National Service
What is National Service?
National service programs engage more than 4 million Americans to improve communities through service programs such as AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps members serve on the front lines of education, the environment, public safety, emergency management, and other human needs, using the tremendous power of citizens as change agents in their communities.
In Florida, AmeriCorps members dedicate a year of their lives to service for a small stipend and an educational scholarship upon successful completion of their service. Over their year of service, AmeriCorps members gain valuable job skills, professional development, and personal growth.
National service programs are funded through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Volunteer Florida leverages state and local funding to draw down CNCS grants. Nonprofits, educational foundations, and other organizations apply for these grants through Volunteer Florida in a competitive process.
Other National Service Programs in Florida
For more information about AmeriCorps VISTA or Senior Corps, contact the Corporation for National and Community Service Sate Office: (407) 648-6117 or email fl@cns.gov.
For more information about AmeriCorps NCCC, call (601) 630-4043 or email Rsmith@cns.gov.
For more information about AmeriCorps National Direct, including the Florida National Direct Consultation process, visit our National Direct Consultation page.
AmeriCorps is a win-win-win for the AmeriCorps members, the organizations that host them, and the communities they serve.
What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps members dedicate a year of their lives to intensive community service. AmeriCorps members serve at nonprofits, schools, faith-based, and other community-based organizations and can serve in full-time or part-time roles. During their year of service, AmeriCorps members receive a modest living allowance and may also receive health benefits, training, and student loan deferment. Upon completion of service, AmeriCorps members receive a college scholarship to help pay for college costs or student loans.
AmeriCorps is also a valuable pipeline to careers in education, nonprofit, and public service!
For more information about AmeriCorps Member Benefits, click here.
Learn more about what AmeriCorps members do here.
Learn how to become an AmeriCorps member here.
My AmeriCorps Portal
For current and previous AmeriCorps members, log in to the My AmeriCorps Portal for member information including accessing your education award.
Current AmeriCorps Programs
For a list of our current AmeriCorps grantees click here.
For a brief description of our current AmeriCorps programs, click here.
Available Grants
For a list of available grants click here.
Volunteer Florida is proud to provide grant funding and technical support to 20 community organizations through the Volunteer Generation Fund. This competitive grant funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service targets organizations that seek to increase their capacity to manage skills-based volunteers.
Skills-based volunteering is a strategic type of volunteerism that expands the impact of community organizations by leveraging professionals’ skills. From accountants to IT and management consultants, skills-based volunteers strengthen the operation of nonprofits.
The skills-based volunteer program targets veterans and military families, unemployed and under-employed individuals, and baby boomers. Volunteer Florida looks for Florida organizations that use volunteers to provide services in the following six (6) CNCS priority areas:
- Disaster Services
- Economic Opportunity
- Education
- Environmental Stewardship
- Healthy Futures
- Veterans and Military Families
For a list of our current VGF grantees click here.
Launched in 2015, VF’s LeaderCorps Program is comprised of approximately 20 service leaders from across Florida whose mission is to raise awareness of the impact of national service and advocate for volunteerism and civic engagement in their local communities.
“Volunteer Florida’s LeaderCorps program will amplify the impact of national service in Florida, engage Floridians through public service projects, and develop community dialogue and civic participation,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman.
Each LeaderCorps member is responsible for executing regional service projects. They also receive leadership training opportunities designed to guide their professional development as they enter or re-enter the workforce in Florida.
Other responsibilities include:
- Make the AmeriCorps experience in Florida a meaningful, inclusive, and high-impact service opportunity
- Serve as ambassadors for Volunteer Florida and AmeriCorps programs statewide
- Increase AmeriCorps members’ involvement in statewide events, such as national days of service, AmeriCorps Week, Florida Volunteer Month, and regional service projects
- Encourage continued involvement of AmeriCorps alumni in the national service movement
Download the 2015-16 LeaderCorps Project Listing.
For additional information regarding LeaderCorps, please contact:
Paula DeBoles‐Johnson
LeaderCorps Manager
leadercorps@volunteerflorida.org
850.414.7400 ext.111
Read the 2015-2016 LeaderCorps Overview.
Click here to access the LeaderCorps Dropbox.
Program directors manage AmeriCorps programs at schools, nonprofits, and other sites across Florida. Volunteer Florida provides training, technical assistance, and other professional resources to Program Directors, who use this knowledge to meet critical needs in Florida’s communities through effective AmeriCorps programs.
New AmeriCorps program directors Orientation Materials
The New Program Director Orientation Slideshow has been designed as a resource tool to help provide you with the guidance you need to properly manage your program. We have developed this training based on the four phases of your program year: Pre-Program Year; Program Start; Mid-Year; and Program End. This will allow you to use the training as a guide to learn what is most important to you at the time you enter your role as a program director and then have the ability to learn more at your own pace.
