New Jersey Bonner VISTA Fellows Program Site Supervisor Training 2011-2012

1. New Jersey Bonner VISTA Fellows Program Site Supervisor Training2011-2012

2. I. Welcome and Introductions • Introduction of Foundation & Center Staff • General project overview • Introductions Community Partners & the work VISTA Member will do at site

3. II. National Service Overview: History of National Service, VISTA, CNCS • The Corporation for National and Community Service • The National Service Network Programs and Partners • What is AmeriCorps VISTA? • History of AmeriCorps VISTA

4. A. The Corporation for National and Community Service The Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, strives to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in voluntary service opportunities to their communities and country. The Corporation is the nation’s largest grant maker supporting national and community service programs and volunteerism.

5. B. The National Service Network Programs and Partners AmeriCorps AState & National AVISTA ANCCC Tribes & Territories Grants VISTA Leaders HQ Sponsoring Agencies National, Regional & Local Projects SE Region Campus NE Region Campus Central Region Campus Western Region Campus Capital Region Campus Local Projects Sponsoring Agencies State Offices State Grants State Commissions Nat’l Demonstration Projects HQ Nat’l Organizations Ed Award Program Grants State Commissions Nat’l Organizations Tribes & Territories National Directs Grants Nat’l Parent Organizations Sponsoring Agencies Senior Corps FosterGrandparents Sponsoring Agencies State Offices RSVP Sponsoring Agencies State Offices Senior Companions Sponsoring Agencies State Offices Nat’l Demonstration Projects Nat’l Organizations Sponsoring Agencies

6. C. What is AmeriCorps*VISTA? • A National Service Program Designed to Fight Poverty through Capacity Building. • Members complete a term of service. They receive a living allowance and an education award or cash stipend upon successfully completing the term. • AmeriCorps*VISTA is funded by theCorporation for National and Community Service. • AmeriCorps*VISTA is a Federal program that has LOTS of regulations that MUST be followed by organizations and Members. • Member complete a term of service

7. D. History of AmeriCorps*VISTA • 1963: President John F. Kennedy envisions a national service corps “to help provide urgently needed services in urban and rural poverty areas.” • 1964: President Lyndon Johnson's Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 creates the VISTA program • 1966: Over 3,500 VISTA members in service across the United States • 1970s: VISTA merges with Peace Corps and the National Senior Service programs, and the ACTION agency was born. • 1990: President Bush signs the National and Community Service Act of 1990 • 1993: President Clinton signs the National and Community Service Trust Act, creating AmeriCorps and the Corporation of National and Community Service. VISTA merges with AmeriCorps.

8. III. AmeriCorps*VISTA Terms and Conditions • Subsistence Allowance • End of Service Benefits • Life Insurance, Health Benefits • Child CareBenefits • Relocation Allowance • Taxes • Personal/Medical Leave • Political and Outside Employment Restrictions • Please refer to the AmeriCorps*VISTA Member Summary Information sheet

9. IV. Project Management • Role of Sponsor Organizations 1. Sponsor Organizations & VISTA Leader • Bonner Foundation • TCNJ Bonner Center • VISTA Leader 2. Overall Project Management 3. Reporting 4. Training

10. IV. Project Management (cont..) B. Organizational Roles and Responsibilities 1. On-Site Supervision of a VISTA Member a. Weekly Meetings, Professional Development, Networking b. Investing Time for Professional Development c. Networking VISTA d. Timesheets – BWBRS • Sponsor Organization Certifies VISTA Pay • VISTA Member must log hours 1st & 3rd Friday of each month • 10 Vacation Days • 10 Sick Days • Follow your own Organizational Holidays • Disciplinary Issues – NEVER BE AFRAID TO CALL! • 1st offense – discussion • 2nd offense – written warning • 3rd offense – suspension • 4th offense - termination

11. IV. Project Management (cont..) • Organizational Roles and Responsibilities (cont.) • Training, Reporting & Evaluation a. Template & Calendar  • Check-in calls (every other week) • VISTA Member monthly reports (Survey Monkey) • Quarterly Reports (Survey Monkey) • CNCS Reports Reporting PeriodDue Date • 04/24/11-09/30/11 - 10/14/11 • 10/1/2011-12/31/11 - 01/13/12 • 01/01/2012 - 05/05/12  - 04/18/12 c. Evaluations of Member & Supervisor (Quarterly)

13. IV. Project Management (cont..) B. Organizational Roles and Responsibilities (cont.) • Travel Reimbursement • Must Reimburse for Travel • Mileage rate determined by your Organization (Federal level .50 / mile) • Financial Contributions • Housing • Food • Donations • Project check-in • Bi-weekly check-in • Next Meeting – Thursday, January 12, 2012

14. IV. Project Management • Workplans • What they are & how they’re used • Milestones • Contractually obliged to workplan • Review of Revised Versions • VADS (VISTA Assignment Description) • What they Are • Breakdown of Workplan • User Friendly for VISTA Member • Need to be revised • Submit to Sponsor Organizations by Friday, August 5 • Distribute to VISTA Member before PSO

15. V. VISTA Member Training • PSO Training – Concentration on Poverty • SPONSOR TRAINING – Preparing for Work Sites 1. Review of PSO 2. Additional Topics • General Project Overview • Orientation to Area – Trenton & New Brunswick • VISTA Member terms, benefits, resources, responsibilities & expectations • Capacity Building – meaning & ensuring sustainability • Work Culture • How they work • Office Environment • Communication Styles • Race Relations

16. V. VISTA Member Training • On-site Orientation 1. Importance of Orientation 2. Topics to Cover • Tour of Organization – offices & staff members • Orientation to office culture & procedures • Desk area & reporting responsibilities • Communication styles (how to communicate & to whom) • Policies & Procedures • Vacation requests • Ordering Materials • Phone Usage • E-mail address • How to use equipment • Office & Community Meetings • Travel reimbursement Procedures

17. V. VISTA Member Training (cont..) • On-site Orientation 1. Importance of Orientation 2. Topics to Cover • Tour of Organization – offices & staff members • Orientation to office culture & procedures • Desk area & reporting responsibilities • Communication styles (how to communicate & to whom) • Policies & Procedures • Vacation requests • Ordering Materials • Phone Usage • E-mail address • How to use equipment • Office & Community Meetings • Travel reimbursement Procedures

18. V. VISTA Member Training • Monthly Meetings w/ VISTA Members • Builds companionship • Connects Projects together • Helps to train them • Develop resources amongst each other • Dates • TBD • Potentially Thursday Mornings • Suggested Topics? • Feedback

19. VISTA Resources • My AmeriCorps Portal - my.americorps.gov • VISTA Campus – www.vistacampus.org • Education Award Information - Edaward.org • Seven Corners – americorps.sevencorners.com • Food Stamps www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/programs/foodstamps • VISTA Member Support Unit • Toll-free Office Number: 800-942-2677 Fax: 512-916-7021 • New National Service VMSU Hotline Webpage: https://questions.nationalservice.gov/ • VISTA Member Handbook