250 E Street SW

Washington, D.C. 20525

202-606-5000 / 800-942-2677

202-606-5000 / 800-942-2677

MEMORANDUM 

Date: January 8, 2023

To: AmeriCorps State and National Grantees 

From: Sonali Nijhawan, Director, AmeriCorps State and National 

Cc: Office of Regional Operations

Office of Monitoring

Subject: 2023.01: AmeriCorps State and National Guidance - Teleservice

AmeriCorps State and National recognizes the COVID-19 pandemic changed the 

landscape of work and service in our communities across the country in a permanent 

manner. ASN also recognizes that adapting to the changing nature of work/service is 

necessary as the program moves forward, while it maintains and upholds its program’s 

place-based element of service and limits risk. This policy addresses the parameters by 

which ASN grantees determine whether their AmeriCorps member can teleserve. This 

policy replaces Policy 2017.01: AmeriCorps State and National Guidance - Teleservice

dated January 19, 2017. 

Members requesting teleservice arrangements under the auspices of reasonable 

accommodation of a disability are excluded from this policy, as those requests are 

covered under other laws and policies.

The following guidance is provided for those situations in which a grantee determines 

that teleservice is appropriate or when a number of a member’s service hours can 

properly be accrued through teleservice. Teleservice is appropriate only when the 

activity can be meaningfully supervised and the hours verified independently. If a 

grantee or subgrantee determines that its AmeriCorps members will be allowed to 

teleserve, the grantee must establish a policy that addresses the following: 

•Written authorization of teleservice in advance

•Expectations of the communication requirements between supervisors and 

teleserving members

•Mitigation of the increased risk of time and attendance abuse

•Appropriate supervision including validation of the activities to be performed, 

and

•Verification of hours claimed.
 2

250 E Street SW

Washington, D.C. 20525

202-606-5000 / 800-942-2677

202-606-5000 / 800-942-2677

Further, the grantee should consider updating its insurance coverage to address legal 

liability attribution (for the grantee or teleserving member) for incidents that occur 

during teleservice. 

Grantee or subgrantees should be aware that their staff may be subject to legal 

sanctions for erroneously certifying that AmeriCorps members have sufficient valid 

service hours to complete their terms of service. In addition there are legal penalties for 

knowingly submitting false claims to the government. 

Remote service is NOT permitted under the AmeriCorps State and National program. 

Remote service is defined as an arrangement in which an AmeriCorps State and 

National member is not located within the commuting area of the geographic 

community where the service is to occur and is not expected to be physically present 

at the service site and/or community events. 

Virtual service sites are NOT permitted under the AmeriCorps State and National 

Program. Virtual service sites refer to organizations that do not have a physical location. 

No additional approvals are required by the Office of Regional Operations for such 

arrangements. However, if ASN grantees decide to allow teleservice, they must 

establish a teleservice policy, be able produce it upon request, and demonstrate 

fidelity with the policy. 

Please distribute, as appropriate, to your subgrantees and/or operating sites and/or 

service site locations and/or other interested parties.