May 11 th PD Meeting Updates & Announcements

1. May 11th PD MeetingUpdates & Announcements

2. Agenda • SCCLS Members Presentation • MSA Updates • Event recaps: • Cluster Conference • Upcoming events • 7/27-7/28: Kick-off • 11/4: Opening Day • Lunch • Evaluation session • Breakout discussions with your Program Officers

3. New Program Officer: Welcome, Maura! • Maura Hackett joined MSA at the end of April • Masters of Public Health in Environmental Health from Boston University • Ten years experience with youth development, STEM and sailing nonprofit and volunteer organizations across the US

4. 2016-17 CNCS Grants Process Update Competitive Update • We are still waiting to hear about competitive decisions from CNCS – possibly by end of this week Formula Update • Once we have the full picture from CNCS, MSA will begin making decisions about allocating formula funds • Formula decisions will be made by the end of the month, MSA’s Executive Committee will meet the first week in June to approve funding • Formula Continuations should be fully complete and in eGrants by mid/late June

5. Other Administrative Updates • The 2017-2018 grants process will begin with MSA RFP released in late July/early August with letters of intent and concept papers due in September • CNCS is making the transition from eGrants to Salesforce-based system in October 2016 • Member management portal will remain in eGrants, will likely make transition to same system next year • If your program is planning to submit a budget amendment for the current year, you should already be working on it with your Program Officer

6. Spring Progress Reports • Programs did well getting reports in on-time and with the correct information • Please make sure to provide clear and concise explanations for on-going and unmet targets that can be sent directly to CNCS, especially with final reports • Please note, do not make or propose changes to Performance Measures in progress reports, this requires an amendment

7. Site Visit Feedback • Almost all site visits have been completed, thank you for hosting us! • Overall, site visits were successful • Common issues found include: • Missing AmeriCorps MSA logo on applications, member contracts, and gear • Reasonable accommodations for interview (as well as service) not mentioned in position postings, application, or on website • Position descriptions without essential/marginal functions broken down • Background checks not filed or documented correctly

8. Background Check Update • All Programs must have at least one staff person involved in NCHSC complete new online training • Fieldprint is now the official CNCS FBI check channeler • Up and running as of March • Only for FBI checks • Average completion time is 3-5 business days (according to CNCS) • Very helpful Fieldprint introductory webinar recorded by CNCS on YouTube • Programs are not required to use Fieldprint • Please let us know if you plan to use the Departmental Orders (DO) process, which is the official name for when fingerprints are sent directly to the FBI • Language note: NSPOW vs. SORI • NSPOW is only compliant sex-offender check; SORI is MA sex-offender check that is not compliant

9. Background Check Update Continued • Disallowance Results • Only a few programs with 100% compliance • Most programs had <10% noncompliance • A few programs had significant (>50%) noncompliance and $5K-10K disallowance amounts • Disallowance will be taken from unexpended funds, fiscal staff should plan accordingly • CNCS indicated that guidance will not undergo any major revisions for 16-17 • MSA expects all programs will be 100% compliant next year • Similar process to this year, MSA will use an updated tracking document to determine compliance/disallowance

10. New Hours/NSCHC tracking sheet for 2016-17

11. New Hours/NSCHC tracking sheet for 2016-17Instructions and helpful information • Read instructions page, please  • FBI Check initiation date: for DO, remains the same; for Fieldprint it is the date fingerprints are taken • We know this is more stringent than CNCS requires, MSA has concerns about considering a check initiated when member/staff may not have shown up for appointment • Two tabs, one for members and one for covered staff • We will use the data you provide to calculate disallowance, so please double check information before submitting • Every member and covered staff-person must be listed with background check dates, including returning members and staff • Be kind to your PO: please do not put additional characters in cells, use the notes column instead

12. IPERA Update • Improper Payments Evaluation and Recovery Act • Still processing previous submissions • Will begin requesting transaction information in early summer • Very quick turnaround: If fiscal staff are away, ensure you have a back-up person available to respond to IPERA requests • Indication at conference may be requesting fewer transactions, working on normalizing process and making it continuous/flexible

13. Other CNCS updates • Harkin Award application for AmeriCorps members, alums, AND programs due June 6, 2016 • https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/2016-excellence-in-americorps-programming-and-service/ • In the news: OIG investigation of National Direct in New York • Found that members were engaging in Prohibited Activities related to abortion services • Received advice from counsel rather than CNCS– so always ask your PO if you have questions about PA’s!

14. AmeriCorps Alums • Volunteer with AC Alums at Run for Recess! • May 21st 8:00AM-12:00PM • Franklin Park Playstead, Pierpont Road • https://www.eventbrite.com/e/volunteer-with-ac-alums-at-the-7th-annual-playworks-run-for-recess-tickets-24842043220?mc_cid=e157ec024b&mc_eid=725cc73072 • Summer Social • June 1st 6:30PM-8:30PM • American Fresh 301 Canal Street, Somerville, MA 02145 • https://www.eventbrite.com/e/americorps-alums-summer-social-tickets-25146607179

15. Evaluation Update • Happy to announce that Bee’s Knees Consulting will continue to work with programs through the next program year • First cohort to work with Gretchen selected based on responses to survey, beginning now • MOU’s went out last week • Second cohort will likely get started in late summer/early fall • We have been using surveys to guide topics for Gretchen’s presentations, please let us know if there are any topics you would like us to cover in the near future

16. Service & Volunteerism Day Recap • Event was a great success, thanks to all who attended! • MSA is still waiting to find out our state funding level • House budget has us at $1.4m and Senate budget will be released soon • Conference committee meets to reconcile bills in June • Lindsay will be sending out action alerts soon– please share! • No update on FY16 Federal budget

17. Atlantic Cluster Conference Report-back • We were glad almost all of our AmeriCorps programs joined us • Highlights included Reception/StorySlam at Basketball Hall of Fame • Props to Miguel! • Any highlights or important takeaways you all want to share?

18. Upcoming Events: Kick-off! • Will be July 27-28th at Northeastern • Thanks to Colleen and MPF for hosting • Accessible by MBTA via Orange and Green Lines, parking nearby • New and newer staff will attend both days of training; more experienced staff may be eligible for one-day streamlined • Brand new staff must attend full first day, newer staff afternoon of first day • Remember, it is mandatory for at least one representative of your organization to attend • If you would like to lead a 15 minute mini-session, let us know before we start nagging you!

19. Calendar Updates • July 27-28th– Kick-off • Late July/Early August – MSA releases RFP for concept papers • November 4th – Opening Day (Friday)

20. Wrap-up QUESTIONS? Next meeting is Kick-off! July 27-28th at Northeastern