Overview Of Your year In Americorps VISTA - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Overview of Your Year in AmeriCorps*VISTA

As an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, you are expected to attend key events that occur during your year of service and to make certain decisions to maximize your benefits and experience. Before you attend Pre-Service Orientation and become a member, however, you are required to complete and submit appropriate documents and information, and to take care of certain necessary preparations for your year of service.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN SERVICE

As an AmeriCorps*VISTA candidate, you are expected to attend to important legal administrative tasks related to your enrollment, and to make vital decisions to maximize your benefits. Once you become a candidate, one of your first responsibilities is to cooperate fully with AmeriCorps*VISTA in an investigation of your background.

CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK

AmeriCorps*VISTA and its sponsoring organizations strive to maintain a safe and productive environment, assigning members who do not present a risk to their service partners, particularly vulnerable members of our communities. In addition to comprehensive interviews and personal reference checks, criminal history checks assist sponsors and AmeriCorps*VISTA in determining the suitability of applicants.

AmeriCorps*VISTA requires a comprehensive criminal history check be performed for members who have recurring access to vulnerable populations: children under 18 years of age, persons physically or mentally disabled, and adults over the age of 60. To conduct a nationwide criminal history check, AmeriCorps*VISTA requires fingerprint submissions from prospective AmeriCorps*VISTA members (applicants) who will be assigned to serve vulnerable populations to determine whether an individual has a record of any criminal convictions, and, if so, the nature and circumstances of the conviction(s). Each criminal history check also includes a review of the National Sex Offender's Registry administered by the Department of Justice.

All AmeriCorps*VISTA applicants, regardless of the population they are assigned to serve, undergo review on the National Sex Offender's Registry. The review occurs at the state office when the application is received from the sponsoring organization or AmeriCorps*VISTA applicant. Any records found on this registry for an applicant or member will result in deselection or termination.

Applicants who will have recurring access to vulnerable populations will undergo a criminal history check when they have been recommended by a project sponsor to the Corporation State Office. If the criminal history check is not completed prior to the Pre-Service Orientation, the AmeriCorps*VISTA candidate may be sworn into service but may have no contact with a vulnerable population without supervision until the history check is completed and the individual has been cleared.

Reenrollees who have undergone a criminal history check and have no lapse in service need not undergo a second check.

Potential and current AmeriCorps*VISTA members are expected to cooperate fully with criminal history checks. Cooperation includes, but is not limited to, providing fingerprints when required, providing written consent to conduct a criminal history check, and responding with truthful and complete information to inquiries made during the history check process. Failure to cooperate in these respects, or any attempt to interfere with implementation of this policy, will result in denial of your application or early termination from AmeriCorps*VISTA service.

DRUG SCREENING

Alcohol abuse and illegal drug use adversely affect health and performance on projects, create potentially dangerous situations, and serve to undermine the community's confidence in AmeriCorps*VISTA. Therefore, AmeriCorps*VISTA prohibits illegal drug use and alcohol abuse by its Leaders and members. Some sponsoring organizations may require AmeriCorps*VISTA Leaders and members to pass a drug screening test before or upon arrival, or during service at the project site. Failure to submit to drug screening, or a positive test result for illegal drugs, may lead to deselection of the AmeriCorps*VISTA candidate or early termination of the member.

AMERICORPS*VISTA ADMINISTRATIVE FORMS AND TASKS

Before or during the Pre-Service Orientation for AmeriCorps*VISTA candidates, you must complete various forms and administrative tasks to establish your AmeriCorps*VISTA benefits tax withholding, and other conditions of service. These required administrative tasks include the following:

End-of-service benefits election form. AmeriCorps*VISTA members have a choice of two end-of-service benefits: the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or the end-ofservice stipend. Use the AmeriCorps*VISTA Member Benefits Election Form to choose either the stipend or the education award. (See Chapter 5 for information about the end-of-service stipend and Chapter 6 for details about the education award.)

