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AmeriCorps Seniors
May 14, 2024
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Notes From the Director's Desk:
May Edition
May is Older Americans Month, a time to uplift and support older adults. Check out AmeriCorps’ Older Americans Month resources.
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Dear colleagues,
It's hard to believe the National Convening is right around the corner, and we have a lot to look forward to. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Senior Companion
Program and the 30th anniversary of AmeriCorps, which are incredible milestones we are celebrating with you. We will also be handing out the 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors Awards, so please nominate your colleagues who have exhibited stellar leadership and commitment to our programs, volunteers, and their fellow directors. Award submissions can be sent to SCInnovation@cns.gov, and you can find the full award criteria on our event website. The convening registration should be sent out later this month, so please be on the lookout. I hope to see you all there.
May is Older Americans Month, and I am eager to hear how AmeriCorps Seniors programs across the nation will engage in various activities and projects aimed at supporting and uplifting older Americans, whether it's through volunteerism, outreach programs, or social events. I know many of our programs will also be honoring our wonderful volunteers with recognition events this month, and I stand with you in saluting their hard work and dedication. Our volunteers are invaluable in supporting older adults’ independence, aging in place, mentoring children, and combatting isolation and loneliness. Let’s continue AmeriCorps Seniors’ mission to ensure that older adults feel appreciated, respected, and included in our society.
May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and I think it's important to highlight the positive impact volunteering can have on supporting mental health among older adults. Engaging with older adults through volunteering not only keeps them active, but also prevents feelings of isolation, ultimately contributing to better mental well-being. Our AmeriCorps Seniors research shows that our volunteers report improvement with their own mental health as well, underscoring the mutual benefits of volunteering.
If your program has any specific initiatives that support mental health, we want to hear about them. Please, share your stories with us.
In service,
Atalaya Sergi, Director
AmeriCorps Seniors
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Training Corner
Grantee Essentials Training and Technical Assistance Calls
Each month, we dive into specific technical assistance topics to help you build your skills while managing your AmeriCorps Seniors grant. Upcoming calls:
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DEIA and Volunteer Station Best Practices
Tuesday, May 21, 1 p.m. ET
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Evaluation Basics
Tuesday, June 18, 1 p.m. ET
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Preparing Grantees for the AmeriCorps Seniors Convening
Tuesday, July 16, 1 p.m. ET
Register for the Grantee Essentials TTA Calls
Missed our last Grantee Essentials TTA call? Check out the Grantee Essentials TTA learning path in Litmos. This learning path includes webinar recordings, presentations, and other materials.
Join our Upcoming Recruitment Webinars
Join the below calls to learn more about the tips and tricks you can use to recruit more AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. Please reach out to join@americorps.gov with any questions.
Monthly Spotlight on Training Resources
This month, we are highlighting the Tuesday Talks: National Service Criminal History Checks Highlights for AmeriCorps Seniors course in Litmos. This course provides an overview of the National Service Criminal History Check applicability and sources, common Truescreen and Fieldprint issues, top findings for AmeriCorps Seniors, and opportunities for questions and answers.
Access this training by using the link above or by searching the content library for the "Tuesday Talks: National Service Criminal History Checks Highlights for AmeriCorps Seniors” course.
Note: If you are using the direct link, you must 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.
Celebrating Older American Month: AmeriCorps Seniors Tackles Social Isolation
This webinar will close out Older Americans Month with a discussion on combating older adults' social isolation through volunteer work. This will also be an opportunity to kickoff celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Senior Companion Program.
Data In
May is Older Americans Month. The theme for 2024 is "Powered by Connection," which recognizes the importance of social connections and meaningful relationships on health and well-being.
The benefits of being an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer have been proven to promote health, building lasting connections, and improving the well-being of the volunteer. A 2018 longitudinal study of Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs found the following positive health outcomes.
- AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteers reported significantly higher self-rated health scores compared to older adults in similar circumstance who do not volunteer.
- 88 percent of volunteers surveyed reported fewer feelings of isolation than before volunteering.
- 84 percent reported stable or improving health since becoming a volunteer.
