Bonner AmeriCorpsCommunity Partner

Orientation2011-2012

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• AmeriCorps is a National Service Program ("Domestic Peace Corps") administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• AmeriCorps is a Service Program that has LOTS of regulations that MUST be followed by its Members and partner organizations.

• AmeriCorps is Federally funded and Locally implemented.

• AmeriCorps strengthens the communities in which its Members serve by meeting critical community needs.

• AmeriCorps develops its Members by educating them about community and citizenship and by giving them the opportunity to serve and earn money towards education costs.

• AmeriCorps Members complete a Term of Service.

• A Term of Service is a commitment of hours to direct service and training.

• Members receive an Education Award at the completion of their Term of Service; some also receive a living allowance or Federal work study funds.

AmeriCorps 101

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• 1990: President Bush signs the National and Community Service Act of 1990.

• 1993: President Clinton signs the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, creating AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• AmeriCorps serves over 2 million Americans each year through two main streams of service:

‣ AmeriCorps

‣ Senior Corps

AmeriCorps History

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What is Bonner AmeriCorps?

“Bonner AmeriCorps” refers to Bonner students being enrolled in AmeriCorps through slots administered by the Bonner Foundation.

AmeriCorps members must comply with the AmeriCorps regulations and provisions during their term of service.

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AmeriCorps Member Benefits:

• Education Award

• Student Loan Forbearance and Interest Accrual Benefits

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Background Checks

Members undergo a comprehensive criminal history record check. These reports may not be released to your site as our criminal background check requirements may be different than yours. Campus staff have access to background check results and status.

Please be sure to run the criminal history checks required to fulfill the requirements of your organization.You are also expected to ensure that Members are not left alone with persons of a vulnerable population (i.e. youth under the age of 18, persons 60 years of age or older, or individuals who are either physically or intellectually disabled) until required criminal history checks are completed. You must ensure that Members are accompanied at all times by an authorized program official who has been cleared for access to vulnerable populations until Members’ criminal history checks are completed.

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What Can AmeriCorps Members Do?

• Mentor Youth

• Educate the Public about the Environment

• Renovate and Rebuild Abandoned Homes

• Recruit Volunteers

• Bridge the Digital Divide

• Assist the Homeless

• Provide Support to People with Disabilities

• Support Immigrants through a variety of Human & Educational Services

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Acceptable ServiceFundraising Provisions

1. AmeriCorps members can spend no more than 10% of their hours on fundraising activities.

2. Members can raise resources to support projects related to their issue area/site's direct service activities. 

3. Members cannot raise resources or funds for an organization’s general operating expenses or endowment.  

4. Members cannot fundraise for their own living allowance.

5. Members cannot write a grant application to any Federal agency including the Corporation for National and Community Service.

6. Members cannot perform any fundraising where the beneficiaries are international. If the goods or funds collected will be sent to an international community, the fundraising time cannot be approved for AmeriCorps. 

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What Can’t AmeriCorps Members Do?

• Supervise other Members

• Janitorial duties

• Office work*

• Answering phones*

• Clerical work*

• Manage paperwork or financial issues*

*These duties are only acceptable if they are a small portion of achieving the Member’s service goals: ex. volunteer recruitment.

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The following slides outline the comprehensive list of the AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities. Members cannot engage in these activities as part of their AmeriCorps service.

These provisions appear in the AmeriCorps Member Contract.

Prohibited Activities

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Prohibited Activities(cont.)

• Participating in efforts to influence legislation, including lobbying for your program;

• Organizing a letter-writing campaign to Congress;

• Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office;

• Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials;

• Printing politically charged articles in a Corporation-funded newsletter or discussion list;

The list of Prohibited Activities is outlined on the following 4 slides:

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Prohibited Activities(cont.)

• Taking part in political demonstrations or rallies;

• Engaging in any efforts to influence legislation, including state or local ballot initiatives;

• Voter registration drives;• Organizing or participating in protests,

petitions, boycotts, or strikes;• Assisting or deterring union organizing;• Impairing existing contracts or

collective bargaining agreements;

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Prohibited Activities(cont.)

