Message From the Director
Dear Colleagues,
February is American Heart Month and I know how passionately your hearts beat for our AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. I know that it takes immense amounts of energy to keep pivoting in these uncertain and ever-changing times as we find new ways to provide services to meet the needs of communities.
Thank you for continuing this work and continuing to prioritize the wellness of yourself and those we serve. I know you are doing your best to return your volunteers to impactful service. One such example is your recent stellar response to support kit development for Project Sunshine to help kids in hospitals. I was inspired, but not surprised. Your overwhelming response demonstrates how your hearts are always in helping mode. I look forward to the impact your service will make on children, their families, and the healthcare workers taking care of them.
As I speak with groups and organizations, I continue to explain the numerous services that AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers can perform that support their mission. To that end, I’ve been talking with the Institute for Museum and Library Services about their Digital Navigators Initiative that uses phone-based services to support digital needs of residents in under-resourced communities. We’re hosting a joint webinar with them next month – details are located in the Training Corner section of this newsletter.
Also, as we enter tax season, please remind members in your community about the Child Tax Credit providing additional income for families and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which increased in amount and expanded age eligibility.
Finally, as it is American Heart Month, and I know you care deeply, I encourage you to take a little time each day to laugh loudly, breathe deeply, or simply get some fresh air. This will go a long way in helping you take care of your heart.
In service,
Atalaya Sergi, Director
AmeriCorps Seniors
AmeriCorps Week
Mark your calendars! AmeriCorps Week is March 13-19. During AmeriCorps Week we recognize the commitment of the millions of Americans who have chosen to serve their country through AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors, and encourage others to follow in their footsteps of service. You and your partners are encouraged to celebrate with us throughout the week. Visit our website for more information or access our social press kit for a one stop shop for communication resources. Be sure to follow the digital conversation about AmeriCorps Week and the days leading up to it on AmeriCorps' Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Updated Child Tax Credit Benefits
While the Expanded Child Tax Credit ended, there is an opportunity for income-eligible families to receive additional income through regular Child Tax Credit, as well as the Earned Income Tax Credit that increased in dollar amount and expanded age eligibility. Even families who did not receive advance Child Tax Credits are still eligible; however, they must file a tax return by Monday, April 18.
AmeriCorps Seniors projects, especially those that help residents with their taxes and educate them about benefits, are in a unique position to continue to educate residents and share resources about these credits. Please support families in your community by sharing this information, and encourage your volunteers to share it too. You can find information and resources on the Child Tax Credit's recently updated site.
Policy Corner
Update: AmeriCorps Seniors COVID-19 FAQs
We updated our FAQs to remove expired guidance and include volunteers who are supporting clients in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. Please continue to work with your portfolio manager to address any program-specific questions. At the bottom of the updated FAQ section, there is a link to the archived FAQs.
2022 Income Eligibility Levels Guidelines
The 2022 Income Eligibility Guidelines for the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs are posted to the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion grantee pages.
Upcoming Deadlines and Reminders
Q4 Renewals and Continuations Reminder
Application Deadline: Thursday, March 10, 5 p.m. ET.
If your current grant ends on Thursday, June 30, it is time to apply for your renewal (going into a new year one) or continuation (going into year two or three) that will start on Friday, July 1. You can find the Notice of Funding Opportunity and specific geographic service areas, funding amounts, and minimum number of unduplicated volunteers or volunteer service years associated with your grant on respective program pages (Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion). Go to the resources section and filter for "Submit continuation and renewal." Be sure to thoroughly review the Notice of Funding Opportunity for all requirements and Appendix A to verify this information.
Please note: We updated Appendix A. Please contact your portfolio manager with any questions.
Resources:
Trainings:
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Q4 Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Continuations and Renewals
- Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 3 p.m. ET - REGISTER
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Q4 RSVP Continuations and Renewals
- Thursday, Feb. 24, at 3 p.m. ET - REGISTER
Reporting Deadlines
Quarter 3 (Start Date: Friday, April 1)
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Performance Progress Reports Annual Due: Saturday, April 30
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Federal Financial Report (Budget Year 1 or Year 2) Due: Saturday, April 30
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Federal Financial Report Final (Budget Year 3) Due: Saturday, July 30
Quarter 4 (Start Date: Friday, July 1)
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Performance Progress Reports Semi-Annual Lite Due: Sunday, Jan. 30
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Federal Financial Report Semi-Annual Due: Sunday, Jan. 30
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Performance Progress Reports Annual Due: Saturday, July 30
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Federal Financial Report (Budget Year 1 or Year 2) Due: Saturday, July 30
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Federal Financial Report Final (Budget Year 3) Due: Sunday, Oct. 30
Project Progress Reports Annual resources are on program pages under Grantee Resources. Filter for “submit a progress report.”
Review Handbooks and LITMOS for additional guidance.
