AmeriCorps Seniors Performance Measures 

COVID-19 Options

AmeriCorps Seniors has heard from grantees that they are struggling to fit the approved expanded 

service activity options released in the Pandemic Recovery: The Path Forward for AmeriCorps Seniors

Program and Service document (see here) into approved Performance Measures. In an effort to provide 

guidance in this area, AmeriCorps Seniors has identified two Performance Measures below and have 

provided template community need and service activity language that can be utilized to capture the 

service of AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteers during the current pandemic. 

AmeriCorps Seniors is aware that many programs are struggling with measuring their selected outcomes. 

The two Performance Measures below have been identified as being two options that may be able to be 

measure even during these try times of COVID-19. If grantees are unable to measure the selected 

outcomes, they should reference FAQ #3 which provides guidance on how to complete the Project 

Progress Reports. AmeriCorps Seniors specific COVID19 FAQs.

The two Performance Measures are offered as options for consideration; they are not required. 

AmeriCorps Seniors is not requiring current grants to submit amendments to currently approved 

applications to change or update Performance Measures. Rather grantees are encouraged to review the 

flexibility outlined in FAQ #19. AmeriCorps Seniors is providing the language below for grantees to 

consider when submitting FY 2021 renewals and continuations. 

Community Need This community need template can be used for both Performance Measures 

suggested below.

Sample language:

In late March of 2020, our country was plunged into a series of events that have not been experienced in 

modern history. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our country has experienced an unprecedented 

decline of the stock market, a time of businesses closing their doors and unparalleled unemployment, 

food pantries overrun with families who in the past donated to such organizations now needed the 

services of them, education systems which are having to redefine how learning will take place in the fall of 

2020, and in the most simplest terms a complete overflow of citizens needing services from our nation’s 

health care system. Add in local statistics to demonstrate how the pandemic has impacted the approved 

service area. Include information such as infection rate, mortality rate, unemployment rate, impact on 

food-pantries, etc. While no one knows what will happen in the future, it is clear from the statistics 

provided that if the community does not band together to help those in need and help our communities 

non-profit organizations who are on the frontlines of the battle, even more people will suffer physically, 

financially and psychologically. 

(FGP, RSVP, SCP) Volunteers, while in a demographic who have been impacted significantly, are ready, 

willing and able to help their communities recover from the pandemic. (FGP, RSVP, SCP) Volunteers are 
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able to meet their communities most pressing needs by (add in brief information around the needs FGP, 

RSVP, SCP Volunteers are able to fill through safe volunteering and why they are a critical community 

resource to fill the identified needs). 

Available to FGP and RSVP grantee

The Performance Measure pair identified below (ED1A and ED27C) were selected as the listed Service 

Activities provide the widest range of options that may be feasible in a tele-school or limited classroom 

learning environments. 

Resource: 

FGP Performance Measures Instructions: Click Here

RSVP Performance Measures Instructions: Click Here

Service Activities (options in the eGrants drop-down box)

Grantees will still be required to select one option from the drop-down box. It is recommended that 

grantees select the activity the volunteers would have been involved in prior to the pandemic.

ED1A Options as listed in Performance Measures Instructions referenced above. 

• Tutoring Mentoring 

• Other Classroom Support Out of-School Time Family Involvement Service Learning 

• Summer Learning Classroom 

• Teaching Opioid/Drug Intervention 

Service Activity Description:

In this text box, grantees should include the expanded activities that volunteers will be involved in under 

the flexibilities identified in the Pandemic Recovery: The Path Forward for AmeriCorps Seniors Program 

and Service document referenced above. 

Sample language:

(FGP or RSVP) Volunteers will (describe the service of the AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteers –

expanded options) practicing safe volunteering procedures and following required precautions to 

ensure their safety as well as the safety of the children they serve and the school personnel they 

serve with. (FGP or RSVP) Volunteers will serve between (x-hours and x-hours per week) at 

(describe location for example home, school, other).

