• A National Sex Offender Public Registry check
• EITHER a state criminal registry check OR an FBI fingerprint check
• After October 2011, programs must conduct all three checks on individuals serving vulnerable populations

Check with your program officer for CNCS current policy. You can learn more official information online:

• National Service Criminal History Checks
• VISTA-specific information
• Related information from CNCS Office of Inspector General

In a national service environment, it is helpful to let recruits know about the history checks ahead of time, as this will discourage "red flag" prospects from following through on their applications.

While VISTA conducts checks on candidates, it is often the responsibility of AmeriCorps state and national programs to run checks on their recruits. For programs running sex offender, state, and national checks, it is important to know:

• The process
• The timeframe
• What to expect and what you'll get
• Things that can go wrong

A resource on conducting criminal history checks is available to download as a Word document. The resource covers the four items listed above.

AmeriCorps state and national programs have additional considerations.

Also check out the Staff Screening Toolkit [PDF] developed by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. This toolkit provides a practical approach to screening paid and volunteer staff.

Go on to Making Decisions

VISTA & NCCC Only: The amount of the Eli Segal AmeriCorps Education Award increases for VISTA members who commence service on or after October 1, 2009. The new amount for a full-time VISTA education award is to $5,350 and will be awarded after the successful completion of the service term.

VISTA & NCCC Only: The end-of-service stipend for VISTA members, who chose this option as opposed to the education award, will accrue at the rate of $125 per month of service (an increase of $25 per month) For VISTA Leaders, the end-of-service stipend will accrue at the rate of $250 per month of service.The accrual of the higher amounts will begin on October 1, 2009 for all currently serving VISTAs who chose the end-of-service stipend.

AmeriCorps Only: The amount of the Eli Segal AmeriCorps Education Award will increase for members who begin service in the next program year (late 2010).

The bill as passed does not eliminate taxes on the education award.

Under the Serve America Act, AmeriCorps members who begin on or after October 1 and are 55 or older when commencing service can give their education award to a child, grandchild or foster child. (It's possible that VISTAs are not eligible for this benefit. Check back for updates.) The child would then have ten years to use the award. To receive the award, the child must meet citizenship requirements for AmeriCorps and attain a high school diploma before using.

At a later date, members will be able to serve multiple terms (full-time, part-time, Summer of Service, Silver Scholar, or Summer Associate) and receive education awards for each up to the amount of two full awards.

Questions? Contact Richard Melo at (503) 275-9610 or richard.melo@educationnorthwest.org

INCOME-BASED REPAYMENT (IBR)

The program helps make educational loan payments more affordable for high debt/low income borrowers, including AmeriCorps members and VISTAs living on a stipend. Participation in the program can make a borrower's monthly payments as low as $0-5 per month based on income.

Here are the key items to know while you serve:

• Apply through your lender. If you can't find links on your lender's website, give them a call!
• Even if the payments are $0-5, each month counts toward the 120 months needed to take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• Does not require that you are in public service, only that your income is low.
• Your payments will be recalculated annually.
• Works for virtually all federally backed student loans.
• You do not have to have Direct Loans to qualify, just any lender that offers IBR. (Search for Income Based Repayment on your lender's site to learn more.)
• In many cases, it is better for married people to file separate tax returns when enrolling in the IBR program. This also depends on the laws in your state. See a tax consultant to find what makes best sense for you.
• Participation is not a good idea if you will earn a high income in the next few years and not serve 10 years employed in the public service sector. The low payments you'll make early in the program will cause you to pay more in interest down the road.
• The program started in July 2009.

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF)

The basics: Work full-time at an eligible nonprofit or government agency while making steady student loan payments for ten years (120 monthly payments), and the federal government will forgive the balance of your student loans. Careers include nonprofit and government work (including school districts, miltary, and national service).

