americorps*vista assignment description (vad) 2017-2018 vista... · web viewprogram year. for...

For further information, technical assistance and to submit your completed proposal contact:

Erin Barstow, VISTA Program Manager Email: [email protected] Montana Campus Compact Phone: 406-243-5458020 Davidson Honors College Website: http://www.mtcompact.org Missoula, MT 59812

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Full-Time VISTA Host Site Request for ProposalsJuly 2017-2018 Program Year

mailto:[email protected]

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION AND INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS TO COMPLETE THIS HOST SITE APPLICATION

Required Supporting Documents:1) Letter of support from primary project partner: Successful VISTA projects include both a campus

partner and community partner. Please submit a letter of support from a community-based partner (if applicant is a campus entity) or campus partner (if applicant is a community entity). Letters should delineate partner roles and responsibilities related to the specific activities outlined in the narrative and VAD. (Note: Special consideration afforded to site applicants who leverage the support of local businesses or for-profit entities).

2) Letter of commitment from Executive Leadership: Prospective host sites must demonstrate organizational commitment to supporting MTCC’s mission and compliance with AmeriCorps VISTA funding guidelines. Campus-based projects should submit a letter from the institution’s CEO, CAO, or campus administrator and non-profit applicants must include a letter of support from a board chair.

3) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): This agreement delineates the terms, conditions, and responsibilities regarding the participation of the Host Site in the Montana Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA Project.

4) Attachment A: Site Supervisor Agreement

5) Attachment B: Host Site Cost Share Agreement

6) Certification Page: Includes assurances signed by the designated host site representative as well as the partnering campus administrator (CEO, CAO, etc.)

MTCC VISTA RFP Timeline:January 20th 10:00 AM host site webinarRSVP to [email protected] by January 19th.February 21st Priority application deadlineFebruary 21-March 7 Clarification periodMarch 7 Award notification/Candidate recruitment beginsJuly TBA Host site preparation webinarJuly 7th Final offers extended to candidatesJuly 24th-26th Pre-Service Orientation for membersJuly 27th First day of service at host site!

Priority Submission instructions: All applications submitted to the MTCC network office by February 21, 2017 will be considered a priority placement. Submit the application electronically. Required Supporting Documents must be submitted with signatures electronically AND mailed as original hard copies. Submissions turned in after February 6, 2017 will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, and funding priority will be given to those whose applications arrive by the deadline.

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Email application as a Word document

Scan and submit Supporting Documents with signatures (find documents 3-6 on MTCC website)

To: [email protected]

AND mail Supporting Documents with original signatures (must be postmarked by February 6th)

To: Erin Barstow Montana Campus Compact 020 Davidson Honors College Missoula, MT 59812



MTCC VISTA Program OverviewThe Montana Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA (MTCC VISTA) Program engages campuses – students, faculty and staff – in service to the community, instilling long-term civic engagement habits while making a credible contribution to community life. This Request for Proposal and

application provides potential host sites an understanding of what it means to be a MTCC VISTA host site.

As the largest higher education network in Montana, MTCC is committed to making service, service learning, volunteerism, and civic engagement programming available to students, faculty, and staff. MTCC’s current membership includes representation from Montana’s two- year, four-year, public, private, tribal, and community colleges and universities, as well as a state network

office located in Missoula.

Montana Campus Compact Mission Statement: The Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) advances the public purposes of colleges and universities by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility.

Program Goal Statement: The Montana Campus Compact (MTCC) will provide resources and support to campuses and community partners that seek to improve educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged students and veterans.

MTCC VISTA: MTCC VISTA projects address poverty problems utilizing campus-community partnerships. MTCC VISTA offers organizations and campuses the opportunity to build sustainable infrastructure to address poverty problems. MTCC VISTA utilizes a 6-stage community building lifecycle, which engages students and community members in needs assessment, strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation phases of the project.

MTCC VISTA Project Focuses

K-12 Success and School ReadinessCollege Access and Success

Veterans and Military Families

The Montana Campus Compact assesses organizational priorities and aligns them with the funder’s priorities to determine the scope of MTCC VISTA programming for the year. The following section

outlines MTCC funding priorities for AmeriCorps VISTA projects in the July 2016 - 2017 program year.

MTCC gives priority to host sites proposing campus-community partnerships in the focus areas of Education and Veterans and Military Families. For campus-based projects, this means projects must

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address poverty-related problems surrounding higher education i.e. support services for economically disadvantaged students to improve post-secondary completion. For community-based projects, this means developing a formal partnership with a local campus; e.g. a local United Way partners with the local higher education institution to leverage college students to serve as tutors in an afterschool program.

