1. Catholic Volunteer Network AmeriCorps Education Awards Program
CVN AmeriCorps
Member Orientation
Updated August 2011

2. Catholic Volunteer Network
Founded in 1963, Catholic Volunteer Network (CVN) is a national membership organization of Christian volunteer and mission programs that fosters and promotes full-time national and international service opportunities for people of all backgrounds, ages and skills. The Network supports and enhances the work of its membership by providing training and resources, networking opportunities, and national
advocacy. CVN currently supports nearly 200 member programs and more than 10,000 volunteers and lay missioners per year. Our volunteers serve in the US and in 108 countries across the globe.
Visit us at

3. Signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
AmeriCorps 101
AmeriCorps was founded in 1993 by the National and Community Service Trust Act.
Signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
Federal program that is directed by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).
CNCS also oversees Senior Corps, which provides service opportunities for individuals aged 55 and older.
AmeriCorps has three branches: - VISTA, NCCC and State and National.
Together, these programs support over 2 million Americans in service each year.

4. Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA)
AmeriCorps Branches
Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA)
Indirect Service
Age 17 and older
Capacity building within nonprofit and community organizations
Full time service for 12 months
National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)
Residential, team-based program for individuals aged 18 – 24.
Work to complete projects within a specific region, but can branch out in times of national crisis.
Full time service for 10 months.

5. State and National AmeriCorps Branches Largest AmeriCorps program.
Provides grants to local and national agencies, which allow programs to recruit, train and place AmeriCorps members.
Grantees include faith-based and community organizations, higher education institutions and public agencies.
State and National AmeriCorps members address critical needs in the areas of education, public safety, health and the environment.
Direct Service.

6. CVN AmeriCorps Program began in 1998.
CVN AmeriCorps is a network of faith-based organizations addressing poverty issues.
Education Awards only. Volunteer program may offer additional benefits not funded by AmeriCorps program.
CVN AmeriCorps provides funding for the education award, national service forbearance and loan interest accrual payment.

7. CVN AmeriCorps Terms
CVN AmeriCorps offers the following service terms:
Full Time (1700 hours, for up to 12 months)
Part Time (900 hours, for up to 12 months)
Minimum Time (300 hours, for up to 12 months)
Once an AmeriCorps member commits to a particular service term, they must complete the minimum required hours.

8. How the Program Works
Volunteer Program must be a Catholic Volunteer Network member.
Through CVN AmeriCorps, volunteer programs are able to offer eligible volunteers the opportunity to participate in AmeriCorps and earn an education award.
Participation in AmeriCorps is subject to availability of slots provided by CVN AmeriCorps. Slot availability ultimately depends on funding CVN AmeriCorps receives from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

9. AmeriCorps Goals Getting Things Done
AmeriCorps helps communities meet needs in the areas of education, public safety, the environment and other human needs through direct and demonstrable service.
Strengthening Communities
AmeriCorps builds the capacity of community organizations and other institutions to more effectively engage volunteers and improve communities.
Encouraging Responsibility
Through service and civic education, AmeriCorps members become agents for community solutions and develop and ethic of livelong service.
Expanding Opportunity
AmeriCorps helps those who help America. Members develop professional skills, gain invaluable experience and receive education awards for educational or job training.

10. Encouraging Responsibility
AmeriCorps encourages all members to become civically involved.
Members are encouraged to register to vote during their service. Please visit for information on how to register to vote in your area.
Members are also encouraged to engage in community events that allow them to grow professionally, personally and as citizens.

11. AmeriCorps State Service Commissions
State Commissions are governor-appointed agencies that exist to develop and promote service programs within their respective states.
They sponsor various celebrations, trainings, and offer networking activities for members serving in their state.
For a list of state service commissions, please visit:

12. National Days of Service
CVN AmeriCorps encourages our members to get involved on these National Days of Service, sponsored by CNCS:
9/11 Day of Remembrance and Service
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
National Volunteer Week
National Youth Service Day
Join Hands Day
United We Serve
Make A Difference Day
Family Volunteer Day
AmeriCorps Week

13. AmeriCorps Lingo
Individuals who serve in a national service program are called members – they ARE NOT ‘volunteers,’ ‘participants,’ or ‘employees.’
AmeriCorps members serve – they do NOT ‘work.’
Members receive a living stipend – NOT a ‘salary’ or ‘wage.’ Members are not eligible for unemployment benefits.
Service hours count towards the acquisition of the education award.
Programs identify as being AmeriCorps programs with AmeriCorps members. Members take pride in being a part of the national service movement.

