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| IMPORTANT: Criminal History Check Compliance Assessment Process As some of you may have seen, CNCS released some very important information on September 30, 2014 regarding a new Criminal History Check Compliance Assessment Process that they are launching this month, beginning October 13th. In light of this new information and process, OneStar will be hosting an important call for AmeriCorps Texas programs on Tuesday, October 7th from 3:00-4:00pm Central. The call is required; each grantee must designate a staff member to participate. No advance registration is needed. We will record the call as well so you can share the recording with other staff who cannot attend. If you have an unavoidable conflict, please let your Grants Officer know ASAP before October 7th. To join, simply dial: Dial: 1-800-944-8766 Participant Code: 36027 Please note that, as outlined in the bulletin, it is your responsibility to ensure that your program has initiated all required checks (NSOPW, State, and/or FBI checks) on all of the individuals actively working or serving in covered positions in their program as of the start date of the assessment period – including grant-funded staff! This means that you should be double-checking your program is 100% in compliance between now and the official assessment launch date of October 13th! We look forward to speaking with you and answering your questions on our call tomorrow.
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| October Monthly Call Schedule This is a reminder that OneStar is still alternating every other month between 1-on-1 calls (with just Grants Officers and your individual program) and our grantee-wide Updates from the Field calls. Since we had 1-on-1 calls in September, we will not have them in October. However, OneStar is still planning to host the Monthly Grantee Call: Updates from the Field on Thursday, October 16th from 1:00-2:00pm Central. This call is required; each grantee must designate a staff member to participate. No advance registration is needed. The call will be recorded. We plan to keep this call brief given that this is also your Final APR/FFR deadline. To join, simply dial: Dial: 1-800-944-8766 Participant Code: 36027 We will plan to have our next 1-on-1 calls with each grantee in November. If you are interested in still having a 1-on-1 call in October, please let your assigned Grants Officers know and they will work with you to set up an additional call as needed.
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| OneStar is Hiring! OneStar Foundation seeks to fill the full-time position of Grants Officer – Fiscal, located in Austin, Texas. This position supports the development and implementation of OneStar’s grants portfolio in the area of service and volunteerism. Primary functions are related to supporting OneStar’s role in administering the AmeriCorps*Texas program, primarily monitoring compliance with financial management of AmeriCorps*Texas grants. This position reports to the Associate Director, AmeriCorps*Texas and serves on the AmeriCorps*Texas team. HOW TO APPLY Submit your resume and a cover letter that explains 1) your interest in the position, 2) fit for the position (specifically any experience with federal grants management and/or fiscal monitoring), and 3) your salary expectations to HR@onestarfoundation.org with “Grants Officer” as the subject of your e-mail. No phone calls accepted. For more information on this opportunity please view the full position description here. Opening Date: September 30, 2014 - open until filled
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| Final APR Link & Instructions | Due October 16 The Final AmeriCorps Progress Report (APR) is due to OneStar for AmeriCorps Texas programs on October 16, 2014, by 11:59pm CST. The primary purpose of the Final APR is to gauge each program’s progress on key metrics, including member enrollment and retention rate, the 30-day enrollment/exit cycle time, and whether you met your selected Performance Measures. After review, OneStar reports the data collected through your APR directly to CNCS for their final review. OneStar has created an updated Google Form for you to submit your responses. If you provided your saved link during mid-year, your Grants Officers should have provided it to you via email. When you click the link, you will be brought to the Final APR report. Your responses from mid-year will appear for you to update. Any questions added for the final report will show up blank for you to complete. In an effort to help with your submission, we are sharing a few additional tips to keep in mind as you complete this report: - Once you begin the form, your work will not save until you hit “submit” at the very end. We strongly recommend that you not begin the online form until you are ready to complete the full report (Please refer to the “Worksheet for 2013-2014 FINAL APR” to assist you).
- IMPORTANT: When you hit submit, please click the "Edit your response" link and save the unique link that comes up in your web browser if you did not save it at mid-year. We strongly recommend that you email this link to your grants officer.
- Take a close look at each page and its instructions for notes on what is required and what is optional.
- The time period covered in the report is the start of your grant period through July 31, 2014. This includes results of your Performance Measure data at end of year.
- As noted at mid-year, we added fields to the final report to collect data on the following: Disaster Preparedness and Response, Member Development, Community Awareness Presentations and National Days of Service and Volunteer Data.
- UPDATE: OneStar recently received instructions from CNCS, which included the addition of a new and required item titled “Analysis of Impact” and an adjustment to the definition of “Impact Snapshot.” See worksheet and/or APR report for a detailed description.
Note that it is essential that programs complete the APR by the specified deadline, as OneStar’s statewide report is due to CNCS at the end of October. If you foresee any challenges in meeting the deadline, please notify me immediately. To be taken to the Final APR Form, click here . Or go to your unique saved link that you have on file (your program did not send a link to OneStar at mid-year). You may also wish to download the following documents to guide you in your report preparation and submission: Thank you for your continued work! Please let your OneStar Grants Officers know if you need additional information or assistance as you complete your Final APR.
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| Update your Service Locations in eGrants by 10/31! As many of you are aware, CNCS publishes a statewide profile of each state each winter, which lists specific sites and locations where AmeriCorps members are serving. In anticipation of this, and to ensure accuracy, OneStar needs you to update your program’s member service locations in eGrants by October 31st. You should have received an email from your Grants Officer with a copy of your current eGrants Service Locations Report for your review and reference. Please ensure you review this list and make any corrections in eGrants for 2014-2015. If any information is missing or inaccurate, please have all of the information updated by October 31st. If you have any questions, please contact your assigned OneStar Grants Officer.
