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Native Nations: AmeriCorps Seniors in Action English Captions

2:45 pm – 4:00 pm EST

March 7, 2023

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>>: Good afternoon and thank you for joining us. Before starting let's review 

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recording this event so let's start recording and turn it over to our presenters. 

>> JOHN LEVERSTON: Welcome to the Native Nations and Indigenous Elders 

SDP. Today I'm joined by my colleagues Ariel Brown and Christine Mulvin, also with 

AmeriCorps Seniors. I want to take this opportunity on behalf of AmeriCorps Seniors to 

walk you through today's webinar. AmeriCorps Seniors provides several training and 

technical assistance webinars to assist you with this opportunity. Today we have the 

AmeriCorps Seniors in action training. These sessions are designed to give you 

information to increase your knowledge of our programs, best practices, and how to 

successfully submit an application. 

The registration links and recordings for all trainings and technical assistance 

calls will be available on the AmeriCorps Senior's Native Nations and Indigenous Elders 

SDP funding opportunity. We'll be dropping the links to the funding opportunity as well 

as the links to the upcoming technical assistance calls in the chat. Please note that the 

notice for this opportunity is currently open and will close on April 5th, 2023, at 5:00 

Eastern time. You can find additional information and technical assistance on the 

application process and following recordings and trainings. The following -- the first 

submitting your application in eGrants, Number 2, AmeriCorps due diligence review and 

compliance training and lastly, the AmeriCorps national performance measurement core 

curriculum. The link to these trainings are also available on the funding opportunity 

page. We encourage you to review all of these resources and they will strengthen your 

understanding of AmeriCorps policies. Today's webinar will provide a quick review of 

AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors, a brief review of the Notice of Funding or NOFO, 
followed by review of some program ideas you can consider. And we will close with a 

quick recap and time for you to ask us any additional questions you may have. 

Now let's take a moment to briefly overview AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps 

Seniors. AmeriCorps, formally known as the Corporation for National and Community 

Service, is the federal agency responsible for [inaudible] that means we lead civic 

engagement through service and volunteerism, grantmaking efforts, and national dates 

of service in the United States. This slide shows the structure of AmeriCorps Seniors 

formally known as Senior Corps. Our structure includes the America Seniors 

headquarters office, which is the office providing you with today's training and technical 

assistance. Rules to established policies and procedures, provide guidance, develop 

resources in providing national scale [inaudible] applicants and grantees. 

Our awarded grants the original office serves as the primary point of contact for 

administrative grant managers and provides more detailed training and technical 

assistance on a day-to-day basis. Then we have the program mentees who are 

awarded funding for these opportunities to volunteer opportunities in the committees 

they had proposed to serve. The volunteer station, which is a public agency [inaudible] 

partner healthcare organization and accepts responsibility for assignment and 

supervision of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. Volunteer stations can be operated by 

the grantee or its partners. And the AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who are recruited 

in a role by project and serve in volunteer stations. 

Our overall framework is based on community programs and partnerships and 

we are excited to see her funding opportunities to continue positive impact community 

spirit if you want to learn more about AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors please check 

out the technical assistance recording titled introducing AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps 

Seniors and its programs on the funding opportunity website. We have a short video of 

our some of our AmeriCorps senior volunteer sorting -- starting with Native Nations 

volunteers.

[ Video playing ]

>>: AmeriCorps and its programs can serve our elders and our elders have been so 

impacted by the pandemic.

>>: [inaudible] I tell her to do it for me and she does all of that for me.

>>: We talk a light like encouraging each other.

>>: They do not call us by our names. They call us grandma.

>>: It is just grandma [inaudible] to be there for them, to teach them as much as I can.

>>: I talked to them and they need help with cleaning, doing the dishes.
>>: I like being with the kids and they make you feel good.

>>: [Speaking Native language]

>> JOHN LEVERSTON: In this next session we will do a quick review of the 

Native Nations and Indigenous Elders seen a demonstration program competition. We 

have included some helpful resources to assist you with submitting your AmeriCorps 

Seniors Native nation and Indigenous Elders SDP application. The following resources 

are available to you. First is the funding opportunity page our one-stop shop for all 

documents and guidance. The second is the frequently asked questions or FAQs. 

