<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 10/5/2002 9:55:50 AM Central Standard Time, alcdgg@langate.gsu.edu writes:<BR>
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<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">received a letter from the Vista office stating that if they cannot draw a link between the work being done in the literacy program and homeland security, the Vista workers would need to be pulled from the </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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We have not seen that in Illinois, but every state is different. Illinois' Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) office has always had a focus on education in VISTA and that continues. However, the Illinois CNCS office is also requiring a cost match of $10,000, the cost of the living allowance. CNCS estimates their contribution of an educational award, health insurance and initial and in-service training for members to be $10,000 as well. That is limiting the number of agencies that want (or can afford) VISTA members. <BR>
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The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has become a favorite agency to run administration initiatiatives through, especially when they don't get congressional approval for something, i.e., America Reads. After that as program operators we dealt with Colin Powell's Promise and had to incorporate one of his first four promises into our annual objectives and were all required to do the fifth which is to provide opportunities for youth "to give something back."<BR>
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The RFP's for AmeriCorps grants (not VISTA that is a different system) are due out this week . Those go to states and "national direct" progams. States have some latitude in writing their own calls for proposals and setting their own priorities, but we are told there will be a focus on homeland security and a preference given to those applicants. How much of a focus and how much preference we're not sure. <BR>
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There's been talk about all AmeriCorps grantees and sub-grantees doing at least one homeland security objective. Our state commission (Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service) had a planning retreat two weeks ago, and we recommended that rather than having all programs involved with homeland security that CNCS set a target for the number of members they want involved in such an effort say 10%, 25%, 50% and let states implement it. I also liked the idea of giving non-homeland security type programs extra points in review if they were able to effectively incorporate homeland security or those such issues in their programs. Our Commission also asked CNCS to more clearly articulate what they consider homeland security issues. At this point it is broad and includes civil defense, law enforcement including community policing, and a range of public health topics and issues. <BR>
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In addition to a focus on homeland security, it appears that CNCS will also be seeking to advance the Leave No Child Behind programming. There will be specific training requirements for members who are tutoring children and at this point they are saying that they want those members to have an Associate's Degree as well. There are also a variety of changes being made on "allowable activities" for members, and in the future members can be involved with fundraising and capacity-building activities. <BR>
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Now that states will have the federal guidelines, they will be developing their own RFPs. Though each state sets their own guidelines and processes for funding, most will be announcing three-year funding opportunities this fall with a submission date most likely in the spring. Anyone interested in sponsoring AmeriCorps programs should follow that process with their State Commission on Community Service. It varies as to where the Commission is "housed" in each state, but it can be accessed through the national membership organization for state commissions - America's Service Commission at <asc-online.org>. <BR>
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Dorothy Miaso<BR>
Executive Director<BR>
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LVA-Illinois<BR>
30 East Adams Street, Suite 1130<BR>
Chicago, IL 60603<BR>
312/857-1582<BR>
312/857-1586 (fax)<BR>
literacyvolunteersillinois.org (web site)</FONT></HTML>