MANUAL, REGULATIONS &

GUIDELINES
OUR GOALS
 Excellence in all aspects of service
 Serving our clients with respect and dignity

 Client-centric orientation

 Encourage community engagement and ongoing

community dialogue
 Address current and pressing community needs

 Operate with a collaborative spirit

QUALIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE
 United States citizen, United States national, or a legal
permanent resident
 At least 17 years old

 Must have a valid driver’s license, car insurance and

reliable transportation
 No record of being convicted of a felony
SUPERVISION OR WHO’S THE BOSS?
 Host site supervisor
 Will provide day-to-day supervision and direction
 Service schedules
 Specific tasks, assignments, deadlines, timelines

 Program Director
 Special assignments
 Training

 Day-to-day concerns should be first discussed with your

site supervisor
SERVICE HOURS
 Full-time members
 1700 hour minimum in 12-month period
 Part-time members
 900 hour minimum in 12-month period
 Military service
 Jury duty
 Members must be available to serve on evenings and
weekends if needed
 Members must provide transportation
 Observe schedule approved by site supervisor
 Notify supervisor if changes are necessary
 Submit hour logs in OnCorps on a bi-weekly basis
DIVISION OF SERVICE HOURS
 Maximum of 20% of hours in training, education, or
other similar approved activities
 80% of hours will be service related
 Up to a maximum of 10% of service hours can be fundraising
 Specific program supplies
 Organizational memberships

 Financial resources to support member training

 Expansion of programs delivered by members

 Service activities provided by members

DAYS OF SERVICE
 Members will accumulate additional hours during Days
of Service
 Plan to participate in the following days of service:
 Global Youth Service Days & National Volunteer Week, end
of April
 AmeriCorps Week, early May
 National Day of Service and Remembrance, September 11
 Make a Difference Day, October 23
 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, January 17, 2011
WHAT ABOUT WHEN I’M NOT SERVING?
 Can attend school
 Can hold a paying job

 Can attend or lead worship services

FUNDRAISING REGULATIONS
 Members cannot:
 Raise funds for his or her living stipend 
 Raise funds for an organization’s operating expenses or
endowment
 Write grant applications for AmeriCorps funding or for any
other funding provided by the Corporation for National and
Community Service, or any other federal agency
 Spend more than 10% of service hours performing
fundraising activities
SECOND SERVICE TERM
 To be eligible, member must receive satisfactory
performance reviews for any previous term(s) of service
 Completed the required number of hours during first
term of service
 Satisfactorily completed assignments, tasks, or projects

 Met any other criteria communicated during first term of

service
 Eligibility for a second term does not guarantee
placement
MEMBERS AND OCSC
 AmeriCorps Members are not employees of the Ohio
Community Service Council (OCSC) or the host site
 The role of the AmeriCorps Member is defined in the
specific Member description assigned to each individual
Member.
 Only under special circumstances should an AmeriCorps
Member contact the Ohio Community Service Council
office directly. Questions or concerns should first be
directed to the AmeriCorps Program Director and/or
your Host Site’s coordinator.
LIVING STIPEND
 Full-time members
 $11,800 (taxable)
 Part-time members
 $6,247 (taxable)
 Distributed equally throughout 12 months of service; not
tied to hours served
 Can choose to waive living stipend
EDUCATION AWARD
 Full-time member
 $5350

 Part-time member
 $2675

 Awarded at completion of service

 55+ on first day of service
 May pass to one child, grandchild or foster child
 Must be used by recipient within 10 years of being awarded
to member
 Four terms, two full education awards allowed
 Loan forbearance
HEALTH INSURANCE
 Available to full-time members
 Full-time members may decline health insurance as
provided by NEO Literacy Corps if currently carrying
other insurance
 No dependent insurance available
CHILD CARE
 Child care allowance will be provided directly to the
childcare provider, if the member qualifies
 Distributed evenly over the term of service on a
biweekly basis by the National Association of Child Care
Resources and Referral Agencies, NACCRRA
 Recommended that members seek child care assistance
through the Department of Jobs and Family Services (if
income eligible) or other agency first
TRANSPORTATION
 Part-time members will receive bus passes for
transportation to and from monthly training meetings
 All members are expected to provide their own
transportation to and from the service site and other
service activities
SICK LEAVE AND VACATION
 AmeriCorps Members do not receive sick leave benefits
 If you are sick on a scheduled service day, notify your
site supervisor by the start of business that day
 Reschedule service hours for the missed day