14. Member Eligibility
U.S. Citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
At least 17 years old at the commencement of service. Individuals under the age of 18 must obtain parental consent.
Has a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate (or agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent before using an education award) and has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school in order to enroll as an AmeriCorps member.
Has undergone a criminal history check that is compliant with CVN and AmeriCorps policy.

15. Criminal History Checks
CVN AmeriCorps members must complete a three part criminal history check in order to serve:
State Criminal Registry Check in the state from which they applied and the state they will serve in.
National Sex Offender Public Registry Check, or the NSOPR check.
The FBI Fingerprint check
Members must complete a conset form with the volunteer program, and have the opportunity to review results.

16. Allowable Member Activities
Members may only count hours spent on allowable activities towards the AmeriCorps education award. Allowable activities include:
Direct Service: working directly with community members to address a need.
Training and Enrichment: T&E hours can include any orientation, on the job training, workshops, seminars, etc. that a member attends during their term.
Members may also participate in capacity building activities that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their placement site.

17. Prohibited Member Activities
AmeriCorps members are barred from participating in certain activities during their service. Prohibited activities include:
Religious activities, including engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instructions or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship or engaging in any form of religious proselytization.
Fundraising activities, such as: raising funds for the member’s own living allowance or other costs of the AmeriCorps program; raising funds for an organization’s operating expenses or endowment; writing grant applications for AmeriCorps funding or for any other funding provided by CNCS; or writing grant applications for funding provided by any other federal agencies.
Participating in efforts to influence legislation, including lobbying for your program.
Organizing a letter-writing campaign to Congress.
Engaging in partisan political activities or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office.
Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation or elected officials.
Printing politically charged articles in a CNCS-funded newsletter or listserve.
Taking part in political demonstrations or rallies.

18. Prohibited Member Activities
Engaging in any efforts to influence legislation, including state or local ballot initiatives.
Voter registration drives.
Organizing or participating in protests, petitions, boycotts or strikes.
Assisting or deterring union organizing.
Impairing existing contracts or collective bargaining agreements.
Administrative work, unless it directly relates to the member’s approved direct service activities.
Activities that pose a significant safety risk to participants.
Assignments that displace employees.
Placement of members into internships with for-profit businesses as part of the education and training component of the program.
Providing assistance to a business organized for profit.
Providing abortion services or making referrals for such services.
Providing a direct benefit to:
A business organized for profit;
A labor union
A partisan political organization
A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 except that nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent participants from engaging in advocacy activities undertaken at their own initiative; and
An organization engaged in religious activities, unless Corporation assistance is not used to support those religious activities.
Members may participate in these activities outside of their AmeriCorps role. They cannot credit hours spent on these activities towards the education award, and they cannot represent themselves as AmeriCorps members while engaging in these activities.

19. Prohibited Member Activities
CVN AmeriCorps members may not engage in prohibited activities at any time during their service, or credit prohibited activities towards the education award.
Crediting any of these activities towards the education award could result in the loss of the education award, and could jeopardize the status of the volunteer program as the CVN AmeriCorps grant as a whole.
Members may engage in these activities outside of their AmeriCorps role. They cannot represent themselves as AmeriCorps members while engaging in these activities.

20. Office of Inspector General
The OIG operates a Fraud Hotline to provide an opportunity for concerned citizens, program participants, employees of CNCS grant recipients, Volunteers, and others to report instances of fraud, waste, abuse of authority, and mismanagement.
OIG Hotline:
Phone:

21. Member Enrollment Procedures
Specific enrollment procedures are included in the CVN AmeriCorps Member Handbook.
Pay special attention to the checklist on the Enrollment Cover page in your enrollment packet.
All forms included in the Enrollment Packet are required, unless otherwise noted.
The Enrollment Date is when the member begins to credit hours towards the education award.
Enrollments must be submitted to the CVN AmeriCorps office within 15 days of the enrollment date. If an enrollment is submitted late, the enrollment date will automatically change.

22. Change in Service Term
It is important to understand that once a member has enrolled in AmeriCorps, they are locked in to the minimum hour requirement for their designated term of service.
However, based on slot availability, a member may be able to change their term of service if a compelling circumstance beyond the member’s control necessitates a change.
If a member must change their term, a request form must be submitted to CVN AmeriCorps within 90 days of the member start date. Requests cannot be accepted after the 90 day window has closed.
CVN AmeriCorps will not approve requests simply to provide less than a full-time hour commitment.
Please refer to the CVN AmeriCorps Member Handbook for more detailed information.

