Helping to Get and Keep America Open: 

Supporting State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial (STLT) Staffing Needs 

National Service Resources to Support COVID-19 Contact Tracing

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), in collaboration with our AmeriCorps programs, grantees, 

and members, can support the efforts of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and STLT public health 

agencies to expand capacity for contact tracing and other COVID-19 response needs. 

State Service Commissions & AmeriCorps Programs

Governor-appointed State Service Commissions administer and oversee AmeriCorps programs in their states. 

These state-based partners, many of which are actively engaged in their state’s emergency response efforts, 

work with state and local public health departments to explore needs and opportunities for collaboration including:

• Redeploy or engage some of the existing AmeriCorps programs and members in the state

• Develop other or volunteer program models to meet ongoing response needs

• Identify other national service resources that could be leveraged, including AmeriCorps Disaster Response or 

AmeriCorps NCCC teams and AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (ADRT) Mission Assignments

• Work with existing (ADRT) networks to support STLT public 

health department contact tracing needs. 

• These teams are typically activated through ADRT mission 

assignments under a federally declared disaster at the request 

of state and local emergency management teams. 

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Deployments 

• AmeriCorps NCCC provides surge support to STLT public 

health department’s contact tracing efforts. The AmeriCorps 

NCCC teams, which typically include 6-10 young adults, 

deploy to a community for 8-12 weeks. 

• For more information, contact your CNCS Field Office that 

serves your state.

AmeriCorps VISTA to Expand Capacity

• Apply for AmeriCorps VISTA members to help build the 

capacity of STLT public health entities to expand contact 

tracing capacity, particularly in low income communities, by 

developing volunteer recruitment and management systems, 

community outreach programs, and other identified needs. 

• For more information, contact the CNCS Field Office that 

serves your state.

State Service Commission 

and CNCS Field Office Contact Information 

State Service Commissions 

• Are the state partners of the CNCS, which administer 

the AmeriCorps, Volunteer Generation Fund, and related 

programs to address critical community needs and engage 

citizens in service.

• Contact information: 

https://www.nationalservice.gov/about-cncs/contact-us/

state-service-commissions

CNCS Field Offices 

• CNCS has federal field offices that support national service 

programs, within their region or state. These federal staff can 

work in collaboration with State Service Commissions and 

STLT public health departments to leverage the full resources 

of the agency’s national service programs. 

• Contact information: 

https://www.nationalservice.gov/about/contact-us/state-offices
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 

To get and keep America open STLT must be able to quickly identify new cases, break chains of transmission, 

and protect first responders and healthcare workers from infection. 

Staffing Resources from CDC

• CDC is using a multi-pronged approach to help enhance and 

complement the efforts of STLT staff. This initiative will help 

health departments with the staffing resources they need for 

their programs to get and keep America open.

• In support of CDC’S COVID-19 response, the CDC 

Foundation is urgently recruiting candidates for critical 

positions nationwide. Interested parties should go to the 

CDC Foundation website and apply directly for positions.

• Visit our website for additional staffing resources: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/openamerica/staffing.html

• Resources for states to Get and Keep America Open: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/openamerica/index.html

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 

On March 13, 2020, the President declared a nationwide emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic for all STLT, 

and the District of Columbia under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

Staffing Resources from FEMA

• FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides supplemental 

grants to STLT governments. Eligible applicants may 

request Public Assistance Program funding through 

the appropriate state, tribal or territorial emergency 

management agency. The Public Assistance Program can 

reimburse certain labor related expenses, subject to a nonfederal cost share. 

• More information may be found on FEMA’s Public 

Assistance Program to include program overview 

and policies.

https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2020/03/19/

coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-eligible-emergencyprotective-measures.

cdc.gov/coronavirus

CS 316748-A 08/11/2020