Welcome to the COMMISSIONER ORIENTATION

Enabling LegislationEnabling Legislation

• National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993

Role of State CommissionsRole of State Commissions

• “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 T/TA

Requirements for State CommissionsRequirements for State Commissions

• Commission Board Members are Governor appointed

• The board will consist of 15-25 voting members

• Not more than 50% plus one of the board may be from the same political party

Requirements for State CommissionsRequirements for State Commissions

• The Chairperson is elected by the voting members of the Commission Board

• CNCS will designate one of its employees to serve as a representative to each state or group of states

Alphabet SoupAlphabet Soup

• Exercise

Why a Corporation?Why a Corporation?• Part of the Federal Government's move to

reinvent government and operate in a manner similar to large businesses and corporations– Board of Directors

– Performance-based workplans and assessments

– Create a “flatter” organizational structure

– Be able to accept corporate resources

– Minimize government red tape

• Allow CNCS to be more streamlined, more accountable to Congress and grantees, and customer service-based

CNCS MissionCNCS 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.

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding 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, including disaster preparedness and response.

• Measure and continually improve our programs' benefits.

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles

• 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.

2006-2010 Strategic Initiatives2006-2010 Strategic Initiatives

• Baby boomers

• Youth from disadvantaged circumstances

• Higher education• Volunteer generation

Links to CongressLinks to Congress

• Two step process for establishing and funding federal agencies and programs– Authorization

• Establishes and continues the agency

– Appropriation • Provides the money annually

 The Corporation for National and

Community Service’s Programs

Senior CorpsSenior Corps

• Foster Grandparent Program• Senior Companion Program• RSVP

AmeriCorpsAmeriCorps

• AmeriCorps*State and National• AmeriCorps*VISTA• AmeriCorps*National Civilian

Community Corps

AmeriCorps*StateAmeriCorps*State

• Grants through state commissions• Formula and competitive• Matching• Operating and member support• Education Award Only

AmeriCorps*NationalAmeriCorps*National

• National Direct• Tribes• National Professional Corps• National Education Award Program• National Planning

AmeriCorps*VISTAAmeriCorps*VISTA

• Full-time members • Serve in community organizations

and public agencies • Build capacity • Focus on poverty

AmeriCorps*NCCCAmeriCorps*NCCC

• Full-time residential program • Men and women aged 18-24 • Direct, team-based national and

community service.

Learn and Serve AmericaLearn and Serve America

• Schools• Higher education institutions• Community-based organizations • Engage students, their teachers

and others in service to meet community needs.

Roles Within the StatesRoles Within the States

• CNCS State Office• State Service Commission• State Department of Education

State Service CommissionsState Service Commissions

• Created by National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993

• Governor appointed public agencies or private nonprofit organizations

State Commission ActivitiesState Commission Activities

• Administer AmeriCorps*State• Broader vision of service as a

strategy to address local needs

State Commission StructureState Commission Structure

• Governor’s/Lt. Governor’s Office• Free standing or stand alone state

agency• Embedded in a State Agency• Non-profit

State Commission Focus AreasState Commission Focus Areas

• Youth Development• Volunteer Generation• K-12 Education• Children, Youth & Family• Community Development• Disaster Relief• Environment

Administrative Standards HistoryAdministrative Standards History• Spring 1998- Present

– A Standards Working Group

• May-Sept 1999– The Standards Pilot Project completed

• February 2000– OMB approved the State Administrative Standards Reviews

• 2000-2004– All State commissions completed an Administrative Standards Review

• 2004-2006– Seventeen commissions completed a second Administrative Standards

Review

• May-Sept 2007– Six to seven additional commissions will complete a second

Administrative Standards Review

PURPOSEPURPOSE

• To ensure that State commissions have adequate operational systems in place for the administration of federal funds in order to implement national service

• The Corporation has an effective tool for assessing state commission systems

• State commissions with quality administrative capacities are recognized

STANDARDS OBJECTIVESSTANDARDS OBJECTIVESTo establish basic competencies of state commission operation• To provide:

– a set of standards that all commissions must meet without prescribing the strategy each commission uses to achieve the standards

– a consistent strategy for assessing the capacity of all state commissions

• To help: – state commissions identify areas for continuous

improvement and technical assistance needs– the Corporation identify priorities for training and technical

assistance in order to strengthen the capacity of commissions

OVERVIEW of ASR TOOLOVERVIEW of ASR TOOL

• Part I: Commission Operations (Planning, Communications, and Resource– 4 standards

• Part II: Commission’s Oversight of Subgrants (Program and Fiscal Management)– 4 standards

Commissioner and Staff RolesCommissioner and Staff Roles

ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE

PROGRAM SUPPORT ROLE

VISIONARY ROLE

Commissioner QuizCommissioner Quiz

• Exercise

COMING SOON!COMING SOON!

Online Commissioner Orientation

Use as a:– Refresher for Experienced

Commissioners– Resource to Help You Orient Your

New Commissioners