Site Questions
What will it cost my organization to have a member?What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps (pronounced Ameri-core) is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country's critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.
AmeriCorps is program of the Corporation of National and Community Service (CNCS) and began in 1994. AmeriCorps is commonly described as a domesticated Peace Corps. AmeriCorps members usually commit to a year of full-time service, but may commit to varying levels of service through a variety of programs offered.
There are three programs under the umbrella of AmeriCorps:
AmeriCorps*State & *National
AmeriCorps*VISTA
AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Community Civilian Corps)
Why should I become an AmeriCorps Member?
Becoming an AmeriCorps member enables you to do great things for your community while you grow as an individual and attain tangible benefits.
Get an Education, Experience, and Skills
Put your idealism to work through AmeriCorps. Make a community safer. Help a child receive a meaningful education. Protect the environment. Whatever your interest, there is an AmeriCorps opportunity that needs your courage, your skills, and your dedication.
You will learn teamwork, communication, responsibility, and other essential skills that will help you for the rest of your life. And you'll gain the personal satisfaction of taking on a challenge and seeing results.
Are you up to the challenge? Click here to apply!
To qualify for our AmeriCorps program you must:
Also, qualified individuals with disabilities and those from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply! We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals upon request.
*You must turn 18 years old by the time you finish your AmeriCorps term.
Is AmeriCorps like Peace Corps
Yes. AmeriCorps is often referred to as "the domestic Peace Corps." Both agencies are committed to service, and both offer challenging and rewarding opportunities. Peace Corps assignments are all overseas, and AmeriCorps members serve only in the US. While Peace Corps Volunteers serve for two years, an AmeriCorps term lasts one year.
Most of our AmeriCorps terms are 11 months full time. But we do have several other opportunities to serve both 6 month positions and part time/non-stipended positions.
The different types of AmeriCorps commitments include:
The availability of these various options depends solely on the position. Please inquire for details on specific positions or share your interests in a specific term with us.
Our members are required to fulfill the following expectations:
What is a quarterly report?
A quarterly report is our tool for tracking how our members are improving the community in their AmeriCorps assignments. Every quarter, each member completes a quarterly report and then sends it to our office. Next, all the reports are compiled to show the overall impact our program is having on our community.
What is a site supervisor?
A site supervisor is the AmeriCorps member's direct supervisor. Site supervisors also provide guidance to AmeriCorps members through their term of service. They are the person the member goes to for questions regarding the specific AmeriCorps assignment. Ultimately, site supervisors act as role models, teachers, confidants, and leaders.
Is joining AmeriCorps like having a regular job?
No, it is much different for several reasons:
1) AmeriCorps is about service. The purpose of AmeriCorps is to serve others and the community.
2) AmeriCorps is about commitment. Members commit a portion of their lives to their AmeriCorps assignments.
3) AmeriCorps members live on a small budget. Members receive a small living stipend to help cover the costs of basic living expenses.
4) AmeriCorps is about personal and professional growth. Not only is AmeriCorps personally rewarding, our members are given substantial responsibility in their assignments and learn many new professional skills.
What happens if I can't complete my hours?
In most cases, failure to complete an AmeriCorps commitment results in forfeiting the opportunity for future AmeriCorps involvement and the educational award. However, if an AmeriCorps member has personal and compelling circumstances (e.g. major illness or death in the family), he or she can earn a prorated amount of the educational voucher and be allowed to reenroll in AmeriCorps at a later date. If circumstances occur that one has to finish their term early, AmeriCorps staff works closely with the member to finalize their commitment and work through all options.
Is the money AmeriCorps members receive taxed?
Yes, the living stipend and the educational award that AmeriCorps Members receive are considered taxable income by the I.R.S.
Do AmeriCorps Members qualify for student loan deferment?
AmeriCorps members may qualify for postponement, or forbearance, of the repayment of student loans during service. Interest will continue to accrue on the loans, but upon successful completion of the term, the interest that accrued during the term will be paid off. In addition, the education award helps AmeriCorps members pay off qualified student loans. Contact your lender for more specific information or to confirm your loan status during AmeriCorps service.
Does AmeriCorps provide health insurance?
AmeriCorps provides health insurance to FULL-TIME members only. Unfortunately, we do not provide health insurance for members who do not have full time assignments.
May members work at another job while doing AmeriCorps service?
Members are permitted to work at another job or attend school during their AmeriCorps term. We just ask that it does not conflict with the work that you are doing for your site.
Do AmeriCorps members receive training before they start their assignments?
Members participate in an orientation within the first month of their service and are given project-specific orientations upon arrival to their site. Much of the training is on the job daily while working with supervisors. Training is also offered throughout the term on a variety of topics to full time AmeriCorps members to participate in.
Where is our AmeriCorps office located?
Our AmeriCorps office is located at:
Training Resource Center
185 Lancaster Street
PO Box 738
Portland, ME 04104
207-347-3236
Please note that this is the location of our AmeriCorps Office. Host sites are located statewide. And a member's specific location will depend on where they are applying.
Who should I contact if I have more questions?
For further information please contact:
Joely Ross
Program Manager
207-347-3236
Joely.Ross@trcme.com
Do I get holidays, sick, or vacation time?
