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AmeriCorps Impact Webinar –

Bridging the Research to Practice Gap with an 

Equitable Lens 

AmeriCorps 

ServeMinnesota 

Ampact 
AmeriCorps 

Mary M. Hyde, PhD Director, 

Office of Research and 

Evaluation 

3 
AmeriCorps’ Evidence Journey

• AmeriCorps’ Evidence Journey

• Partnering on a Shared Vision: a common 

framework 

AmeriCorps 

Lily Zandniapour, PhD 

Research and Evaluation Manager, 

Office of Research and Evaluation 
 

 

 

Background 

• AmeriCorps programs have used performance measures since their inception. 

• Following the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (PUBLIC LAW 111–13—APR. 21, 

2009), AmeriCorps/CNCS implemented the Social Innovation Fund (SIF) Program, and more 

intentionally began to organize and develop an evidence base for the national service programs. 

• Over successive years (2010 - 2022) AmeriCorps and its partners have made significant investments 

in evidence building to develop and strengthen the evidence base of AmeriCorps-supported 

programs and the agency funding programs and initiatives. 

• AmeriCorps State and National Guidance on evaluation timelines, evaluation planning and study 

types, evidence reviews and evidentiary levels 

• Our partners in Minnesota have been on the frontline of this effort: Leaders in Our Field (e.g. MRC 

evaluation; ROI Study). 
 

The Evidence Act and AmeriCorps Learning Agenda 

The Statute, the Guidance, the Agency Documents: AmeriCorps’ Evidence and Learning Culture

Evidence Act definition of an 

Agency’s Evidence Ecosystem

• The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 

(Evidence Act) “Federal agencies are to use evidence whenever 

possible to further both mission and operations, and to commit to 

build evidence where it is lacking.”

• OMB M-21-27, The Learning Agenda, Evaluation Capacity Assessment, 

and the Annual Evaluation Plan “...serves to focus agency attention 

on the evidence needed to solve big problems”

• OMB Memorandum, M-19-23 ... (Establish agency accountability for 

use of evidence and the development of a learning agenda) 

• OMB Memorandum, M-20-12 ... (Build and support evidence and 

evaluation capacity) 

• FY22-26: AmeriCorps Strategic Plan, Draft Learning Agenda, Draft 

Capacity Assessment and the current Evaluation Plan 

6 
Evidence Continuum – AmeriCorps/CNCS 
Partnering on a Shared Vision 

• Evidence generates credible, relevant, and actionable information about 

[AmeriCorps’] organizational effectiveness, operational performance, and the 

outcomes of national service programs 

• Building evidence for what works, for whom, and under what circumstances, is a 

central part of ensuring the public’s access to effective solutions.

• Evidence supports innovation, improvement, and learning 

--AmeriCorps Strategic Learning and Evidence Building Plan, 2022-2026 

8 

Expanding Partnership with Communities At All Levels 

• AmeriCorps is focused on expanding our footprint in communities, particularly those 

that have been underserved and using evidence to advance diversity, equity, and 

inclusion goals. 

❖“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” 

(Maya Angelou) 

• ServeMinnesota and Ampact are in full alignment with AmeriCorps in relying on 

evidence-based practice for advancing their goals and for using an equity lens to 

ensure diversity, inclusion, and meaningful partnership with communities. 

• They are both innovators and early adopters. 
Research and 

Innovation 

at ServeMinnesota

October, 2022
AmeriCorps is uniquely positioned 

as a lever for advancing research 

and practice 
Evidence to Practice <–> Practice to Evidence 
 

 

Example: Program development, piloting, and scaling 

PreK 

Math 

90 Students 

506 Students 700 Students 

3,416 Students 

5,828 Students 

(nationally) 

Development 

2017-2018 

Pilot Implementation 

2018-2019 

Preparing to Scale 

2019-2020 

Full Launch 

2020-Present 

• Fully embedded math 

•

•

• Content development 

(+500 materials) 

• Literature review 

• Research and 

community consultation 

• Implementation 

infrastructure 

• Establish promising 

descriptive evidence 

into existing PreK structure 

Content revisions 

Promising comparative 

evidence 

• Adoption of internally 

developed math assessment 

• Online training 

• Fully integrated literacy and 

math experience 

• Massive state and national 

expansion 

• Ongoing monitoring 
Example: Original research for continuous improvement and 

thought leadership

Effective 

Tutoring

•Causal Impact

•Cost-Effective

Continuous 

Evaluation

•Students exit but 

some do not 

maintain skills.

