Volunteer Iowa AmeriCorps VISTA :
What To Know Before Beginning Service
VISTA Project Name:____________________________________________________
Applicant Name: ________________________________________________________
Congratulations on being nominated for the Volunteer Iowa AmeriCorps*VISTA Project
through the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (“ICVS” or “the Commission” – the
state agency sponsoring your VISTA project)! We commend you for your desire to serve
your community and country. Your application will be forwarded to the local State
Office of the Corporation for National Service (“CNCS” - the federal agency responsible
for VISTA) for final review and approval.
ICVS and CNCS staff wants to ensure that your expectations for service are met and that
you enjoy your experience as fully as possible. Therefore we want to be sure that the
following information has been explained to you by your AmeriCorps VISTA sponsor
prior to final approval. You, your host site supervisor, and your project sponsor
representative are requested to sign at the end to signal that this information has been
fully reviewed.
Philosophy and Assignment
VISTA’s mission is to “increase the capacity of low-income people to improve the
conditions of their own lives.” VISTA Members will serve others and support
community residents and organizations to build their capacity to respond to problems in
the community. To volunteer with VISTA is a commitment to national and community
service. It is not paid employment. When you serve as a VISTA you are committed to
the program 24/7, meaning you cannot hold any outside employment that conflicts with
your VISTA duties.
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You should have received a copy of the applicable VISTA Assignment Description
(VAD). The VAD describes the organization’s goals and objectives for your service.
The assignment description defines your role and your responsibilities as they relate to the
goals and objectives to be accomplished during your one year of service. The VAD is
subject to some modification as circumstances may warrant. Initial below to show that
you have reviewed a copy of your VISTA Assignment Description. Once selected to
serve, the VAD can be found on your My AmeriCorps account.
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VISTA Policies
A VISTA is a full-time, community service volunteer and not an employee of the VISTA
sponsor or of the Corporation, except for purposes of the Hatch Act (which prohibits
partisan political activities while enrolled as a VISTA) and the Federal Employees
Compensation Act (FECA, which provides Workman’s Compensation if an injury is a
direct result of service). The living allowance and education award are both subject to
federal income tax and state/local income taxes. CNCS does NOT withhold state or local
income taxes. FICA (Social Security withholding) will be applied only if the end of
service cash stipend is selected instead of the education award as your End of Service
Benefit.
VISTAs may not receive other monetary compensation for their services, other than the
CNCS supported VISTA living allowance. Since the VISTA is not an employee, no
unemployment compensation will be paid during or upon completion of service from the
sponsor.
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The term of service is one year and requires a full-time commitment. A full time
commitment is defined by the Congress as “24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” This fulltime commitment translates into being available to the community at all times and
without regard to regular working hours, except for periods of approved leave. Absence
from the project’s service area requires the approval of the VISTA Supervisor. This
means that a VISTA cannot hold a full time job in addition to their service. However,
member MAY hold a part-time position unrelated to their assigned project and volunteer
assignment description effective May 3, 2015. Commitment to one’s assigned project is the
paramount focus of all AmeriCorps VISTA members, regardless of whether a VISTA member is
working outside of his or her VISTA service assignment. Any outside employment must not
conflict with the VISTA member’s training, service, or service hours as assigned by CNCS or the
sponsor. To the maximum extent practicable, VISTA members must remain available for service
without regard to regular working hours. The VISTA project’s needs supersede any requirements
of outside employment. More information and the Outside Employment Request Form can be
found on the VISTA Campus at: http://www.vistacampus.gov/resources/outside-employmentpolicy
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By law VISTAs are prohibited from any involvement in partisan or nonpartisan election
activities, in voter registration activities, and in providing transportation to the polls in
their capacity as a VISTA. VISTAs retain their rights as private citizens but as VISTAs,
they may not engage in political activities that may be construed as attempting to
represent the sponsor, the Corporation for National Service, or fellow VISTAs. Current
policy also prohibits VISTAs from engaging in any religious activity as part of their
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duties or which could be perceived as part of their duties by members of the community.
