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HOW AN AFFILIATE CAN HOST A VISTA
Jump
to to the following sections:
Program Description
Affiliate
Responsibilities
Affiliate Application Process
Training
Evaluation
VISTA Committee
Program Description
Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota (HFH-MN) has operated a VISTA
program since 1999. In that time over 100 VISTA positions have been
awarded to 23 different affiliates. VISTA is an acronym for "Volunteers
In Service To America" and is sometimes described as the domestic
equivalent of the Peace Corps. Volunteers commit to a year of service
at a Habitat affiliate with the goal of increasing the
affiliate’s organizational capacity. The four most typical
work plans elements for a Habitat VISTA are: 1) strengthening affiliate
committees, 2) creating new, self-sustaining programs (i.e. ReStore,
Youth United, Church Relations, etc.), 3.) developing public relations
resources and materials, and 4) increasing volunteer participation in
the affiliate. VISTAs typically work 40 hours week for which they
receive an annual living allowance ranging from $9996-$10,380 in
Greater Minnesota to $10,908 in the Twin Cities. Health benefits as
well as student loan forbearance and child care benefits (for those who
qualify) are provided. The VISTA member also elects to receive either a
$4,725 education award or a $1,200 cash award at the end of their year
of service. VISTA is a federally funded program managed by the
Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The Habitat for
Humanity of Minnesota VISTA program is funded by a grant from the
Minnesota State office of the Corporation for National and Community
Service.
Affiliate
Responsibilities
Minnesota Habitat for Humanity affiliates hosting VISTA members are
subject to the following requirements:
- VISTA Mileage – Each affiliate is responsible for reimbursing the
work related travel costs for their VISTA. Travel costs include mileage
to events including affiliate meetings, community meetings and HFH-MN
sponsored VISTA trainings and gatherings. Travel expenses for the VISTA
PSO training will be covered by CNCS.
- Supervision – The award of a VISTA position to an affiliate is
conditioned upon the affiliate providing appropriate supervision for
the VISTA. Affiliates should identify one person to serve as the
primary VISTA supervisor. The designated supervisor must dedicate some
portion of their time each week to VISTA supervision. VISTAs
experiencing less than satisfactory supervision may request
reassignment to another affiliate.
- Support
– In order to support a VISTA member adequately
affiliates must have an office space with access to a desk/workspace as
well as office tools and technology including a telephone, fax,
computer with internet and email, and other standard office equipment.
- VISTA Workplan – Affiliates are required to provide each VISTA
member with a workplan that outlines the goals, objectives and tasks
for their service year. Workplans will be reviewed and approved by the
VISTA Committee and the CNCS office prior to the
placement of a VISTA
member. The VISTA workplan should focus on indirect service activities
that build the capacity of the affiliate, see this sample
workplan. HFH-MN recognizes from
time to time exceptional circumstances may require the VISTA to perform
direct service activities for a brief amount of time. The continued
assignment of direct service activities to a VISTA will be considered a
violation of the spirit of the program and further VISTA assignments
will not be considered.
- VISTA Recruitment
– Ultimate responsibility for recruiting
and interviewing VISTA members rests with the affiliate. HFH-MN
provides support to recruitment efforts through the following
activities: 1) Electronic
Recruiting / Web Sites, 2) Job Fairs, and 3)
Job Postings through colleges and universities.
- Orientation – Affiliates hosting VISTA members are required to
prepare an on-site-training and orientation plan which details how the
VISTA will spend the first two weeks of their tenure learning about
Habitat, the affiliate, their community, and generally settling in to
the position. See a sample
VISTA orientation plan.
- Quarterly Reports – Each VISTA supervisor is to complete a report
with their VISTA member detailing activities and results related to the
approved VISTA work plan on a quarterly basis. See a sample quarterly progress
report form.
- Memorandum of
Understanding – The rights and responsibilities of
the affiliate and HFH-MN are documented and affirmed in a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) signed by the affiliate and HFH-MN prior
to the
recruitment of a VISTA member.
- VISTA Supervisor Training – Certain components of the VISTA
training program are best experienced by the VISTAs with their
supervisors in attendance. The supervisor is expected to participate in
these training components. Specifically, the supervisor is required to
attend the first VISTA training in September. In addition, new VISTA
supervisors are required to participate in a one-day training provided
by HFH-MN in the spring or a CNCS sponsored supervisor training in the
Chicago area.
- Program Fees – In order to cover costs associated with the HFH-MN VISTA Program and
to meet the matching requirements of the VISTA grant, affiliates are
required to pay a non-refundable program fee. VISTA program fees for the
2008-2009 program year are $3000. All fees must be
submitted along with the affiliate’s signed Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) prior to the recruitment and selection of
VISTA members. Again, VISTA fees are non-refundable.
Affiliate Application Process
- Electronic Applications – To facilitate a more efficient process
and use of application materials, applications are submitted
electronically as a Microsoft Word document. The application consists
of a set of questions that the affiliate composes responses to and then
e-mails to HFH-MN. This process greatly improves our ability to post
work plan / position requirement information web sites and transmit
this type of information to potential recruits.