If you select the end-of-service stipend, you will not be able to switch to the education award. If you are not a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States, you will not be able to elect the education award.

Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form. Completion of this form enables you to have your biweekly living allowance be deposited directly into your bank account. Direct deposit is now required for all federal payments. If you have not established a bank account, you need to do so and to take the direct deposit form to your bank for it to be completed. Return the form to your Corporation State Office.

AmeriCorps*VISTA application, is correct. This address establishes the location to which you will return immediately following your year of service. Members recruited directly from college may consider their parents' address as their home of record and not the "temporary" address they used while in college (see Chapter 11)

Your local address. If you relocate to a new community as part of your service, notify your Corporation State Office of your new local home address and telephone number as soon as possible.

OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

Other personal matters may also become relevant during your year of service. If you have:

W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Form. Complete the W-4 Form to establish income tax withholding for your year of service.

W-5 Earned Income Credit Advance PaymentForm. If you are eligible for an earned income tax credit, complete a W-5 Form (see Chapter 5).

Designation of Beneficiary Form. This form ensures that any unpaid compensation (e.g., subsistence allowance, stipend, or travel reimbursement) is paid to your designee[s] in the event of your death during your AmeriCorps*VISTA service.

Your address of record. Confirm your address of record, as identified on page one of your not considered the following issues, we strongly encourage you to review them and make a decision or contact your Corporation State Office if you have questions.

Protection of benefits. As an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, you have protection of certain federal and state benefits you receive before becoming a member. This subject is covered in Chapter 14 in the section on "Income Exclusion of AmeriCorps*VISTA Allowances from Benefit Calculations under Governmental Assistance Programs." It is important to have your preexisting benefits in place and documented before you attend Pre-Service Orientation.

Life insurance. You are expected to make decisions concerning life insurance coverage at Pre-Service Orientation (see Chapter 5).

Child care. Certain members may be eligible for child care assistance to facilitate their service in AmeriCorps*VISTA. If you think you may be eligible for this benefit, request an application and information packet from the Corporation State Office. Child care material is also available at the Pre-Service Orientation. Pre-Service Orientation is the time to ask questions and make sure you have taken the proper steps to receive this benefit. We encourage you to resolve your eligibility for child care benefits before you attend Pre-Service Orientation. Your eligibility for child care assistance begins when you begin AmeriCorps*VISTA service. It does not extend to Pre-Service Orientation.

Forbearance and deferment forms. You may be eligible to postpone repayment of certain student loans while serving in AmeriCorps*VISTA (see Chapter 6: Education Benefits).

YOUR SERVICE YEAR

As an AmeriCorps*VISTA candidate, you attend a Pre-Service Orientation, which provides an overview of your role as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member candidate, the role of your sponsoring organization, and the role of the Corporation State Office. The orientation is your final step to becoming a member, and the starting point to your year of service.

FIRST WEEK ON YOUR PROJECT

Your sponsoring organization should provide you with an On-Site Orientation and Training during your first one to three weeks on the project. This orientation will introduce you to your sponsoring organization, the community at large, and your role during your year of service. During the on-site training period, it is important that you review and integrate the Pre-Service Orientation material as appropriate.

ONGOING MEMBER TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

After your AmeriCorps*VISTA service begins, you may participate in an Ongoing Member Training and Development activity to enhance your knowledge and skills to perform your project assignment. This follow-up training may be a course, a conference, or a professional development opportunity. You should work with your supervisor to identify training and development opportunities for you. (For more information about follow-up training, see Chapter 4.)

SECOND CHOICE OPTION FOR POST-SERVICE BENEFIT

At any time before the end of your tenth month of service, you may change your post-service benefit to the $1,200 stipend, if you originally elected the AmeriCorps Education Award. To make this change, you must complete and submit before the end of the tenth month a Second Choice Prior to End of 10th Month AmeriCorps*VISTA Member Benefits Election Form, which is available in Appendix B. The form will not automatically be sent to you. If you initially elected the end-of service stipend, you cannot switch to the education award.

