Community ServiceSummer of Safety Learn and Serve America Program; Notice CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service announces

the availability of up to $400,000 for grants to support innovative

summer service-learning initiatives that address public needs. These

funds will provide service opportunities for more than 1,000 youth to

serve their communities. Operating grants will be awarded on a

competitive basis to qualified public or private nonprofit

organizations for the purpose of implementing exceptionally innovative,

high-quality community-based service-learning programs.

DATES: The deadline for the submission of proposals is Monday, March

21, 1994.

ADDRESSES: All proposals should be submitted to the Corporation for

National and Community Service, 1100 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington,

DC., 20525.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ruby Anderson, senior program officer, at the Corporation for National

and Community Service, (202) 606-5000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On September 21, 1993 the President signed into law the National

and Community Service Trust Act (the Act), which created the

Corporation for National and Community Service (the Corporation). The

Corporation's mission is to engage Americans of all ages and

backgrounds in service that addresses the nation's educational, public

safety, health, and environmental needs to achieve direct and

demonstrable results. In doing so, the Corporation will foster civic

responsibility, strengthen the ties that bind us together as a people,

and provide educational opportunity for those who make a substantial

commitment to service.

The Corporation is a new federal agency that encompasses the work

and staff of two existing independent agencies, the Commission on

National and Community Service and ACTION. The Corporation will fund a

new national service initiative called AmeriCorps, service-learning

initiatives for elementary and secondary schools and institutions of

higher education called Learn and Serve America, and the new National

Civilian Community Corps. The Corporation will also engage in efforts

to improve the quality of service programs and continue to support the

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program and the senior

volunteer programs previously sponsored by ACTION.

The Act authorizes the Corporation to support summer service

programs directly (such as the Summer of Safety) and indirectly, in

conjunction with the States. Programs that operate during the summer

offer an excellent opportunity to experiment with new approaches to

solving community problems and to bring new resources and participants

into community service efforts.

Objectives of the Summer of Safety Program

``Summer of Safety,'' the Corporation's 1994 summer service

program, is being launched in response to growing concern and

frustration over the levels of crime and violence across the country.

The 1994 Summer of Safety program will demonstrate the potential of

service as a means of addressing these community problems by tapping

the talents and energies of Americans of all ages and backgrounds.

The Learn and Serve America component of Summer of Safety will

support community-based initiatives that provide youth with

opportunities to learn and develop their own capabilities through

service-learning. Service-learning is an educational method which

engages young people in service to their communities as a means of

enriching their academic learning, promoting personal growth, and

helping them to develop the skills needed for productive citizenship.

Summer of Safety will promote youth development and address the public

safety needs of communities by achieving the following objectives:

--Supporting community-based organizations to create, develop, and

offer public safety-related service-learning opportunities for youth

between the ages of five and 17 inclusive;

--Building new partnerships and collaborations for safety that

capitalize on a broad range of community resources;

--Demonstrating that young people can play a role in making communities

safer; and

--Stimulating public interest in national service as a means to respond

to America's problems.

Program Overview

The Learn and Serve America Summer of Safety Program is designed to

engage young people in meeting the public safety needs of their

communities. In doing so, these projects can build positive community

relationships, with young people involved; provide hands-on education

in crime prevention that will be shared with parents, siblings and

other youth; increase crime reporting by youth; help prevent crimes

against and by youth; and help young people play a role in making their

neighborhoods safer.

The Corporation will fund up to eight exceptionally innovative

summer programs that will operate for eight to ten weeks during the

summer months. Selected programs will be officially launched on June

21, and should end by August 24. Grants will be made to programs

recruiting a minimum of 100 participants between the ages of five and

17 inclusive and will range from approximately $50,000 to $75,000.

Eligible applicants must be public or private nonprofit

organizations experienced in working with school-age youth. In

addition, a nonprofit must have been in existence for at least one

year. Summer of Safety programs should be carried out by community-

based organizations, including law enforcement, in partnership with one

or more local education agencies or other organizations. Programs must

be based on the creative and innovative application of service-learning

opportunities that address community public safety needs. In addition,

the Corporation encourages programs that encompass multiple sites.

Summer of Safety will support community-based programs that engage

youth of different ages, races, genders, ethnic groups, disabilities,

or economic backgrounds in a variety of service-learning activities.

These service-learning activities must promote personal growth and, at

the same time, address the community's public safety needs. Possible

program activities could include:

--Training youth in conflict resolution strategies to function as peer

mediators to reduce violent conflicts among other youth. Participants

would gain self-esteem, develop problem-solving, communication and

critical thinking skills, and a better understanding of how to resolve

differences effectively without violence.