EDUCATION: MTCC VISTA will give priority to projects that provide support and/or facilitate access to services and resources that contribute to improved educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged children and veterans.

K-12 Success and School Readiness: Educational and behavioral outcomes of students in low-achieving elementary, middle, and high schools (enhance college readiness in K to 12 educations).College Access and Success: Preparation for and prospects of success in post-secondary education institutions for economically disadvantaged students (improve college access and retention).

VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES: MTCC VISTA will support projects that either focus specifically on low-income veterans and military families as beneficiaries, or enhance existing projects to begin or better serve low-income veterans and military families. The emphasis this funding cycle is to expand programming in support of National Guard members and their families.

RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITY FOCUS: Rural and tribal communities have special consideration when applying under the above criteria.

Examples of MTCC VISTA projects: Create an adult literacy awareness campaign and recruit/train volunteer tutors; Set up a campus veterans center; set up free and affordable afterschool programs; Develop a recruitment campaign for college students to serve with K-12 academic success

programs; Expand programs to help low-income families navigate college application/enrollment; Develop a mentoring program for students identified as at-risk of dropping out; Develop systems for organized job shadowing and internship opportunities for students; Create a STEM-based educational outreach for underserved students; and Expand veterans outreach for those returning to education after service.

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History of AmeriCorps VISTAAmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Authorized in 1964 and founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993 as a part of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

VISTA members commit to serve full-time for one year at nonprofit organizations, local government agencies and higher education institutions, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. With passion, commitment, and hard work, VISTAs create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTA projects adhere to the following four principles:

Anti-Poverty Focus: The statutory purpose of VISTA is to support efforts to fight poverty. The goal of every project must be to help individuals and communities out of poverty.Community Empowerment: Prospective and current VISTA project sponsors must ensure their project engages low-income community residents in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating the project. Sustainable Solutions: As directed by Congress, VISTAs are short-term resources that serve to build the long-term sustainability of anti-poverty programs. VISTA projects are developed with a goal to phase out the need for VISTA members.Capacity Building: VISTA projects leverage resources or expand the scale, reach, efficiency and effectiveness of programs or organizations that fight poverty. Rather than providing direct services to low-income individuals and communities, VISTAs strengthen and support organizations by building infrastructure and expanding community resources.

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MTCC VISTA Host SitesCampuses, community organizations and governmental agencies serve as host sites to design and lead a project within the MTCC VISTA framework. Host sites support the VISTA member before, during and after that member’s term of service. This section outlines host site responsibilities, expectations, and benefits.

Host Site Supervision:As part of the ongoing development of a host site, supervision of the VISTA member is assigned to the host site. This will ensure the project progresses toward its stated objectives. Meetings between VISTA members and their Site Supervisors should occur on a weekly basis, and likely more often early in the member’s service.

A full-time staff member must be assigned to supervise the VISTA member, dedicating 5% - 10% of their time to the VISTA project.

The site supervisor will meet regularly with the VISTA member, formally and informally, and

Will provide program assistance and professional mentoring.

The site supervisor should have previous supervision experience and be willing and able to serve as both a mentor and supervisor.

The site supervisor is required to attend the Site Supervisor Training at the beginning of the VISTA term (exact date: TBA).

The site supervisor is to attend all required trainings and events included in the annual MTCC VISTA Program Year Calendar,

Participate in regular site visits, calls and check-ins from the MTCC network office, and

In the event that the designated site supervisor is no longer able to hold the position, the host site is responsible for designating a replacement site supervisor.

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Office Space and Equipment:

Host Sites are required to provide the VISTA member with a computer, internet access,

phone, voicemail, and other necessary

office supplies.

See MOU (posted on website) for more

detail.

Expectations of MTCC VISTA host sites: Benefits of Hosting a VISTA:Ensure the campus-community partnership described in the project application is vigorously pursued

Build organizational capacity to address poverty problems

Assist with Recruitment: interview and select their VISTA member

Engage community members in strategic planning process

Understand that once selected, the VISTA member cannot be replaced for any reason

Leverage resources to assist community problem solving

Assure VISTA member attendance at MTCC events and service days

Expand financial resources to assist with grassroots anti-poverty work

Assist the VISTA member with free or low-cost housing, if possible

Expand campus-sponsored student volunteerism

Provide a vehicle, if available, to allow the VISTA to attend program training

Create service-learning and research opportunities for students and faculty

Complete all reporting requirements by assigned deadlines

Participate in a national movement to renew the public purposes of higher education

Execute MOU and Site Supervisor agreementPay host site participation fees

Financial Requirements: The Montana Campus Compact provides awarded host organizations a human resource (in the form of a VISTA) to develop the capacity of campuses and community partners to address poverty in the community.