TENTH MONTH

Future Plans Form

You will receive a Future Plans Form (see Appendix B) and other relevant materials from your Corporation State Office in the tenth month of your service. This form requires you to notify the Corporation if you are ending your service as scheduled or if you are requesting continuation of service. Your termination date is usually 365 days following the day you complete Pre-Service Orientation. You and your supervisor should complete this form and return it to the Corporation State Office at least 45 days before your end-of-service date. Be sure to include a mailing address on the form that will be reliable for 60 days.

Extension of Service for Less Than One Year

Sometimes AmeriCorps*VISTA members find that the task to which they have committed their service cannot be completed within one year. In this case, members and their sponsoring organization may request an extension of the first year of service for a specific period. This option is explained on the Future Plans Form. (Medical extensions are treated differently [see "Medical Leave" section in Chapter 9 ].)

If you elected a stipend, you may extend your service for a period less than one year. If you elected an AmeriCorps Education Award, you may extend, but you can only receive a prorated end-ofservice stipend for the period of extended service. You cannot receive a prorated education award in this instance.

Reenrollment for a Second Year

Another option is to request reenrollment for a second year of service. AmeriCorps*VISTA encourages you to pursue a second year with your current project. A second year of service with another AmeriCorps*VISTA project is also possible. If you are considering pursuing a second term of service with a different project, you should visit the Web-based recruitment system at https://recruit.cns.gov/ to search for AmeriCorps*VISTA openings by location, skill areas, or issues of interest. You also may want to consider applying to become an AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader (see Chapter 10 ).

The decision to extend, reenroll, or be designated as an AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader requires the approval of the Corporation State Office. Approval to extend, reenroll, or become a Leader is dependent on the Corporation and AmeriCorps*VISTA program policy, the funding available to the Corporation, the nature of the agreement between the Corporation and the sponsoring organization, and your performance and conduct as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member. Members are not entitled to an extension, reinstatement, or reenrollment as a member or Leader in the AmeriCorps*VISTA program.

LAST THREE WEEKS

In the last three weeks of your service, you should prepare to leave your sponsoring organization and phase out of your service as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member. (See Chapter 11 for the end-of-service checklist of things you should do to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible.) If you elected to receive a stipend at the end of your service year and not an education award, you will receive $400 of your accrued stipend (minus federal income tax and FICA [Social Security] deductions) in the living allowance payment for the next-to-the-last pay period of your service year. The balance of the stipend is disbursed in the last pay period of your term of service.

If you extend service, you will receive the full endof-service stipend in the final pay period of the term of service you have just completed. Another stipend starts to accrue through the extension. If you reenroll and elect the stipend as your post-service benefit, a stipend for the first year is disbursed to you as outlined above, and another stipend accrues through your second year.

AFTER YOU COMPLETE YOUR YEAR OF SERVICE

Your AmeriCorps*VISTA health benefits coverage ends at midnight on the day you end service or are terminated from the AmeriCorps*VISTA program. You have up to 30 days to convert your health benefits to a private plan after you complete service(see Chapter 8 ) .

If you elected an end-of-service stipend, you should receive the balance with your last living allowance payment if your service is completed as scheduled, and if you submit your termination documents as directed to the Corporation Stat Office. (If you elected the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, see Chapter 6.)

AMERICORPS eCOMMUNITY

AmeriCorps*VISTA encourages you to become involved with the Alumni Network after you complete your year of service. As an alumnus/alumna, you can help mentor or house current members, help recruit new AmeriCorps*VISTA members, and help develop new initiatives. You can also stay involved with AmeriCorps*VISTA by connecting with other members and alumni through the AmeriCorps eCommunity. Access is free to members and alumni. For information and services that help you stay involved with the AmeriCorps community, visit http://www.americorps.gov/about/americorpsweek/connect.asp.

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