This document provides answers to the most common questions regarding the notice as 

well as application instructions. Please take some time to review the Notice of Funding 

opportunity and export additional resources. If you have questions that do not get 

answer today please email AmeriCorpsSeniors@cns.gov again, the website above has 

all of the information you need to apply soap please fill free to bookmark them if you 

have not done so already. We are currently accepting evocations for the Native 

natures and Indigenous Elders SDP. 

Applications are due Wednesday, April 5, 2023, by 5:00 PM Eastern time. 

AmeriCorps recommends that the applicant's create an eGrants account and begin the 

evocation at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicant should draft the 

application as a works document and copy and paste the text into the appropriate 

eGrants field no later than 10 days before the deadline. AmeriCorps will not consider 

the applications except in circumstances noted in Section D or C of the notice but 

please note that there are additional documents that are also due by the application 

submission deadline. Now we will highlight some key areas of the Notice of Funding 

opportunity or NOFO beginning with Section A1, purpose. AmeriCorps Seniors 

publishing this Notice of Funding for the purpose of creating the America seniors Native 

Nations and Indigenous Elders SDP program. The goal of this opportunity for 

AmeriCorps seniors is to invest in projects focused on underserved indigenous into 

Native communities advancing averages for older adults to make an impact through 

their time and experience. To the Native natures and Indigenous Elders SDP 

opportunity applicants must insert how they will engage adults aged 55 and older to 

address one or more Native Nations and Indigenous Elders SDP priorities. 

Additionally, projects must meet eligibility criteria to apply. Now in Section A2 

the funding priorities of the notice. The 2023 AmeriCorps Seniors Native Nations and 

Indigenous Elders sing a demonstration program notice focuses grantmaking on tribal 

and Native/indigenous serving organizations in the United States and its territories. 

Section A2 of the notice of the prior teat Native Nations seen a Dem special program. 

AmeriCorps Seniors is open to proposals that are reflective of the needs of indigenous 

and Native communities served by the evidence proposed program. Some examples 

of programs selected as a part of the subject might include programs permitting the 

preservation and teaching of Native and indigenous negative -- languages and cultural 

practices. Programming focused on helping Native and indigenous communities 
respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs that provide social 

economic and/or educational services to Native and indigenous people both on and off 

reservation land. Applicants of proposed programs that make sense for the 

committees they into serve. We have flexible priorities to allow for innovative projects. 

Applicants must identify primary focus area and the work plan must include service 

activities in the selected program primary focus area. 

These are NOFO related focus areas and programs being prioritized. 

Applicants will propose to serve proposed national service opportunities that lead to 

meeting the needs of Native and indigenous communities. The first, capacity building. 

Supporting indirect services that enable AmeriCorps supported organizations to provide 

more, better, and sustained direct services. Capacity boating activities cannot be 

solely intended to support the administration or operation of an organization. Next, 

disaster services, helping communities prepare for respond to and recover from and 

mitigate the effects of disasters and increased community resiliency. Economic 

opportunity, improving the economic well-being and security of underserved individuals. 

Education, special intergenerational program improving educational outcomes for 

underserved people, especially children. 

And AmeriCorps' particular interest in a program designed to support youth 

engagement and [inaudible] strategies to achieve high educational outcomes. 

Environmental stewardship, supporting communities to become more resorting to 

measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve land and water, increase 

renewable energy use and improve at risk ecosystems. Especially in underserved 

households and communities. Healthy futures, supporting for needs within 

communities including mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 and other public health 

crises, access to care, aging in place, and addressing childhood obesity especially in 

underserved communities. And finally, veterans and military families, improving the 

quality of life of a veterans and improving military family strength. Next I will hand it 

over to my colleague Ariel Brown who will continue the presentation.

