[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: X94-10209]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 9, 1994]


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Part V





Corporation for National and Community Service





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Community Service--Summer of Safety Youth Corps Program; Notice
CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

 
Community Service--Summer of Safety Youth Corps Program

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service announces 
the availability of up to $2.5 million for grants to support existing 
public or private nonprofit summer youth corps programs addressing 
public safety or environmental needs in local communities. These funds 
will provide opportunities for approximately 1000 youth to serve their 
communities on a full-time basis during the summer while earning a 
limited stipend and a $1000 post-service educational award.

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:
Nathalie Augustin, Senior Program Officer, at the Corporation for 
National and Community Service, (202) 606-5000, ext. 116.

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's 
mission is to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service 
that addresses the nation's education, 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 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 in elementary and secondary schools and institutions of 
higher education, 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 generally authorizes the Corporation to support summer 
service programs. Pursuant to this authorization, the Corporation has 
established a range of Summer of Safety initiatives which will focus on 
enhancing public safety. These are briefly described in Appendix #1. 
The youth corps component of the Summer of Safety program will provide 
an opportunity for school-age youth to make a full-time commitment to 
addressing the public safety needs of their communities during their 
summer vacation. Because summer youth corps programs typically 
concentrate their activities on environmental projects, applicants may 
propose environmental projects in addition to public safety projects.

Objectives of the Summer of Safety Program

    The Summer of Safety Program is being launched to respond to the 
growing fear of and frustration over the levels of crime and violence 
in communities in every part of the country. The 1994 Summer of Safety 
will demonstrate the potential of national service to respond to these 
urgent needs by tapping the talents and energies of Americans of all 
ages and backgrounds--especially young adults. Specifically, Summer of 
Safety will address the public safety needs of communities by achieving 
the following objectives:

--Making direct, demonstrable impacts on crime, violence and fear by 
identifying and meeting public safety needs.
--Building new partnerships and collaborations for safety that 
capitalize on all of the community's resources.
--Demonstrating that every citizen--especially young people--can help 
make communities safer.
--Providing seed support for innovative service programs that address 
public safety needs.
--Stimulating public interest in national service as a means to respond 
to America's problems.

Program Overview

    The Corporation will award up to $2.5 million to support existing 
summer youth corps programs operated by State agencies, Indian tribes, 
and private nonprofit organizations. Of the available funds, States 
will be able to compete for $1 million dollars, Indian tribes and 
private nonprofit organizations will be able to compete for $1.5 
million. One million dollars will be reserved in the National Service 
Trust Fund for educational awards to up to 1,000 participants who 
successfully complete the summer program.
    Funded youth corps programs must engage youth in service projects 
that address public safety or environmental needs. The term ``youth 
corps program'' means a program such as a conservation or youth service 
corps that:

--Undertakes meaningful service projects with visible public benefits;
--Includes as participants youths and young adults between the ages of 
16 and 25, inclusive, including out-of-school youths and other 
disadvantaged youths (such as youths with limited basic skills, youth 
in foster care who are becoming too old for foster care, youths of 
limited English proficiency, homeless youths and youths who are 
individuals with disabilities) who are between those ages; and
--Provides those participants with: crew-based, highly structured, and 
adult-supervised work experience, life skills, education career 
guidance and counseling, employment training, and support services; and 
the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through 
service to their community and the United States.
    Grants will be awarded to operate 10-to 12-week summer youth corps 
programs. Service activities during the summer must focus on the areas 
of public safety and the environment. At least one-half of the funds 
awarded will support public safety-related service activities. 
Permissible activities include assisting in community policing 
initiatives, escorting seniors in high-crime neighborhoods, and 
recreation/activities for children and youth that incorporate violence 
prevention and safety education. See Appendix #2 for an approach to 
developing a public safety program and examples of possible public 
safety activities in which corpsmembers may be engaged.
    In addition to public safety activities, youth corps programs may 
also engage in environmental activities including:

--Revitalizing neighborhoods by creating and maintaining trees, green 
spaces, and recreation areas;
--Eliminating environmental risks through education, testing, and 
cleanup;
--Reducing waste through energy efficiency efforts, recycling, and 
other conservation measures;
--Conserving and restoring public lands, forests, rivers, streams, and 
wetlands;
--Making parks more accessible through trail maintenance and 
infrastructure improvements; and
--Sampling, mapping, monitoring, and recording the status and trends of 
air, water, groundwater, land, plants, and animals.

