AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities
AmeriCorps Frequently Asked Questions
To submit a question to be answered on the FAQs, please submit your questions to Funding@CaliforniaVolunteers.ca.gov. Questions must be received by COB on Thursday to be posted the following Monday. The FAQs will be updated daily during the week of December 1-4.
Select a Category
Member Development
Question 1: On page 40 of the California AmeriCorps Program Guide, we see: “The minimum living allowance amounts listed for part-time members are prorated as a percentage of the full-time living allowance and are provided for reference only.” In the AC Application Instructions document, page 44, we see “Please note that programs are not required to provide a living allowance to half-time, reduced half-time, quarter-time, or minimum-time members. Programs choosing to provide part-time members with living allowances should use the guidelines below.” Does this mean, for example, that a program could provide a living allowance to a quarter-time member that is less than the $3,125 listed in the table?
Yes. The Corporation does not require programs to provide a living allowance to part-time members. If a program chooses to provide a living allowance to part-time members, it must comply with the maximum limits in the chart shown on page 11 of the RFA. The minimum living allowance amounts listed for part-time members are provided for reference only and so a program may provide a living allowance to part-time members that is less than the minimum levels recommended. However, experience shows that programs providing a living allowance to part-time members that is less than the recommended minimum level often face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining members.
Question 2: Under the priority of clean energy/environment, how much training time can be included in the 900 (or 1700) hours required for each Americorps member?
Up to 20 percent of member service hours may be directed towards member development/training.
Question 3: ...if young people attend occupational training on clean energy at a local community college, does that count toward the 900 hours? If young people attend math and English classes to help prepare them for clean energy jobs, does this count toward the 900 hours?
If by “young people” you mean AmeriCorps members [who range from ages 18-80], it is important to remember that Member Development is a performance measure that gauges what the “program” does to train and prepare members for service. If a member pays for and attends college/courses on his/her own, this would not be considered AmeriCorps service hours or member development provided by the program. If the program pays for classes necessary for service, it would be considered Member Development and part of member training hours [because the program “supplied” the training]. If members pay for courses on their own, those courses would not be considered member development for the purposes of service hours or funding.
See page 35 of the Application Instructions for additional guidance on accounting for member service hours on performance measurement worksheets and page 37-46 of the California AmeriCorps Program Guide for additional guidance on member activities.
Question 4: ...If we recruit 20 MSY volunteers will each one of them have to undergo the “same” training and deliver services that would be exactly the same. For example, if we want to have 20 MSYs work with older adults on a health promotion program and there are two components of activities (Chronic Disease Self-Management and a Falls Prevention program) that community members can choose to participate in—would all 20 MSYs have to train in delivering both CDSM and Falls Prevention or could 10 training in one and 10 in the other?
The quick answer is that not all members within the same program have to undergo the same training and deliver services that would be exactly the same. Please see pages 43-45 of the California AmeriCorps Program Guide for more information on member development requirements.
Question 5: Can we count contextualized basic skills (math and english related to clean energy) as part of the Americorps members' 20% training time? This would help prepare the members to provide service in the area of solar panel installation for low-income homeowners.
Yes, basic skills can be captured as part of the 20% training. Programs design a comprehensive member training plan to provide professional and personal skill development throughout the year of service. Member development plan should take into consideration all the skills and knowledge necessary to perform all service activities. Training plans should also adapt to the skill level of the members and, therefore, may change annually to meet the needs of each new class or corps of members. High quality training plans include member skill level assessments. The program must provide, or secure for the member, all necessary training.
Question 6: Is a high school diploma a requirement to serve as an AmeriCorps member?
No, but an individual must not drop out of school to serve and the program is required to assure that the member receives a high school diploma or GED in order use the education award. See page 38-39 of the Program Guide for additional eligibility requirements.
Question 7: In the instructions for the PMW under member development it states that “Applicants may develop additional member development PMWs as appropriate to program design” Our members will have various training including basic orientation, site/activity specific training, training on effective communication, team building (to name a few). Can these all be grouped together under one PMW or are we expected to submit a separate PMW for each one? Also can the need and result listed for the Common Member Development be as general as that which is provided in the example CV provides?
Yes. The member development PMW is intended to capture overall increases in skills and performance as a result of participating in the member development activities supplied by the program. It is allowable for a program to develop additional member development PMWs to capture other outcomes not captured under the common PMWs. It is possible to capture all member training on one PMW.
Question 8: Does training count toward member service hours, or only time Americorps members spend conducting direct services?
Up to 20% of member time—in aggregate—may be dedicated to member training.
