Training Corner 

• Supplemental Project Progress Report Guidance for Realigned RSVP Projects
  Wednesday, March 13, 4 p.m. ET.
• American Rescue Plan Office Hours: Closeout Q&A
  Monday, April 8, 1:30 p.m. ET.
  Note: Attendees are encouraged to pre-submit questions via the registration form. Attendees should complete the Closeout Training for Grantees prior to attending this webinar.

Monthly Spotlight on Training Resources 

This month, we are highlighting the “Closeout Training for Grantees” course on Litmos. This training reviews closeout requirements, with a particular focus on the timing of these requirements and compliant financial reconciliation. The goal of this training is to ensure grantees closeout AmeriCorps grants accurately and on time. This training is intended for AmeriCorps grantees. 

Once you log into Litmos, search the content library to locate the "Closeout Training for Grantees” course.    

Note: You will need to first log in to Litmos, then click the link to the course.  

For technical support, to request access, or if you need assistance accessing these pages using assistive technology, email: serviceresources@americorps.gov.  

Helping Older Adults Juggle Multiple Responsibilities 

AmeriCorps Seniors older adult volunteers do a lot!  According to a survey conducted in 2019, as many as one out of every seven older adult volunteers makes time to volunteer in addition to working for pay. And as many as one third of older adult volunteers are also serving as a caregiver to a loved one. So how do we help them do it all?  

A study conducted by The University of Maine on AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the RSVP program developed tips for volunteer managers to help older adult volunteers juggle their multiple responsibilities.  

Those tips include: 

• offering flexible arrangements; 
• developing activities that create opportunities for learning and social connection;  and
• using online volunteering tools.  

Read the full tipsheet here and download it to use with your teams!  

Modernization Initiative Update 

Currently, AmeriCorps is immersed in the system configuration and design phase of the future Grantee and Sponsor Portal and are in the development phase for My AmeriCorps Portal replacement. AmeriCorps is working to deliver systems that will help improve the application, award management, and volunteer management experience for AmeriCorps grantees. AmeriCorps' modernization team will be at the AmeriCorps Seniors Convening, where there will be a variety of in-person engagement opportunities.

Stay tuned for more updates and ways to stay connected. Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or suggestions at modernization@americorps.gov.  

To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of AmeriCorps, each month we will highlight the incredible impact AmeriCorps programs create through key areas of service. The theme for March is Recruitment. Use this opportunity to lift up the important work your organization is doing and inspire others to volunteer and make a difference in their communities. 

Find videos, photos, social media, communications templates, and more in our 30th anniversary communications toolkit.  Remember to share your Recruitment stories with us to raise awareness about the positive impact your program has on your community. Share videos, photos, and posts on social media. Use the hashtag #AmeriCorps30 to be featured on our channel. 

Elder Justice Corner 

From our colleagues at the Federal Trade Commission 

What to Know About Identity Theft 

Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information, Social Security number, credit card number, or other identifying details, for financial gain or fraudulent activities. This can include opening credit accounts, making purchases, accessing bank accounts, filing fraudulent tax returns, or committing other crimes under the victim's name. Identity theft can have serious consequences for the victim, including financial losses, damage to credit scores, and difficulties in resolving fraudulent activity. 

How to protect yourself from identity theft: 

• Protect documents that have personal information. Keep personal documents in a safe place and shred any documents that reveal your personal information before you throw them away. 
• Don’t share your Social Security number with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. Scammers will say they’re from the Social Security Administration, the IRS, a bank, or another organization you know to steal your information.  
• Protect your information online and on your phone. Use passwords that are hard to guess and add multi-factor authentication, like a code you get by text message, for accounts that offer it. 
• Review your bills. Look for charges for things you didn’t buy, or an unexpected bill. It could be a sign of identity theft. 

If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission. 

2024 Income Guidelines  

The 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors Income Guidelines for the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs are posted to the grantee pages. 

Income Disregard Provisions Memo  

The Income Disregard Provisions Memo has been updated and posted on the Foster Grandparent, RSVP, Senior Companion, and Senior Demonstration grantee pages.  

For Public Comment: 

AmeriCorps Seniors has a proposed rule published in the Federal Register, which is available at: Federal Register: AmeriCorps Seniors Regulation Updates. 