    Programs do not have to address both public safety and 
environmental needs. Some programs may focus solely on public safety 
projects, other programs may focus solely on environmental projects; 
and still others may focus on both issue areas. We note again that at 
least one half of the funds awarded will be used to support programs 
engaging in public safety.

Eligibility

    States, through a Corporation-approved State Commission, 
Alternative Administrative Entity (AAE), or Transitional Entity (TE), 
are eligible to submit applications to support existing State-operated 
summer youth corps programs pursuant to Subtitle C of the Act 
(AmeriCorps Grants). If a State has yet to establish a State Commission 
or AAE, such a State may designate a State agency (including a State 
Lead Agency that was designated to administer grants awarded by the 
Commission on National and Community Service) to serve as a TE.
    Private nonprofit organizations and Indian Tribes operating 
existing youth corps programs are also eligible to apply for funds 
pursuant to Subtitle H of the Act (Investment for Quality and 
Innovation).

Program Requirements

    Funded programs must comply with the following requirements:
    (1) Programs must seek to strengthen the ability of the community 
to utilize community service as a means of responding to problems of 
crime, violence and fear or environmental problems. In order to respond 
to such problems, programs must clearly identify the specific needs 
they seek to address.
    (2) Programs must establish specific objectives that reflect 
demonstrable positive outcomes in the areas of public safety or the 
environment. These objectives should be directly related to alleviating 
the identified needs.
    While the goal of public safety projects should be the reduction of 
crime, violence and fear in the communities served, it may be very 
difficult to document such accomplishments, given the limited time 
during which a summer program can operate. Accordingly, as well as 
quantifiable measures of outcome, there may also be intermediate 
measures of effort and accomplishment which are appropriate as specific 
objectives.
    Examples of such objectives--each of which should address only one 
activity and include one result--may include reduction in reported 
crime of XX% (generally or in more limited focus, e.g., robberies of 
convenience stores, gang-related assaults, attacks against senior 
citizens, etc.), XX% of neighborhood residents feel safer compared to 
before program, XX victims of violent crime assisted at court or at 
home, XX Safe Houses established, XX playgrounds refurbished and 
supervised, etc.
    Examples of demonstrable objectives for environmental projects 
include XX trees planted, XX low-income homes tested for lead paint and 
radon, XX% participation in a community recycling project, XX miles of 
trails built.
    (3) Programs proposing to engage in any public safety activities 
must form collaborative partnerships with organizations within the 
community that will enhance the capacity of the community to respond to 
problems of crime, violence, and fear. Given the range of needs that 
must be met and the variety of possible service activities that may 
help meet these needs, there are many organizations, institutions and 
individuals within the community that can meaningfully contribute. Such 
organizations include: law enforcement, schools, and other public 
agencies; private nonprofit organizations (including victim assistance 
and youth-serving organizations); health and welfare programs; senior 
centers; civic organizations; youth groups; and the business sector.
    (4) There are activities that are not appropriate for Summer of 
Safety youth corps participants. Concern for the physical safety of 
participants and the specialized training/skill requirements for 
certain law enforcement/corrections tasks limit the types of service 
activities which are appropriate. Certain other activities are not 
appropriate absent a clear link to a broad community public safety 
effort. Finally, some tasks are not suitable for national service 
programs at all. Specifically:

--The Corporation will not support programs which place service 
participants in situations that (i) involve the arrest process, (ii) 
involve the chain of custody of evidence, (iii) involve witnessing 
criminal incidents which may result in participants being called as 
witnesses in adjudicatory proceedings, (iv) result in intentional 
contact with suspected criminal offenders, (v) involve contact with 
defendants or convicted offenders without appropriate safeguards in 
place, or (vi) otherwise pose significant risk to participant safety 
(e.g., working alone in a high crime neighborhood).
--Grant funds may not be used to support programs that merely provide 
positive activities for youth (e.g., recreation, field trips, cultural 
opportunities, social/athletic events, vocational support, academic 
assistance, mentoring). Although the Corporation recognizes the 
importance of such activities and their indirect connection to public 
safety in the long term, grant funds may not be used to support such 
activities unless they are conducted as components of broad public 
safety initiatives.
--Activities that do not provide a direct benefit to the community, 
such as clerical work or research, may be performed if they support 
direct service, but may not be the primary activity of a national 
service program.
--Certain activities are prohibited for participants in national 
service programs. These activities include: (i) Efforts to influence 
legislation; (ii) organizing protests, petitions, boycotts or strikes; 
(iii) assisting or deterring union organizing; impairing contracts for 
services or collective bargaining agreements; (iv) partisan political 
activity; (v) religious instruction; and (vi) benefiting profitmaking 
businesses, labor unions, partisan political organizations, or non-
profit organizations which fail to comply with Section 501(c) of the 
Internal Revenue Code. Further information about these prohibited 
activities may be found in the Corporation's Proposed Regulations, 
published in the Federal Register on January 7, 1994.

    (5) Programs must actively seek to include participants from 
diverse racial, ethnic, economic, and educational backgrounds, and 
include residents from the community where the program will be 
conducted.
    (6) Programs must provide appropriate training and educational 
opportunities, including service learning, to participants.
    (7) The physical safety of participants must be of paramount 
concern. Thus, programs must demonstrate their plans for ensuring the 
physical safety of participants.
    (8) Programs must provide a living allowance in an amount not to 
exceed $170 per week. The Corporation will provide a $1000 post-service 
educational award to participants who successfully complete the summer 
program. The award may be used only for higher educational purposes, 
including loan repayment, or certain types of vocational training. The 
educational awards will be administered through the National Service 
Trust Fund. In order for a participant to receive the educational 
award, such participant must successfully complete a minimum of 381 
hours of service during the course of the summer program. Up to 10 
hours per week of classroom training and education activities may be 
counted toward these service hours.
    (9) Programs must agree to (a) begin operations between June 1, and 
June 20, 1994, (b) officially ``launch'' summer activities on June 21, 
1994, and (c) conclude by August 24, 1994.
    (10) Programs must track progress toward achievement of their 
program objectives. Programs must also monitor the quality of service 
activities, the satisfaction of both persons served and program 
participants, and management effectiveness. Internal evaluation and 
monitoring should be a continuous process allowing for frequent 
feedback and quick correction of weaknesses. Additionally, programs 
must cooperate with the Corporation and its evaluators in all 
Corporation monitoring and evaluation efforts. As part of these 
efforts, programs must collect and submit to the Corporation certain 
participant data, including the total number of participants in the 
program, and the number of participants by race, ethnicity, sex, age, 
economic background, education level, disability classification, and 
geographic region. The Corporation will provide forms for collecting 
participant data.
    (11) Programs must comply with a number of match requirements 
outlined below. The program cost match may be in cash or in-kind 
services. Other Federal funds may be used as a match for the purpose of 
this proposal, except as noted below. Programs are encouraged to exceed 
the required match amounts because evidence of such ``over-matching'' 
will be a factor in the selection of programs. Programs must provide a 
match of at least:

--25% of the cost of operating the program; and
--15% of the cost of the living allowance for participants. This match 
may not include in-kind services or other Federal funds.

