AmeriCorps Program Directors Monthly Update | April 2020
Latest COVID-19 FAQs Answered
Latest Virginia FAQs Answered - The VSC continues to work hard to answer all of your questions regarding changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

CNCS Updates
Hardship Stories Needed - We need your help to make a compelling case that AmeriCorps State programs are suffering significant financial hardship due to COVID-19 and its impacts. This information will be shared with CNCS staff to make the case for them to utilize all the mechanisms available to them to waive match requirements and/or to create flexibility within funding. Please send examples including, but not limited to the following information:

  • Name of program, city, state
  • What the program does
  • Geography covered
  • Populations/clients and approximate numbers served
  • What the primary sources of match are for the program
  • How much match is in jeopardy (actual $ and %) and why (school closure, etc.)
  • How long until the program closes if they don't get match relief or other financial support (tell us what is needed)
  • How many members would be impacted
  • Any other compelling data points

We understand you may be hesitate to share this information, but without details we are not going to be able to make a compelling case.

Please send stories to Emily Steinberg at  esteinberg@statecommissions.org (copy the VSC at AmeriCorpsInfo@dss.virginia.gov) . Emily will be sharing the stories with CNCS immediately as they come to in.
Tips for Working Remotely
Now that we are having work remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak, if you have never
worked from home, this can be a challenge. For those new to remote working, the VSC wanted to share some tips on how we make it work. If you have tips to add, please share them with your program officer so that we add them for future reference. Check out these tips now.
Fiscal Reporting
This is a reminder that the Aggregate Financial Report for the quarter ending 3/31/2020 is due  Friday, April 10th . This deadline is necessary to meet the Commission's reporting requirements to CNCS. CNCS has not issued a reporting extension to date. If you feel there will be a delay in reporting due to COVID-19, please alert the fiscal officer immediately. 

In order to file the AFR you must have submitted/ approved PERs for January, February and March in OnCorps. Instructions for completing the AFR (referenced as the Federal Financial Report by CNCS) can be found here:  https://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/resource/FFR-SF-425.pdf

Contact Shannon Girouard,  shannon.girouard@dss.virginia.gov , (804) 726-7072
Performance Measurement
Quarter 2 Grantee Progress Reports (GPRs) - Just a friendly reminder, GPRs for Quarter 2 (January-March) are due Friday, April 10th. Please complete as best you can with the data you have. An additional survey will be sent out soon to assess the impact of the current circumstances on performance measures and data collection.

Contact Analise Adams, analise.adams@dss.virginia.gov  if you have any questions or concerns.
Program Accountability and Compliance
Desk and Timesheet Reviews - Thank you to those who have responded to your desk review and mid-year timesheet review. If you have an outstanding deadline for either of these items that you need to request an extension for and have not already submitted, please be in contact with either Samantha or Christina. 

Contact Samantha Lukasiewicz,  samantha.lukasiewicz@dss.virginia.gov , (804) 726-7925
or Christina Dumas,  christina.dumas@dss.virginia.gov , (804) 726-7675
Training and Technical Assistance
2020 Life After AmeriCorps Training - Have your members save the date for upcoming virtual Life After AmeriCorps sessions! VSC will be offering "Competent Communications & Managing Conflict" for all enrolled AmeriCorps members with a choice between two dates -- April 16 or April 22. These webinars will be highly interactive with opportunities for participants to engage with the presenter. We will provide a recording of the webinar in case they are not able to attend live. The recordings will also offer an interactive forum for members to complete activities and ask questions. Keep an eye out for a registration email coming soon!

AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program (MAP) Webinars - As part of the America's Service Commissions' Member Assistance Program (MAP) your members can participate in a number of FREE webinars in the coming weeks on a wide variety of personal development topics. Please promote these training opportunities to your members by sharing this flyer with registration links: http://virginiaservice.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Linked-Webinar-Schedule.pdf

Contact Kimberly Brown, kimberly.brown@dss.virginia.gov , (804) 726-7069
Communications and Special Events
COVID-19 Resources - VSC has been working (trying) to stay up-to-date on the latest resources available to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please refer to our website regularly for all kinds of resources and tools you may find helpful as we all navigate the next few months together.


2020 Virginia National Service Awards - The nomination process has been extended again for the 2020 Virginia National Service Awards! Remember to nominate an outstanding AmeriCorps member, Senior Corps member, or alum by the new deadline -- Friday, April 24, 2020.


Recruitment Tips - Service Year Alliance has shared this nifty flyer on ways you can move forward with recruiting as many of you are working remotely. Check it out!


Contact Gail Doyle, patricia.doyle@dss.virginia.gov , (804) 726-7912