>> ARIEL BROWN: In this section we will review program ideas you can 

consider. AmeriCorps Seniors is open to proposals that are reflective of the needs of 

indigenous and Native community served by the applicant's proposed program. The 

following are only examples of programs and not meant to direct and applicants 

proposals. Example number one, an applicant could propose to leverage senior 

volunteers to engage or reengage community elders providing companionship and 

support in home or at senior centers. Programs like these are similar to our senior 

companion programs which increase food security, increase social supports for seniors, 

and improve capacity for independence. This example can be tailored to the needs of 

the proposed communities. However, it is very similar to our traditional models of 

seniors hoping seniors. Example number two, an organization could propose to 

leverage senior volunteers to teach and preserve Native languages and customs for 

younger generations. This example is similar to our foster grandparents model that 
engages volunteers in an educational capacity for younger generations. In this case 

for the preservation of native-language's and practices. 

Example number three, an applicant could propose a new partnership with our 

local health officials to establish a health education outreach project. AmeriCorps 

Seniors volunteers, who are often seen as trusted community leaders, will be able to 

bring health education tools and resources to high-risk populations. Example number 

four, an organization could be interested in partnering with a local job-training's program 

to bring skilled volunteers who can mentor job seekers. The organization could 

mobilize senior volunteers to support the proposed service area while building strong 

community partnerships. These are just some examples to get your thoughts flowing 

about program models or types of things you can propose. And now we will move to 

the key resources portion. As I have mentioned in addition to the NOFO or they Notice 

of Funding opportunity as we call it there are other resources that will be helpful for you 

as you apply for this opportunity. Again, those resources can all be found on the FY20 

three Native Nations and Indigenous Elders SDP funding page. 

You will see on the screen the Notice of Funding opportunity or NOFO which 

should be the first document you review as it establishes the funding opportunity, 

application requirements, evaluation criteria, funding priorities, and more. Grant 

application instructions. This provides a step-by-step guide to navigating our electronic 

grant system called eGrants. Appendix B performance measures. This summarizes 

performance measure requirements, provides a complete list of performance measures, 

and specifies allowable output/outcome pairings. So please do consult this. Appendix 

C, terms and definitions. This explains and defines the relevant terminology that you 

will encounter during the grant opportunity. And finally, appendix F, cost per volunteer 

calculator. This out lengthy process for determining the cost per volunteer and -- for 

the budget. 

Additionally, we also have the AmeriCorps national performance measurement 

core curriculum, this is a self-paced curriculum and it is highly recommended for all 

AmeriCorps applicants and grantees. It focuses on comprehensive performance 

measurement strategies that rely on both performance and evaluation data. Indirect 

cost rate agreement instructions. This provides step-by-step instructions for entering 

your indirect cost rate agreement including for the demand must rate into eGrants. 

Frequently asked questions or facts, this document is updated periodically and provides 

more information on the specific question we have received regarding the notice and 

application instructions. Technical assistant calls and recordings. This lists the 

upcoming technical assistance webinars and provides a link to the recordings of 

previous webinars. Finally, the National Service hotline. 

This offers help with applying for AmeriCorps program and supports for eGrants 

which is the AmeriCorps' electronic grants management system, as you know. And 

now we will move on to the question-and-answer portion. Please remember to post in 

the -- posted question the Q&A box. We have a few missed for questions. If you have 
a question as I have said to the Q&A box to submit your question. It helps us track the 

questions. We will do our best to answer as many questions as we can. If your 

question is not answered today please do email AmeriCorps Seniors@CNS.gov. For 

more information and to review resources visit americorps.gov/partner/funding --

opportunities. Before we end we want to provide one more reminder that all 

applications for this grant opportunity must be submitted by April 1st, 2023, at 5:00 PM 

Eastern time. Thank you again for your interest in AmeriCorps Seniors and we look 

forward to exploring this partnership with you. Opening up for questions.

>> JOHN LEVERSTON: There are a few questions that have already been 

answered but just for other reference one of the questions is related to this grant 

application is compared to other opportunities that are open as well. There are two 

grant opportunities that are open currently. One is through the state and national or 

ASM grant opportunity and that is a separate and distinct grant opportunity for Indian 

tribes. This opportunity is open also to state recognized tribal organizations with 

nonprofit status as well as no other nonprofit organizations that have a tribal or 

indigenous Native focus in their service. Another question are we allowed to have 

members that live both on and off reservation to provide services to and-on-and off 

reservation tribal members? And yes, this is correct. 

