Message From the Director
Dear colleagues,
AmeriCorps is monitoring and mobilizing to support these communities in their recovery. Disaster response teams are being deployed throughout the country. AmeriCorps is working with state agencies to identify where and what support is needed and offering disaster-based support to impacted programs.
You can find more information on your program’s disaster protocol in your handbook, “Appendix A. 21 – AmeriCorps Seniors Disaster and Emergency Response” found on the Foster Grandparent, RSVP, Senior Companion, and Senior Demonstration grantee pages. If you have been impacted, please work with your portfolio manager to determine next steps.
Many of you are supporting your local communities in responding to and assisting those in need. When you get a chance, we would love to hear your stories. Please send stories and photos to SCInnovation@cns.gov. Know that I regularly share the immeasurable positive impact that older American volunteers have on communities across the country.
Speaking of resilience, the start of October marked the celebration of older adults around the globe. On Saturday, Oct. 1, the United Nations celebrated International Day of Older Persons. The theme was “Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World.” Those of us who engage and support older adults to serve can certainly attest to their resilience and continued commitment to their communities. We can also attest to their willingness to be a source of support, wisdom, and stability to the people they serve.
Be well and be safe!
In service,
Atalaya Sergi, Director
AmeriCorps Seniors
Training
AmeriCorps Seniors 2022 Virtual Convening: Summer Series
The summer series is officially wrapped but you can find materials and recordings from previous sessions on Litmos in the 2022 ACS Virtual Summer Series Learning Path.
Grantee Essentials Training and Technical Assistance
Each month, we will focus on a deep dive into a specific technical assistance topic to build your skills while managing your AmeriCorps Seniors grant. These calls will dedicate time for American Rescue Plan funded grantees and a forum for native and tribal serving grantees to connect.
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. ET.
Fiscal Year 2023 Application Due Dates
AmeriCorps has finalized its grant calendar for the new fiscal year.
For Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion program grantees that have a start date of Saturday, April 1 (Quarter 3 grants):
- Funding notices opened on Thursday, Sept. 1.
- RSVP applications are due Wednesday, Nov. 2.
- Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion applications are due Wednesday, Nov. 16.
- Technical Assistance Webinars posted in Litmos:
- Review NOFA Requirements
- Submitting your applications
- Continuations and Renewals Overview
- Quick Guide
For Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion program grantees that have a start date of Saturday, July 1 (Quarter 4 grants):
-
Funding notices will open on Monday, Jan. 9.
-
Applications will be due Wednesday, March 9.
-
Technical Assistance Webinars:
If you have an award that has an off cycle start date and/or have a Senior Demonstration program grant, your portfolio manager will share application due dates once finalized.
Note: On-time grant application submissions will be expected in fiscal year 2023. Late applications that do not follow the notice of funding opportunities will not be accepted.
Pathfinder Update
The pathfinder will be updated on Friday, Oct. 14. Potential AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers use the pathfinder tool to find volunteer opportunities in their communities. Make sure your station roaster contact information is up to date, so they can learn more about serving with you.
To correct or update your pathfinder information review your contact information in eGrants. For technical assistance, refer to "Appendix A. 22: Review and Update Project Information" in your program handbook located on the Foster Grandparent, RSVP, Senior Companion, and Senior Demonstration Program grantee pages.
Any updates made between Friday, July 1, and Friday, Sept. 30, will be posted on Friday, Oct. 14.
Volunteer Station Rosters
Remember to update your volunteer station roster information in eGrants, especially if you are a new AmeriCorps Seniors’ project. Station roster information is used for AmeriCorps Seniors’ National Service Reports and pathfinder tool. This information is important for providing a full picture of the impact of AmeriCorps Seniors and national service activities. Need help updating your station rosters? Review these instructions.
Operations Handbook Updates
New versions of the operations handbook for all AmeriCorps Seniors programs will be posted by Wednesday, Nov. 2. All Handbooks will include the new appendix “A.8: Fund Raising and AmeriCorps Seniors Grants.” The Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and Senior Demonstration handbooks will include a clarification that volunteer service years should be included in the “unduplicated volunteer” field in work plans for stipend programs to align with the grant application instructions.
To access the handbooks, visit these grantees pages on our web site.
American Rescue Plan
American Rescue Plan Phase 1 B Reminder
Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion grantees with a grant number starting with 21S that received an American Rescue Plan Phase 1B Augmentation have until March 31, 2024, or June 30, 2024, to complete their American Rescue Plan activities and expend the augmentation funds. These grantees should include any unexpended American Rescue Plan funds in their Fiscal Year 2023 budget and have additional unduplicated volunteers or Volunteer Service Years assigned to work plans designated as “American Rescue Plan Performance Measures.” Total project budgets must meet statutory match, including American Rescue Plan Augmentation funds, unless the grantee has been approved for a match waiver.
Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion grantees with a grant number starting with 20S that received an American Rescue Plan Phase 1B Augmentation have until March 31, 2023, or June 30, 2023, to complete their American Rescue Plan activities and expend the augmentation funds. Please contact your Portfolio Manager if an extension to your performance period may be necessary to complete your American Rescue Plan activities.