--Youth researching public safety issues in their community through

contacts with local law enforcement officials, residents and crime

prevention organizations in order to develop service projects that

address specific needs like a neighborhood playground cleanup with a

recycling component and then a public awareness campaign aimed at

keeping playgrounds clean, safe and hazard-free.

--Older youth leading younger children in creating posters and

brochures that cover first aid, crime prevention, reporting crime,

substance abuse prevention or other topics. Development of the

materials might involve youths working with representatives of law

enforcement, crime prevention and substance abuse prevention

organizations, local emergency health care employees, local residents

or other youth. Participants might also present their material and

ideas to local officials and residents at community meetings.

--Middle school and high school age youth teaching young children about

violence prevention, substance abuse prevention, vandalism prevention,

self-esteem, and peer pressure. The older youth research issues and

design the presentations developing their research, organizational and

public speaking skills.

--Young people of all ages designing and coordinating a crime

prevention or public safety fair with exhibit booths and workshops.

Youth participants can use art and vocational skills and improve their

organizational and communication skills through presentations. They

will build self-confidence and awareness of the community's resources

through soliciting community groups and businesses for their input and

support.

--Plays, skits and puppet shows with crime, violence, drug prevention,

or self-protection themes that are written and organized by teens and

presented to younger children. This project requires participants to

utilize writing skills and creativity and increases their knowledge of

substantive public safety issues.

--Young people tackling the issue of substance abuse in their community

by conducting a survey of their peers, analyzing the responses, and

developing strategies for combating the identified problems. This

project will incorporate peer counseling and peer involvement leading

to improved interpersonal skills.

--Participants creating a peer court system where youth are trained by

local justice experts to be the judges, lawyers, jurors, bailiffs, and

court clerks. They hear and try cases involving peers, make real

judgments and pass actual sentences. Young people would learn how the

legal system works and gain excellent analytical and communications

skills.

Funding Guidelines

The Corporation expects to make grants ranging from $50,000 to

$75,000. There are four basic requirements concerning program funding

for Learn and Serve America Summer of Safety grants:

--The Corporation share of the total cost to carry out a funded project

may not exceed 90 percent.

--A qualified organization must spend no more than five percent of the

grant funds on administrative costs for any fiscal year.

--A qualified organization may spend between 10 and 15 percent of the

grant to build capacity through training, technical assistance,

curriculum development, and coordination activities.

--Stipends, allowances, or other financial support may not be paid to

any program participant except as reimbursement for transportation,

meals, and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses directly related to

program participation.

Restrictions Governing the Use of Corporation Assistance

Corporation assistance may not be used:

--To provide religious instruction, conduct worship services or engage

in any form of proselytization;

--To assist, promote, or deter union organizing;

--To finance, directly or indirectly, any activity designed to

influence the outcome of an election to any public office;

--To impair existing contracts for services or collective bargaining

agreements; or

--To make up for any budget cuts in State or local public funds in this

or the preceding fiscal year.

Selection Criteria

Applications for Learn and Serve America Summer of Safety programs

will be evaluated based on the following criteria which are listed in

order of importance with maximum points for each item listed:

(1) Quality (70)

(a) Concept and Design (40)

--The plan meets community needs and involves individuals from diverse

backgrounds (including economically disadvantaged youth and disabled

individuals) who will serve together and explore the underlying causes

of public safety problems.

--The goals and objectives of the plan are appropriate for promoting

community-based service-learning.

--The plan provides for productive, meaningful, educational experiences

that incorporate service-learning methods.

--The extent to which service projects will be carried out in areas

that are economically or environmentally distressed (such as

empowerment zones, redevelopment areas, or other areas with high

concentrations of low-income people).

--The extent to which the program will recruit participants from among

residents of the communities in which service projects would be

conducted.

--The extent to which the program will involve participants and

community residents in the design, leadership, and operation of the

program.

--The extent and quality of the program's partnership, including the

ongoing involvement of partners and the applicant's plan for

partnership maintenance.

(b) Organizational Capacity (30)

--The plan describes a sound process for training, technical

assistance, supervision, quality control, evaluation, administration,

and other key activities.

--The principal leaders who will implement the plan are well qualified

for their responsibilities.

--The plan describes the experience in operating public safety and/or

community service initiatives.

--The plan describes the track record demonstrating capacity to

organize and facilitate partnership of participating agencies and

organizations.

--The plan describes ability to conduct fiscal affairs of program.

(2) Innovation and Replicability (15)

--The plan is unique and innovative in its approach to applying

service-learning strategies to promote public safety.

--The applicant demonstrates the ability to assist others in

replicating the program concept.

--The plan advances knowledge about how to do effective and innovative

community service-learning aimed at addressing public safety needs.