Elder Justice Corner
Avoid Buying Fake COVID-19 Tests Online
Tech support scams targeting older adults are on the rise. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, tech support fraud is the third most reported fraud among older adults behind extortion and non-payment/non-delivery. In 2020, the Internet Crime Complaint Center received 9,429 related complaints targeting older adults. These adults experienced more than $116 million in losses, which accounts for 66 percent of the total reports of tech support fraud and 84 percent of the total losses.
Contact from scammers occurs in various ways:
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Telephone: An older adult receives an unsolicited call from a cyber-criminal impersonating computer support, bank representatives/support, and utility companies.
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Search Engine Advertising: An older adult uses a web browser to find tech support numbers. Cyber-criminal syndicates often pay to have their fraudulent company’s link show higher in search results, hoping unwitting older adults click on their ad option.
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Pop-Up Messages: An older adult is using their computer and receives a pop-up claiming a virus was found. They are prompted to call a phone number associated with the fraudulent company.
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Email: An older adult receives an email saying their support subscription expired or that there was a potential fraudulent charge on their account. Just like the pop-up, the tech support scam victim is encouraged to contact the fraudulent support via phone.
Below are four top security tips for how older adults can avoid being a victim of a tech support scam:
- Don’t click on links in emails from unfamiliar senders. Be wary of strange or unexpected messages, even if they’re from people you know because emails, text messages, and social media posts can contain malicious links that take you to sites that gather your personal and financial information.
- Don’t open any attachments unless you know the sender and were expecting them to send it. Don’t open any attachments from an unknown contact. If it looks like it’s from a friend or family member, reach out to them to ensure that they sent you something.
- Ignore unsolicited phone calls and “robocalls.” Voice phishing scams use sophisticated phone technology as a common way to defraud seniors. Government entities, like the IRS or Social Security Administration, will never call you asking for sensitive information and technology companies won’t call you out of the blue to offer you technical support. Never give information about your money to someone over the phone.
- Don’t respond to or click on pop-up windows on your phone or computer. Screen pop-ups, called scareware, are another way to scam you by a pop-up window that tells you your device is compromised and needs repairing. When you call the support number for help, the scammer may either ask for remote access to your computer or request a fee to fix it.
Awareness is a powerful first step in protecting yourself. To protect your personal cybersecurity, you should install trusted antivirus software to protect you and your device. There are a number of reputable options available for free on the web.
Finally, if you think you’ve been the victim of an online scam or cyberattack, there’s no need to be embarrassed. Be vocal about your experience. Contact your local police and your financial institution if money has been taken from your account. Report the online scam to the Federal Trade Commission.
Training Corner
Tuesday Talk: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Initiative and National Service Criminal History Checks
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 1 p.m. ET
Join AmeriCorps Seniors and AmeriCorps' Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility unit to learn best practices that you can leverage to strengthen your programs and broader community efforts. Attendees can pose questions, discuss their current practices, and share insights.
AmeriCorps' Office of Monitoring will join to share updates to the National Service Criminal History Checks process and connect attendees to related resources.
Tuesday Talk: Digital Navigator Program with the Institute of Museum and Library Services
Tuesday, March 15, 1 p.m. ET
AmeriCorps Seniors is partnering with the Institute of Museum and Library Services to share a Digital Navigator program focused on improving digital literacy and inclusion in communities. Digital Navigators are trained community members that help Americans learn how to access technology and gain competencies in Internet use, ensuring that they can fully participate in our highly online society.
In this webinar, program directors will learn about the Digital Navigator program, how it works, and how you can engage new partners in your community to bring this model to life. The webinar will cover the facets of digital inclusion, Digital Navigators’ role in facilitating the whole digital inclusion process from connectivity to digital skill building, and necessary training for potential Digital Navigators. Digital inclusion needs assessment, collaborations, and program implementation will be discussed to support program directors’ decision-making, planning, and implementation of a digital navigator program.
This is not only a new service opportunity, but potentially an opportunity to recruit new service stations and volunteers with digital and computer backgrounds or those willing to learn.
Multiyear Budget Periods, Unexpended Funds Reporting, and Match Waiver Requests
Quarter 4 Grantees: Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2:30 p.m. ET
In the fall, AmeriCorps Seniors and the Office of Grant Administration provided an overview of multiyear budget periods and their impact on AmeriCorps Seniors grantees. Staff explained the unexpended funds concept, the process for reporting unexpended funds to AmeriCorps, and the connection between unexpended funds and multi-year budget periods. Additionally, staff provided an overview of AmeriCorps match waiver request process. A recording of this webinar and related resources are available on LITMOS.
AmeriCorps Seniors and the Office of Grant Administration will host a follow up webinar to answer additional questions.
AmeriCorps will post the recordings of the Q&A webinars on LITMOS.
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