August 19, 2016
Present: John Portela, Barbara Wentworth, Ron Holmes, Celeste Branham, Ed Barrett, Maryalice Crofton
Between August 5 and 11, CNCS issued two sets of funding instructions with deadlines on or before August 24. Executive Committee is meeting to consider authorizing submissions.
In one case, an AmeriCorps program funded jointly by CNCS and OJJDP/Dept of Justice had earlier instructions reversed. During the normal continuation application period, the program was told there were no DOJ funds to continue support for year two and it was preparing to close on September 30, 2016. The August instructions reversed the “no funding” and directed that programs desiring to continue should submit continuation applications by August 22. While this was good news, it was an extraordinarily short time to complete submission and Grants Task Force review. Thanks to a good deal of effort and flexibility by all involved, the application was submitted and reviewed and Executive Committee agreed to meet to act on the Grants Task Force recommendations.
The second funding application is solely for State Commissions and is a supplement to the TTAPD funds which were restored by Congress last winter. In the supplement, Commissions can secure funding to help identify and develop programs responding to prescription drug abuse or opiod misuse and/or civil unrest in communities. Commission staff propose to apply for the additional funding.
1. Goodwill Take2 AmeriCorps program
The Goodwill TAKE 2 program started in the 2015-16 grant year. The program supports “Disconnected Youth” from Lewiston, Maine by providing mentoring, coaching, financial self-sustainability and employment training. Executive Committee members received the program continuation assessment 24 hours before the meeting.
Ed Barrett presented the recommendations from the Grant Selection and Performance Task Force. The program has been challenged from the beginning with a late award from CNCS, adjusting their experience with AmeriCorps to a more complex population (adjudicated youth), and uncertainty about continuation which did not motivate the program to address operational issues. He noted the program has accomplished its performance goal of rehabbing three units of affordable housing.
The Grants Task Force recommends continuation for a second year with conditions. The funding for year two would be $298,000 from CNCS, $145,391 as local match, and a cost per member of $13, 423. The number of members across full-time and part-time slots is 76 for a total of 22 Member Service Years.
The Task Force recommends adding the following requirements:
- by 9/7/2016, the program submit
-- a Recruitment Plan with detailed tasks and timeline
-- a Retention Plan with detailed information on how to improve retention rates
-- a Volunteer Community Outreach plan with detailed completion information
- by March, the program quarterly progress report show 50% completion of performance measure targets. If not on target, they must submit a plan that explains in detail how the program will meet the performance targets by end of the year.
Executive Committee members added a requirement that the program research and apply to this program effective practices for engaging the disconnected and adjudicated youth with particular attention to exemplary programs funded by Aspen Institute and those operated by USM’s Cutler Institute.
Moved by Holmes to accept recommendation for continuation of Goodwill Take2 AmeriCorps program with the requirements stated. Second by Wentworth. Vote on motion: Holmes, Portela, Wentworth, Branham in favor. No opposed. Motion passed.
The grant will be submitted to CNCS on August 22 (Monday).
2. Supplemental Program Development Funds
Commission staff recommend focusing on the substance abuse prevention and recovery aspects since the civil unrest (community relations with law enforcement) opportunity is paired with Promise Zones. Maine has no Promise Zones. The federal expectation is the results would be AmeriCorps program proposals submitted in the competition that is about to open. The proposal deadline for this category only will be delayed to May. The Commission supplement will be used to underwrite consultant assistance to identify evidence-based programming appropriate for AmeriCorps; organizing and conducting a scoping meeting to map the existing efforts and assets related to the issue; and provide technical assistance to at least one (anticipated two) coalitions that develop and submit a proposal. The total funding request would be the maximum permitted: $47,923.
After some discussion, moved by Wentworth to authorize submission of the supplemental request. Second by Branham. Vote on motion: Portela, Holmes, Wentworth, Branham in favor. No opposed. Motion passed.
3. Change in Exec Committee meeting
The September meeting is slated for Labor Day. All agreed to move the meeting to the following day (Tuesday, 9/6) at the usual 3pm time.
4. Board recruitment update
All but two of the invited candidates have submitted the formal applications. The full and final slate will be presented to Exec on September 6.
There being no other business, the meeting ended at 3:45 pm