This opportunity is open to organizations serving Native and indigenous people 

no matter where they live. The main focus of program must be the priorities of Native 

and Indigenous Peoples and communities and can serve them no matter where they 

are. Please note you can also ask questions, not just about the material we have 

covered in the presentation, but also questions regarding your program design, your 

application, or anything that you are facing as it relates to developing your proposal for 

submitting your application. Can you clarify what costs per volunteer means? And if 

that includes any type of stipend for participating elders? The cost per volunteer is 

related to overall cost of the program and how many volunteers you will be engaging. 

In the appendixes of the notice as well as linked on the funding opportunity page you 

will find that there is a document that is actually a calculator developed by our colic 

Christine Mulvin which will help you determine what the overall cost of the program is 

broken down by volunteer. And that will help you determine the cost effectiveness of 

your program. 

We have not established any guidelines around what the most cost-effective 

program is for this opportunity. However, we will work with whoever applies to in order 

to determine if the cost is affected. And related to the stipend itself the stipend would 

be included in the overall federal ask for the application. So the cost per volunteer is 

tangentially related to the stipend. The stipend can be included for any program 

proposal. And the guidelines are on that stipend are also flexible. So if you currently 

are familiar with AmeriCorps Seniors or have an AmeriCorps Seniors program you are 

likely aware that there are income guidelines around who can receive a stipend. While 

all of the other policies related to volunteers such as them needing to pass a 
background check, be 55 and older, and other mandated policies, while those will still 

remain the income guidelines, for example, are not established for this opportunity 

which means you can determine what the best possible stipend to rate us and we will 

work with whoever applies in order to make sure that the costs are reasonable and 

justifiable for the execution of the program. Additionally, on the topic of cost there is no 

match requirement for this opportunity which is unlike our traditional models if you are 

familiar with those. They do require a match. 

So without that match it is possible that the entire program could be covered by 

your federal request. However, depending on the size, scope of your program as well 

as the total available funds for this opportunity it is possible that you may need a match

just to be able to cover any additional costs that this grant might not cover. So 

however that is something that can be discussed during the application process and 

once we determine what the overall ask is for this opportunity. Another question that 

we have received often is what type of program can we propose and in addition to the 

programs, program designs that we mentioned earlier in the presentation which you 

should be able to review at your leisure from the funding opportunity page or the 

recording as well as the slides themselves our main focus and the priority of this notice 

is to fund programs that make sense for the community's proposed so if there's a need 

in your community that you can leverage senior volunteers to be able to meet that is 

what we encourage you to apply and design a program around. 

So it does not need to meet the traditional model that we have gone with which 

would be our foster grandparents senior companions, and RSVP style programs. 

However, you can also still submit a proposal that meets a similar program design 

answer those but we encourage you to take advantage of the possibility of this 

opportunity to include things that you would like to see as part of those types of 

programs.

>>: I will ask a question, does everyone know what to do if you're having 

technical issues with eGrants? You can put your response in the chat box. Contact 

the National Service hotline.

>> JOHN LEVERSTON: That is right. And you also find in Section D4 of the 

funding opportunity if you have trouble submitting your application it is going to be very 

important that you contact the hotline as soon as you can. Because if you have trouble 

they will be able to verify that if that difficulty precedes beyond the deadline. And that 

is really one of the only ways that we will accept applications beyond the deadline and 

that is if they are verifiable. Difficulty with the application. Submission. Another 

question, is there a place or site where we can see previously funded programs through 

this grant? This is actually the first time that we are putting forth a solicitation or 

opportunity like this. So there is no where you can see a previously funded 

organization. This is the first time that we have been doing this. 
All of the former grants that are focused on Native communities that have been 

through AmeriCorps Seniors specifically follow our traditional model so they are foster 

grandparents, senior companions, and RSVP style programs. And there's another 

training that goes into depth. There's a recording on the funding opportunity page that 

you can watch and talks specifically about each of those different types of programs. 