Research

•Internal Analytics

•Identify causal 

solutions

Practice

•AmeriCorps 

infrastructure 

means almostimmediate 

implementation.
Implementation, 

Innovation, and 

Scaling 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pathway: New Program Development 

3 Months 2 Months 6 Months 3 Years Ongoing

Exploration 

Model 

Development: 

Theory of 

Change 

AND Specific 

Activities 

Implementation 

Planning 

Early 

Implementation 

Full 

Implementation 

1 2 3 4 5 

Formation of 

advisory 

council 

Initial 

opportunity 

assessment 

Scaler Checklist 1: 

Identifying an 

effective 

intervention Scaler Checklist 2: Building evidence of effectiveness 

Scaler Checklist 3: 

Specifying the 

Intervention 

Scaler Checklist 4: 

Defining the target 

population 

Scaler Checklist 5: 

Establishing 

implementation supports 

Scaler Checklist 6: 

Having an enabling 

context 

Scaler Checklist 7: 

Establishing 

implementation 

infrastructure 

*ServeMinnesota responsible for finding 

and directing external subject matter 

expertise, as needed throughout process 
Example: 

Recovery Corps 
AmeriCorps Members Serve as 

Recovery Navigators and 

Project Coordinators 

Recovery Navigators are people 

with lived experience in 

recovery trained to deliver 

individually tailored peer support. 
 

Program Outcomes - Participants 

On average, program participants 

increased their Recovery Capital score by 

4 points after working with a Navigator 
Example: 

Reading Corps 
 

Innovations in Reading Corps 

Guided by research 

• Data-Based Decision Making 

- Uses normative RC data to inform 

intervention change decisions 

• Connected Text Pairs 

- Cluster RCT 

- Impact of serving students in pairs 

Cycle of 

Continuous 

Improvement 
Embedding Equity & Community 

Engagement in AmeriCorps: 

From Design to Implementation 
Definition of Equity 

Elimination of barriers to full participation in the process, 

and access to the full benefits of the outcomes. 
 

Key Pillars 

Commission 

Initiatives 

Staff & Board 

Recruitment & 

Retention 

Strategies for 

Members of Color 

Career 

Development 

Align with Service 

Experience 

Research & 

Innovation 

Continuous program 

improvement 
Commission Initiatives 

Create sustainable and equitable organizational opportunities 

• Racial Equity and Inclusion board committee 

• Building staff capacity 

• Training and support for AmeriCorps programs 

• Community engagement 
Recruitment & Retention Strategies 

Implement specific strategies for recruiting and retaining members of 

color 

• Emergency funds 

• Community building with racially diverse organizations 

• Increased living allowance 

• Feedback sessions with members of color 

• Affinity groups 

• Alumni networking 
Career Development Opportunities 

Align current service experiences with future career opportunities 

• Track member demographic data and career goals and outcomes 

• Align member training to industry skills and standards 

• Provide individualized career coaching 

• Create intentional skill building opportunities 

• Create pathways to certification, credential or degree at little to no 

cost to members 

• Building career placement opportunities post AmeriCorps service 
Research & Innovation 

• Embed equity and inclusion practices from the design to 

evaluation of our work 

• Engage in community member collaborations 

• Co-create research projects with community members 
 

Research & Innovation: Community-Based Design 

• Increase communication between school 

and home on AmeriCorps related tutoring 

activities 

• Co-created and facilitated caregiver 

focus groups to learn ideal 

communication opportunities 

• Developed a prototype completely driven 

by caregivers 

• Funded by the Gates Foundation 
Across Communities Impacted by ServeMinnesota 

Change the narrative of what national service looks like: 

• Creating and embedding more accessible opportunities that allow 

members to thrive during and after their service experience 

• Supporting all AmeriCorps programs to create inclusive spaces that 

affirm identities for members 
AmeriCorps 

Nathaniel Benjamin 

Chief Diversity and Inclusion 

Officer 

35 
 

 

Q & A Panel Discussion: 

• Lily Zandniapour, PhD, AmeriCorps Office of Research 

and Evaluation 

• Peter Nelson, PhD, ServeMinnesota 

• Sandra Morán Pulles, PhD, ServeMinnesota 

• Anne Sinclair, PhD, Ampact 

• Nathaniel Benjamin, AmeriCorps Chief Diversity and 

Inclusion Officer 

36 
 

 

Thank you for attending today’s webinar. 

The recording and support materials will be provided in the next two weeks. Those items will be 

located on the AmeriCorps Impact Webinar page at: 

https://www.americorps.gov/webinar/bridging-research-practice-gap-equitable-lens 

To inquire about the work presented in this webinar, please reach out to Evaluation@cns.gov 

37