Directors, please participate in the public comment period and share this information with your volunteers. We would like to hear from you. The public comment period is open until Monday, April 15, and commenters can submit comments either through regulations.gov or by pressing the “Submit a Formal Comment” button at this link.  

Summary of the proposed changes: 

This proposed rule would remove barriers to service in AmeriCorps Seniors for individuals and increase flexibility for AmeriCorps Seniors sponsors to determine the best mix of staffing and resources to accomplish project goals. Specifically, this proposed rule would: 

• Remove barriers for individuals to serve as AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in three ways (Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion):  
  • by simplifying how income is calculated for the purposes of determining eligibility to receive a stipend in a manner that limits what is considered income; 
  • by allowing volunteers to continue to receive a stipend when sponsors place them on administrative leave due to extenuating circumstances preventing service; and 
  • by allowing sponsors to supplement stipends. 
• This proposed rule would increase flexibility for AmeriCorps Seniors grantees in three ways:  
  • by removing the prescriptive requirement for them to employ a full-time project director; 
  • by establishing a single 10 percent match value for RSVP regardless of year; and 
  • by allowing sponsors to choose to pay more than (but not less than) the AmeriCorps-established stipend rates using non-AmeriCorps funds for the amount exceeding the AmeriCorps-established rate. 

These proposed changes would allow grantees to determine the best staffing and volunteer mix to support projects and how to devote resources that would otherwise be devoted to meet increasingly high match requirements. This proposed rule would also update nomenclature to reflect that the Corporation for National and Community Service operates as AmeriCorps and that “Senior Corps” is now known as “AmeriCorps Seniors.” 

Anti-Fraud Advisory

From the Office of Inspector General  

What is Timekeeping Fraud? 

Timekeeping fraud occurs when agency employees, contractors, grantee staff, or AmeriCorps members and volunteers are dishonest about their time. This includes some of the below:

• Intentionally charging time to an AmeriCorps grant that is knowingly false or incorrect.
• Showing a reckless disregard for timekeeping laws, rules, and regulations, (e.g., turning a blind eye).
• Staff modifying volunteer(s) time records without any basis or authorization. 

Red Flags of Timekeeping Fraud

Here are some red flags that the Office of Inspector General has identified in our oversight:

• Numerous individuals’ timesheets that look the same (e.g., same exact number of hours each day across timesheets for a given period)  
• Timesheets that appear prepopulated  
• Excessive or unusual corrections (e.g., all corrected on same date; no explanations provided, or explanations that do not appear credible)  
• Timesheets not signed by supervisor or signatures that appear identical on each timesheet (copy and paste)  
• Unusual or excessive hours (e.g., hours on holidays/weekends when not expected)
• Timesheets that are not signed at all 

For more information, visit the Office of Inspector General website or click this Litmos link and look under "Additional Resources".

Reporting Requirements 

For reporting deadlines, review your grant's terms and conditions and section VII reporting requirements: 

• Foster Grandparent 
• RSVP 
• Senior Companion 
• Senior Demonstration 

Reports will be made available in eGrants 90 days before the due date. If the option to enter report data is not available in eGrants, please reach out to your portfolio manager.  

Current Reports Due: 

AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Quarter Three Grants and Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and Senior Demonstration Program Quarter Three Grants Realigned to Quarter Four (those with a 15-month budget): 

• Project Progress Report Annual Due: Tuesday, April 30 
• Federal Financial Report Semi-Annual Due: Tuesday, April 30 

AmeriCorps Seniors American Rescue Plan Phase 2 (April) Grants: 

• Project Progress Report Annual Due: Tuesday, April 30 
• Federal Financial Report Final Due: Monday, July 29 

Additional Resources 

For instructions on the project progress report and federal financial report, visit your program's grantee resources section, select “submit a progress report” or “submit a Federal Financial Report” as the action, then click “apply” to show the resources.    

• Foster Grandparent Program grantee page 
• RSVP grantee page  
• Senior Companion Program grantee page  
• Senior Demonstration Program grantee page  

Updated AmeriCorps Seniors Handbooks 

• Foster Grandparent Program Operations Handbook  
• RSVP Operations Handbook     
• Senior Companion Program Operations Handbook     
• Senior Demonstration Program Operations Handbook  

Litmos Trainings for Reporting 

• AmeriCorps National Performance Measures Core Curriculum   
• Federal Financial Report Core Training For Grantees