Manual for New Programs 2016 (zip file, 75MB)
2017 Program Director Resources
National Service Calls
1) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - May 2017
or listen online:
2) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - March 2017
or listen online:
3) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - January 2017
or listen online:
2016 Program Director Resources
2016 Fall AmeriCorps Program Director’s Meeting
Branding and Marketing Your Program
City of Tallahassee Emergency Preparedness
Member Recruitment and Retention
Tallahassee Police Department Safety Preparedness
Veterans and Military Family Engagement
2016 Financial Training
2016 Program Director Finance Training
Keys To Effective Financial Grants Management
Office of the Inspector General - Safeguarding Federal Funds
PER Required Documentation
Webinars
AmeriCorps Contracts Webinar - 2016 (YouTube)
National Service Calls
1) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - July 2016
or listen online:
2) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - January 2016
or listen online:
2015 Program Director Resources
2015 Fall AmeriCorps Program Director’s Meeting
Emergency Management for AmeriCorps 101
Marketing and Branding Session
Mental Health First Aid - Dr. Robinson
Successful Inclusion of People with Disabilities
VF Branding and Storytelling by Heidi Otway - SalterMitchell
VIDEO: The Evidence Continuum Corporation for National and Community
Webinars
AmeriCorps Contracts Webinar - 2015 (YouTube)
National Service Calls
1) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - November 2015
or listen online:
2) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - September 2015
or listen online:
3) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - July 2015
or listen online:
4) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - May 2015
or listen online:
5) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - Mar 2015
or listen online:
6) Download the AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference Call - Jan 2015
or listen online:
Leader Guides
Download Volunteer Florida Leader Guides info
For additional information regarding the Leadership Quest or the Leader Guides, please contact: Paula DeBoles-Johnson at paula@volunteerflorida.org or 850.414.7400 x. 111
AmeriCorps Program Director Trainings Archive
Click Here to visit the AmeriCorps Program Director Trainings Archive
The Technical Assistance section is designed to assist our grantees with the general program management. Available resources include: MicroEdge Grants Management training videos, information on Criminal History Checks, National Performance Measures, eGrants, Fiscal Management and much more!
Florida AmeriCorps Evaluation Resources
Webinar #1 Resources
Evaluation Webinar #1 Slide Deck
Evaluation Webinar #1 YouTube Video
Webinar #2 Resources
Evaluation Plans Side by Side Comparison
Evaluation Webinar #2 YouTube Video
Example Impact Evaluation Plan - Annotated
Example Process Evaluation Plan - Annotated
Florida AmeriCorps Evaluation Plan Template
Evaluation Webinar#2 Slide Deck
Sample Evaluation Plan Checklist
Webinar #3 Resources
Evaluation Webinar #3 Slide Deck Handout
Evaluation Webinar #3 YouTube Video
Quasi-Experimental Design Using A Comparison Group
Webinar #4 Resources
FoodCorps Sample Evaluation RFP
Evaluation Webinar #4 Slide Deck Handout
Sample Evaluator Assessment Form_DRAFT
Webinar #5 Resources
Evaluation Webinar #5 YouTube Video
Budgeting for Evaluation Notes
Sample CoreThought Budget Proposal
Webinar #6 Resources
Evaluation Webinar #6 YouTube Video
Webinar #7 Resources
Evaluation Webinar #7 YouTube Video
Using Evaluation Results Slides
Tips for Delivering Negative Results
Tools for Creating Infographics
Inbound Press Release Template
Evaluation Findings – Communications Plan
MicroEdge Training Videos:
AmeriCorps 2016-17 Program Contract Training
Quarterly Progress Reports (QPR)
Fiscal Online Training
The Provider must submit certification of completion or memorandum stating completion of the online CNCS Key Concepts of Financial and Grants Management training located on the CNCS Resource Center website (www.nationalserviceresources.
AmeriCorps Members Healthcare Option Resources
AmeriCorps Health Insurance Coverage Update
Click the arrow to play. For a larger view, choose "Full Screen" in the bottom-right corner.
We appreciate your recent questions and concerns regarding providing healthcare coverage to your AmeriCorps members. CNCS has just released the FAQ on Member Health Care, see attached at the link below:
http://www.nationalservice.gov/build-your-capacity/grants/managing-americorps-grants
In addition, language to use when communicating options to your members can be found at the following link (December 16, 2013 CNCS sample of communication to members):
http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/current-members/health-care-options
National Criminal History Checks Online Training
The Provider must submit certification of completion or memorandum stating completion of the online CNCS National Service Criminal History Checks training located on the CNCS Resource Center website (www.nationalserviceresources.
National Service Criminal History Check Resources
http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/national-service-criminal-history-check-resources
(Final Rule published October, 2012)
National Knowledge Network: AmeriCorps Performance Measures
http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/npm/ac
e-Grants:
For managing programs and members, click on the following link:
https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp
To view helpful eGrants presentations regarding creating and managing an eGrants account, please click here:
AmeriCorps Portal Overview 2012
Create and Manage an eGrants Account
Creating and Editing an Service Locations
Embracing_eGrants_Portal_Short_Overview
Reporting as an Information Tool
User Roles and Management – Implementing
The eGrants Help Desk
1-800-942-2677
Technical Assistance
User name/Password reset assistance
Email: questions@americorps.org
Forms and Compliance Documents:
Automation of AmeriCorps Identity and Citizenship Verification
National Criminal History Check Requirements
Dates for Quarterly Reporting Cycle
Inclusion
Disability Community Development Plan Guidance
DCDP Documenting Collaboration Template
Other Resources
The Corporation for National and Community Service
AmeriCorps
National Service Knowledge Network
Volunteer Florida is seeking qualified individuals to participate as volunteer peer reviewers for AmeriCorps State Program proposals. Individuals with experience in grants management, knowledge of programs targeting critical community needs including education, the environment, public safety, economic opportunity and other human needs, and experience in applying principles of community service are encouraged to contact Cat Keen, National Service Programs Director at Cat@volunteerflorida.org.
Would you like to learn more?
1) Download the Peer Reviewer Fact Sheet
2) Listen to the AmeriCorps Formula Peer Review Technical Assistance Call
3) Watch the following video explaining the Volunteer Florida External Peer Review Portal