Elder Justice Corner
Announcement: Atalaya Sergi, AmeriCorps Seniors director, has been appointed to the newly created Stop Senior Scams Advisory Council formed by the Federal Trade Commission where she will co-lead the Consumer Education Committee. We share the information below as part of the effort to ensure that older adults, particularly AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers and others in your communities, do not become victims of scams. Please use these resources to help remind those in your communities of this ongoing scam.
Grandparent Scams
Grandparent scams, sometimes called person-in-need scams, prey on fear and the bonds family members have for each another. These scams begin with phone calls where fraudsters telephone recipients to say that their grandchild or other family member is in serious trouble, often in jail or seriously ill, and needs money. Sometimes fraudsters pretend to be the family member, although will quickly find a reason to bring in a third person, so the victim cannot ask the “grandchild” personal questions. Other times, they pretend to be someone calling on behalf of the family member.
With increasing frequency, fraudsters are even sending someone to meet victims and pick up cash face-to-face. When a victim pays, demands for more money will come quickly and likely in increased amounts. These fraudsters also try to convince victims that they cannot talk to anyone about their loved one’s situation, stating that the “criminal charges” are under a gag order.
The Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau are working to raise awareness among older adults, families, and the community about grandparent scams. Free awareness materials related to these scams are available from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and from the Federal Trade Commission.
Million Hearts
Every year, Americans have more than 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes. Million Hearts is a national initiative, co-led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to prevent one million cardiovascular events by 2027.
People aged 65 and older are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, or to develop heart disease, kidney failure, or heart failure. These illnesses can be fatal or result in serious disability, limiting a person’s activity level and lowering their quality of life. Many people do not know that they are at high risk with factors that include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and secondhand smoke exposure, diabetes, physical inactivity, obesity, and unhealthy diet.
Many of these risks are preventable and can be controlled by:
- staying physically active;
- eating a healthy diet low in sodium;
- maintaining a healthy weight; and
- avoiding exposure to tobacco products.
How You Can Help
- Help us get the word out about Million Hearts and preventable heart disease.
- Encourage your volunteers and other older residents in your community to work with their health care provider to reduce heart attack or stroke risk.
- Share campaigns and resources with your volunteers, other older adults, and other organizations in your community.
-
COVID-19 Heart Health Messages — These resources spotlight the importance of heart health during the COVID-19 pandemic by encouraging people to keep up with their regular heart health appointments and to seek emergency treatment when needed.
- People with heart disease, or who have had a stroke, may be more likely to have serious complications from flu. Visit vaccinefinder.gov to find a place nearby to get your flu shot.
Performance Progress Reports Tips and Tricks
The Performance Progress Reports Semi-Annual for Quarter 3 grantees (those with performance periods beginning on Saturday, April 1) are due on Sunday, Oct. 30. As you are compiling your data for this report, please refer to this checklist to make sure your report is complete and to reduce the chance that the report will be returned for revision.
Data Quality Checklist
- Enter your output and volunteer data into each work plan.
- Check “Done with Section” for each workplan.
- If you have “0” for any output, if any of your output actuals exceed 400% of the target, or if you are not on track to meet your targets by the end of the one-year performance period, include an explanation in the “Grantee Note” section for the appropriate workplan(s).
- For non-stipend programs, count each volunteer as an unduplicated volunteer in only one workplan.
- For stipend programs, enter volunteer service years into the fields asking for unduplicated volunteers.
- For stipend programs, total unduplicated volunteer count (which represents volunteer service years) in the progress summary is about half your volunteer service years target for the year. (Note: this may vary depending on the nature of your project.)
- Included any additional information you would like to provide to your portfolio manager in the “Overall Grantee Note” box on the summary tab.
For more on data quality, check out the recording and slide deck from the Summer Series session “Data Quality 101.” (Note: You must be logged in to Litmos for the links to take you directly to the materials.)
Upcoming Deadlines and Reminders
Reporting Deadlines
Quarter 3 (Saturday, April 1 Start Date)
-
Performance Progress Reports Semi-Annual Due: Sunday, Oct. 30
-
Federal Financial Report Semi-Annual Due: Sunday, Oct. 30
-
Performance Progress Reports Annual Due: Sunday, April 30
-
Federal Financial Report (Budget Year 1 or Year 2) Due: Sunday, April 30
-
Federal Financial Report Final (Budget Year 3) Due: Sunday, July 30
Quarter 4 (Saturday, July 1 Start Date)
-
Performance Progress Reports Semi-Annual Lite Due: Monday, Jan. 30
-
Federal Financial Report Semi-Annual Due: Monday, Jan. 30
-
Performance Progress Reports Annual Due: Sunday, July 30
-
Federal Financial Report (Budget Year 1 or Year 2) Due: Sunday, July 30
Progress report resources are available on program pages under "Grantee Resources," filter for “submit a progress report.”
Review program handbooks and Litmos for additional guidance.
|
