DIY VISTA Summer Associate Program

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OHIO CDC ASSOCIATION (OCDCA)

2014 VISTA SUMMER ASSOCIATES

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

The RFP for Summer Associate support is due by 5:00pm on March 13, 2014. Please submit all applications to Caitlin Bierman, AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader at [email protected].

For questions and technical assistance, please contact Melissa Miller, AmeriCorps*VISTA Program Manager at [email protected] or by phone at 614-461-6392 ext. 209.

Note: This is a separate request than the year-long VISTA opportunity and will be your ONLY opportunity to apply for Summer Associate support.

1. Introduction

The VISTA Summer Associates program is an initiative from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) that offers individuals the opportunity to become engaged in a community through an existing VISTA project for 10 weeks during the summer. The Ohio CDC Association (OCDCA) has partnered with CNCS since 1995 as an intermediary organization to OCDCA member sub-site VISTA hosts. Limited slots are available; therefore this is a competitive process.

Funding, which has yet to be secured, for the OCDCA VISTA Summer Associate Project is provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) through the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF).

2. Background

Summer Associates are given permission to provide direct service, thus can be a great resource for an organization that is trying to get a new summer day camp up and running, working on gardening projects, delivering new programs over the summer, and otherwise supplementing the work of year-long VISTA Members. OCDCA is excited to offer this opportunity to our members, who if selected, would become a Summer Associate sub-site to the OCDCA VISTA Project. Note, you are not required to currently have a VISTA Member placed at your site to participate in the VISTA Summer Associates program, however at least one of the OCDCA VISTA Project Goals, outlined below, must be met in order to be considered for Summer Associates. Some VISTA Summer Associate placements will be reserved for housing only initiatives. OCDCA currently has two (2) types of placements available, Cost-Share and Standard. Cost-Share VISTA Summer Associates are supplemented by the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) through the Ohio Housing Trust Fund (OHTF). Cost-Share VISTA Summer Associates work specifically on housing related activities, such as developing and creating homeownership education and counseling programs, foreclosure prevention programs, home improvement and home repair programs, IDA Homeownership programs, supportive housing activities, and activities that address vacant and abandoned properties.

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Summer Associates will receive a modest living allowance, health coverage, and the choice of either an education award or an end-of-service stipend upon completion of service.

3. Goals

Ohio CDC Association VISTA Project Goals

The following are the current OCDCA VISTA Project goals as approved by CNCS.

1. To build the capacity of CDCs to provide affordable housing.

2. To build the capacity of CDCs to increase employment opportunities. 3. To build the capacity of CDCs to provide housing counseling.

4. To build the capacity of CDCs to increase and maintain assets for individuals. 5. To build the capacity of CDCs to increase access to fresh and healthy foods. 6. To build the capacity of CDCs to increase energy and water efficiency in housing.

4. Program Overview

The following is pertinent information regarding the program. This will assist you in completing the application to request Summer Associate support.

4.1 Program Requirements

Summer Associates serve full-time for 10 weeks and can provide direct service, which is defined as the act of providing services to the identified recipients or clients of a program.

Summer Associates will begin service at your sub-site on June 9th_. The program fee is a $500 flat rate per associate.

The maximum number of Summer Associates an organization can request is three (3).

The VISTA Summer Associate Assignment Description (VAD), filled out as part of the application, will be used to guide the Summer Associate and sub-sites during the term of service. It will outline the activities that will be conducted to achieve the OCDCA Project Goals. The goals must come from the OCDCA VISTA Goals outlined in Section 3. You may use as many goals as you like.

Summer Associates are forbidden from participation in religious instruction or proselytizing and from participation in political activity (partisan or nonpartisan) while on duty or perceived to be on duty as a VISTA Summer Associate.

The Summer Associate must have a full-time staff person act as their supervisor to whom they directly report.

All VISTA Summer Associates will abide by your organization’s office policies, or equivalent. 4.2 Timeline (dates subject to change)

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3 Award & service start date notification – March 2014 Recruitment Begins – March 2014

Summer Associate selection and all associated paperwork due to OCDCA – May 9 Summer Associate begins service –June 9th

4.3 Good Standing Membership

An organization must be a good standing member to apply for a Summer Associate. An organization is disqualified from receiving a Summer Associate if the organization is not in good standing with Ohio CDC Association. Not being in good standing is described as owing an outstanding and unresolved financial obligation, having outstanding or unresolved material deficiency, or having had a grant or cooperative agreement involuntarily terminated or non-renewed with the OCDCA. In addition, all Summer Associates are approved not only by OCDCA but also by CNCS.

