Walk through of the Request for proposals process for

1. Supervising
FL|CC AmeriCorps VISTA Members
The Core Basics for
FL|CC VISTA Site Supervisors

2. FL|CC Mission:
Florida Campus Compact advances the public purposes of colleges and
universities by deepening their ability to improve community life and to
educate students for civic and social responsibility.
Goals:
 To enrich the quality of academic instruction through a
broader, more engaged collegiate learning experience.
 To strengthen academics and civic engagement through reciprocal
campus-community partnerships.
 To support communities in Florida through symbiotic campus-
community collaboration.
 To inspire leadership and civic responsibility for conscientious
citizenship in a participatory democracy.
 To contribute to the development of a better prepared and more
knowledgeable workforce.

3. What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps is a Corporation for National and
Community Service Federal Program. Each
year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults
of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network
of partnerships with local and national nonprofit
groups. Whether your service makes a community
safer, gives a child a second chance, or helps protect the
environment, you’ll be getting things done through
AmeriCorps!
 AmeriCorps State & National (Direct Service)
 AmeriCorps VISTA (Poverty Focus & Capacity-Building)
 AmeriCorps NCCC (full-time residential program for
men and women, ages 18-24)

4. Where does the funding come from?
US Congress
↓
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) /AmeriCorps
↓
FL CNCS Office for VISTA, Volunteer Florida for College Access &
Washington Campus Compact for Students In Service
↓
Florida Campus Compact
↓
Administered at participating FL|CC member campuses & community
partners
US Congress funds CNCS. AmeriCorps is a program of CNCS that is
organized to promote community service in the United States.
Florida Campus Compact applies for grants from CNCS, Volunteer
Florida, & WACC to to fund the FL|CC AmeriCorps Programs. Once
FL|CC is approved for the competitive grant, FL|CC administers the
program in partnership with the participating campus.

5. FL|CC AmeriCorps Programs Mission
“FL|CC AmeriCorps Programs contribute to the mission of
FL|CC and the Corporation for National and Community Service
through the implementation of the College Access AmeriCorps
Program, the Students in Service AmeriCorps Program, and the
FL|CC VISTA Initiative. FL|CC places AmeriCorps Members in
each program with colleges, universities and community-based
organizations to leverage higher education resources to combat
poverty in local communities, provide college access
mentoring, and increase STEM opportunities.”

6. FL|CC AmeriCorps Education Award
Only Programs
These are NOT AmeriCorps*VISTA positions
College Access & Students In Service
Part of a larger national program called AmeriCorps
that is sponsored by the Corporation for National &
Community Service (CNCS).
Education Award Only Programs are for students only
able to serve 300 or 900 hours over the course of a
calendar year (some restrictions may apply) in order
to receive an education award.

7. FL|CC AmeriCorps Programs
 Students in Service
College students and veterans from all disciplines serve as AmeriCorps members
to address local community issues, learn valuable civic and workforce skills, and
aspire to a lifetime of civic engagement.
http://www.studentsinservice.org
 College Access
The FL|CC College Access AmeriCorps Program is a service program for
college students who serve as mentors to at-risk youth with the goal of
helping them to gain skills and knowledge needed for their eventual
college admission and success.
http://www.collegeaccess.floridacompact.org
 AmeriCorps VISTA

8. What is AmeriCorps VISTA?
 VISTA stands for Volunteers In Service To America. It
The program has been called a domestic Peace Corps.
 Anti-poverty focus through capacity building efforts
and indirect service.
 Part of a larger national program called AmeriCorps
that is sponsored by the Corporation for National &
Community Service (CNCS).
 VISTA Members serve a full-time 12 month term with
no outside obligations.
For more information visit
http:// www.americorps.gov/VISTA

9. Terms, Conditions & Benefits of VISTA
 Have a college degree or commensurate life/volunteer experience
 Receive a living allowance equal to the poverty line of income in the
county where they serve (approximately $10,000)
 Are eligible to receive either an education award of $5,550 or a cash
stipend of $1,500 upon completion of their service term
 Receive health care benefits, child care assistance, a relocation
allowance when eligible, and may qualify for other public benefits
 Cannot have part-time jobs or be employed while serving as a VISTA
Member and cannot receive monetary compensation for work
 CAN receive benefits through host site to support basic living
needs, i.e., housing assistance to a third party
 CAN receive gifts as any other staff member would, but not if directly
connected to work performed as a VISTA
 Cannot perform direct service (data entry, answering
phones, organizing office supplies, etc)

10. FL|CC VISTA Initiative Statistics
 28 Host Sites
 15 Florida Cities
 45 VISTA Members
 2 VISTA Leaders
 1 Program Director