 Only actual service hours completed are counted toward

the 1700 service hour requirement for a full-time term
(900 part-time) and eligibility for an education award
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
 NEO Literacy Corps is an equal opportunity employer
and has an established Affirmative Action Program
 For specific wording, refer to Member Handbook
DRUG-FREE ENVIRONMENT
 NEO Literacy Corps is a drug-free program
 Includes any location at which a host site conducts its business
 Members are absolutely prohibited from unlawfully
manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possessing, or using
controlled substances
 Including, but not limited to, narcotics, cannabis, stimulants,
depressants and hallucinogens.
 Prescription drugs taken in accordance with a doctor’s orders are not
considered to be unlawfully possessed or used under this policy.
 Any AmeriCorps member violating the above policy is subject
to discipline, up to and including termination, for the first
offense.
DRUG CONVICTION
 Under the Drug Free Workplace Act, you must
immediately notify Program Director if you have been
convicted under any criminal drug statute
 Participation in NEO Literacy Corps is then conditional
upon compliance with notifying Program Director
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
 All AmeriCorps Members are responsible for assuring
that the workplace is free from sexual harassment
 Sexually harassing behavior by any host site employee
or AmeriCorps Member, male or female, toward another
employee or Member will not be tolerated
 Includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual
nature
 Report complaints
CHILD ABUSE
 The abuse or neglect of a child, whether physical, sexual,
or psychological, in the care of NEO Literacy Corps
Members or Host Sites is grounds for criminal charges
and immediate termination. Any Member who knows of
or suspects abuse of a child shall report such abuse to
their Site Supervisor who shall inform the Program
Director.
PERSONAL CONDUCT
 AmeriCorps representative, even when not serving at host site
 Refrain from non-service activities during service hours
 Maintain a service environment that does not disrupt or disturb
others
 Do not use alcohol and illegal drugs during service hours and/or in
any properties owned or being used (i.e. leased or rented) by NEO
Literacy Corps or host sites
 Smoke only in designated areas 
 Provide required reporting on time
 Children of members are not allowed in the service location except
in cases of emergencies 
 Illegal to carry a firearm, deadly weapon, or dangerous ordinance
anywhere on NEO Literacy Corps’ Host Site properties
PERSONAL CONDUCT (CONT.)
 Any of the following offenses or any self-evident breach of
conduct will be grounds for disciplinary action :
 Lying, stealing or falsification on the organization’s records or NEO
Literacy Corps records
 Abusive, threatening or profane language at service site
 Unauthorized tardiness or absences
 Fighting on the organization’s premises or during service activities
 Deliberate damage to, or destruction of, or removal or theft of the
property of the organization, another employee, another AmeriCorps
Member or volunteer or visitor
 Reporting to service under the influence or consuming alcohol or
drugs during service
 Possession or use of drugs or narcotics for non-medical purposes
during service
PERSONAL CONDUCT (CONT.)
 Unlawfully manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possessing or using
a controlled substance is prohibited during service activities
 Loafing or improper performance of service activities
 Intentional waste of materials or abuse of the organization’s tools and
equipment
 Creating unsanitary conditions, or other violations of health rules
 Failing to report injuries and accidents immediately
 Violating rules of conduct or safety rules
 Failure to notify program of any criminal arrest or conviction that occurs
during the service term
PERSONAL CONDUCT (CONT.)
 Willful disobedience, insubordination or failure to carry out
any reasonable request
 Engaging in personal work during service activities without
permission
 Violating confidentiality
 Misuse of host site computer equipment, internet or web
technologies
PROHIBITIONS
 Attempting to influence legislation (lobbying)
 Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts,
or strikes
 Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organization

 Impairing existing contracts for services or collective

bargaining agreements
 Engaging in partisan political activities
PROHIBITIONS (CONT.)
 Religious instruction, conducting worship services,
providing instruction as part of a program that includes
mandatory religious instruction or worship
 Proselytization

 Providing direct benefit to a for-profit business, labor

union, or partisan political organization
DISCIPLINE
 Self-discipline
 Verbal warning

