VISTA Invitation for Membership

As many of you may know, AJFCA was the lead administrator of a U.S. Federally supported initiative which placed AmeriCorps VISTA members as on-site para-professionals in several of our member agencies. With the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies now established, we have been invited to consider renewing our participation in this  program which is sponsored by the U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service. 
 
Established by President John F. Kennedy, the VISTA program places AmeriCorps VISTA members on-site in community organizations for a one year term of service and agencies would be eligible to remain with the overall NJHSA VISTA sponsored program for up to three years (with the opportunity to obtain new VISTA members each year). The AmeriCorps VISTA members are paid for their service by CNCS and also receive a living stiped. Following successful completion of their term of service, VISTA members may receive either education award ($5,815) that can be used towards qualified school loans and specific educational expenses or an end-of-service cash stipend ($1,500). Also, AmeriCorps VISTA members receive one year of Federal Non-Competitive hiring eligibility, which provides advantages in the federal hiring process. 
 
As NJHSA is now based in New Jersey, our application as a VISTA sponsoring agency would need to be submitted through the New Jersey office of CNCS.

If there is sufficient interest from our Network, we will share our plans with the New Jersey State Office and if they are in agreement, we will submit a Concept Paper for a new Three Year Program. A full application will also need to be submitted if the Concept Paper is accepted.
Following recent dialogue with that office, I am attaching for your reference a copy of their Call for Concept Papers.  
Please note:  while the attached notice references a deadline of October 20th, we have been informed that this deadline has now been EXTENDED to December 20th.
 
Should you have an interest in pursuing a VISTA for your agency, as part of a new Three Year application, please note the following:
  • The VISTA project itself would NOT be able to be exclusively limited to Holocaust Survivor Services (as the initial program did), but rather would seek to address broader community policy concerns in the area of POVERTY REDUCTION (additional details are noted in the attached Call for Concept Papers).
  • CNCS is also especially interested in agencies that promote service or policy planning which address the nation's opioid crisis.
  • Agencies would be asked to absorb the cost share requirement for their VISTA member. This cost share requirement varies based on community (related to a cost of living scale) and supports the living stipend of the VISTA. The yearly rates range from $12,311.45 to $24,119.20. That being said, about 65% of members are paid the $12,311.45 yearly amount.
If you think you might be interested in pursuing participation again with the VISTA program, please discuss this opportunity within your agency and please indicate your interest by email to Reuben Rotman.
If there is sufficient interest in moving forward, we will look to schedule a call with interested agencies in November to discuss the program model we would submit.
Of course, please feel free to reach out with any questions.
 
Thanking you in advance for your consideration of this invitation.