• Religious activities, including engaging in religious instruction; conducting worship services; providing instruction as part of a Program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship; constructing, operating, or maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship; engaging in any form of religious proselytization;

• Activities that pose a significant safety risk to participants;

• Assignments that displace employees;• Placement of Members into internships with for-

profit businesses as part of the education and training component of the program;

• Providing assistance to a business organized for-profit;

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Prohibited Activities(cont.)

• Raising funds for an AmeriCorps stipend;

• Raising funds for an organization’s operating expenses or endowment;

• Writing grant applications for AmeriCorps funding or for any other funding provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service;

• Writing grant applications for funding provided by any other federal agencies;

• Administrative work, unless it benefits the Members’ approved direct service activities; and

• Providing abortion services or referrals for receipt of such services.

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Prohibited Activities(review)

• Activities that pose a significant risk to AmeriCorps members or others;

• Internships with a for-profit business as a part of the education and training component of the program;

• Assignments that displace employees;• Medical research;• Part-time work at the service site; • Activities (service or trainings) performed

internationally; • Activities performed that serve or educate about

individuals residing outside the US and US territories; and 

• Any of the AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities. 

Please remember that AmeriCorps members cannot engage in:

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Personnel Policies

Bonner AmeriCorps Policies:

1. Rules of Conduct2. Suspension3. Grievance Procedures4. Notice of Nondiscrimination5. Reasonable Accommodation6. Drug-Free Workplace7. Confidentiality8. Informed Consent

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At no time as a part of their service may an AmeriCorps member:

• Engage in any activity that is illegal under local, state or federal law.

• Engage in activities that pose a significant safety risk to others.

• Engage in any AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities.

• Dedicate more than 10% of their total service hours to fundraising efforts. 

• Dedicate more than 20% of their total service hours to training and enrichment activities.

Personnel Policies 1. Rules of Conduct

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• The Program may suspend the Member’s term of service for the following reasons:

1. Compelling personal circumstances (e.g. illness)

2. A violation of the Rules of Conduct.

3. During the term of service the Member has been charged with a violent felony or the possession, sale or distribution of a controlled substance.

• During the suspension from service, the Member will not receive credit for service hours or benefits. The Member may resume his or her term of service once the circumstances supporting the suspension have been resolved.

Personnel Policies2. Suspension

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In the event that informal efforts to resolve disputes are unsuccessful, AmeriCorps members, labor unions, and other interested individuals may seek resolution through the following grievance procedures. These procedures are intended to apply to service-related issues, such as assignments, evaluations, suspensions, or release for cause, as well as issues related to non-selection of members, and displacement of employees, or duplication of activities by AmeriCorps members.

Personnel Policies3. Grievance Procedures

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It is against the law for organizations that receive Federal financial assistance from the Corporation for National and Community Service to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, marital or parental status, military service, or religious, community or social affiliations.

Participation in AmeriCorps is based on merit and equal opportunity for all, without regard to factors such as race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, marital or parental status, military service, or religious, community or social affiliations.

Personnel Policies4. Notice of Nondiscrimination

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Program activities will be be accessible to persons with disabilities.

The campus or site must provide reasonable accommodation to the known mental or physical disabilities of otherwise qualified Members.

Selection and project assignments must be made without regard to the need to provide reasonable accommodation.

Personnel Policies5. Reasonable Accommodation

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Consistent with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, The Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation and The College of New Jersey are committed to providing a workplace that is free from the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of controlled substances.

• The Member must notify the Program Director in writing, within five (5) calendar days, if he or she is convicted of a criminal drug violation in the workplace.

• Violations of the Drug-Free Workplace policy will result in personnel action against the Member up to and including dismissal pursuant to The College of New Jersey procedures relating to Member discipline.

Personnel Policies6. Drug-Free Workplace

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The Program requires that Members hold in complete confidence all information about clients and/or their families. Discussion about any client information, with anyone other than the designated staff of the service site is prohibited. Members who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Personnel Policies7. Confidentiality

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Personnel Policies8. Informed Consent

AmeriCorps members serving at your site have completed an informed consent allowing the Staff of the Bonner Foundation, The College of New Jersey, their campus, service site, the New Jersey State Commission on National and Community Service and the Corporation for National and Community Service may:

• discuss personal circumstances (i.e. health) as they relate to the term of service.

• write a recommendation or give a verbal recommendation for employment, etc. at the end of their term of service.

• photograph them at their service site for recruitment/promotional purposes. If they are uncomfortable with having their photograph or information published, it will be noted.

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• Provide tax-exempt status, data and information about Member activities, and reports, if requested

• Provide an opportunity for direct and meaningful community-based service for Members. The activities of Members should allow for personal growth and learning about the community, and must result in specific identifiable service or improvement that would otherwise not be provided, and that does not duplicate the routine functions of paid employees.

• Recognize that program participants are Members of the National Bonner AmeriCorps Program and are not employees of the service site, and cannot be terminated without the full consent of the Campus Administrator.  Furthermore, as program participants, Members may occasionally need to participate in national and/or program service initiatives such as MLK Day of Service, and the site agrees to support Member participation.

ExpectationsService Sites

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ExpectationsService Sites Cont.

•  Report immediately in writing to the Campus Administrator any problems or work-related accidents OR if the Member is convicted of any drug violation occurring in the workplace or during the performance of any service hours, in accordance with the Drug Free Workplace Act.

• Ensure that Members are covered by liability insurance and maintain documentation of such coverage.

• Provide on-site training and encouragement as needed and accepted, as well as equipment and or materials for use by the Members to complete their service responsibilities.

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1. Log into BWBRS.org 2. Fundraising hours - Must have * designation on

print out3. Duplicate entries - Only one entry per site, per

day. All service at a site must be logged as the total for that day.

4. Your Signature must be dated on or after the print date (hard copies) as well as the last entry on the hour log.

5. Timely Submission - Must be submitted to the Foundation by the 15th of each month. (i.e. September timesheet is due by October 15)

Hour LogsOverview

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Hour Logs eSigning Instructions

1. Using your e-mail address as your log-in (full address, for example, abby@bonner.org) and the password assigned to you by the Campus Administrator, log into BWBRS.

2. Click Students in the left-hand menu.

3. Review the Members' hours to check for accuracy. If the hours are not accurate, please talk with the Member and have them make the necessary adjustments in BWBRS before you eSign the hours.

4. After reviewing hours, type in your name exactly as shown in BOLD in the Electronic Signature box.

5. Sign hours by the month - This will ensure that all hours get signed and do not get cut off by the semester timetable. 

6. To select a specific month, select the semester from the drop-down menu at the top of the screen, then select the month from the drop-down below it, and click Update.

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Hour Logs (Continued)

Red Flags• Members are allowed to log a

maximum of 12 hours per day.

• Duplicates: Members must be log all service occurring at the same site, on the same day in one entry in BWBRS. 

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These are some common oversights that need to be closely watched to ensure AmeriCorps members are not violating their Member Contract.

1. AmeriCorps members may not supervise other AmeriCorps members. This includes AmeriCorps VISTAS.

2. Members and Service Sites must adhere to the schedule that has been agreed upon for the Member’s service.

3. If there are any concerns, questions or issues pertaining to the Member who is serving at your site, please contact the Member’s Campus Administrator.

Common Concerns

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Your first resource can be the Campus Administrator at the Member’s College.

Online Resources1. FORMS

• National forms2. BWBRS help

• eSignatures3. Evaluations

• Will be completed by the campus administrator after speaking with you about the Member’s service at your organization

4. AmeriCorps.gov

Resources

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Your Campus Contacts

Your CampusLogo Here

Contact NAMEPhone eMail

Mailing addressResources

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