23. Time and Service Log Submission
Time and Service Logs must be submitted for each month a member is actively serving in AmeriCorps.
Service Logs should be used to track the number of unique individuals served.
Logs must be approved by the last day of the following month. Please refer to the CVN AmeriCorps Calendar for specific due dates.
Time Log Rules can be found on the CVN AmeriCorps website.

24. Changes During the Service Term
Changes in Position, Site Supervisor or Service Site must be reported to CVN AmeriCorps within 30 days.
If a member encounters any of these changes during their service term, they should notify the AmeriCorps Program Director as soon as possible.
Failure to notify CVN/AEAP of service changes within the required deadline will affect how and when service hours are credited.

25. Eligibility for the Education Award
To be eligible for the Education Award, members must successfully complete the program. This means:
The member has met the requirements of their Volunteer Program as well as the requirements for CVN AmeriCorps.
The member has turned in paperwork that is complete and on time.
The member has met the minimum hour requirement.

26. Early Exits
A member may exit due to Compelling Personal Circumstances if the following requirements are met:
The member has completed at least 15% of the minimum hour requirement for their term.
The member is exiting due to a situation that is beyond their control.
The member has served satisfactorily.
If a CPC exit is approved, the member may qualify to receive a partial education award, based on the number of hours served.
A member may also be released for cause.
Release for Cause is when a member is exited early from their program for any reason other than compelling personal circumstances.
Members will not receive any portion of the education award.
Please refer to the CVN AmeriCorps Member Handbook for more specific information regarding these policies.
Please note that dissatisfaction with the Volunteer Program or exiting to attend school do not constitute compelling personal circumstances.
If a member is terminated from the service site, they will be released for cause without an award, regardless of the number of hours served.

27. Member Suspension
Members may be suspended by the Volunteer Program or CVN AmeriCorps for disciplinary reasons, but also for temporary illness or injury that prevents them from serving.
While a member is suspended, no hours may be credited, but if a member has been suspended for compelling reasons, the time needed to complete service will be extended after the member is reinstated.
If suspension is necessary, the Program Director must submit a Suspension Request Form to CVN AmeriCorps.

28. Grievance Procedures
In case of grievance, CVN AmeriCorps encourages members to first make use of the Volunteer Program’s conflict resolution process.
Member may, however, file a grievance with CVN AmeriCorps at any time.
Specific information regarding the CVN AmeriCorps grievance procedure can be find in the CVN AmeriCorps Member Handbook.

29. Public Notice of Non-discrimination and Non-harassment
It is against the law for organizations that receive federal financial assistance from the
Corporation for National and Community Service to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, age, political affiliation, or, in most cases, religion. It is also unlawful to retaliate against any person who, or organization that, files a complaint about such discrimination. In addition to filing a complaint with local and state agencies that are responsible for resolving discrimination complaints, you may bring a complaint to the attention of the Corporation for National and Community Service. If you believe that you or others have been discriminated against, or if you want more information, contact:
CVN AmeriCorps Education Awards Program
6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 820
Takoma Park, MD 20912
(ask to speak to CVN AEAP Staff) or
Office of Civil Right and Inclusiveness
Corporation for National and Community Service
1201 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C
(202) (voice); (202) (TTY)
(202) (FAX);

30. More Important CVN AmeriCorps Policies
Programs must provide Reasonable Accommodation upon request.
Member service positions must adhere to the Non-Supplantation, Non-Duplication and Non-Displacement policy.
Criminal history checks must be compliant with CVN and AmeriCorps regulations.
CVN AmeriCorps is compliant with the Drug Free Workplace Act.

31. AmeriCorps Pledge I will get things done for America -
to make our people safer,
smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together
to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy,
I will take action.
Faced with conflict,
I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity,
I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment
with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member,
and I will get things done.

32. The CVN AmeriCorps Member Website:
AmeriCorps Resources
The CVN AmeriCorps Member Website:
This site contains information about the CVN AmeriCorps program as well as current member forms, tips, tools and resources to help members along their AmeriCorps journey and beyond.

33. CVN AmeriCorps Staff You may also contact CVN AmeriCorps Staff:
Kristen L. Wolford
CVN AmeriCorps Coordinator
Barbara Wheeler
CVN Assistant AmeriCorps Coordinator
Phone:

34. Other Resources
The AmeriCorps Website contains information regarding the Corporations goals and specific service initiatives:
You may find information on how to register to vote in your area here:
AmeriCorps Alums is a network of over 500,000 national service alumni who want to continue to Get Things Done through service and civic engagement:
AmeriCorps Connect has more information regarding national service: