JMGF AmeriCorps Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What service activities are appropriate or not appropriate?

Service activities should follow JMGF program and AmeriCorps guidelines including:

• Service in one or more of the AmeriCorps service focus areas: Education, Public Safety, Environmental Stewardship, Homeland Security, or Human Needs;
• Direct Service hours must be voluntary and follow AmeriCorps’ Prohibited Activities guidelines;
• Member Development hours must follow program guidelines in being clear, serious and detailed goals that contribute to your personal and professional development and service experience.
• Direct Service will constitute at least 80% of the total hours; Member Development hours will constitute no more than 20% of the total hours; Fundraising will constitute no more than 10% of the total hours.
• A list of Prohibited Activities is in the JMGF Member Agreement and can be found on line at: http://www.americorps.org/pdf/2006_americorps_provisions.pdf

Can my direct service position be paid?

All creditable service hours must be unpaid (including internships, academic course-related service, and general volunteer service).The ONLY positions for which you may be paid while also accruing AmeriCorps service hours are service-related Federal/State-funded Work Study positions.

Is serving in a soup kitchen located in a church considered a “prohibited activity”?

The JMGF AmeriCorps program encourages partnering with faith-based organizations. You should first consider the type of the activity, and secondly the location. If you are serving food in a soup kitchen that happens to be in a church, that activity in and of itself is absolutely appropriate. However, if you are also expected, as part of the soup kitchen experience, to discuss or promote the particular ideology or mission of the hosting religious organization, that would be an example of an unacceptable direct service activity since you would be engaging in religious instruction or proselytizing. This may be a helpful example in determining prohibited activities.

Where do I send my paperwork?

You are responsible for completing and submitting your program paperwork to the JMGF program office.  Although you work with a faculty or staff person in your community, you are ultimately responsible for mailing in all paperwork.

Can documents be faxed?

Please do not fax paperwork to the JMGF AmeriCorps program office. If you cannot submit your paperwork within 30 days of the due date because of unforeseen circumstances, notify the JMGF office.  You will still need to send the original document with original signatures as soon as possible.

Should I make copies of my paperwork?

Yes! Copy ALL the paperwork you complete before sending to the JMGF program office. Sometimes, things really do get “lost in the mail”, so your ability to supply a copy of your documents may be crucial. Not only will you have a record of the paperwork you have completed for recordkeeping, but you can continuously reference that information throughout your Term of Service. Time Logs are especially important to copy as those copies may be the only record of your activities.

How can I check if my file is up to date or if I’m missing any paperwork?

Contact the JMGF program office (ssadowski@jmg-mt.org). It is your responsibility to make sure your paperwork is completed in a timely manner. Remember to keep copies of your documents and notify us if you have new contact information, etc.

I don’t have a copy of my birth certificate! How do I get one?

You can call the Health Department of the state where you were born. This is the office responsible for birth/death certificates or vital records. Some Western states Health Department websites:

• Alaska: http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dph/bvs/birth/default.htm
• California: http://www.dhs.ca.gov/hisp/chs/OVR/ordercert.htm
• Hawaii: http://www.hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/index.html
• Idaho: http://www2.state.id.us/dhw/vital_stats/appmenu.html
• Montana: http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/index.shtml
• Oregon: http://www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/chs/certif/certfaqs.cfm
• Washington: http://www.doh.wa.gov/

Another option is to call the company VITALCHECK at 1.800.255.2414. This is a fast service but can be a potentially expensive method.

Why do I have to write a Great Story and complete evaluations?

The Great Stories you write provide written document of the impact you have on your community. We may use excerpts of your Great Story in a grant proposal or in marketing material to promote the JMGF AmeriCorps Program.

The evaluations provide a reflection tool for you and for us. Hopefully, the questions on the evaluation will help you think about your Term of Service and what you gained while also providing important program improvement suggestions to the JMGF program.

What is Member Development?

Service-Learning not only provides service to your community but also provides a service to you. AmeriCorps allows 20% of your Term of Service hours to be Member Development. Member Development has these components professional/personal and service-related.

Professional/Personal hours are spent achieving a goal outside of your direct service. For example, a personal goal could be completing a CPR class or taking a sign language class. A professional goal could be studying for the SAT. A service-related goal connects to a goal you have set for your direct service. For example, if you are working in a school you may want to shadow a teacher to learn more about what they do.

What is a Criminal Record Check? What if I’ve already had one?

Individuals have to be 18 years of age to have a Criminal Background check. Many service sites who serve children or other vulnerable populations do require a background or criminal record check. Ask your Site Supervisor if you are required to submit a record check to serve at that site. If you have already been fingerprinted you may be able to provide proof to your Site Supervisor.

What if I can’t complete my hours by the end of my Term of Service? Can I get an extension?

In most instances, we are NOT able to change Terms of Service or automatically provide extensions. For special circumstances (compelling personal circumstances) AmeriCorps may grant members, on a case-by-case basis, an extension to complete their hours. The approval is not “automatic,” and you must contact the JMGF AmeriCorps Office PRIOR to the end of your Term to discuss whether you may qualify for an extension.

Can I participate in another AmeriCorps program after I serve as a JMGF AmeriCorps member?

The Corporation for National and Community Service has imposed restrictions within the service various programs regarding the number of terms an individual may serve. The following table outlines the limitations on the number of terms one may serve within the different AmeriCorps programs. JMGF is an AmeriCorps*State Program.

The Corporation for National and Community Service has determined that individuals may, nonetheless, serve up to three terms of service across the different types of AmeriCorps programs and may receive Corporation-funded member benefits as long as the caps on the number of terms of service within each program are maintained. In no event may an individual serve more than a total of three terms in any combination of AmeriCorps programs. A term of service includes full-time, part-time, and reduced part-time service, as well as an uncompleted term (e.g., if a member leaves a program part-way through the term).

How many AmeriCorps terms can I serve?

You can only earn two AmeriCorps Education Awards during your lifetime. You may choose to serve with the JMGF program and once you graduate serve in a full-time program. If you serve twice with JMGF, you will not be eligible to serve in a full-time program. However, serving two AmeriCorps terms doesn’t prevent you from serving in VISTA.

What if my supervisor is gone for two weeks and I can’t get my Time Log signed! What do I do?

Don’t send it in to us without a Supervisor’s signature! We’ll just send it right back to you! If you cannot submit your log within 30 days of its due date, you may call the JMGF and alert the JMGF AmeriCorps Program Director, that your log will be late.

What is a Site Supervisor?

A Site Supervisor is someone at your service site who can verify your hours and support your direct service. Your Site Supervisor is also the person who signed your Site and Member Agreements and signs your Time Logs.

What do I do if my supervisor has changed?

You must fill out a new Position Description. Even if your service site did not change, just your Site Supervisor, we must have your new Supervisor’s contact information and signature on a Position Description.

If I get sick and have to drop out of my service position can I still receive part of my Education Award?

You can receive a pro-rated Education Award if you had to stop serving for “compelling personal circumstances.” The JMGF AmeriCorps Program Director can decide if a situation is a compelling personal circumstance (examples: a serious illness/injury to the member or a death in the member’s immediate family).

HOWEVER, to qualify for a pro-rated Education Award you must have completed at least 15% of your Term of Service. You must notify the JMGF Program office before the end of your Term of Service.

If I do volunteer projects on top of the hours I do at my regular service site(s), can these hours count?

If the projects are in one of the areas of education, public safety, environmental initiative, homeland security, or human needs, and your supervisor can verify the hours, AND the hours are appropriate either for Direct Service hours (non-Prohibited Activities) or Member Development hours, then those hours can be counted. It is common for members to have more than one service site. Remember, you are required to submit a Position Description for each service site. Each Position Description requires a separate Time Log each month. For example, if you serve at three sites in a month, you’ll need to submit three signed Time Logs for that month.

What do I do when I finish all my hours?

You are required to exit the program upon completion of the hours for your Term of Service. To do so, send in your completed exit paperwork to the JMGF AmeriCorps office within two weeks of completing your service hours.

Who is the AmeriCorps Program Director that signs the authorization section of the Member
Agreement?

That is the JMGF AmeriCorps Program Director (Sarah R. Sadowski) housed at the JMGF office.

If I have student loans, should I put my loans on forbearance?

If you have qualified loans that are currently accumulating interest, the Corporation for National & Community (CNCS) service will pay part of the interest accrued during your Term of Service. Putting your loans on forbearance notifies CNCS of your current loans. If you don’t put your loans on forbearance and they are not already in forbearance or deferment status, the CNCS will not partially pay your accrued interest at the end of your Term.

What is an Interest Accrual Form?

If you have qualified loans that were accruing interest during your Term, you’ll fill out an Interest Accrual Form at the end of your service to notify the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) that you have finished your Term. From there, the CNCS will calculate the percentage of your accrued interest to be paid and pay your lending institution directly. To verify payment you’ll need to contact CNCS and your lending institution.

How can I use my Education Award?

The Education Award can be used to repay qualified student loans, toward the Cost of attendance at a Title IV institute of higher education, and/or toward expenses incurred while participating in school-to-work programs.

For more information refer to “Education Award Frequently Asked Questions”.

When you receive your voucher, refer to the Education Award section for more information and/or contact the National Service Trust.