MTCC is the recipient of a VISTA grant that provides the budget for a portion (approximately 75%) of the costs to place VISTAs. The remainder of the budget is the responsibility of host sites. As a result, host sites are required to pay a cash host site participation fee. This fee, billed either all at once or quarterly, directly supports program operations (via member living allowances, training and administration). For more information, email Josh Vanek, MTCC Associate Director at [email protected]

MTCC administers the biweekly VISTA pay (called “living allowance”); provides relocation funds for members; facilitates pre-service orientation, in-service and close-of-service training; manages reporting systems and reporting to the federal funder; administers end-of-service stipends and end-of-service benefit elections; manages the member recruitment process; provides coaching resources and training to site supervisors and VISTAs; and provides ongoing technical support for members and site supervisors.

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The approximate value of a full-time

VISTA member placement is

$32,000 per year.


MTCC VISTA Assignment DescriptionThe VISTA Assignment Description (VAD) closely follows the community building lifecycle, a tried and true method of engaging the community in antipoverty work to ensure long-term sustainability of initiatives. The outline below is the roadmap for the work that the VISTA member will complete during their service year. Note: different projects will likely be at different stages in the Community Building Lifecycle and not all steps will be utilized during one project year.

Please use this as a guide to develop your VAD. Develop long-term and short-term objectives and activities for the VISTA member to complete throughout the service year. Be as descriptive as possible and attach numeric values to objectives and activities.

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THE VAD BREAKDOWN:

Address how VISTA resources will:Move individuals and communities out of povertySupport organizations’ efforts in the communityIncrease the number of clients servedImprove or increase the number of services provided

Build capacity

THE VAD GOAL STATEMENT MUST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:What is the community need that the organization is trying to resolve and why? When the issue is resolved, what will the result look like? What will success look like?Which changes (if any) were made in order to achieve success in resolving this issue?What capacity was built to assist in resolving the issue? Must be stated specifically, i.e. amount of funds to be generated, number of volunteers to be recruited, etc.; what will this capacity allow your organization to do?Will this increase/improve services to clients? What services were added and/or how were they improved?How will this help move people out of poverty?

HOST SITE READINESS ASSESSMENT

The following section is to provide prospective host sites a quick assessment of preparedness for hosting an MTCC VISTA. This tool evaluates a potential site’s capacity, priority alignment, service-position type and resources available to host a VISTA member.

Select ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ for the following statements and write down any thoughts regarding your responses.We have clearly identified a problem such as improve graduation or completion rates or increasing the number of first generation college students enrolling and succeeding in college, (etc.) and have some data or expert opinion to support our beliefs:

Yes No

The need we have identified relates primarily to education or veterans and military families, or a large portion of the work we’re planning to undertake involves one of these two focuses:

Yes No

We are committed to a methodical, community-driven approach to addressing this problem: Yes No

We have organized a group of stakeholders, including those affected by the problem: Yes NoWe have thought about ways to address this problem, e.g. developing a mentor program: Yes No

IF A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IS APPLYING: We have plans for partnering with our local community so our work is broadly supported: Yes No

IF A NONPROFIT, SCHOOL OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY IS APPLYING: We have plans for involving the local campus in the response to the problem e.g. college student volunteers as mentors:

Yes No

We have identified a staff member and dedicated 5-10% of their time to locally supervise a VISTA: Yes No

We have available work space (i.e. a computer, phone, desk, etc.) to sufficiently support a full-time VISTA: Yes No

We have funding available to support hiring a VISTA: Yes No

If all “Yes” - You are ready to go! Now is the chance to set your VISTA project up for success. A thorough, thoughtful application is the first step toward laying the groundwork for your VISTA project. If mostly “Yes” - Consider how you may move all responses to ‘Yes’, particularly those questions concerning organizational capacity (supervision, workspace, funding). It is imperative that a host site be ready when the VISTA arrives on site. Work with your staff and local campus to ensure preparedness for an MTCC VISTA. If mostly “No” - Carefully consider if MTCC VISTA is the right fit for your project at this time. Discuss with MTCC staff the minimum requirements for a first year project. MTCC recruits VISTA host sites on an annual basis and is continually seeking new partners.

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July 2017 VISTA Host Site ApplicationPriority Deadline: February 21, 2017. Applications are reviewed upon submission, therefore applying before the deadline

may ensure that finite grant resources are still available.