What you need to know:

• To receive credit toward the PSLF while in VISTA or AmeriCorps, you need to serve in a full-time position. Part-time positions, Summer of Service, and Summer Associates positions do not count.
• You need to make loan payments while serving to qualify. Based on you living allowance, your payments might be small if you are participating in the IBR program (see above).
• When using your education award to make payments, it's probably your best bet to make 12 payments per year rather than making a "lump sum" payment.
• Started in October 2007. Public service employment prior to that doesn't count.
• The 120 months do not need to be consecutive.
• Only works on federal "Direct" student loans. These are loans with the federal government as a lender. To participate in this program, you will need to consolidate your loans from Sallie Mae or other loan companies into Direct Loans. See http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/ to learn more about Direct Loans. Doesn't work on Perkins or parent PLUS loans.
• Keep a file with your pay stubs for ten years (120 months) as proof of your full-time employment in an eligible agency.
• It appears that the amount forgiven at the end of the 10 years is NOT considered taxable income.

How to calculate how much you'll save

A leading site for student borrowers, FinAid.org, has a calculator that will show you side-by-side how much you'll pay on your student loans through the IBR and PSLF programs versus the amount you'll spend making with a traditional repayment plan. You'll need to be able to input your loan balance, interest rate, how much you'll be earning while serving and how much you think you'll make after your term of service ends. The calculator assumes you will be working in an eligible nonprofit or government agency. You can find it at http://www.finaid.org/calculators/scripts/ibr.cgi

Forbearance

Since the Income-Based Repayment program is still new, it is uncertain how it works with the traditional national service forbearance with all lenders. It appears you can pursue both. With forbearance, the AmeriCorps Trust will pay the interest that accrues on your loans after your service ends. With IBR, you will still make regular loan payments, but if your income qualifies, you can make payments as small as 0-$5 per month that will help you accrue months toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

If your lender won't let you do both, you may wish to choose IBR if you'd like to pursue the 10-year forgiveness program and don't anticipate a major jump in income in the next few years. Choose national service forbearance if you don't anticipate working in a nonprofit full time or anticipate a higher household income within the next few years.

Questions? Contact Richard Melo at (503) 275-9610 or richard.melo@educationnorthwest.org

• The amount is $4,725 for a full-time award for AmeriCorps state and national members (going up for members who begin in late 2010).
• The amount is $5,350 for VISTAs who begin service after October 1, 2009.
• Part-time members receive pro-rated amounts.
• Use at specific types of schools (Title IV).
• Use to repay eligible loans (mostly federal) for school (not private loans or credit cards).
• Expires seven years after you receive it (you might be able to receive an extension).
• You can't give the award to someone else (with an exception; see below).
• You can give the award to someone else if you are 55 or older and certain conditions are met. (At the moment, VISTAs are not eligible.
• You can only receive two in a lifetime (this will change in the future under the Serve America Act).
• Use all at once or in partial amounts.
• Subject to taxes when you use it.

Going to school?

• You can use your award to pay for tuition, books, and cost of attendance items (which can include a computer and equipment needed for coursework, depending on school policy).
• Your national service income (living allowance, education award, interest paid on student loans) does not count against you when applying for federal student financial aid. Make sure you fill out the item marked "Additional Financial Information" that relates to AmeriCorps on the FAFSA. You might just get a better financial aid package than you hoped!
• You can use the award for degree or enrichment coursework. You can use it at any school listed as Title IV, including trade schools (beauty, massage, auto repair, etc.) and schools overseas.You can find a full list of Title IV schools in the U.S. and abroad through Finaid.org.
• Learn as much as you can about the financial aid process and work closely with a school adviser. The main idea you want to express in working with an advisor is, "I have an AmeriCorps education award but don't want to use it if it will cause me to lose aid." From there, the advisor should be able to help you.
• Some schools offer scholarships and other incentives to alums. You can find the list here: http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/benefits/ed_award_match.asp.

Repaying loans?

