Program Development & Training Officer

Major projects completed

AmeriCorps:

  • Hosted Bidders Conference for open State Competitive RFP.
  • Provided slot change guidance to GPCOG, MDF, AYCC and Van Buren programs.
  • Hosted a discussion with a Public Health org (NNPHI) interested in placing national direct members in southern Maine to ensure that they don’t impact GPCOG placements.
  • Hired consultant to provide recruitment assistance to programs, especially those currently trying to fill empty slots and those recruiting for January starts.
  • Provided ongoing technical assistance to all grantees, including assisting enrollment processing, OnCorps troubleshooting, and recruiting in anticipation of January start dates for three programs.
  • Hosted introductory welcome to new Ending Hunger in Maine VISTA project leader and set up OnCorps site for their program.
  • Met with MEAP staff to discuss future of program and needed staffing. Met with MCC program staff and leadership to discuss opportunities and coordinate potential Climate Corps roles for MCC going forward
  • Presented Gap Year info at CONY High School and tabled at Leavitt HS regarding AmeriCorps opportunities during their annual career fair.

Volunteer Generation Fund:

  • Completed the Fall cohort Service Enterprise Training series.

E & E:

  • Working on understanding current training offered, monitoring effectiveness of training, and developing new training opportunities – especially for volunteer managers across the state [see minutes]

Other:

  • Submitted annual CIF application and Budget to support technical assistance & training. Also surveyed program staff on the effectiveness of monitoring feedback and training in their work.
  • Participated in Annual VOAD meeting.
  • Met with Service Year consultant researching roles Service Year and AC Alums can play in making AC service a more effective “talent pipeline” to employment.
  • Met with Commission chair to discuss possible interactions between Commission efforts, AmeriCorps and the Future Farmers program.

Issues to be aware of –

  • Volunteer Maine has engaged a consultant to provide coaching directly to AmeriCorps program director at AYCC.  This is an attempt to improve compliance with reporting content and timing and to support the staff person in being more efficient and organized in addressing the requirements of AmeriCorps management.
  • High number of slot changes is a result of low recruitment – something occuring across the country.  We have engaged a consultant to provide feedback to programs on their current recruitment messaging and process.
  • In Collaboration with MDF, we have reviewed proposals for a series of DEIA trainings to support expanding the skills of program managers to recruit and support a diverse AmeriCorps cohort.  Proposals from Racial Equity and Justice project and Cross Cultural Community Center staff were reviews and REJ was selected as the provider.
  • The Corporation has shared new OMB requirement that eGrants registration information (program names and address details) exactly match information inSAM.gov. Penalties include withholding awarded funds.  Programs, and the Commission itself, are encountering challenges in updating some fields in both systems and guidance from AmeriCorps has been limited.
  • We joined the planning committee for ASC regional conference planning this year and used our second available slot to invite Maine Senior Corps representative Cindy Whitney to participate.  The intent is to help expand the trainings to be more inclusive of other branches of service in the sessions offered. CW agreed to participate.

Major focus of effort in the new month –

  • Establish DEIA consultancy contract with REJ and set up series of trainings with program staff.
  • Provide Service Enterprise Orientation for programs considering January February cohort, including formula AmeriCorps programs required by contract to participate. Support K. Preecs in completing Service Enterprise agency MOUS and SED signups.
  • Supporting AmeriCorps application grant reviews, including staff appraisals and commissioner reviews.
  • Establishing the AmeriCorps Member conference committee.
  • Completing a No Cost Extension on CIF grant to extend the work of the DEI, Recruiting, and AYCC consultancies.

Other activity –

  • Staffed Excellence & Expertise Task Force.
  • Regular AmeriCorps Technical Assistance to new and existing grantees via email, teleconference & face to face.
  • Support staff for Procurement system management and entry of financial documents in state purchasing system, including purchase orders, bids, and contracts.