4.4 Recruitment

Recruitment will follow Summer Associate sub-site selection. The Project Description filled out as part of the application will be used by OCDCA to post the position to the CNCS online application database. It will be up to sub-sites to recruit locally via newspaper ads, posting openings at local universities, etc. in order to place an appropriate Summer Associate. If selected as a Summer Associate sub-site more information will follow.

4.5 Reporting

All Summer Associates are required to submit a monthly timesheet and VAD to OCDCA. Additional fees for failing to comply can be charged. If selected as a Summer Associate sub-site more information will follow.

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OHIO CDC ASSOCIATION

2014 VISTA SUMMER ASSOCIATE APPLICATION

COVER PAGE

Please fully complete this application and return to by 5:00 pm on Thursday, March 13, 2014: Caitlin Bierman, AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader, Ohio CDC Association

[email protected] Or fax to (614) 461-1011

For questions or technical assistance on the VISTA Summer Associates Application contact: Melissa Miller, AmeriCorps*VISTA Program Manager, Ohio CDC Association [email protected] or (614)-461-6392 x. 209

NAME OF ORGANIZATION:__________________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS: _________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP: _________________________________________________________________ PHONE: __________________________ FAX: _____________________

SUPERVISOR NAME AND TITLE: _____________________________________________________ This checklist is to assist you in your request for VISTA Summer Associates. Please complete. Applicant Checklist

1. Cover Page _______

2. Application Form _______

3. Narrative _______

4. Summer Associate Project Description* (Page 8) _______ 5. VISTA Summer Associate Assignment Description (VAD)* (Page 10) _______

6. On-Site Orientation Form* (Page 15) _______

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8. List of Current Board Members _______

9. Supervisor’s Resume _______

*One per Summer Associate requested

APPLICATION FORM

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

NAME OF ORGANIZATION:__________________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS: _________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP: ____________________________________________________________________ PHONE: __________________________ FAX: _____________________

SUPERVISOR NAME AND TITLE: _________________________________________________________ SUPERVISOR PHONE: ______________________ SUPERVISOR EMAIL:_________________________ PERSON AUTHORIZED TO SIGN CONTRACTS NAME, TITLE, AND EMAIL:

____________________________________________________________________________________

2014 SUMMER ASSOCIATE INFORMATION

NUMBER OF 2014 SUMMER ASSOCIATES REQUESTING (Max 3): _________________________________ Timeline: Your organization understands the timeline outlined in Section 4.2 and does not anticipate any issues meeting the timeline, especially as it relates to recruitment (Yes or No). __________________________

Reporting: Your organizations understands the subsite and Summer Associate reporting requirements outlined in the Section 4.5 and does not anticipate any issues (Yes or No). _______________________________

Expenses: Your organization understands any on-the-job related expenses your Summer Associate incurs are to be reimbursed (Yes or No). In addition, please indicate your current mileage rate and projected Summer Associate travel frequency and distance.

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Will your organization provide free parking for Summer Associates (Yes or No)? ____________________

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6 2014 SUMMER ASSOCIATE WORKSPACE

Will your requested 2014 Summer Associate(s) need workspace and/or equipment to complete the job duties? If yes, please explain the workspace and/or equipment needs and your organization’s ability/willingness to meet those needs for each Summer Associate requested.

Summer Associate #1 _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Summer Associate #2 _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Summer Associate #3 _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

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NARRATIVE

The narrative serves as a blueprint for the Applicant’s proposed Summer Associate assignment. Each narrative must include the following information. Please do not exceed 1,000 words.

A. The mission that CNCS holds for the VISTA program is to increase capacity for low-income people to improve the conditions of their own lives. Summer Associates are intended to complement this work. Please provide a brief description of your organization’s program(s) for which you are requesting Summer Associate support and how the program(s) fit into the CNCS mission provided above. What is the poverty-related problem or challenge to be addressed? Describe how community partners, if applicable, will contribute to the program’s success? Please provide a response for each Summer Associate requested, if answers are different.