- Format –
Application materials will be emailed to all affiliates in early
January. The application includes a set of 12 questions and a
workplan outlining the goals, objectives, tasks, and measurable
outcomes the VISTA will achieve.
Please
note the following important
dates and requirements:
February 1, 2008
– VISTA Host Affiliate Application Training
– all affiliates applying to host a VISTA are required to
send a representative to this training. Affiliates that do
not attend will not be eligible for a VISTA placement. Email sara@hfhmn.org
to RSVP for this event.
February 1, 2008
– Deadline to submit VISTA application and
workplan
draft for HFH-MN review and feedback. Please send
electronically as an email attachment to
sara@hfhmn.org.
February 15,
2008 – Final draft of VISTA application and
workplan due to HFH-MN by 5 pm. Please send electronically as
an email attachment
to
sara@hfhmn.org.
VISTA
Host Affiliate Application for 2008-2009
Program Year. The following are the questions in the
application:
- Describe
the affiliate's history and community development track
record.
- Describe
the affordable housing situation in the affiliate's
service area.
- Describe
the affiliate and/or community need the VISTA project will
address.
- Using
the workplan
template, create a workplan for the VISTA member that
addresses the community need described above. The workplan should
include: a) objectives/tasks, b) a timeframe for each task, c) a
description of the resources available, d) measurable
indictors/outcomes, and e) a plan for how the activity will be
sustained after the VISTA member has completed their year of service.
- List
the skills and qualifications the affiliate is seeking in a VISTA
member.
- Describe
the recruitment efforts the affiliate will take to fill
the VISTA position.
- Provide
a one paragraph description of the VISTA position and what the VISTA
member will do. This paragraph will be used in recruitment postings and
should be limited to no more than 1000 characters.
- Explain
how the VISTA member will be supervised. Describe the
qualifications, availability and management style of the supervisor.
- Describe
the types of support the affiliate will provide to the
VISTA member, above and beyond what’s provided by Habitat for
Humanity of Minnesota (i.e. training and professional development
opportunities, involvement of other staff/volunteers, housing or
transportation allowances, etc.).
- Explain
how the affiliate board will be engaged in supporting the work of the
VISTA including how the board will be educated on the role and
responsibilities of the VISTA, and how the board will be kept
up-to-date on the VISTA’s activities.
- Describe
the physical office environment in which the VISTA will
work.
- If
your affiliate previously hosted VISTA members, please answer
the following questions:
- How
has the work of previous VISTA members increased the capacity of
your affiliate?
- Explain
if this application’s workplan elements are a
continuation of a previous VISTA workplan or if this is a new
initiative.
- Timing – In
November HFH-MN notifies all affiliates not
participating in the VISTA program of the option of having the VISTA
Program Manager attend a Board meeting to discuss the program and how
the affiliate could become involved. Application questions (listed
above) are e-mailed to affiliates in January. In early February, HFH-MN
holds a training for all affiliates applying for VISTA positions. All
affiliates that plan to apply for a VISTA member are required to send a
representative to this training. Completed applications are due to
HFH-MN in mid-February. The HFH-MN VISTA Committee meets to review
applications and make recommendations to the HFH-MN Board in late
February or early March. Affiliates are notified of selection decisions
in mid-March. VISTA members generally begin their year of service in
August. Under certain circumstances and with approval of the CNCS
office VISTAs may also begin in either November or February.
- Review and Approval
Process – HFH-MN uses a competitive process to
award VISTA positions to affiliates. The VISTA Program Manager collects
applications and distributes them to the HFH-MN VISTA Committee. The
Committee reviews these applications and provides direction as to: a)
which sites are recommended for approval, b) which sites are needing to
make modifications to their work plans but are provisionally
recommended for approval, and c) which sites are not recommended for
approval. These recommendations are presented to the HFH-MN Board at
its March meeting for final action.
Training
Prior to actually starting their year of service, each
VISTA must attend a Pre-Service Orientation (PSO), usually held in the
Twin Cities area. The content and the structure of these training are
determined by CNCS which also pays the costs associated with training
(including lodging transportation and meals). HFH-MN provides three
additional VISTA trainings during the program year. Each training
includes the following three elements: 1) Habitat Specific Training, 2)
Leadership Development Training, and 3) Discussions with the "Gurus".
Affiliates are required to allow VISTA members time away from the
office to attend these trainings.
Evaluation
Each major element of the VISTA program is evaluated on
an annual basis. Major program elements include: 1) Trainings, 2)
VISTAs’ experience with the program, and 3) VISTA
Supervisors' experience with the program. Review the 2006-2007 VISTA program
evaluation report.
HFH-MN VISTA Committee
The HFH-MN Board appoints a 6 member VISTA
Committee to oversee the operation of the program. Committee members
are selected for their in-depth experience and participation in VISTA
or VISTA-type programs. The HFH-MN VISTA Committee is responsible for
providing input and direction with respect to both the affiliate
applications, official program policies and the scope / nature of the
HFH-MN VISTA program.
For more information on the VISTA Program please contact Sara Wessling,
VISTA Program Manager at HFH-MN 612-331-4439, x2 or sara@hfhmn.org
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