Working with AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers

1. Working with AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers By Amy Hatter June 7, 2013 10:30am IAAIS Conference

2. My experience with VISTA • First VISTA at Radio Eye in 2008 • Worked with and supervised 6 VISTAs since 2009

3. What is VISTA • Part of the AmeriCorps system • State, National, NCCC, RSVP also programs in AmeriCorps • “Domestic PeaceCorps” • VISTA members work in poverty, helping people in poverty for a year.

4. VISTA Mission “To start, strengthen, or expand programs, systems, or services that help people move out of poverty.”

5. What you need to know about VISTA • Capacity building, not direct service “Tasks and activities to create, expand, or strengthen systems or processes in order to increase an organization’s ability to function effectively and meet its mission.” • Yearly grant • Lots of reporting! (More about this later) • Training requirements: PSO & OSOT

6. VISTA Network • Site level • Local network • “Sponsoring organization” – VISTA supervisor level • Each network gets certain number of VISTAs; doled out to sites. • State level

7. Benefits of VISTAS • Can do special projects you’ve been wanting to do but haven’t had the time for (example: website, social media) • Full-time staff person for 1 year for very little money on your part (cost-share). • Build capacity, streamline procedures!

8. Process of getting a VISTA

9. Timeline Radio Eye’s timeline • February: Apply to network (VAD, etc.) • March/April: notification from local network and/or state network of approval/denial • May: interview applicants • July-August: VISTA goes to PSO • August: VISTA starts 1 year term • July/August next year: VISTA’s term ends.

10. Application • VISTA Assignment Description (VAD) • Performance Milestones • Letter to advisory board (not all networks have an advisory board). Used at local level. • On-site Orientation & Training (possibly)

11. VISTA Assignment Description

12. Performance Milestones

13. Advisory Board letter • General information about your organization. • How you will use your VISTAs. • How VISTA will be able to help your organization succeed. • Statement on ability to pay the cost-share. • This goes up every year the network receives VISTAs. • How your organization fights poverty.

14. OSOT

15. Approval/Denial Notification • Local approval (advisory board) to be in network grant • State approval (number of VISTAs the network received) • Local approval, part2 • At this point, even if your organization was approved at the local level, you may be cut.

16. . . .Now what? Congratulations, you’ve been approved!

17. What’s next? • Post the job opening • Interview applicants • Approve applicant – network paperwork and state approval • Approved applicant attends pre-service orientation, and network orientation. • Applicant starts work!

18. Job Listing • Network supervisor will list your opening on www.americorps.gov • You can list it wherever you would list a job or volunteer opening. • Colleges are especially good.

19. What you need to tell your applicants • The stipend (very low – typical $900-$1,100/month) • Cannot take another job • Can go to school • Health/childcare benefits • Moving reimbursement • End-of-service stipend or education award • Go over VAD during interview

20. What’s next? • Select your candidate. • Let your network supervisor know. • Connect them with the network supervisor, who will take them through the VISTA paperwork. • State sends to PSO. • That’s it – for now!

21. PSO Schedule – for Southeast region

22. After PSO • First day: your VISTA will meet with the network supervisor for a network orientation • First day with you: orient your VISTA with your On-Site Orientation & Training • Start them on their tasks. • Good luck with your new VISTA!

23. VISTA Reporting • Service logs • VISTA completes – you sign • Monthly reports • VISTA completes and sends to network supervisor • Quarterly reports • Quantitative chart (you complete) • Site PPR form (you complete) • Milestones (VISTA completes) • Updated VAD (you compete) • Weekly reports • NOT a network requirement – but it’s nice to have.

24. KEYWORD: CAPACITY BUILDING What can VISTAs do anyway?

25. Website overhaul! Old site New site!

26. Train/Manage volunteers! • Streamline volunteer management • New orientations • Manuals on how to train readers, control board ops, etc. • Volunteer committees!

27. Fundraising! • Write grants • Plan fundraising events • Coordinate appeals • Find grants for you to write

28. Any project that will raise your organization’s ability to do good!

29. What VISTAs can’t do • Be the receptionist (answer phone & door exclusively) • Do direct service • Examples: be a reader or control board operator • Work outside of their VAD • It’s very important to stick to their VISTA Assignment Description when assigning them tasks – this is what you’ll be reporting on! • Duties paid staff or existing volunteers already do.

30. If a VISTA doesn’t work out • Be proactive about correcting problems. • Only the corporation (Corporation for National & Community Service) can terminate a VISTA. • Need lots of documentation. • Keep in touch with your network supervisor and your state supervisor. • Read the Supervisor’s manual at www.vistacampus.org

31. Best Practices • Pick the right person • Can manage living in poverty • Motivated • Lots of people coming to VISTA during the recession just for a job • Wants to help people • Stay in touch with network • Weekly meetings with VISTA!

32. Who to contact first • Local network supervisor – if you know who they are • State supervisor – can put you in touch with network supervisors. • http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/contact-us/state-offices

33. My contact information Amy Hatter, Executive Director Radio Eye 1733 Russell Cave Road, Lexington, KY 40505 amy.hatter@radioeye.org 859-422-6390 606-706-5446