AmeriCorps Updates
Office of Monitoring
What is the Common Findings Public Report?
The report includes sourced data from the Monitoring Dashboard (2020-2024). The report includes the top five most common compliance findings for each monitoring activity type:
- Financial and Operational Fitness
- Programmatic Reviews
- Prohibitied Activites
- New to AmeriCorps
- National Service Criminal History Checks
The findings are broken out into the top five for the overall grant portfolio and the top five per program stream. For each of the top findings, the report shares:
- Full text of the applicable monitoring question.
- Location of the question in the Uniform Monitoring Package.
- Linked reference to the applicable regulation, program requirement, terms and conditions, etc.
- Compliance tips from monitoring officers.
How to Access the Report
The report is shared in the AmeriCorps Insider Newsletter and can be found on the Monitoring page of the AmeriCorps website. You can also save the direct link to the Office of Monitoring Public Report – 2020-2024.
How is the Report Used?
The report provides a targeted and digestible source of monitoring results data that can help the agency and program offices understand the common compliance issues for programs and portfolios, and the necessary training and technical assistance needs.
Grantees can use the report to target self-monitoring areas, alongside the Uniform Monitoring Package. Grantees can also review the common findings as they prepare for incoming assigned monitoring activities and to identify training topics for subrecipients, service sites/stations, award staff, and more.
Next Steps and Future Updates
The Office of Monitoring would appreciate you sharing the report with your staff. We would welcome feedback and suggestions, directed to monitoring@americorps.gov. We will be updating this report semi-annually as we receive and finalize new monitoring data.
AmeriCorps State and National Response
AmeriCorps State and National has reviewed the report and has provided a response that includes new and updated training and technical assistance opportunities to ensure that grantees are equipped with the necessary training and tools.
Office of Communications and Marketing
New Brand Portal
You can now access AmeriCorps photos, videos, factsheets, and other brand resources and materials on Aprimo. This resource will continuously be updated as we receive more assets. The portal will serve as a one-stop shop to access all resources that the office is creating. This includes things like photos, videos, flyers, and many other resources. The website is still available, but the content in Aprimo is more curated and incorporate the links to the national gear store, ordering for free promotional materials, and the current social press kits.
Access the portal - https://brand.americorps.gov/.
AmeriCorps PSA Update
Over the past year, AmeriCorps teams have been filmed at 17 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico. The footage will be used in the PSA to focus on connecting people to their purpose.
- The PSA will emphasize that AmeriCorps is a place for individuals at any stage of life to come together, make a meaningful impact, and discover the purpose they’ve been seeking.
- The PSA will feature curated footage from these productions, highlighting the diversity of AmeriCorps programs, members, and volunteers. The visuals and script will be thoughtfully edited to create a cohesive and compelling narrative.
- The video will highlight how service unlocks opportunities, connecting individuals to impactful ways to make a difference in the lives of others—and in their own.
AmeriCorps will finalize the PSA in February and will share new messaging to the field, including guidelines and training. If you have ideas about what toolkit assets would be helpful, email logos@americorps.gov.
Office of Grant Administration
Alignment between Serve America Act and AmeriCorps State and National Regulations: Elimination of Living Allowance Match Requirements
- The AmeriCorps State and National rules that were finalized in April 2024 removed outdated provisions that limited the Federal share of a member’s living allowance to 85 percent of the minimum required living allowance.
These provisions are outdated because the Serve America Act eliminated the requirement for grantees to match 15 percent of the member living allowance and member support cost.
- See Public Law 111-13, section 1315(1)(B)-(D) (striking what was then paragraph (a) (2) of 42 U.S.C. 12594). The provisions appeared at §§ 2521.45(a)(1), 2521.60(a), and 2522.240(b)(6)(i) and (iii).
Overall Match Requirement
The new AmeriCorps State and National match rules also bring the regulations into alignment with the long-standing flexibility for grantees to track match against only the overall budget rather than by each section of the budget.
The new AmeriCorps State and National match rule references a minimum operation costs percentage at 33 percent. This reference is confusing, and AmeriCorps will only assess match compliance against the overall match share percentage. AmeriCorps will resolve this confusion in our next rulemaking opportunity. In the meantime, we will ensure that there is clarity in the FY 2025 Terms and Conditions.