Please complete the following information and submit as a Word Document to [email protected] . Submit required Supporting Documents with signatures electronically AND via mail with original signatures.

Part I: APPLICATION SUMMARY & PRIORITIESOrganization Name: Click here to enter text. Site Supervisor: Click here to enter text.

Organization EIN: Click here to enter text. Title: Click here to enter text.

Project Title: Click here to enter text. E-Mail Address: Click here to enter text.

Physical Address: Click here to enter text. Phone Number: Click here to enter text.

Mailing Address: Click here to enter text. City, State, zip+4: Click here to enter text.

Website: Click here to enter text. Partnering MTCC Institution:(full list at www.mtcompact.org)

Click here to enter text.Community where VISTA will serve:

Click here to enter text.

# of VISTA Members Requested: Click here to enter text. Project Period: July 2017 –2018

Organization Description (200 characters): Click here to enter text.

Application Type: MTCC Affiliate$6,250

Non-Affiliate$8,350

Non-Competing

$12,000

MTCC Affiliate: Any MTCC dues-paying campus is a ‘MTCC Affiliate’. The campus must be current on Annual dues to qualify. Please see a full list here. The VISTA service site must be located on a campus to qualify for the affiliate rate.

Non-Affiliate: Non-affiliate campuses, community organizations or governmental agencies/departments. The additional $2,000 admin fee assessed to cover the costs of program administration.

Non-Competing: Any campus, community organization or governmental agency/department that wishes to

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http://mtcompact.org/about-us/campuses/

http://www.mtcompact.org/


cover the total cost of the member living allowance and remove their application from the standard competitive review process may apply as a ‘non-competing’ host site. The non-competing placement will receive a VISTA member as long as the MTCC and CNCS requirements align within the project application.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING OUT THE HOST SITE APPLICATION:Use the textboxes to complete each narrative section. Please be as thorough as possible as these answers are used to recruit and advertise for the position on www.mtcompact.org and www.americorps.gov websites.

PRIORITY PROGRAMMING AREASPlease choose ONE of the following programming areas that describe the proposed project.

(To change checkboxes: Right-click on check box to open, choose “Properties” & change “Default Value” to “Checked”.)

Education: K – 12 Success or School Readiness: Educational programs that build capacity to maintain enrollment and support school success in grades K-12, particularly in low-achieving schools. These activities includes teaching, tutoring, mentoring students; providing supportive services to teachers and school leaders; providing expanded learning programs such as before / after school and summer learning programs; providing family engagement programs, and providing other types of school improvement support.

Education: College Access & Success: These projects build capacity in programs for students in grades 9-12, students working toward a GED, and for students preparing for college and careers. This includes building capacity for programs engaging in proven or promising counseling, academic, enrollment, and retention activities benefiting economically disadvantaged first-generation college students.

Veterans & Military Families: These projects support veterans and military families, or engage veterans as VISTA members.

What year will this VISTA project be? 1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th

Year

PROJECT DESCRIPTIONPlease provide a brief description of the role the VISTA member would be providing to the organization throughout the year.

The project focus must include EDUCATION or VETERANS initiative.

The VISTA will…


Role of College Campus or Community in this project:

Use the space below to discuss your vision for collaborating with an MTCC institution or with a community partner.


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http://www.americorps.gov/

http://www.mtcompact.org/

Part II: PROJECT ASSESSMENTVISTA projects address the needs of low-income communities. Projects must focus on building permanent infrastructure in organizations

to help them more effectively bring individuals and communities out of poverty. Demonstrate, using applicable statistics, what community need your project will address and how your project will move communities out of poverty. Narrative sections expand when

filled with type.

How will this project specifically alleviate poverty? This section MUST include local/regional statistics. Ensure that anti-poverty focus relates to selected priority programming area.


What community need will this project address? How was this community need identified? This section MUST include

local/regional statistics. Ensure that community need relates to selected priority programming area.


Priority Populations which will be reached through the project: (Choose only the priority population.)

1st Generation or Non-traditional College Students Economically Disadvantaged Youth Other (explain):

Veterans & Military Families Tribal Communities

KEY PRINCIPLESDoes this project meet the following VISTA key principles?

Anti-Poverty Focus: Does this project help individuals and communities move out of poverty with long-term solutions?

Yes No

Sustainable Solutions: Will this project phase out the need for VISTA resources? Yes No

Community Empowerment: Does this project engage residents of low-income communities in planning, developing, implementing and evaluating the project?

