December PD Meeting Updates & Announcements

1. December PD MeetingUpdates & Announcements United Way of Mass. Bay and Merrimack Valley December 14, 2016

2. Agenda • North Shore AmeriCorps Presentation • Connecting Cultural Responsiveness to Work Training • Lunch • Discussion with MSA’s CEO Emily Haber • MSA updates

3. 2017-18 CNCS Grants Process Update • Competitive Applications Due to CNCS January 18th • New and Re-competing Programs • Competitive Continuations • CNCS notified us of clarification dates early! • New and Re-competing: 4/5 – 4/26 • Continuations: 3/24 – 4/7 • Early May - Notification of funding for competitive applicants • Formula deadlines (continuations and re-competing) • Early spring, check with your PO • Doing a separate Formula competition this year

4. Childcare Update • Still the same vendor - Gap Solutions - but enhanced services: www.americorpschildcare.com • Application process simplified and more user-friendly • Online application option which can be saved • Applications processed within 5-10 days • Payment directly deposited to childcare provider • Current members will be automatically transferred into the new process

5. Final 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 • Answer what question is, not what you’d like it to be :) • Character limits when MSA enters into eGrants • Unmet targets, including retention and enrollment: focus on broad explanations and what program will do to improve • MSA is working on making modifications on our end • Some issues with using correct AmeriCorps language • Serve, not work; Select, not hire; Position, not job; etc.

6. Continuations • Most programs are working on Continuations currently or will be in the spring • Please look to the information in the Application Instructions for the instructions (page 13) • Focus on answering each question and sharing best practices and continuous improvement strategies • Example: Enrollment/Retention challenges—Specifics on each member who exited and explanations are not necessary, stick to bigger picture and plans for improvement • Be concise—limited space in eGrants • Please respect PO guidance around deadlines and feedback • All programs are receiving recommended edits to submit strongest application possible to CNCS

7. Other CNCS updates • New training management platform, Litmos Learning Management System (LMS) • Requires login, will allow CNCS to confirm that programs complete required trainings, find areas for improvement • Webinar: Tuesday, December 20, 2016, 3:00 - 4:00 PM • Required NSCHC training must be completed by 12/31/16 • At least one staff member per organization, anyone responsible for doing AmeriCorps background checks • Keep certificate of completion as documentation • On Litmos and Knowledge Network currently, will switch to Litmos-only in June 2017

8. Other CNCS updates • CNCS 2017 Terms & Conditions Released • Review on CNCS website, AmeriCorps State, AmeriCorps Fixed Amount State, or justice, depending on your program • No significant changes, this is the only one: • When issuing statements, press releases, requests for proposals, bid solicitations and other documents describing projects or programs funded in whole or in part with Federal money, all grantees receiving CNCS funds included, shall clearly state— (1) the percentage of the total costs of the program or project which will be financed with Federal money; (2) the dollar amount of Federal funds for the project or program; and (3) the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by non-governmental sources. • For those of you who got them, thanks for your quick responses to grant closeout requests from Colin

9. Evaluation Update • Bee’s Knees consulting continuing to work with programs, currently working with second cohort • Next cohort will be starting late winter/early spring • We have been using survey responses along with other basic information to determine cohorts • Let us your PO know if would like to be in the next cohort • We have also been using survey responses to guide topics for Gretchen’s presentations, we welcome input if there are any topics you would like us to cover in the near future

10. Training and Technical Assistance Update Regional Member Trainings • 5 regional trainings in following locations: • Boston • Cambridge/Somerville • Lawrence/Lowell • New Bedford/Fall River • Springfield • Possible Dates • February 21, 22, 23, 28 • March 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 • April 4, 5 • Topics currently being explored are as follows: • Conflict resolution / having difficult conversations • Diversity and Inclusion • Restorative Justice • Group Management • No more than 4 members per program per training

11. AmeriCorps Alums • Hosting an Ugly Sweater Holiday Party! • Wed, December 21, 2016, 7 PM – 9 PM • $10 donation for the Mayor’s Fire Relief Fund to assist the victims of the East Cambridge fire & entered into a raffle • https://www.eventbrite.com/e/americorps-alums-boston-ugly-sweater-holiday-party-tickets-30168374420 • Spring Higher Ed round robin event • Please share any upcoming events with us!

12. Calendar Updates • MLK Day of Service, January 16th • Any programs want to coordinate on projects? • National Volunteer Week 2017 isApril 23rd to 29th • Funding opportunity due to MSA by January 6th • Service and Volunteerism Day at State House is Tuesday, April 25th • MSA’s Conference on Service and Volunteerism • June 12th at Sheraton in Framingham • Atlantic Cluster Conference June 4-7, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland

13. Wrap-up QUESTIONS? Next PD meeting is February 15th at Phoenix Charter Academy Network’s Boston Office