(3) Sustainability (15)

--The plan fosters collaborative efforts among community-based

organizations, local educational agencies, and local government

agencies, and/or businesses.

--The plan has strong, broad-based partnerships and has community

support.

--The program shows evidence of a cost-effective approach in using

Corporation and other Federal funds and non-Federal resources (cash or

in-kind).

--There is evidence that financial resources will be available to

continue the Learn and Serve America effort after the expiration of the

grant.

Proposal Guidelines

The application consists of, among other things, the submission of

a proposal that describes how the qualified organization will promote,

manage, and evaluate a community-based service-learning project which

addresses public safety needs.

The application must contain the following components in this

order:

(1) Title page

(2) Abstract

(3) Program narrative

(4) Institutional and personnel information

(5) Budget information

(6) Assurances signature form

(7( Certification signature form

(8) Appendices

The following information describes requirements for each component

listed above.

I. Title Page

Please complete the attached form.

II. Abstract

Attach a one-page, double-spaced summary following the title page.

It should describe the proposal's.

--goals and objectives;

--proposed activities; and

--expected outcomes.

III. Program Narrative

This portion of the proposal, not to exceed 20 typed, double-spaced

pages, should cover a period of eight to ten weeks. The program

narrative must include the following items (the questions under each

section are not prescriptive but illustrative).

(A) Needs

--What specific unmet public safety need(s) will the applicant seek to

address through service-learning strategies?

--What process will be, or has been, used to determine the need(s)?

--Who will be, or has been, involved in making the determination?

--How will youth participants be involved?

(B) Demographics

--How will the applicant ensure broad-based community involvement in

identifying service-learning projects and diverse participant mix

(different ages, grade levels, races, genders, ethnic groups,

disabilities, or economic backgrounds)?

--How will community input be encouraged?

--What will be the geographic breakdown (rural, suburban, urban, etc.)?

--What will be the socio-economic and ethnic breakdown of the

participants?

(C) Goals and Objectives

Describe the goals and objectives of the proposal.

--What are the desired, time-phased, and demonstrable outcomes?

--How will the program be innovative?

--How many youth will be involved in the program?

--How will service-learning be integrated into community-based program

curricula?

--Who are potential local partners?

--What is your expected participant impact? For example, what

knowledge, skills, and attitudes will participants achieve as a result

of service-learning?

--What is the expected community impact? For example, how many local

organizations will benefit, how many people will be served, how many

hours of service will be provided, and what improvements will result

from student service-learning?

--How will your goals and objectives build on the existing service-

learning activities in the local community? For example, what current

service-learning programs exist, and what will be their relationship to

the program?

(D) Design and Activities

(1) Participant Recruitment

--How will the applicant recruit the minimum of 100 program

participants between the ages of five and 17 inclusive?

--Will the program focus on a particular age group?

--What will be the criteria for participant selection?

--How will the applicant ensure diversity among participants?

(2) Training and Building Capacity for Service-Learning

--What training will be provided?

--Who will provide the training?

--Who will receive the training, (e.g. teachers, staff, participants

organizations and agencies, community members, and other adults)?

--What technical assistance will be provided to other communities who

would like to implement successfully-tested local models?

--What partnerships will be developed?

--What outreach to other community-based organizations, local education

agencies, or local government agencies will be conducted?

(3) Types of Service Activities Offered

--How will you ensure age-appropriate public safety-related service-

learning activities?

--Who will determine what service activities are offered?

--How will participants be oriented or prepared for their service-

learning experiences?

--What opportunities will be provided to participants to reflect on

their service-learning experiences?

--How will professionals in the service-learning field be involved?

--Who will be responsible for coordinating this effort?

--How will student input be obtained?

--How will service opportunities for economically and educationally

disadvantaged youth and individuals with disabilities be assured?

(4) Coordination

--What are the roles and responsibilities of program partners?

--If the program involves multiple sites, how will they be coordinated?

What will be the common elements?

--How will information be disseminated and outreach efforts be

conducted to ensure the involvement of a wide range of organizations?

--Will service-learning activities be coordinated with federally and

non-federally assisted education and training programs?

--How will the plan promote public awareness of service-learning and

recognize exemplary service?

(E) Quality Control and Evaluation

--How will the applicant conduct program management?

--How will the achievement of goals and objectives and timely

implementation be monitored?

--How will the qualified organization provide on-going self-evaluation

(e.g. data collection, measuring outcomes, and assessing the process to

make improvement as needed)?

--At the end of the summer, what difference will the program have made?

(F) Sustainability of the Program

--How will the applicant replicate or sustain its efforts after the

Corporation funding is completed?

--Will potential funding sources be identified?

--Is there a commitment to support service-learning activities after

Summer of Safety funding expires?

