National Service: Past, Present and Future

September, 2014

For more information:Office on Volunteerism and Community Servicesinfo@vaservice.org800-638-3839Vaservice.org

2

How did we get to where we are?

In 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) was established to connect Americans of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to give back to their communities and their nation.

CNCS was directed to manage three main programs:◦  Senior Corps, which included Foster Grandparents,

RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), and Senior Companions programs; 

◦AmeriCorps, which included VISTA, the new National Civilian Community Corps programs, and the full-time demonstration program that had been established under the 1990 Act; and 

◦Learn and Serve America, formerly known as Serve America.

3

Today in AmericaOn April 21, 2009, President

Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act that expands national service programs

Today CNCS serves more than 5 million individuals of all ages and backgrounds help meet local needs through a wide array of service opportunities.

4

CNCS Mission

The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

5

CNCS FOCUS AREASDisaster Services

Concerns regarding the preparation, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts that relate to disaster events.

Economic Opportunity Addresses unmet needs of economically disadvantaged individuals, including financial literacy, affordable housing, and employment‐related assistance.

Education Topics related to unmet educational needs within communities, especially those that help at-risk youth to achieve success in school and prevent them from dropping out.

Environmental Stewardship Matters regarding energy and water efficiency, renewable energy use, at-risk ecosystems, and behavioral change leading to increased efficiency.

Healthy Futures Addresses unmet health needs, including access to health care, increasing physical activity and improving nutrition in youth, and increasing seniors’ ability to remain in their own homes.

Veterans and Military Families Addresses unmet needs of veterans, members of the armed forces, and family members of deployed military personnel.

6

National Service Streams

Corporation for National &

Community Service(CNCS)

CNCSState Office

Administered Directly by CNCS

National Directs(Bonner, Habitat

for Humanity)

Other Special Programs (Social Innovation Fund,

School Turnaround

NCCC

State Commission(Governor’s

Advisory Board)

AmeriCorps VISTA

Senior Corps

Retired Senior Volunteer

Program (RSVP)

Foster Grandparent

Program

Senior Companion

Program

AmeriCorps State

Formula (Fixed)

Competitive

Other Specified Program

(Volunteer Generation

& Vet Success)

7

State Service Commissions

The Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism serves as Virginia’s State Service

Commission.

•“Responsible for developing a comprehensive National Service Plan”---using service as a strategy to address state and local needs

•“Assembling applications for funding and approved national service positions”---run fair and open grant competition

•“Administer national and community service programs in the State”---monitor for compliance and provide technical assistance

8

Virginia Executive Order 18

Gubernatorial advisory board in accordance with § 2.2-2100 of the Code of Virginia.

Established to comply with the provisions of the National and Community Services Trust Act of 1993 and to advise the Governor and Cabinet Secretaries on matters related to promotion and development of national service in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

9

Guiding Principles

Put the needs of local communities first.

Strengthen public-private partnerships.

Build stronger, more efficient, and more sustainable community networks capable of mobilizing volunteers to address local needs.

Measure and continually improve our programs' benefits.

Build collaborations wherever possible across our programs and with other Federal programs.

Help rural and economically distressed communities obtain access to public and private resources.

Support diverse organizations.

Stimulate life-long civic engagement

10

National Service In Virginia

More than 9,300 people help meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase civic engagement through national service in Virginia.

Members serve at 1,300 locations throughout the state, these citizens tutor and mentor children, support veterans and military families, provide health services, restore the environment, respond to disasters, increase economic opportunity, and recruit and manage volunteers.

This year, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) will commit more than $12,330,000 to support Virginia communities through national service initiatives. Through a unique public-private partnership, this federal investment will leverage an additional $5,840,000 in other resources to strengthen community impact, build local support, and increase return on taxpayer dollars.

11

Member Benefits

In exchange for their service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award that can be used to pay for college or to pay back qualified student loans. Since 1994, more than 13,000 Virginia residents have served more than 20 million hours and have qualified for Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards totaling more than $41,110,000.

12

AmeriCorps*State

This year, AmeriCorps will provide more than 720 individuals the opportunity to provide intensive, results-driven service to meet education, environmental, health, economic, and other pressing needs in communities across Virginia. $3.6 million in funding comes to the Office of Volunteerism and Community Service which in turn awards grants to nonprofit groups to respond to local needs. With the local match AmeriCorps Service will provide $7.5 million impact in communities across the Commonwealth.

13

National Directs and NCCC

Grant funding is also distributed by CNCS directly to multi-state and national organizations through a competitive grants process, and AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps), a 10-month, full time residential program for men and women between the ages of 18 and 24.

14

Senior Corps

More than 8,600 seniors in Virginia contribute their time and talents in one of three Senior Corps programs. Foster Grandparents serve one-on-one as tutors and mentors to more than 3,000 young people who have special needs. Senior Companions help more than 330 homebound seniors and other adults maintain independence in their own homes. RSVP volunteers conduct safety patrols, renovate homes, protect the environment, tutor and mentor youth, respond to natural disasters, and provide other services through more than 1,000 groups across Virginia. This program is run through the CNCS State Office.

15

Other individuals serve through AmeriCorps VISTA, whose members help bring individuals and communities out of poverty by serving full-time to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, and increase housing opportunities. This program is run through the CNCS State Office.

16

What’s Next?

“Today I want to announce a new task force … to take a fresh look at how we can better support national service – in particular, on some of our most important national priorities: improving schools, recovering from disasters, and mentoring our kids.”

– President Obama

CNCS Task Force on expanding National Service created in 2013.

The Task Force was charged with developing strategies to expand national service to meet national needs through collaboration with other Federal agencies and the private sector.

17

Special InitiativesSchool Turnaround

VetSuccess

Volunteer Generation

Social Innovation Fund

Justice AmeriCorps

FEMA Corps

STEM AmeriCorps

18

Operation AmeriCorps Simplified application process for local

government for collaborative transformative community effort

Priority-Project that uses a national service solution to ensure that every high school senior has a career or educational opportunity upon high school graduation.

◦ Higher education◦ Military service ◦ National service in AmeriCorps◦ Employment ◦ A paid internship, registered

apprenticeship, or job training program.