The senior companion program being seniors helping seniors. So seniors helping 

other seniors age in place, get to their medical visits, to keep company, to prevent social 

isolation while the foster grandparent's would be similar to what you would witness in 

the video that was played earlier in the presentation where elders are actually placed 

with students in mentorship and tutoring roles and help guide students to learn more 

about culture and language or even academic -- academically with language acquisition 

or reading, math, etc. And the RSVP style program which is just our catchall were 

volunteers are less ecstatic where you can have many volunteers that will come in on a 

one-off basis or less -- what is the word? Consistent. 

So our traditional model is what all of our previous competitions were like into this 

one is more so meant for us to find out what needs our grants condition help address. 

So that is kind if the point of this is for you all to tell us what program she would like to 

see us fund through this program. I see a question the chat, is there a time assuming a 

point of contact for budget questions? That is going to be our budget office and I will 

really encourage you to come to the next training, which is on the 15th and that is linked 

on the funding opportunity page and I believe also in the chat and that is going to be 

from the budget office, they are going to be live in a very similar format to this. 

However, you'll be able to ask questions to them directly and you'll be able to get to live 

answers about your budget. Because I imagine the -- there are very specific questions 

if you want answered. If, in the meantime, you want us to take a look at to those 

questions you can feel free to email them darkly to AmeriCorpsSeniors@cns.gov and 

we will make sure we route them to the right people. And get back to you with 

answers. Also as it relates to that budget training that is the only budget training that is 

available as part of this opportunity. So please take advantage if you are able. That is 

all of the questions will have to likely be routed to our email system. Christine, Ariel, 

are there any other questions you think we should highlight here? That we might have 

missed?

>>: I know one question that we get frequently is around to the performance 

measures and can people choose to work in both, for example, education and economic 

opportunity or healthy futures and education. And the answer is yes. You will pick 

one primary focus area that the majority of your work will be in but then you can also 

choose objectives from other focus areas to best meet your community needs.

>> JOHN LEVERSTON: Thank you, Christine. So we will leave the Q&A open 

for another minute or so. And then we will wrap up the presentation. So if you have 

any other questions please feel free to enter them now. Christine, do you mind taking 

this one?
>>: I sure can. The recording process for AmeriCorps Seniors grants is we 

have one annual report that is due basically covers each year of your performance. So 

you will do that through eGrants and again, that is once a year. There is also a 

progress report supplement that is due once a year and that covers the federal fiscal 

year and allows AmeriCorps to capture high-level data across all of our programs for 

also as part of this opportunity we will be convening grantees about six or seven months 

into the grant period to find out how things are going. 

To answer questions people have, to find out if there are startup challenges we 

can help with, and to provide technical assistance. So that will happen a little less 

frequently like maybe once or twice during the first year of operations. We have not 

quite figured out that full plan yet. But you can expect to have an in-person meeting at 

about six or seven months in and then annual reports to after that. There also fiscal 

reports that are due every six months and those are also submitted through eGrants.

>> JOHN LEVERSTON: Thank you. You just reminded me as it relates to the 

convening, those selected as a part of this opportunity will also be invited to attend a 

trouble convening being hosted by our committee on Native American affairs which will 

be shortly after the announcement of the awardees for this opportunity and the cost for 

that would be I believe it is reimbursed via AmeriCorps so that would not be something 

that would come from -- would be something that you would [inaudible] or it is covered 

or we will provide more updates as we have them throughout the opportunity and for the 

application process. 

So for those of -- for those that apply we will send an email or a message that 

has all of the details about that convening. It will come directly from the Community on 

Native American Affairs. Seeing no other questions I believe that is a good place for us 

to wrap up the session. I want to thank you all again for attending. We hope that you 

do consider applying for this opportunity and if you have any other questions or need 

any support that you reach out to us directly at AmeriCorpsSeniors@cns.gov. We will 

get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you, again, and I hope to see your 

application soon.

[ End of meeting ]