New COVID-19 Service Activity Survey
As a reminder, the Office of Management and Budget directed AmeriCorps Seniors to periodically report on current service activities by AmeriCorps Seniors grantees during COVID-19. To fulfill this request, we are asking all grantees to identify how volunteers will engage in service after July 31.
Please complete the AmeriCorps Seniors COVID-19 Service Activity Survey by Monday, Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. ET.
The survey is intended to be a snapshot as of August 1. We know there is a high level of uncertainty right now and that it is difficult to predict service activity We ask that you use your best professional judgement when outlining how this service will look.
Completion of this survey is a requirement of all grantee programs. We need your partnership to reach our 100 percent submission rate. The first survey had a 96 percent response rate, which dropped to 55 percent for the second survey in June.
American Rescue Plan Opportunities
Submit Public Comments on Barriers to Our Resources and Service
As part of the American Rescue Plan, AmeriCorps pledged to create new national service opportunities, improve benefits for service members, and support nonprofit, Tribal, and community organizations supporting underserved communities.
Understanding barriers to national service, our programs, and agency resources is a key step in advancing the national service movement. In accordance with Executive Order 13985 of January 20, 2021, AmeriCorps invites public comment from any interested party, including current and former program award recipients, regarding any barriers that they, or the communities they serve(d), face(d) in accessing services and resources offered through any AmeriCorps program.
Your insights into how we can better expand access to and interest in national service to even more adults not only helps neighborhoods tackle the nation’s toughest challenges together, but also renews a collective sense of community. We ask that you share this request among your own networks.
Public comments must be received electronically via the federal register no later than Monday, Aug. 2, at midnight ET.
AmeriCorps Seniors Funding
Our primary goals in leveraging the American Rescue Plan investment is to promote transparency, common purpose, and accountability across our programs, for our volunteers, and our broader community.
One way we can do that is to identify those organizations directly supporting COVID-19 mitigation and recovery efforts, and those committed to increasing the number of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serving. As a current grantee, we invite you to review our American Rescue Plan presentation and connect with your regional office point of contact if you have recommendations or meet these criteria. We are excited about the impact we will make together with these funding opportunities.
Congressional August Recess
Each August, members of the House and Senate adjourn until after Labor Day, often returning to their districts. This is a good time for you to try to meet with your Congressional representatives to educate them on the value and benefits AmeriCorps Seniors programs in your community.
Ways to inform elected officials about the value of your programs:
- Invite them to an induction ceremony to administer the AmeriCorps Seniors pledge to new volunteers
- Offer an opportunity to serve alongside with AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers at a local vaccination site
- Join a volunteer on a site visit or walk in the park with one of their clients
- Visit a food drive or serve at a local food pantry or distribution site
As always, please let us know if you’re engaging an elected official by sending us a description of your event and the name of your official(s) to SCInnovation@cns.gov.
"Innovation for Impact" National Convening Recordings and Presentations
Thank you to everyone who attended the AmeriCorps Seniors “Innovation for Impact” virtual sessions last month. We would like to extend a special thanks to our innovation spotlight presenters, discussion group facilitators, associations, and Mon Ami.
Watch the recordings of our sessions on COVID-19 Response; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Veterans and Military Families; and Economic Recovery. Resource documents for the Child Tax Credit can be found in the June 30 section. We will upload additional presentations and answers to questions on the event website in the near future.
New Project Resources on LITMOS
We are always searching for resources you can use without reinventing the wheel. We recently collected the below resources in partnership with our three national association presidents for you to reference and use as you develop your own local materials that follow our AmeriCorps Seniors branding guidelines:
- Foster Grandparent Program description, Teacher Guidance, Daily Duties Sheet and
Daily Activities Sheet
- Foster Grandparent Reopening Guide, Outline and Statement of Understanding
- RSVP Education Documents (Reading Buddies Back to School Document/Reading
Buddies Handbook; Listen to Children Program Description and RSVP Reads Mentoring Newsletter).
We hope these documents help serve as a guide as you craft your organization's materials.
Policy Corner
AmeriCorps Seniors Terms and Conditions Reminder
In alignment with our brand requirements, recipients and subrecipients of AmeriCorps assistance or resources need to identify their programs, projects or initiatives as "AmeriCorps" or "AmeriCorps Seniors" programs or projects. Grantees must recognize AmeriCorps as their federal funder. Further information can be found in our terms and conditions.
Temporary Allowance Ends Thursday, Sept. 30
We know many communities are continuing to implement return-to-service plans and not all volunteers are able to return to service immediately.
To ensure AmeriCorps Seniors grantees are able to work with their community partners, AmeriCorps Seniors extended the allowance to provide stipends to AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs who, through no fault of their own, remained unable to serve.
AmeriCorps Seniors grantees may continue to pay applicable volunteers an allowance through Thursday, Sept. 30. Please ensure volunteers are prepared to return to service Friday, Oct. 1.
AmeriCorps Seniors Handbook Update Announcement
Updated AmeriCorps Seniors operational handbooks will be posted on Thursday, July 15. Handbooks can be found in the Grantee Resources section of our website on the following pages:
Elder Justice Corner
COVID-19 and Older American Homeowners
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 80 percent of adults age 65 and older in the U.S. owned a home in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic may influence older homeowners’ decisions. Now, some homeowners may want to “age in place” and remain in their present home, rather than move to a community with supportive services, such as assisted living. Others may be recently widowed and are trying to navigate housing decisions on their own. Some older adults and their family members may no longer be able to afford housing costs the way they could pre-pandemic.
The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau created resources to help older homeowners navigate these challenges. Please share these resources with older adults in your community.
COVID-19 Resources:
- A webpage for homeowners and renters during the coronavirus national emergency.
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A blog on how to avoid reverse mortgage shopping scams.
Reverse Mortgage Resources: Reverse mortgages are one way an older homeowner can continue to live in their home without making monthly payments. However, a reverse mortgage is a loan, and a complicated product with ongoing responsibilities.
Upcoming Deadlines and Reminders
Reporting Deadlines
Quarter 4 (July 1 start date)
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Project Progress Reports - Annual due: Friday, July 30
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Federal Financial Reports (budget year 1 or year 2) due: Friday, July 30
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Federal Financial Reports - Final (budget year 3) due: Thursday, Sept. 30
Resources for completing Project Progress Reports - Annual can be found by scrolling down to "Grantee Resources" and filtering for “submit a progress report” on the following program pages:
Training Corner
Upcoming Trainings
Project Directors Orientation for NEW Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Grantees: Wednesday, July 21, at 3 p.m. ET.
New Project Directors Orientation: Wednesday, July 28, at 3 p.m. ET
Monitoring Overview and Updates with the AmeriCorps' Office of Monitoring: Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 3 p.m. ET.
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