 Written warning

 Service interruption

 Discharge/termination for serious offenses

RELEASE FROM PROGRAM
 Compelling personal circumstance
 15% complete, pro-rated stipend
 Member must demonstrate compelling personal
circumstances that prevent them from completing the service
 Beyond member’s control
 Does not include enrolling in school, employment or
dissatisfaction with the program
 May suspend instead of terminate

 Cause
 Felony conviction
 Sale or distribution of controlled substance
 No education stipend
RELEASE FOR CAUSE
 Member has dropped out of the program without being
released for compelling personal circumstances
 Member has been convicted of a violent felony or the
sale or distribution of a controlled substance
 Member has committed a fourth offense and has not
taken or met the required actions outlined in the
disciplinary section of Member Handbook
 Any other serious breach that undermines the program as
determined by the Program Director
RELEASE FOR COMPELLING
CIRCUMSTANCES
 Member has a disability or serious illness that makes
completing the term impossible
 Serious injury, illness or death of a family member 
 Long-term military service obligations
  Member has accepted an opportunity to transition from
welfare to work
 Other unforeseeable circumstances beyond the Member's
control such as a natural disaster, a strike, relocation of a
spouse, etc.
 Member bears the burden for proving compelling
personal circumstances
 Decision made by Program Director
WHAT IS NOT A COMPELLING
PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCE?
 Enrolling in school
 Accepting employment (other than moving from welfare
to work)
 Dissatisfaction with the program
MEMBER DISMISSAL
 NEO Literacy Corps may terminate service because of a
Member’s resignation or dismissal
 A member may be dismissed for any reason not prohibited by
law, including misconduct, or unsatisfactory service
performance or violation of AmeriCorps guidelines or
regulations, such as:
 Member who is absent from service without notifying their site
supervisor of their absence and the reason for it, will be considered
as terminated after the third (3rd) consecutive day of absence
 Program Director must approve all terminations.
 Program Director will conduct an exit interview no later than
the Member’s last day of service
 A written report of the termination and the exit interview will
be placed in the member’s file
WHAT ABOUT BENEFITS?
 If the member discontinues her/his term of service for
any reason the living stipend will be discontinued 
 If the member discontinues her/his term of service due to
compelling personal circumstances the educational
award may still be awarded on a pro-rated basis
 This is determined on a case-by-case basis
 If a member is dismissed, they will not receive the
educational award
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
 To resolve disputes concerning suspension, dismissal,
service evaluation, or proposed service assignment
 Informal program level discussion

 Informal grievance resolution

 Formal grievance resolution

INFORMAL GRIEVANCE RESOLUTION
 To begin the process, the member must complete an
Ohio AmeriCorps Grievance Form
 Form can be requested from Program Director
 The form indicates that the member would like to
proceed with an Informal Grievance Resolution to be
resolved through alternative means of dispute resolution
(ADR) such as mediation or facilitation
 Submit form to Program Director
 Submit the form to the Program Director
 Form must be submitted within 45 days of the incident
INFORMAL GRIEVANCE (CONT.)
 ADR is conducted by a neutral third party
 Procedure is confidential

 Decisions are advisory, but are not binding

 If the Informal Grievance is not resolved within 30

calendar days of initiation of the procedure, the neutral
party will inform the member of the right to file a
Formal Grievance
FORMAL GRIEVANCE RESOLUTION
 Complete an Ohio AmeriCorps Grievance Form
 Form can be requested from the Program Director
 The form indicates that the member would like to
proceed with a Formal Grievance Resolution
 Submit form to Program Director
 Except for a grievance that alleges fraud or criminal
activity, a Formal Grievance must be filed no later than
one year after the date of the incident
 A formal hearing must be conducted no later than 30
calendar days after the grievance is filed
 The member will present their case to the hearing body in
person
FORMAL GRIEVANCE (CONT.)
 A decision by the hearing body must be made no later
than 60 days after filing, and both parties must be
notified of the findings in writing
 If the decision by the hearing body is against the member
or if no decision is reached within 60 calendar days, the
member may submit the case to Binding Arbitration
 Submit request for Binding Arbitration to Program Director
 Arbitration must be held within 45 days of the request
MEMBER SUSPENSION
 Suspend a member’s service
 Added to the end

 Living stipend and benefits also suspended during term

 Reinstatement
QUESTIONS?