Evaluating the Effects of COVID-19 on Older Adult Volunteers and AmeriCorps Seniors Programs
The supporting statement for the study’s survey instruments and a 30-day notice was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget in March. We are currently waiting on the Office of Management and Budget approval to move forward. During this time, JBS is finalizing, based on feedback, step-by-step survey administration technical assistance packets for grantees with templates for data collection. JBS will start communicating with select grantees once the Office of Management and Budget approves.
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Cultural Learning Community
The AmeriCorps Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility has launched the Cultural Learning Community – a monthly course to foster a more inclusive and equitable community for all our valued partners. These courses will provide an invaluable opportunity to deepen understanding, enhance skills, and increase partner engagement.
View the training schedule and register for upcoming events.
Nominations Open for 2024 Excellence in AmeriCorps Seniors Awards
During our 2024 AmeriCorps Seniors National Convening, we would like to offer you an opportunity to nominate your colleagues who have exhibited stellar leadership and commitment to our programs, volunteers, and your fellow directors. We recognize that, as project directors, you are the backbone of AmeriCorps Seniors, and we will use these awards as a small token of our appreciation for your hard work, dedication, and loyalty. You can nominate your colleagues for one or more of the five categories of awards.
- Impactful Service
- Innovative Service
- Inclusive Service
- Influential Service Award
- Life of Service Award
The deadline for award submissions is Thursday, May 30, 5 p.m. ET. Award submissions can be sent to SCInnovation@cns.gov. The full award criteria can be found on our event website.
New Funding Opportunity for the Volunteer Community Care Corps Program
The Administration for Community Living has released a new notice of funding opportunity to continue developing and implementing innovative local models of non-medical volunteer assistance and support to family caregivers, older adults, and adults with disabilities to maintain their independence. The Administration for Community Living’s primary objective for this new funding opportunity is the continued advancement and expansion of the Volunteer Community Care Corps model nationwide. The goal is to continue to advance and expand program objectives by increasing the number of community-based volunteer programs available to provide this care to older adults, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers at the local level. Applicants are encouraged to use the relevant components of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers as a guide when developing their application.
Applications are due Saturday, June 8.
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Celebrate AmeriCorps 30th Anniversary
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 May is Seniors, to highlight Older Americans Month. Let's honor our nation’s older volunteers and the positive impact they make by using their time and wisdom to make our communities stronger, more informed, and better connected.
Find videos, photos, social media, communications templates, and more in our 30th anniversary communications toolkit. Remember to share your Older Americans Month 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.
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Elder Justice Corner
Protect Your Privacy When Using Health Websites and Apps
Using health and wellness websites and apps may be convenient and useful, but you could be putting your privacy at risk. These websites and apps collect a lot of personal and sensitive health information about their users. The Federal Trade Commission has recently taken action against some online health services for allegedly sharing their customers’ private information with third parties for advertising purposes.
Here are some things to consider when using online health services to protect your privacy:
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Review privacy protections. Look at the privacy notice on the website or app that explains in simple terms what health information they collect from you, and how they use and share your information.
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Review website notices. If you visit a website and see a notice about how the website uses cookies, review the options. They may let you choose to allow only cookies that are necessary or to allow cookies for advertising and other purposes. Choose the option that best suits you.
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Customize the information you share. Your browser’s privacy settings let you customize the information websites collect about you. You can choose to block your location or personalized advertising or block websites from seeing your browsing history.
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Program Updates and Requirements
Operational Handbook Update
The AmeriCorps Seniors operational handbooks were updated on Monday, May 13.
Reporting Requirements
For reporting deadlines, review your grant's terms and conditions and section VII reporting requirements:
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.
AmeriCorps Seniors 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, July 30
- Federal Financial Report Semi-Annual Due: Tuesday, July 30
(Note: this Federal Financial Report covers the period of April 1, through June 30, 2024)
- Federal Financial Report Final (for 21SF, 21SC, or 21SD grant numbers)
Due: Monday, Oct 28
(Note: this Federal Financial Report covers the period of April 1, through June 30, 2024)
AmeriCorps Seniors American Rescue Plan Phase Two (April) Grants:
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Federal Financial Report Final Due: Monday, July 29
AmeriCorps Seniors American Rescue Plan Phase Two (July) and Phase Three Grants:
- Project Progress Report Annual Due: Tuesday, July 30
- Federal Financial Report Final Due: Monday, Oct 28
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.
Updated AmeriCorps Seniors Handbooks
Litmos Trainings for Reporting
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