You are welcome to take time off for holidays, sick, or vacation time, but you do not earn service hours for this time. You can only earn time towards your AmeriCorps commitment when serving at your site or another approved AmeriCorps event.
Do I need a car?
This all depends on your site. If you are working in the city, you live near public transportation and your site does not require much distance travel, you should be able to find ways around not having a car. Many sites are in the country and necessitate a car. It’s best to talk to the site supervisor to discuss feasibility of serving without a car.
When can I start?
You can only begin your term of service once ALL of your enrollment paperwork is complete and received in the AmeriCorps office. Specific start and end dates are decided upon enrollment by a member and site supervisor.
What is the difference between VISTA and AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps*VISTA, and AmeriCorps*State and National are not as interchangeable as you think. AmeriCorps has 3 programs underneath its umbrella, which include AmeriCorps*VISTA and AmeriCorps*State programs - the two programs we have had at our affiliate. VISTAs are not State Directs and State Directs are not VISTAs, but ALL are AmeriCorps members. Each program under AmeriCorps has its distinct reason for existence and niche that it fills.
I have questions about my Education Award, who can I contact?
For general questions about the Education Award and student loan deferment, contact National Service Trust at 1-800-942-2677. Live operators are available from 8:00 am to -6:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday.
If you have successfully completed your AmeriCorps service, you can view your AmeriCorps Education Award account balance and activity online.
To request a copy of your AmeriCorps Education Award voucher or report a change of address, you can e-mail click here, to view a guide on using your award to its fullest.
What will it cost my organization to have a member?
The AmeriCorps® grant requires us to have a cash match and an in-kind match. We request a cash match that will help us to cover the costs of the member. The match for a full time member changes each year with the raise in cost of living.
In-kind reporting is collected on a weekly basis through the online timesheet. This allows us to show what “non-financial” support we have been able to obtain from the sites and their surrounding communities. Examples of in-kind include, but are not limited to: supervision at the host site, mileage reimbursement (if any) to the member, donations of goods/services from the community to support a member project, and any other item that is utilized by the member to support the member’s activities at the host site.
When will we be able to have a member start?
A member's term cannot begin before mid-September due to our grant cycle. The term cannot be longer than a year and cannot extend past November 30th. A member cannot start their term until ALL paperwork is in to enroll them in the program, including application materials, enrollment, and site contract.
Are there restrictions on the source of cash match funds?
The only restriction that is placed on this by federal regulation is that not all of our cash match can come from federal sources. This is because they want to be sure that the program is achieving community support. You can even have the member perform fee-for-service functions to help support the program. While members are allowed to raise funds for a specific project, they are not allowed to raise funds for general operating purposes.
Are there restrictions on the functions of a member?
Yes. AmeriCorps® has identified “prohibited activities” as outlined below:
“The work to be performed by AmeriCorps® Members will not result in the displacement, whole or partial, of permanent or regular seasonal employees, or involve a faction or group in an election for public office and, while it can involve faith-based groups, such involvement cannot include any prohibited activities as defined in the AmeriCorps® Provisions. The Member may not spend a significant portion of his/her time doing organizational fundraising.”
Can I fire a member?
It is possible to release a member from their term of service for varying reasons. AmeriCorps® classifies these into two categories, “compelling personal circumstances” and “for cause.” The former category is reserved for members who have a personal or family situation that prohibits them from completing their term of service, such as a serious injury. “For cause” is for those members who are not performing his/her duties as expected. In this case, the member needs to be given the opportunity to correct his/her behavior before such action is taken, unless the infraction clearly warrants immediate termination. Clear communication with Program staff in these situations has always helped ensure compliance with applicable rules and laws (feel free to request a copy of our disciplinary policy).
What are my responsibilities for supervising members?
You must ensure that the members perform service activities according to the contracts between the site, the AmeriCorps® program, and the member contract. You are responsible for daily oversite of a member's work and supporting that member in learning their job and performing their role in your agency.
Is any reporting involved?
Yes. We will request the following reports throughout the term of service: quarterly reports, mid- and end-of-term evaluations of the member, and in-kind contributions. The member is the primary person responsible for the quarterly reports, as is the supervisor for the in-kind reports. We suggest that you have the member keep track of as much as possible on a daily/weekly basis to expedite the reporting process. The mid-term and end-of term evaluations are a chance for the supervisor and member to sit down and discuss successes and concerns of the program. We will ask for a copy of these evaluations for the member’s file.
What support can I expect from AmeriCorps Program Staff?
The Program staff support both the supervisor and the member in many ways. We will provide an introductory training for both supervisors and members to orient them to the program as well as the reporting information. We will provide the members with trainings to build their professional and personal skills. It is also our responsibility to ensure that the member and site are a fit, and to that end we will help resolve any issues that may arise during the year. Please call on us and let us know because we can’t help with what we don’t know about.
We will also perform mid-year site visits. This gives our staff a chance to get out to the sites to see what impact our members are having on the site and the surrounding community. This is your chance to brag about accomplishments, raise concerns, or simply touch base with us. Our role is very much a supportive one.