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| Free Webinar on Strategic Nonprofit Leadership Join our friends at the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University on Thursday, October 16th at 12:00 p.m. Central for a free webinar entitled “Strategic Leadership for Nonprofits: Transforming Your Management Practices.” The session will be delivered by Dr. Brown , Associate Professor and Director of the Certificate in Nonprofit Management at the Bush School. Description: Nonprofits operate in complex and challenging environments that require managers to clarify purposes while engaging stakeholders. This session introduces leadership functions that managers can use to set organizational goals, align stakeholders, and achieve objectives. Based on the three phases of the strategic management cycle, strategic leadership helps managers build effective organizational systems that produce social value. As a result of this session, participates will gain a better sense of how to prioritize and utilize key leadership functions. RSVP today! Questions? Contact bushschoolnonprofit@tamu.edu.
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| Promise Zone Initiative Grant Competition On behalf of CNCS and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), we would like to bring your attention to the second round of the Promise Zone Initiative grant competition due November 21, 2014. Supported by President Obama, the initiative designates a number of high-poverty urban, rural and tribal communities as Promise Zones, where the federal government will partner with and invest in communities to create jobs, leverage private investment, increase economic activity, expand educational opportunities, and reduce violent crime. Heightened attention and emphasis is placed on tribal and rural areas. For more background on the Promise Zone Initiative and to listen to related webcast recordings, please visit the Promise Zone webpage at:
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Update on Ebola in Texas As you are probably aware, a hospital patient in Dallas, TX has tested positive for Ebola, making the patient the first case diagnosed in the United States. In light of this, OneStar is working with the Texas VOAD to provide volunteers and donations as requested by the State of Texas and we wanted to pass along some general safety information to you all. - What is Ebola? Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains. Ebola can cause disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). Ebola viruses are found in several African countries. Ebola was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, outbreaks have appeared sporadically in Africa.
- How does it spread? Ebola is spread through direct contact with a person or animal with Ebola. Direct contact includes contact with blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids, or exposure to contaminated objects, such as needles. Body fluids include saliva, mucus, vomit, feces, sweat, tears, breast milk, urine, and semen. Ebola cannot be spread simply by being near someone who is infected. People only become contagious after they begin to have symptoms.
- What are the symptoms? Symptoms of Ebola include sudden fever, sometimes with a headache and joint and muscle aches. Other symptoms may include nausea, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and lack of appetite. Some patients may also experience rash, red eyes, hiccups, cough, sore throat, chest pain, problems breathing, problems swallowing, or bleeding inside and outside the body. Symptoms usually appear 8 to 10 days after exposure, but may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure. Seek medical care right away if you have symptoms and had direct contact with a person or animal with Ebola. Tell your doctor about your recent travel, and be sure to notify the doctor’s office or emergency room about your symptoms before going so that arrangements can be made, if needed, to prevent others from becoming sick.
- How can I make a difference? Please consider downloading and disseminate the following infographics to your staff, AmeriCorps members, and community partners:
Stay informed! To stay informed about the virus, learn about its signs and symptoms, and take the appropriate steps to keep you and your family safe, please see the following resources:
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| Reading Partners: An Untapped Force in the Fight for Literacy An excerpt from the article: Resources are always short in education. So it is welcome news that two recent studies show that task-shifting tutoring programs can work on a wide scale — and that scale can be achieved relatively affordably. One evaluation, by the highly respected research group MDRC, found that Reading Partners, which uses community volunteers, added 1.5 to 2 months of literacy growth each year for children in the program from second to fifth grade. As Kaitlin Guthrow, Executive Director of Reading Partners-Dallas states, “This [article] places us squarely on the national stage, illustrating what we've known to be true all along: given the right support and resources, community volunteers can make an extraordinary difference in improving the future for our children. And Reading Partners has the proven tools to unlock their reading skills, which is the foundation for all future learning.” Congratulations to all of the staff, AmeriCorps members, and community volunteers at Reading Partners for your efforts in the fight for literacy!
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| Civic Reflection Training Services Request Form OneStar is pleased to periodically offer Civic Reflection training services to grantees, national service programs, and eligible organizations throughout the state of Texas. The two types of services offered are Civic Reflection Discussions and Civic Reflection Facilitation Workshops. Civic reflection uses short, thought-provoking images, video or readings from literature, history, or philosophy to open up important questions in civic life and explore the underlying values and beliefs that drive our shared work in the world. AmeriCorps programs have utilized the practice of civic reflection as a tool in such areas as member development, staff development, and member retention.
Reasonable Accommodation Request Form OneStar may have funding available to support grantees with reasonable accommodation requests for members and/or potential members. If you need to request funds to provide a reasonable accommodation for a member or potential member, please complete the request form at http://www.tfaforms.com/167676.
Updating Program Contact Information If during the year, you have any changes, additions, or deletions to your program’s contacts, please update your program’s Authorized Representative Form (ARF) by visiting http://www.tfaforms.com/159770. This site allows you to add, remove, and/or update contacts at any time and you only need to enter the contact information for the person(s) you need to update. 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
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.
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