Yes No

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PART III VISTA PROJECT PERFORMANCE MEASURESChoose a MAXIMUM of two outputs and two outcomes; the VISTA will report on selected performance measures in monthly

reports. Please ensure that the host site is able to measure selected outputs and outcomes; indicate data collection methods for EACH output and outcome. Specify a target (number) for each output and outcome checked. Choose “Other” to add your own

output and outcomes.

OUTPUTS Target Data Collection Method

G3 – 3.1 Number of community volunteers recruited by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



G3 – 3.2 Number of community volunteers managed by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



G3 – 3.4 Number of organizations that received capacity-building services from CNCS-supported organizations.



G3 – 3.5 Number of staff and community volunteers that received training (of one or more types) as a result of capacity building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



G3 – 3.6 Number of organizations that completed a community assessment identifying goals and recommendations with the assistance of CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



G3 – 3.7 Hours of service contributed by community volunteers recruited by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



G3 – 3.8 Hours of service contributed by community volunteers managed by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



Other: Click here to enter text.



OUTCOMES Target Data Collection Method

G3 – 3.3 Number of organizations implementing three or more effective volunteer management practices because of capacity building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



G3 – 3.9 Number of organizations reporting that capacity-building activities provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants have helped to make the organization more efficient.



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G3 – 3.10 Number of organizations reporting that capacity-building activities provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants have helped to make the organization more effective.



G3 – 3.11 Number of new systems and business processes (technology, performance management, training, etc.) or enhancements to existing systems and business processes put in place because of capacity-building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



G3 – 3.13 Number of additional activities completed and/or program outputs produced by the program because of capacity building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants in areas of Education and/or Veterans and Military Families.



G3 – 3.14 Number of organizations that have experienced an increase in requests for their programs and services as a result of capacity-building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



G3 – 3.15 Number of additional types of services offered by organizations as a result of capacity-building services provided by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants in either area of Education and/or Veterans and Military Families.



G3 – 3.16 Dollar value of cash resources leveraged by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



G3 – 3.17 Dollar value of in-kind resources leveraged by CNCS-supported organizations or national service participants.



G3 – 3.18 Number of new beneficiaries that received services because of capacity-building efforts in either area of Education and/or Veterans and Military Families.



G3 – 3.19 Number of new beneficiaries from one or more targeted or underserved populations (counts by target population, e.g. racial or ethnic group) that received services because of capacity-building efforts in either area of Education and/or Veterans and Military Families.



Other: Click here to enter text.



Part IV: VISTA ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION (VAD)The host site will develop the goals and activities the VISTA will perform to help achieve the organizational and capacity-building goals. The anti-poverty mission of the project should be apparent. The VAD clarifies the VISTA roles and maps a course of action in the long and short

term. Please fill in all areas. Please review the VAD guidance page of the MTCC website. The first two objectives are MANDATORY. In Objective 1: Insert Performance Measures selected in Part III.

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https://www.mtcompact.org/files/documents/VAD%20guidance.pdf

Project Title: Click here to enter text.

Site Name: Click here to enter text. # of VISTA members requested:


VISTA Objectives & Activities Period of Performance

Goal of the Project: (Outcome-based and poverty focused.)


Project Objective 1: The VISTA member will orient themselves to project performance measurement requirements in order to successfully implement each component and accurately report on progress.

Member Activity: The member will ensure they receive and participate in an On-Site Orientation Training (OSOT) upon arrival at the Host Site and communicate any project questions to the Host Site Supervisor and/or Erin Barstow, the Montana Campus Compact VISTA Program Manager.

January 2017-February 2017

Member Activity: The member must review applicable performance measurements and anticipated outcomes for each activity included in this VAD: ENTER PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS SELECTED IN PART III HERE


Member Activity: Upon understanding the performance measurement reporting requirements, the member will determine and put into place reporting tools necessary to supply performance measurement data to the Montana Campus Compact VISTA Project on a monthly basis.


Project Objective 2:Determine the role of the campus partner in the VISTA project. If VISTA project is based on a college campus: establish other campus partners.

Member Activity: Meet with campus partner, discuss collaborative opportunities and potential.

January 2017-March 2017

Member Activity: Maintain regular communication with campus partner.January 2017-January 2018

Project Objective 3: Click here to enter text.

Member Activity: Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text.






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Part V: VISTA ASSISTANCE

Can the host site or a campus partner assist the VISTA member(s) with food or housing? (Examples: donated or low-cost campus housing, a meal plan, helping with partial rent)

Yes No

Please describe any non-monetary assistance you can provide for the VISTA member(s):Click here to enter text.

Will you provide assistance for a VISTA member to relocate to serve? Yes No

If yes, what amount? Click here to enter text.

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