Expanded Service Activities during the time of COVID-19 (not an all-inclusive list): 

• Support students with special projects or student packet development/distribution for distance 

learning;

• Record video books or lessons for teachers for virtual learning; 

• Serve as a pen pal for both writing skills development and social support; 

• Support connecting to educational resources for both students and parents, i.e. library/book 

mobile; and 

• Tutoring in school libraries or resource room to support social distancing.
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• Telephone wellness check-ins with parents/caregivers to determine what learning resources are 

needed to support students virtual learning needs.

Output: ED1A - Number of individuals served.

Individuals: Recipients of AmeriCorps Seniors-supported services related to education; may 

include students enrolled in grades K-12, out-of-school youth, preschool age children, and/or 

individuals pursuing postsecondary education.

How to Measure/ Collect Data: 

Tracking mechanism that ensures an unduplicated count of individuals who have received 

services.

Give the name of the instrument and briefly describe who will collect the data from whom, and 

when it will be collected.

Outcome: ED27C - Number of students with improved academic engagement or social and emotional 

skills.

Students: Those reported in ED1A Improved academic engagement or social and emotional 

skills: A positive change in student skills, attitude, and/or mindset that is likely to contribute to 

increased educational success. May include increased interest in school, improved perspective 

on school climate, increased attachment to school, and/or increased educational aspirations. 

How to Measure/ Collect Data: 

Survey, observation, or other instrument capable of measuring changes in academic engagement 

or social and emotional skills at the individual beneficiary level. When possible, pre-post 

assessments should be utilized.

Give the name of the instrument and briefly describe who will collect the data from whom, and 

when it will be collected.

Available to SCP and RSVP grantee

The Performance Measure pair identified below (H4A and H9A) were selected as the listed Service 

Activities provide the widest range of options that may be feasible for safe volunteering options for SCP 

grantees. 

Resource: 

RSVP Performance Measures Instructions: Click Here

SCP Performance Measures Instructions: Click Here

Service Activities (options in the eGrants drop-down box)

Grantees will still be required to select one option from the drop-down box. It is recommended that 

grantees select the activity the volunteers would have been involved in prior to the pandemic.

H4A Options as listed in Performance Measures Instructions referenced above.

• Companionship 
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• Nutrition/Food Support 

• Legal Services 

• Transportation 

• Medical Services 

• Opioid/Drug Intervention 

• Elder Justice: Fraud and Scam Prevention 

• Respite Services

Service Activity Description:

In this text box, grantees should include the expanded activities that volunteers will be involved in under 

the flexibilities identified in the Pandemic Recovery: The Path Forward for AmeriCorps Seniors Program 

and Service document referenced above. 

Sample language:

(SCP or RSVP) Volunteers will (describe the service of the AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteers)

practicing safe volunteering procedures and following required precautions to ensure their safety 

as well as the safety of the clients they serve. (SCP or RSVP) Volunteers will serve between (xhours and x-hours per week) at (describe location for example home, client home, other).

Expanded Service Activities during the time of COVID-19 (not an all-inclusive list): 

• Writing letters via a pen pal program.

• Phone or video visits to clients.

• Delivery of groceries, other essential items, library books/movies, activities, or projects to keep 

the clients busy and engaged.

Output: H4A - Number of individuals served.

Individuals: Recipients of AmeriCorps Seniors-supported services related to improving healthrelated outcomes.

How to Measure/ Collect Data: 

Tracking mechanism that ensures an unduplicated count of individuals who have received 

services.

Give the name of the instrument and briefly describe who will collect the data from whom, and 

when it will be collected.

Outcome: H9A - Number of individuals who report having increase social support or improved capacity 

for independent living.

Individuals: those reported in H4A 

How to Measure/ Collect Data:

Survey, interview, caseworker assessment, or other instrument capable of measuring changes in 

social support or perceived social support and/or independent living capacity at the individual 
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beneficiary level. When possible, pre-post assessments should be utilized. AmeriCorps Seniors is 

providing a mandatory survey instrument for the Senior Companion Program and recommends its 

use for RSVP: AmeriCorps Seniors Independent Living Survey.

Give the name of the instrument and briefly describe who will collect the data from whom, and 

when it will be collected.