B. Describe the activities that a Summer Associate will perform, including the expected outputs and outcomes. Please consider the OCDCA VISTA Project Goals in Section 3. Please include quantitative outcomes when appropriate. If you are requesting more than one Summer Associate please be sure to address the activities and outcomes for each Summer Associate requested, if they are different. C. Describe the supervision that will be provided to the Summer Associate. How will the Summer

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SUMMER ASSOCIATE PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Should your site be selected, the answers to these questions will be used by OCDCA to post the Summer Associate position directly to the CNCS online application database. Please be mindful of the character allotment.

Organization Name & Address:

Summer Associate Supervisor Name/Title/Phone #/Email:

In what metropolitan area will the Summer Associate serve?

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Enter your sub-site program description. (2000 characters or less)

Summer Associate duties. This is the complete job description that applicants will see. (1000 characters or less)

Does your organization require a separate application?

Minimum age:

Desired education level:

Skills you would like your member to possess – check all that apply:

___ Counseling ___ Leadership

___ Architectural Planning ___ Medicine ___ Business/Entrepreneur ___ Public Health ___ Communications ___ Public Speaking ___ Community Organization ___ Recruitment ___ Computers/Technology ___ Teaching/Tutoring ___ Conflict Resolutions ___ Trade/Construction

___ Education ___ Writing/Editing

___ Fine Arts/Crafts ___ Youth Development

___ First Aid ___ General Skills

___ Fundraising/Grant Writing ___ Other: _____________________________ ___ Law

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VISTA Summer Associate Assignment Description (VAD)

VISTA Project: Ohio CDC Association VISTA Project VISTA Member Name:TBA

Site Name: Assignment Area: Date:

Summer Associate Activities and Steps Checklist

Planned Period of Work

Goal: (DO NOT create your own goal, utilize the OCDCA VISTA Project Goals)

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11 Step 1:

Step 2: Step 3:

Activity 1 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 1

Completed (date): _________ Activity 2: Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:

Completed (date): _________

Activity 4: Step 1:

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12 Step 2:

Step 3:

Goal : (DO NOT create your own goal, utilize the OCDCA VISTA Project Goals)

Activity 1: Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:

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13 Step 1:

Step 2: Step 3:

Goal : (DO NOT create your own goal, utilize the OCDCA VISTA Project Goals)

Activity 1: Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:

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14 Activity 2:

Step 1: Step 2: Step 3:

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VISTA SUMMER ASSOCIATE ON-SITE ORIENTATION PLAN

Name and address of Sponsoring Organization: _______________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Name of Contact Person: ________________________________________________________ Telephone: _______________________________ Fax: _______________________________ E-mail: ___________________________ Dates of Training: ___________________________

VISTA SUMMER ASSOCIATE OSO GUIDELINES

Following the half day conference call training, each Summer Associate will receive on-site orientation with the sponsoring organization. The orientation will be one of the first planned activities with the Summer Associate and should occur within the first week the Summer Associate is assigned to the project. Your organization may

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have an orientation already in place for new employees. If so, you are encouraged to involve the Summer Associates in this orientation, and to build upon it to achieve the goals of Summer Associate on-site orientation. Following training, each Summer Associate should know the following:

• Mission, background, and purpose of the sponsoring organization.

• Background of the community, and identification of community leaders, especially those involved in the Summer Associate service activities.

• Information about the low-income population served by the project.

• Purpose of the VISTA project as it relates to Summer Associates and the relationship between the sponsoring agency and the community served.

• Potential resources (funds, materials, people) that can be applied to help achieve VAD goals.

• Supervisory and support structure for the volunteers, i.e., expectations regarding attendance, reporting, accountability, workplace rules and so on.

• Clarification of individual VADs and how the Summer Associate’s progress in achieving VAD objectives will be assessed.

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VISTA SUMMER ASSOCIATE OSO AGENDA

Complete a section for each activity or session, which will be part of the on-site orientation.

Date: Title: Trainer or Presenter:

Time:

Description of subject matter:

Objectives of activity or session:

Time:

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Time:

Objectives of activity or session:

Time: