Program Support Project Coordinator -- AmeriCorps VISTA
Employee will be an AmeriCorps VISTA member working at A Safe Haven Foundation!
AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members bring passion and perseverance where the need is greatest: to organizations that help eradicate poverty. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve as a catalyst for change, living and working alongside community members to meet our nation’s most pressing challenges and advance local solutions.
Along with a living stipend paid bi-weekly, a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA member also can choose to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, worth approximately $6,000, or an end-of-service cash stipend, with approximately $1,800, at the end of their service term. The amount of a full-time Education Award increases every year based on the Pell Grant.
AmeriCorps VISTA members' benefits also include:
- Professional development training -- Attending in person and virtual training where you learn how to be a community development change agent.
- Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) -- AmeriCorps VISTA is the only AmeriCorps program where you can earn federal non-competitive eligibility, giving you an edge in the federal hiring process.
- Relocation allowance -- If you move 50+ miles from your home to a new community, you receive relocation travel assistance and a settling-in allowance.
- Healthcare Benefit -- Choose between reimbursement for healthcare or a healthcare plan. Dental and vision are also included.
- Child Care -- You may be eligible to receive a child care benefit if you have children under the age of 13.
VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)
Title: AmeriCorps VISTA, Program Support Project Coordinator - Veteran Services
Sponsoring Organization: A Safe Haven Foundation
Project Name: A Safe Haven Foundation Opioid Intervention
Project Number: 17VSNIL005
Project Period: 07/22/2018 - 04/11/2020
Site Name (if applicable): A Safe Haven Foundation
Focus Area(s)
Primary: Healthy Futures
Secondary: Capacity Building
VISTA Assignment Objectives and Member Activities
Goal of the Project: The VISTA will serve as part of an intra-agency team studying A Safe Haven Foundation’s model. The project is intended to identify best practices, revise and update policies and procedures and train staff to implement the updated procedures, so ASHF can scale its services and thus better serve homeless individuals in Chicago—particularly those at high-risk for opioid use and abuse, ultimately helping
them transition out of poverty by creating greater access to treatment.
Objective of the Assignment (Period of Performance: March 16, 2020 - March 15, 2021)
The VISTA will work directly with the ASHF Program Director in making organizational revising and updating the policies and procedures with the Veteran Services Department. In supporting the ASHF Veteran Services department, the VISTA will be impacting ASHF’s ability to effectively deliver services designed to decrease opioid use and dependency amongst residents. The VISTA will support the operations and direct service team in reviewing and revising department policies and procedures with an
emphasis on improving treatment outcomes. These improved and updated operating procedures will strengthen program delivery, improve service delivery and reduce negative outcomes for clients.
Member Activity: In order to revise and update the department policies and procedures, the VISTA will work closely with the Program Director to develop processes and procedures for improving service delivery to clients and recording client outcomes for regulators and funders.
In this role the VISTA will:
•Conduct literature reviews and background research on best practices, policies and procedures for nonprofit human service organizations
•Meet with program managers and staff – in groups and one-on-one – to assess current policies and procedures.
•Provide program management to integrate best practices and regular quality improvement into creating a standard operating procedures manuals for each department.
•Coordinate with the Director of Programs to write new policies and procedures manual.
•Conduct training presentations on new policies and procedures for department staff.