Other policies are outlined in the AmeriCorps VISTA Handbook.
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All candidates must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident alien of the
United States to serve with the VISTA program. Candidate’s Social Security number and
citizenship status must have a “Verified” status by the Social Security Administration
(SSA) prior to the candidate’s placement. Verification by SSA is an automated process in
the My AmeriCorps portal that takes place after a sponsor selects a candidate. If the
Social Security Administration rejects or does not verify a candidate’s status (indicated as
“Returned” status in the portal), the system notifies the Iowa State Office and requests
additional documentation. The candidate then submits the additional required documents
to the National Service Hotline for verification by the VISTA Member Support Unit.
Candidates will not be placed/ enrolled/ activated without verification of their Social
Security number and citizenship status by the SSA. Failure to verify a candidate’s status
will result in a delay or postponement of a candidate’s placement/start with the VISTA
program.
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All VISTA candidates will undergo a database search on the Department of Justice’s
National Sex Offender Public Registry prior to the State Office’s approval of the VISTA
candidate’s application. Should the VISTA candidate not pass the registry check, the
VISTA candidate may not be invited to attend PSO, and may not be enrolled in VISTA.
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All VISTA candidates will undergo a criminal background check. The Corporation will
utilize the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System which will
require fingerprint submissions from candidates at PSO. Candidates must disclose if they
have been convicted of any criminal offenses or is facing any pending charges or is on
probation/parole. The results of the criminal background check may be considered
grounds for termination of a VISTA member from the program following the protocols
set forth in the VISTA Applicant, Candidate and Member Criminal Background Check
Policy and Procedures.
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VISTA Orientation and Training
Pre-Service Orientation (PSO): All VISTA candidates will receive three days of PreService Orientation which is usually held out-of-state. Members are sworn into service on
the 3rd day and the year-long VISTA commitment begins the following day.
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Additional training may include one or more of the following. 1) On-Site Orientation
(OSO - On-Site Orientation to introduce the VISTA to the local sponsor and community.
2) In Service Training (IST) follow-up training. 3) Local Training: Other training needs
and opportunities may arise throughout the year of service. VISTAs and sponsors share
responsibility for identifying such needs.
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VISTA Assignment:
The projected official start date is Date. The last day of service is expected to be Date.
Site of your assignment is Address, IA.
The VISTA Project Sponsor Supervisor is Michelle Raymer. Your on-site supervisor is
Name. The regular days of service and service hours are expected to be: 8am-5pm
Monday through Friday.
VISTA members are subject to the personnel policies of the host site at which they serve.
They must abide by personnel policies (which can include but are not limited to: dress
code, time/attendance tracking, social media usage, etc…) set forth by the sponsor and/or
host site
Volunteer Iowa AmeriCorps VISTA Project Requirements
VISTA members in the Volunteer Iowa program will have certain responsibilities toward
the ICVS, in addition to the service site activities outlined in the VAD. These will
include submitting required reports; organizing or participating in a MLK Day Service
Project; organizing an AmeriCorps Week outreach activity; disability inclusion; ICVS
networking and promotion of national service; and Volunteer Iowa AmeriCorps VISTA
Project teambuilding activities. More details about these project requirements will be
shared at the mandatory ICVS Orientation.
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Benefits :
Complete list of VISTA member benefits is found on the VISTA Campus:
http://www.vistacampus.gov/in-service/benefits-service
The Iowa gross annual subsistence allowance is $__11,676 . VISTAs are required to
have their bi-weekly allowance deposited directly unless written justification is provided
to CNCS as to why direct deposit should not be required. Direct Deposit information can
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be completed through your My AmeriCorps Account. Members are paid bi-weekly or
have 26 pay periods during their term of service.
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VISTAs are eligible to enroll in group life insurance for which a bi-weekly premium of
$2.07 is deducted from the subsistence allowance. Child-care benefits are contingent on
having a child under 13, meeting an income threshold, needing child-care assistance to
complete the VISTA assignment, and having a financial need to pay necessary child-care
expenses. It is good to begin determining eligibility before PSO.
