COVID-19 Resources & Updates
As COVID-19 continues to shape new guidelines and policies for work and personal life, CCNYPA staff are taking measures to ensure our VISTA members and compact communities are safe and have the necessary support. We acknowledge that the speed of information has been fast and we're committed to offering clear, concise, and compassionate responses. The well-being of each member and partner is our top priority.
Who determines if a VISTA member should teleserve or continue reporting on site? The health and safety of our AmeriCorps VISTA members is our top priority. What health and safety looks like for members varies by individual circumstances, which is why it is important for supervisors to take into serious consideration the service environment needs of all members during this time. If a member asks to teleserve, to the extent that the member’s service activities can be performed in a teleservice environment, we recommend that supervisors grant each member’s request. *CCNYPA staff can be part of the conversation if needed.
Covid-19 Tele-Service Protocol:
Covid-19 Policy:
Can VISTA members use a combination of reporting to site & tele-service? Yes, VISTA members may use a combination of reporting to site and teleservice. VISTA members must communicate their on-site and tele-service schedules to their supervisor and CCNYPA staff.
What if a VISTA member cannot report to site and cannot tele-serve due to a lack of teleservice resources? Both the VISTA member and Supervisor will need to set-up a meeting with Lucio & Danelle to determine an appropriate course of action.
If a host site makes available COVID-19 vaccines for their employees, can the host site include members in any vaccination plans? AmeriCorps encourages host sites to exercise flexibility and extend the opportunity to AmeriCorps members to participate in any vaccination plans, to the extent permissible by state guidelines.
Can a host site require a member to receive a vaccine for COVID-19 to serve onsite? AmeriCorps does not mandate vaccination for members to serve. However, whether a host site may mandate vaccination for members to serve on site is a determination for the host site to make, consistent with federal, state, and local law. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provide guidance applicable to the COVID-19 vaccination at the links provided below. If a grantee or sponsor does mandate vaccination, there may be medical or religious exemptions. Generally, grantees and sponsors are encouraged to follow state and local law, and CDC and EEOC guidance around workplace vaccination plans.
This is a constantly evolving situation, and for that reason we will re-evaluate each tele-service case frequently. It is the goal of CCNYPA and AmeriCorps to have members safely serving on-site as often and as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Tele-Service Protocol:
- Tele-service Form: Teleserving VISTA members must complete a VISTA Teleservice Form with their supervisor (found on CCNYPA’s website) that has been submitted to Lucio or Danelle for approval from AmeriCorps Headquarters.
- Tele-service Capabilities: The VISTA must have proper equipment, workspace, and capabilities to teleserve.
- Daily Check-ins: Supervisors & members must check in with each other on a daily basis. When a member is teleserving, the member must record their time appropriately.
- Tele-service Work Plan & Reporting: VISTAs who are tele-serving must create a bi-weekly work plan, using the VAD as a guide, with their supervisor and then send a report of completed work/accomplished VAD activities to their supervisor and CCNYPA staff EVERY Friday afternoon.
Covid-19 Policy:
Can VISTA members use a combination of reporting to site & tele-service? Yes, VISTA members may use a combination of reporting to site and teleservice. VISTA members must communicate their on-site and tele-service schedules to their supervisor and CCNYPA staff.
What if a VISTA member cannot report to site and cannot tele-serve due to a lack of teleservice resources? Both the VISTA member and Supervisor will need to set-up a meeting with Lucio & Danelle to determine an appropriate course of action.
If a host site makes available COVID-19 vaccines for their employees, can the host site include members in any vaccination plans? AmeriCorps encourages host sites to exercise flexibility and extend the opportunity to AmeriCorps members to participate in any vaccination plans, to the extent permissible by state guidelines.
Can a host site require a member to receive a vaccine for COVID-19 to serve onsite? AmeriCorps does not mandate vaccination for members to serve. However, whether a host site may mandate vaccination for members to serve on site is a determination for the host site to make, consistent with federal, state, and local law. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provide guidance applicable to the COVID-19 vaccination at the links provided below. If a grantee or sponsor does mandate vaccination, there may be medical or religious exemptions. Generally, grantees and sponsors are encouraged to follow state and local law, and CDC and EEOC guidance around workplace vaccination plans.
This is a constantly evolving situation, and for that reason we will re-evaluate each tele-service case frequently. It is the goal of CCNYPA and AmeriCorps to have members safely serving on-site as often and as soon as possible.
Tele-Service Information
If the VISTA member is requesting to work remotely, please complete the VISTA Tele-Service Form and send to Lucio@compactnypa.org
| VISTA TeleService Form.pdf |
Our CCNYPA*VISTA Members are expected to follow all federal, state, and local COVID-19 guidance. For example mask mandates, social distancing, and vaccination requirements that may go into effect for some campus or community organization staff.
Pennsylvania Department of Health: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
New York Department of Health: https://www.health.ny.gov
Pennsylvania Department of Health: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx
New York Department of Health: https://www.health.ny.gov
FAQ on COVID-19 from AmeriCorps
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Self-Care
As a reminder, all CCNYPA*VISTA Members have access to free mental health services through America's Service Commission. Please reach out to our staff if you need help accessing that.
Resources for Working Remotely
Things to work on:
- Review VAD- Create list of what was accomplished and what can be accomplished remotely
- Professional Development - Update your resume, career building pre-work for spring retreat, work on your LinkedIn account
- Continued Education- https://learn.americorps.gov/ watch one webinar a day, read research articles, sign up for other webinars on topics of interest. Keep learning and building your skill sets!
- Communication- Check in with other cohort members, take time to call colleagues/community partners to chat. Stay connected virtually!
- Ask community partners what tools they might need when they open (social media template, flyers etc.)
- Research grant(s) or other potential funding opportunities for your project, create a timeline
- Send thank you notes to your volunteers
- Work on preparing your legacy documents for the next VISTA or staff members
- Self-Care- listen to your favorite music station(s), yoga, candles, healthy snacks, wear comfy clothes, reflect on the positives of the day, watch videos on tick-tock, take periodic breaks to stretch!
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