11. Role of VISTA Members
 Attend VISTA Pre-Service Orientation and any training
events as prescribed by FL|CC and/or CNCS.
 Participate in national days of service including Martin
Luther King Day, National Volunteer Week, Youth
Service Day, and Make a Difference Day if projects are
organized by the VISTA sponsor or in the local
community.
 Engage students in service-learning and civic
engagement activities that build capacity for
communities to ameliorate issues related to poverty.
 Duties must be definable as indirect service (volunteer
recruitment, program coordination, training
facilitation, etc.).
 Be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for an entire
service year (less applicable personal / sick days)

12. AmeriCorps*VISTA Member vs. Employee
Similarities: Differences:
 Works in collaboration with  Limited in activities by VISTA
staff and community Terms & Conditions.
members.
 Included in staff meetings and  Is not “hired” or “fired.”
other events.
 Works for multiple
 Receives regular feedback on stakeholders:
performance. community, CNCS, local host
 Regular workday is site, and FL|CC.
defined/structured by local  Does not receive traditional
host project site. compensation.
 More focus on professional
and leadership development.

13. VISTA as College Access or SIS Team
Leaders
 A great opportunity to bolster your College
Access & SIS
 Recruit students to participate in programs
 Mentors the Mentor
 Coordinate training for students & community
partners
 Develop campus-community partnerships
 Coordinate service projects (Example: National
Days of Service)

14. Who are AmeriCorps VISTA Members?
Civically engaged individuals
looking to make a difference!

15. FL|CC VISTA Initiative
“FL|CC VISTA members work to combat poverty
through leveraging higher education resources to
build the capacity of local non-profit organizations
and through recruiting and training college
students to provide college access mentoring for
youth, especially in STEM disciplines.”

16. FL|CC VISTA Program Areas
 Community  Education
Partnerships
College Access
Must align with 2011-2012 STEM
CNCS Goals (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math)
IMPORTANT: ALL NEW AND EXISTING PROJECTS MUST WORK
WITHIN THESE PROGRAM AREAS

17. Corporation for National and Community
Service
Priorities Less Emphasis
 Economic Opportunity
(Asset Service-learning
Development, Economic
Development, Housing &  Non-program areas
Employment)  Tools v/s Approach
 Education
 Healthy Futures
(Healthcare, Healthcare
services, Veterans &
Military Families)

19. Benefits of FL|CC Enrollment
 FL|CC Resources at your disposal
 VISTA Leader support
 Covers cost of VISTA In-Service
Training (IST)
 Participation fee much lower than
other Campus Compacts

20. Highlights from 2011 IST

21. Application Overview: Important Dates
 10/1/11 RFP Released
 10/19/11 Supervisor Training
 11/3/11 Supervisor Training (conference call)
 11/10/11 Supervisor Training (conference call)
 12/2/11 Applications due to FL|CC
 12/2011 Applications sent out for external review
 1/6/12 Award Notifications, MOUs, & Cost-Share
Commitment forms sent out
 1/31/12 Award Notifications, MOUs, & Cost-Share
Commitment forms due back to FL|CC

22. Host Site Responsibilities
 Recruit, screen, interview, and select VISTA candidates in partnership with
FL|CC VISTA office.
 Assist VISTA member(s) to find safe, appropriate, and affordable housing, if
housing is not provided by the Project Host Site.
 Provide VISTA member with on-site orientation and training to the project and
local community.
 Ensure the successful implementation of the VISTA Work Plan/VAD by meeting
on a regular basis to review accomplishments.
 Provide day to day supervision of the VISTA Member(s) with
regular, constructive feedback regarding performance.
 Review and sign monthly Leave Report forms and quarterly VISTA Project
Progress Reports.
 Inform FL|CC VISTA office of any changes to the VISTA project at the host site.
 Reimburse VISTA member(s) for all travel expenses accrued as a result of work
done for the host site.
 Provide the FL|CC VISTA Initiative a Project Participation Fee estimated to be
$3,000 per VISTA Member placed during the 2012-2013 fiscal year. The Project
Participation Fee covers match requirements to CNCS and helps off-set
administrative expenses for the project.

23. Site Supervisor resources from our website:
 FL|CC VISTA Site Supervisor PowerPoint (ppt)
 Florida Campus Compact
 On-Site Orientation
 Recruitment: Screening & Interviewing Applicants
 VISTA Campus: Supervisors

24. Contact Information
Laryn Flikkema
AmeriCorps Programs Director
Email: laryn@floridacompact.org
J Matthew Wampler Geoff Hickox
VISTA Leader VISTA Leader
Email: jmatthew@floridacompact.org Email: geoff@floridacompact.org
Phone: 850-488-7782
Website: www.floridacompact.org/americorpsvista