--Will the program be linked to other State, Federal or local

initiatives?

(G) Institutional and Personnel Information

This portion addresses the applicant's, its staff's, and its

partners' capability to manage a local service-learning program. The

applicant should describe its:

--Experience in administering service-learning programming;

--Capacity to operate service-learning programs, including information

on experience of key staff members or plans to recruit for that

expertise;

--Capacity to evaluate service-learning programming, including

information on the staff person responsible for this component or plans

to recruit for that expertise.

(H) Budget Information

Complete the budget form provided on page xx. Applicants may

request between $50,000 and $75,000. Also provide a budget narrative

that explains both federal and non-federal resources which include:

--The basis used to estimate the total cost for each line item; and

--How each line item relates to the proposed program.

The budget should be sufficient to perform the task described in

the proposal narrative. It should not contain unexplained amounts for

miscellaneous or contingency costs or unallowable line items such as

stipends.

(I) Assurances Signature Form

Programs that are funded will be required to sign a form certifying

that they will agree to perform all actions and support all intentions

stated in the assurances.

(J) Certification Signature Form

Because grants from the Corporation are federal grants, potential

grantees will be required to execute federal certifications, including

drug-free workplace, buy America, prohibition on lobbying activities,

and debarment, suspension and other responsibility matters.

(K) Appendices

This portion of the proposal is limited to five pages. Items could

include:

--Partnership information;

--Letters of support with details on cooperation;

--Brochures, pamphlets, and publicity items.

Video and cassette tapes should not be submitted.

Term of Grants

Programs should consider June 21 as the official date to launch

their efforts, and programs should end by August 24.

Review Process

The Corporation will review these applications in a multi-stage

assessment process, including a peer review and staff review and

approval. Additionally, the Corporation may conduct discussions and/or

site visits with some or all applicants. Applicants should be prepared

to participate if requested.

Submission Procedure

Applicants must mail or hand-deliver an unbound original and seven

unbound copies of the complete application to the address listed at the

beginning of this notice.

Appendix: Definitions

Administrative costs. Administrative costs are costs associated

with the overall administration of a Corporation program. Such costs

include the following: (1) Indirect costs (e.g., costs identified

with two or more cost objectives but not identified with a

particular cost objective) as described in applicable provisions of

Office of Management and Budget Circulars that relate to indirect

costs; (2) costs for financial, accounting, or contracting

functions; (3) costs for insurance that protects the entity that

operates the program; and (4) costs for salaries and benefits of the

director and any other administrative staff of the program.

Administrative costs do not include allowable costs directly related

to program operations, such as the following: (1) Costs for living

allowances and training of participants; (2) costs for staff

training; (3) costs for travel; (4) costs related to the evaluation

of the program; (5) costs for salaries and benefits of staff who

recruit, train, place, or supervise participants. Particular costs

such as those associated with staff who perform both administrative

and program functions may be prorated between administrative costs

and costs directly related to program operations.

Community-based agency. A community-based agency is a private

nonprofit organization (including a church or religious entity) that

is representative of a community or a significant segment of a

community, and is engaged in meeting human, educational,

environmental, or public safety community needs.

Grantmaking entity. A grantmaking entity for school-based

programs is a public or private nonprofit organization experienced

in service-learning that submits an application to make grants for

school-based service-learning programs and was in existence at least

one year before the date on which the organization submitted the

application.

Local Educational Agency (LEA). Local Educational Agency has the

same meaning given such term in section 1471(12) of the Elementary

and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2891(12)).

Partnership. A partnership is an organization comprised of two

or more entities that entered into a written agreement specifying

the responsibilities of each partner with respect to a service-

learning program.

Qualified organization. A qualified organization is a public or

private nonprofit organization, other than a grantmaking entity,

that has experience in working with school-age youth, and that was

in existence at least one year before the date on which the

organization submitted an application for a service-learning

program.

School-age youth. School-age youth are individuals between the

ages of 5 and 17, inclusive; and children with disabilities as

defined in section 602(a)(1)) of the Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401(a)(1)), who receive services under

part B of such Act.

Service-learning. Service-learning is a method whereby

participants or participants learn and develop through active

participation in thoughtfully-organized service that is conducted in

and meets the needs of a community; is coordinated with an

elementary school, secondary school, institution of higher

education, or community service program, and with the community;

helps foster civic responsibility; is integrated into and enhances

the academic curriculum of the participants, or the educational

components of the community service program in which the

participants are enrolled; and provides structured time for the

participants or participants to reflect on the service experience.

Dated: February 4, 1994.

Catherine Milton,

Vice President and Director of National and Community Service Programs.

BILLING CODE 6820-BA-M