How to Start an AmeriCorps Program to Expand your Conservation Efforts

Breakout session Tuesday, February 11 at 10:30 a.m.

Learn how to develop and manage an AmeriCorps program in your local conservation district. The Hamilton County (OH) Conservation District started a program 2.5 years ago and has been able to leverage the service of 6 AmeriCorps members to increase education and conservation efforts in the southwest Ohio region. Presenter Gwen Z Roth, Education and AmeriCorps Program Manager, will share the great and not so great parts of the programs as well as many useful tips.

Speaker: Gwen Roth, Hamilton County Conservation District

1. ORBCorps ( O HIO R IVER B ASIN C ORPS) How to utilize AmeriCorps to expand your conservation efforts

2. Gwen Z Roth

3. Gwen Z Roth (she/her) Education & AmeriCorps Program Manager at Hamilton County Conservation District - C i ncinnati, OH (25+ years) BS in Interdisciplinary Studies - Univ of Toledo & MAT in Biological Sciences - Miami Univ E njoys traveling, quilting, gardening , trying to make the world a better place and counting the days until I can get my next dog! Need to work on time management and patience

4. What is AmeriCorps? A federal agency The program is often seen as a domestic Peace Corps Brings people together to tackle the country’s challenges Comprised of members that improve communities Approximately 270,000 Americans across the country participate in the AmeriCorps each year as AmeriCorps members or AmeriCorps Seniors. “CORE” not CORPSE

5. History of National Service VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) was founded in 1965 by President Johnson focused on fighting the War on Poverty. President Bill Clinton signs the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, creating the Corporation for National and Community Service , AmeriCorps and State Service Commissions to expand opportunities for Americans to serve their local communities.

6. AmeriCorps was rebranded in 2020 Federal Agency of AmeriCorps formerly known as the Corporation for National and Community Service 1993 - 2020 2 020 - present

7. AmeriCorps - Federal Agency AmeriCorps AmeriCorps State & National AmeriCorps VISTA AmeriCorps NCCC Federal agency that helps more than 5 million Americans improve the lives of their fellow citizens through service. Signature Programs: AmeriCorps AmeriCorps Seniors

8. AmeriCorps in Ohio State Service Commissions determine social needs in their states, set policy and program priorities, provide training and technical assistance, support national days of service, and promote service and volunteering. Each state has a State Service Commission that administers AmeriCorps State funding. ServeOhio is the State Service Commission in Ohio.

9. AmeriCorps - Federal Agency

10. S ince the program’s founding in 1994, more than 1 million AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.4 billion hours and earned more than $3.3 billion in scholarships - more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student loan debt. AmeriCorps - By the Numbers Since 1994, more than  36,000 Ohio  residents have served more than  58 million  hours and have qualified for Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards totaling more than  $123,830,000

11. AmeriCorps Ohio - By the Numbers 2024 - 2025 program year ServeOhio supports over 1,000 AmeriCorps members who will give 1.2 million hours of service at 500+ service sites across the state and will earn $4.6 million in education awards.

12. AmeriCorps Ohio - Funding & Timeline As outlined in Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the matching requirements are set up depending on the year of the grant 45 CFR §§ 2521.35 - 2521.90 Grant Application Due: March 31, 2025 Notification of Funding: Mid - Late May, 2025 Grant Period: August 1, 2024 - July 31, 2025 Members Serve: Early September, 2025 - End of July, 2026 AmeriCorps Program Year Years 1, 2 and 3 Years 4, 5 & 6 Years 7,8 & 9 Years 10+ Grantee Funding Share 24% 26% 28% 30%

13. ORBCorps Program Started in fall 2023 with 4 members. Currently 6 members at 3 host sites with thoughts of expansion in the future Focused on Stewardship, Conservation, Education and Capacity Building Hosted by Hamilton County Conservation District - responsible for grant writing, record keeping, financials, oversight of the entire program Host Sites are responsible for day to day oversight of member and cash match ($12-15K)

14. ORBCorps Members Currently 6 members at 3 host sites with thoughts of expansion in the future We had four members return to a second year of service Watershed Technician, Education Assistant, Marketing & Outreach, Public Involvement, Stream Technician and Environmental Restoration Assistant

15. ORBCorps Members Members serve 1,700 hours over 11-month period. Receive a living stipend/living allowance, eligible for SNAP Receive 170 - 340 hours of training (10% - 20% of service time) Eligible for health care and childcare (full-time members) Eligible for Segal Education Award $7,395 Member Assistance Program

16. Learning Experiences Opportunities Expand capacity Time to develop programs you always wanted to Create next generation of conservationists Increase partnerships with like-minded organizations Community of support (other State programs) Watch-outs Federal regulations/paperwork Minimum 50% of full-time employee time Lots of policy work Budgets/Spreadsheets

17. Would We Do It Again? Absolutely! with some changes :) Anticipate this will take LOTS more time than 50% FTE, especially the first year Try to get a planning grant for year 1 to develop appropriate policies & procedures Have a second and third set of eyes on EVERYTHING!

18. Gwen Z Roth, Ed & AmeriCorps Program Mgr Hamilton County Conservation District [email protected] g | 513.946.8022