Information for Potential Members
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Member Qualifications
AmeriCorps members must be at least 17 years old and a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the U.S. There is no upper age limit.
Potential members must submit an application and provide two references.
Member Selection
When an application is submitted by a potential member, he/she will be contacted to schedule an interview with the project director. At the interview, additional information about AmeriCorps will be shared and open assignments reviewed. If the project director determines that the applicant is qualified and is a good candidate for an open position, a second interview is arranged between the applicant and the host site supervisor. At the site interview, the applicant will receive more details regarding the day-to-day duties associated with the specific assignment. Final placement occurs only when both the applicant and the host site agree to the match.
Many factors influence member selection. The qualifications and skills being sought by host sites vary depending upon the position requirements. Member availability is often a determining factor. Some sites need members who are available during the day while others may need someone mainly during after school/evening/weekend hours. Since one of the goals of AmeriCorps is to provide members with practical experience that will help further their career goals, the degree to which an assignment can meet these member needs is also an important part of the selection process.
New members attend a comprehensive orientation session at which they sign their contract and receive a member handbook outlining rules for participation. Necessary forms and data collection requirements are reviewed.
Criminal Background Checks
Effective November 23, 2007, the Corporation for National and Community Service implemented new criminal background check requirements for all AmeriCorps programs. To meet these requirements, the Genesee County AmeriCorps program conducts the following searches:
- A New York State criminal history record check provided by the New York State Office of Court Administration. The search criteria are based on exact match of Name and Date of Birth. The search includes data from all 62 counties pertaining to convictions and open/pending cases originating from City and County courts. Town and Village criminal disposition data is more limited but is included for certain years.
- A check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry, a no-cost Internet site operated by the U.S. Department of Justice, which is a compilation of the sex offender registries of all 50 states, as well as Guam, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
The results of these two searches may be used to select members of the Genesee County AmeriCorps program.
Any individual who is registered, or required to be registered, on a sex offender registry is automatically disqualified from serving in AmeriCorps. Applicants are required to provide a copy of a government-issued photo identification card. If a search of the NSOPR produces matches based upon name, the identification card is used to determine whether or not the applicant is the registered offender.
An individual who refuses to consent to a state criminal registry check is ineligible to serve. If the criminal history check discloses a prior conviction, the applicant will be given an opportunity to correct any inaccurate information. The program director, in collaboration with the host site agency at which the member was going to be placed, will then make a determination regarding the enrollment of the applicant as a member of Genesee County AmeriCorps. Results will be kept in a secure location.
Member Benefits
Living Allowance:
Members are paid a stipend while they are serving. Currenlty, half-time members receive a total of $6,200, quarter-time members receive $3,100 and minimum-time members receive $2,000. The living allowance is a stipend, not an hourly wage. It is divided into equal payments distributed over the term of service and is taxable income. Members receive a W2 form at the end of the year.
AmeriCorps members are not considered employees of Genesee County or their host site. They are not eligible to file unemployment claims upon exiting the program. The living allowance can be garnished to pay child support and may impact a member’s ability to qualify for other needs-based assistance programs.
Education Award:
At the completion of service, half-time members receive an education award of $2,675, quarter-time members receive $1,415 and minimum-time members receive $1,132. AmeriCorps members may use the education award to:
- repay qualified student loans
- pay for "cost of attendance" at a qualified institution of higher education
educational expenses. Not all schools or loans are eligible. The payment will be made to the school or loan holder designated by the member. It cannot be made to the AmeriCorps member. Members have seven years from the end of their term of service to use the award. The education award is considered taxable income in the year it used, not the year it is earned. A 1099 form will be received from the Corporation for income tax reporting purposes.
Beginning in October 2009, members who are age 55 or older at the time or enrollment can transfer all or part of their education award to a child or grandchild. Additional information regarding this option is available upon request.
Student Loan Forbearance:
AmeriCorps members are eligible to have the repayment of certain student loans postponed during a term of service. This postponement, called forbearance, is not automatic. The member must complete forms provided by the program to request forbearance.
While a loan is in forbearance, the interest continues to accrue. Upon successful completion of service, the Corporation will pay, on behalf of the borrower, a portion of the interest that accrued during the service period.
Training:
Monthly team meetings are an important component of our AmeriCorps program. Training hours are part of the member’s commitment and are credited toward total hours completed. Most meetings are held at Genesee County Building II, 3837 West Main Road, Batavia. Meeting dates/times are provided to members. Topics include youth development, customer service, first aid/CPR and civics. Opportunities to attend other local, regional and statewide training events may be offered.
Special Events and Activities:
Members will have the opportunity to work together on special projects. Members who are coordinating events at their host site can request assistance from other members. Upon approval of the host site supervisor, members can earn hours by helping out at these activities.
Community Service Projects:
Recruiting additional volunteers is one of the major focuses for all AmeriCorps programs. In that spirit, we have incorporated a community service project element into our program for this year. We will be asking members to work on at least one community service project, either alone or in collaboration with other members. We need to document at least 15 projects by the end of the program year, recruiting a minimum of 300 volunteers and at least 900 hours of volunteer service provided.