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Before the PSO, the VISTA must choose an end of service benefit of either the $5,730
Education Award or the alternative the end-of-service stipend of $1,500 (accrued at the
rate of $125 per month). Prior to the end of your 10th month of service, you have the
option of changing from the educational award to the end-of service stipend (you must
initiate the change through your My AmeriCorps Account). You will not be able to
change from the end-of-service stipend to the educational award. Student loan deferment
or forbearance or forgiveness opportunities are available depending on the type of student
loan. You are responsible to obtain information about whether you would qualify for
these benefits as a result of VISTA service.
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Under the Affordable Care Act, all Americans – including VISTAs – are required to have
health insurance. So you’re expected to have health insurance when you become an
AmeriCorps VISTA member unless you are exempt from this requirement.
VISTA members who maintain health insurance during their service term may opt into
the AmeriCorps VISTA Healthcare Allowance. This allowance is a supplemental
healthcare reimbursement program that covers out-of-pocket costs associated with
healthcare. Out-of-pocket expenses may include: your annual deductible, coinsurance,
copayments, and other charges for qualified medical expenses. The Healthcare Allowance
will help offset these expenses up to $6,600 in 2015. The Healthcare Allowance does not
cover costs associated with premium payment or charges associated with dependents or
any other individuals covered under your healthcare plan.
VISTA members who are legally exempt from maintaining health insurance coverage
during their term of service are eligible to enroll in the AmeriCorps VISTA Health
Benefit Plan, a self-funded, basic health plan. The plan is available to eligible members
at no cost and covers most non-routine services, limited preventive care visits (e.g., an
annual ob-gyn visit for women), medical emergencies, surgical and hospitalization
expenses, and certain prescription drug costs. It does not cover pre-existing conditions,
routine dental care, or vision. The plan does not cover dependents, including your spouse.
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The AmeriCorps Health Benefits Plan, while an excellent support for most VISTAs, is
not insurance and does not satisfy the individual responsibility requirement of the
Affordable Care Act (ACA).
International Medical Group (IMG) is the administrator of the AmeriCorps VISTA
Healthcare Allowance and the AmeriCorps VISTA Health Benefit Plan. For details about
either benefit, please visit: americorpsvista.imglobal.com.
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As a VISTA member, you are entitled to 10 personal leave, 10 medical leave, and leave
for certain holidays (those recognized by your sponsor.) Family leave and emergency
leave are also available in certain situations. Military service and jury duty can also
necessitate a leave of absence, both of which are covered.
You must request and receive approval in advance from your sponsoring organization/
supervisor for personal leave and provide notice, when possible, of medical and
emergency leave requests.
If unable to continue service as a result of injury or illness, after utilizing all personal and
medical leave (medical leave may be extended for an additional five days if it is clear that
service can resume with the additional five days), the VISTA will be asked to resign due
to inability to fulfill the commitment to one year of service.
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VISTA members are required to report any arrest to the sponsor and Corporation State
Office in writing within one week of the arrest. Failure to do so may result in
termination. If a member is arrested during service, the member will be placed on
Administrative Hold status. If a final court ruling or other final disposition of the matter
has not occurred within those 30 days, the State Program Director in coordination with
the Manager of Training and Member Support at VISTA HQ, in their discretion, will
determine whether or not to initiate termination proceedings.
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Members may not serve in a VISTA project when they are related by blood, marriage, or
adoption, to project staff, sponsoring organization staff, officers or members of the
sponsoring organization’s board of directors, or Corporation program staff responsible for
the VISTA project.
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I have read and I understand these policies of the
AmeriCorps VISTA : What To Know Before Beginning Service Form
Printed Name
Signature
Date
VISTA
Applicant:_______________________________________________________________
Project
Supervisor:______________________________________________________________
NOTE: A copy of this document should be retained by the VISTA Supervisor with the original-signatures.
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