• You can make loan payments from your MyAmeriCorps account after you receive your award.
• Different loans have different policies when repaying with a lump sum, like your education award. Some lenders will advance payments for you, buying you time before you need to start paying, though you'll pay more over the life of the loan. Other companies will apply the lump sum toward the loan's principal, meaning you'll pay less overall but your payments will start right away. Still other companies will disburse your lump sum into 12 equal all-at-once payments to cover your loan for a year. In many cases, you are able to express in writing how you'd like your lender to apply your award toward your loan to fit your preferences.
• You may want to put your qualified federal student loans into forbearance while you are serving. You won't be required to make payments while you serve. Though interest will accumulate while you serve, the National Service Trust will pay off the accumulated interest after you complete your term. The interest the Trust pays is taxable income. See your national service program director for more information.
• If you are considering the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, you might want to consolidate your loans into Direct Loans (unless, of course, you are already a borrower through Direct Loans). You might also wish to make minimal payments (as low as $0-5 per month) through the Income Based Repayment program while you serve.

Thinking taxes?

• While you do pay taxes on your award, taxes are not withheld from your award.
• If you spent more than $600 from your award, in the following January, you'll receive a 1099 form providing the information you need to complete your taxes. You can also download the form from your MyAmeriCorps account.
• Education tax credits are available for students. These will reduce the overall taxes you pay. To learn more go to http://www.irs.gov and search for "education credits." To take advantage of these credits, you can use Form 1040, not the EZ form.
• Student loan interest paid is often tax deductible.
• If you are concerned about taxes, try splitting using your award in at least two different calendar years. This will help you avoid bumping yourself into a higher tax bracket, particularly if your post-national service job pays in the $30,000/year range

Questions? Contact Richard Melo at (503) 275-610 or richard.melo@educationnorthwest.org

EnCorps will be updated as new provisions of the act go into effect and after the fall 2009 rule making sessions held by CNCS to determine new policies in accord with the act.

* Child must meet citizenship requirements for AmeriCorps and attain a high school diploma before using. Recipients have ten years to use the award

Your press release may pack a bigger punch if you combine a recruitment pitch with a human interest story about an older member. That AmeriCorps members over 55 can give their Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to a child, grandchild, or foster child provides an added incentive for retirees to serve.

This sample release was adapted from interviews with members of the ESD 112's Washington Reading Corps (Vancouver, WA). Some things to remember about creating your own release are:

• Include clear contact information
• Use active voice
• Describe a person or job that would interest your target audience

This resource was designed by VISTAs for their successors. You can adapt this volunteer management tip sheet to fit your own program.

When developing your application consider how volunteer roles and responsibilities differ from member positions. This will help ensure clarity about positions within your organization. Volunteers may not be displaced by members.

This tip sheet was contributed by Chicago Public Schools Homeless Education Program (Chicago, IL) , a VISTA program that works with low income and homeless students to assure they are provided with educational opportunities that are equal to those of other students.

A volunteer placement form allows volunteers, volunteer coordinators, and school staff to know the details and contact information of everyone involved in the recruitment and placement process. When developing your form consider how volunteer roles and responsibilities differ from member positions. This will help ensure clarity about positions within your organization. Volunteers may not be displaced by members.

The Serve America Act identifies requirements for tutors and tutoring programs. For example, in general, the law requires AmeriCorps members who serve as tutors to have a high school diploma. Click here to access the legislation on the CNCS website and then click on Subtitle C and then select Section 1302.

This volunteer tool was contributed by Schools of Hope project (Madison, WI), a VISTA program that trains and coordinates academic tutors for low-income students and students of color in the primary grades to improve academic achievement.

A volunteer application allows you to secure the best volunteers for your program. You, members, and potential volunteers know exactly what is expected of them. When developing your application consider how volunteer roles and responsibilities differ from member positions. This will help ensure clarity about positions within your organization. Volunteers may not be displaced by members. This sample application will give you an understanding of a clear, well designed volunteer description. It includes confidentiality statements.

This volunteer tool was contributed by Schools of Hope project (Madison, WI), a VISTA program that trains and coordinates academic tutors for low-income students and students of color in the primary grades to improve academic achievement.

Finding great volunteers can be a challenge for new programs and for first year AmeriCorps members. This recruitment tip sheet will support you and your members as you start the difficult task of creating a database of volunteer connections. It will give you ideas so you can create a system of volunteer recruitment that you can use year after year.

This tip sheet was contributed by Chicago Public Schools Homeless Education Program (Chicago, IL), a VISTA program that works with low income and homeless students to assure they are provided with educational opportunities that are equal to those of other students.

• Set expectations for members:
  • Let them know how often they'll be expected to sign on, contribute, etc.
  • Consider incorporating expectations into member contracts
• Make technology-based tools part of your everyday activities:
  • Use them regularly to share information
  • Encourage members to post photos, videos, comments, and questions
  • Use prompts to get discussions going about member-development topics or other issues
  • Use discussion boards to continue a conversation that began at a training or meeting

When choosing a networking site or discussion board software, consider these suggestions:

• Check out your options and choose the best tool for you.
  • Programs we've talked to have used Facebook, MySpace and myfamily.com
  • Be aware of any costs
• Don't be intimidated - most sites have easy, step-by-step instructions for setting up new groups and pages
  • Find out if one of your members or alumni has expertise in using these tools and ask for help
• Restrict use/viewing to "invite only"
  • Scrutinize "friend requests" from others
• Let members know they will have to sign up to access the group you establish
• Send new and potential members an invitation to join as soon as possible

Remind members that the skills they learn from using these tools will help them after service.

Go back to Supervising Members From Afar

Social networking sites
Social networking sites are online communities of people with similar interests. "Invite-only" groups can be created to limit access to members.

• Personal: Facebook, MySpace
• Professional: LinkedIn
• Create your own: Ning

Discussion boards
Discussion boards are online forums for discussing topics that allow readers to reply. Use to share ideas, problem-solve, and discuss specific issues. Restrict access with "invite-only" setting.

• Examples: Google Groups, Yahoo Groups, Aimoo

Blogs
Blogs are regularly updated logs or journals, sometimes focused on specific topics, that allow for reply-posts.

• Examples: Wordpress, Blogger, TypePad

Online Ticket Systems
Ticket tracking systems coordinate tasks and manage requests among a community of users.

• Examples: Request Tracker (RT), Open-source Ticket Request System (OTRS)


Click play to hear how Joyce Fosdick of Keystone SMILES AmeriCorps (Knox, PA) uses an online ticket system to track issues and share solutions with members across rural Pennsylvania.

Media Tools
A few of the many tools available to edit and store media files online.

• Digital audio editor: Audacity
• Digital photo editor and manager: Picasa
• Online photo sharing: Flickr
• Online photo and video editing and storage: Photobucket

Productivity Tools
Share and edit documents and workspaces online.

• Create and edit Web pages together: Wikispaces
• Collaborate on word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations: Google Docs

Go on to Making Technology Work for You

This questionnaire asks members to reflect on personal skills gained during the service year as well as what the program is doing well or could improve. It's used at the end of the service year, but could also be given earlier in the year to measure members' growth in the program.

This resource was contributed by AppalCORPS (Athens, OH), an AmeriCorps*State program that provides literacy-based services (such as tutoring, volunteer work) in four Ohio counties.

This easy-to-understand survey can be used as the springboard for discussions with departing members. It also is a way to track what members' plans are after service.

It was contributed by Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (Taos, NM), an AmeriCorps program that recognizes and engages the strengths and potential of youth through team service in the schools, the communities, and the landscapes of northern New Mexico.

Capturing the service experience

Organize an end-of-year project with help from the Iowa Campus Compact. Use or adapt this resource to design your own portfolio or other culminating product.

The Iowa Campus Compact (IACC) VISTA program (Waverly, IA) helps 21 colleges and universities build, support, and develop their students' capacity to be better stewards of the community.