Alternate Match Waivers Above 30 Percent
Applicants with an approved alternate match waiver rate above 30 percent (prior to the new AmeriCorps State and National match schedule) are now able to apply against the FY 2025 AmeriCorps State and National Notice of Funding Opportunity using the new AmeriCorps State and National match schedule.
Approximately 15 applicants (all sub-applicants) were previously impacted by this eGrants issue. The Office of Grants Administration sent notifications to impacted commissions this week.
If the problem persists for any applicant or sub-applicants, please contact the hotline so that we can investigate the issue.
Inter-Agency Council on Youth Programs
AmeriCorps Resources:
AmeriCorps will be having a webinar, Addressing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity in Kentucky Through National Service, on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. ET. This presentation will present a Return-on-Investment study focused on the Homes for All AmeriCorps program in Kentucky. Learn more and register here.
Federal Partner Resources:
The Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice released new funding opportunities on research and evaluation on youth justice topics. The deadline to apply is Thursday, March 20. Learn more here.
This funding opportunity seeks proposals for research and evaluation projects to inform policy and practice in the field of youth justice in the following four topics:
- Research and Evaluation on Youth Justice System Prosecution.
- Research and Evaluation on Youth Justice Defense Delivery Systems.
- Evaluation of Youth Reentry Practices.
- Resubmissions of Youth Justice Reinvestment Studies.
The Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has released two new reports to Congress (AmeriCorps State and National leadership are participating members). Both the full Council report and the report from our practitioner members are available on the Council's website.
The Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal Child Health Block Grant has released national and state snapshots – available here. One of the five domains for the block grant is adolescent health.
Public Health AmeriCorps
Grantee Reminders:
Original Public Health AmeriCorps Foundational Training Plan is Closing
Please make sure that members are enrolling in the new CDC TRAIN plan. The original CDC TRAIN plan will retire on Monday, March 31, 5 p.m. ET and users will no longer have access. Impacted members will receive an e-mail this month. Please check your member onboarding materials to make sure you are linking to the new CDC TRAIN plan (#7484). Members who have not fulfilled their CDC TRAIN requirement and are in the old training plan have until Monday, March 31 to complete it. Otherwise, they will have to complete the requirement in the new CDC TRAIN plan before the end of their service term.
Questions – contact publichealth@americorps.gov
Deadline Extended: Complete the Grantee Survey by Monday, Feb. 3
AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation is evaluating the Public Health AmeriCorps program in partnership with an independent evaluator, JBS International. Please complete the grantee survey you received mid-September from JBS International, our independent evaluator <noreply@alchemer.com>, so that we can learn more about the successes and challenges of the program and better support your work this program year. If you cannot find your survey link, please e-mail publichealthamericorpseval@jbsinternational.com.
Public Health AmeriCorps Member Opportunities
Resource Round-Up with Public Health AmeriCorps Collaborative Partners Thursday, Jan. 16, from 3-4 p.m. ET.
The leading national public health organizations, including the American Public Health Association, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, National Association of County and City Health Officials, and the CDC Foundation, want to connect with Public Health AmeriCorps members.
What to Expect:
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Discover tools, resources, and opportunities designed to help you thrive in public health.
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Connect with partners offering resources to support your career growth.
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Learn about NEW resources and opportunities launching in 2025 for Public Health AmeriCorps members and alumni.
Presenting your Professional Self and Peer Speed Networking
Thursday, Feb. 27, 3-4 p.m. ET
Connect with public health professionals nationwide in our dynamic online forum. Share insights, exchange ideas, and expand your network to advance your impact in the field.
Public Health AmeriCorps Virtual Career Skills Fair - April 2025
This is a chance to explore career paths in public health, learn about job search resources, and take the next step in your professional development. Stay tuned for details and a finalized date.
Compliance Tip
Branding
Programs can be found non-compliant if old logos are used in marketing materials and gear. To ensure your program stays compliant, you can ask questions like:
- Are projects visually identified as AmeriCorps (including, but not limited to logos, websites, social media, service gear and clothing) and following AmeriCorps brand guidelines?
- Are members provided information that projects are part of AmeriCorps?
- Are there alterations to AmeriCorps logos or other brand identities? If yes, did the grantee receive prior written approval from AmeriCorps?
- If applicable, do agreements with subsites explicitly state the program is an AmeriCorps program?
Make sure to reference General Terms and Conditions and stay current by regularly checking the AmeriCorps brand guidelines.
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