DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
AmeriCorps VISTA Grant Application Renewal and Partnership Agreements
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes submission of an AmeriCorps VISTA grant renewal application to the Corporation of National and Community Service, and acceptance, if awarded for the period of May 29, 2016 through May 28, 2017. This ordinance also authorizes a cash match budget of $23,352.00 to be funded by the Department of Human Services (DHS), Metro Health, Library, San Antonio Tricentennial Commission and Pre- K 4 SA. This ordinance also authorizes two agreements with the San Antonio Tricentennial Commission and P16 Plus Council of Greater Bexar County.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal agency that helps more than five million Americans improve the lives of their fellow citizens through service. CNCS invests in thousands of nonprofit, faith-based and government agencies through the AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs.
AmeriCorps VISTA, a CNCS program, was founded in 1965 as a national service program designed specifically to fight poverty in America. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time for a year in anti-poverty organizations and agencies, working on issues such as fighting illiteracy, improving health services, creating businesses, increasing housing opportunities, improving college access, and bridging the digital divide. Project sponsors must direct the project, supervise the members, provide necessary administrative support to complete the goals and objectives of the project, and provide a cost-share match of the grant.
DHS has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Program project sponsor since 2014. This renewal application will be the third year that DHS reapplies to serve as a project sponsor.
ISSUE:
The City, through direct services and community partners, offers robust programming to address issues in the AmeriCorps VISTA Program focus areas of Economic Opportunity, Education and Healthy Futures. AmeriCorps VISTA members perform indirect service by building organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of organizations that assist low-income communities.
The current grant award period will end on May 28, 2016. To ensure continued operations, DHS must submit a renewal grant application to CNCS by March 31, 2016. Through the renewal application, DHS is proposing to place 1 AmeriCorps VISTA Leader, and up to 10 AmeriCorps VISTA members across 3 City departments and Pre-K 4 SA through a renewal contract authorized by Ordinance No. 2014-04-03-0204; as well as placement with P16 Plus Council of Greater Bexar County and San Antonio Tricentennial Commission through agreements authorized by this Ordinance. AmeriCorps VISTA members will serve in the following programs and initiatives:
DHS - Senior Services, Financial Empowerment Center, and Head Start
Pre-K 4 SA - Parent Outreach and Engagement Program
Library - Community Digital Literacy Program
San Antonio Metro Health District - Community Diabetes Program
San Antonio Tricentennial Commission - 300 Days of Service Initiative
P16 Plus - My Brother’s Keeper San Antonio Initiative
As a project sponsor, the City will be required to contribute a cost-share of the grant in the amount of $23,352.00, which equals to the living allowance of 2 of the 11 AmeriCorps VISTA members projected to serve in San Antonio. The Corporation for National and Community Service AmeriCorps VISTA program provides for all other costs for each VISTA Member, such as training, a health benefit, a Segal AmeriCorps Education award/cash stipend upon successful completion of service, as well as travel or relocation costs.
ALTERNATIVES:
Adoption of this ordinance will allow the City of San Antonio to enhance existing City services by utilizing AmeriCorps VISTA members to increase outreach to clients, community organizations and/or funders; build new, sustainable program infrastructure; and increase the capacity of existing City programming. If this ordinance is not approved, DHS will not be renewed as a project sponsor.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes submission of an application for the AmeriCorps VISTA grant, and acceptance, if awarded. This ordinance also authorizes a cash match of $23,352.00 to be funded and allocated proportionally by DHS, Metro Health, Library, San Antonio Tricentennial Commission and Pre- K 4 SA, San Antonio Tricentennial Commission and Pre-K 4 SA.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends authorization to submit a renewal grant application and acceptance, if awarded, for the AmeriCorps VISTA Program. Staff further recommends approval of an associated cash match of $23,352.00 to be allocated proportionally from DHS, Metro Health, Library, San Antonio Tricentennial Commission and Pre- K 4 SA, San Antonio Tricentennial Commission, and Pre-K 4 SA, Staff also recommends approval of the agreements with the San Antonio Tricentennial Commission and P16 Plus Council of Greater Bexar County for the placement of AmeriCorps VISTA members.