    (12) Awards made by the Corporation are Federal Grants, and will be 
subject to the Corporation's Regulations, applicable Office of 
Management and Budget Circulars, including Audit Requirements, and 
other appropriate Federal Statutory requirements. These various 
requirements will be incorporated into the terms and conditions of the 
grant award.
    The Corporation's proposed program regulations were published in 
the Federal Register (Volume 59, No. 5) on January 7, 1994. The 
Corporation intends to issue its regulations in final form prior to the 
application submission deadline.

Proposal Guidelines

    Applicants must submit an unbound original and four (4) unbound 
copies of their applications. Applications must be received by the 
Corporation by 6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving time, March 21, 1994. 
Applications must be mailed or hand-delivered to the Corporation, 1100 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20525. Facsimiles will not be 
accepted.
    Proposals should not exceed twenty-five (25) typewritten, double-
spaced pages, including title page, budget, budget narrative, all 
attachments or appendices, organized and labeled in the following 
categories.

I. Title Page

    The title page should provide the following information: (1) 
Specification that funds are being requested under the Summer of Safety 
Youth Corps Programs; (2) the name and address of the legal applicant, 
and signature of its authorized executive; (3) the amount of 
Corporation funds requested, and the amount of non-Federal match; (4) 
the number of participants; and (5) one paragraph describing the 
proposed activities (including the amount of requested funds which will 
be used to support public safety projects) and the target community.

II. Program Narrative

    A narrative describing the proposed program should be organized in 
the following manner.
(A) Needs
    (1) Discuss the specific needs or problems that exist in the target 
community/neighborhood(s) which the program will address. Sources of 
official data (demographic data, crime offense data, etc.), public 
opinion surveys, expert analysis and other sources of local information 
are all useful.
    (2) Describe specifically how the program will address the 
identified problem(s). Outcomes must be measurable and direct.
    (3) Discuss why the method of addressing needs will be effective in 
achieving the specified objectives established by the program. This 
should include discussion of long-term effects (e.g., safe houses 
established during the summer will continue to operate during the 
school year, vacant lots will be converted into community gardens or 
green spaces, neighborhood volunteers will continue activities 
initiated during the summer, etc.)
(B) Participants
    (1) Describe plans to recruit, screen, select, and assign a 
qualified pool of participants, including individuals from the 
community served.
    (2) Describe the training and education to be provided to 
participants to ensure successful involvement in the summer program.
    (3) Discuss how the entire summer experience for participants--
including orientation, training, service activities, etc.--will develop 
useful skills, teach participants about public safety and environmental 
issues, promote active citizenship, and strengthen participants' 
commitment to service.
    (4) Describe the policies and practices designed to assure the 
safety of participants while carrying out service activities.
    (5) Describe plans to provide health care and appropriate child 
care for certain program participants. Preliminary guidance may be 
found in the Corporation's proposed regulations (See Appendix #3). 
These plans may be revised prior to grant approval as a result of 
requirements in this area that will be set forth in the Corporation's 
final regulations.
    (6) Describe the arrangements that will be made to provide for 
appropriate program and participant liability coverage.
    (7) Describe the arrangements that will be made to cover on-the-job 
injury to participants, such as linkage with State Workers' 
Compensation or other appropriate accident and injury policies.
(C) Service Activities
    (1) Describe the specific service activities that will be conducted 
by the program.
    (2) Identify the number of participants and unstipended volunteers, 
if appropriate, who will serve in each of the identified activities.
    (3) Discuss how participants' background, skills or other factors 
will influence the assignment of participants to the various service 
activities.
    (4) Describe the training participants will receive to enable them 
to carry out service assignments.
    (5) Describe procedures for the supervision of participants engaged 
in service activities.
    (6) Discuss the process by which the program will ensure that 
service participants will not displace paid workers, including 
consultations with appropriate labor unions.
(D) Continuation
    (1) While demonstrable impact should be evidenced during the 
summer, it is not likely that problems will be completely solved during 
a 10 to 12-week period. Efforts with a longer-term horizon, such as the 
development of plans for action beyond the scope of the summer effort, 
may also begin during the summer. It is important to ensure that 
promising community-based activities are not lost at the end of the 
summer.
    Unless a program will achieve its entire intended impact in the 
summer only or its impact will be long-term without further program 
effort, plans to continue the service projects should be addressed in 
the proposal. Examples of ways in which a program could seek to 
continue the service projects begun in the summer include the 
following:

--The service projects could continue to be carried out by an 
organization--including the applicant or partner organizations--using 
other resources;
--A combination of local, State and private funds could be secured, 
thus permitting the continuation of service and volunteer activities; 
or
--The program partnership could establish (or expand) an effective 
volunteer cadre to continue its efforts.

    (2) Identify priority activities or strategies which will be 
sustained following the summer. This may be the entire service 
projects, select components, or efforts begun in the summer that will 
be brought to fruition.
    (3) Describe the resources and approaches that will assure 
continuation of the program activity.
    (4) Programs that will accomplish their objectives by the end of 
the summer or those that have no need to sustain activity because they 
will achieve long-term impact as a result of the summer effort need not 
respond to this section.
(E) Workplan/Timeline
    (1) Identify steps and milestones in a program development, 
implementation and management process that begins April 8 (the date by 
which successful applicants will receive notice of selection) and ends 
on August 24.
    (2) Incorporate a required national-scope training and technical 
assistance workshop for the leadership (program director and two key 
supervisory staff) of programs that will engage in public safety 
activities in late April.
    (3) Absent a compelling reason to do otherwise, establish the week 
of June 13 for participant orientation and training, use June 21 as the 
official date to ``launch'' their efforts, and end the program by 
August 24.
(F) Applicant Capacity
    (1) Describe the applicant's capacity to develop and administer the 
program; include a description of any experience running pubic safety 
or environmental programs, or managing the types of partnerships needed 
for effective public safety projects.
    (2) Include brief resumes or other descriptions of the experience 
and background of proposed or actual program director and key 
supervisory staff. Please note that such attachments will count towards 
an applicant's overall 20-page limitation.
    (3) For programs engaging in public safety activities, or for 
programs which have established certain partnerships to carry out 
environmental projects, describe the working relationships that exist 
with the appropriate community organizations and public agencies, 
including the local law enforcement agency.
    (4) Certify the applicant's willingness to promote a national 
identity for the Summer of Safety program, as an AmeriCorps project, 
through the use of logos and other materials, and participate in 
activities such as common opening or closing ceremonies and other 
events.
(G) Partnership
    (1) For applicants proposing public safety activities, identify the 
organizations and agencies (and, if appropriate, individuals) that have 
committed to participating in the partnership effort, and identify the 
leader of the partnership.
    (2) Describe the commitment each partner has made to carry out 
specific roles and to contribute specific resources (training, 
expertise, space, supplies, funds, publicity, etc.) to support the 
program.
(H) Monitoring and Evaluation
    (1) Describe how progress toward program objectives will be 
monitored.
    (2) Describe how the quality of service activity and the 
satisfaction of both the participants and the individuals or 
institutions served will be assessed on an on-going basis.
    (3) Include sound plans for ensuring that the required descriptive 
and demographic data is collected.
    (4) Include the results from previous evaluations.
    (5) Commit to cooperating with the Corporation's national 
evaluation effort.

III. Budget

    (1) The Budget Summary Form included here should be completed. On 
an attached sheet, please provide brief explanations and/or 
justifications of each budget item.
    (2) ``Other Expenses'' may include other allowable costs (including 
such things as local training, equipment, transportation, insurance, 
etc.), related to the operation of the program. Each component of 
``other expenses'' must be explained.
    (3) The Corporation is in the process of determining the 
advisability of requiring health care coverage for participants (see 
Appendix #3). For purposes of this budget, please reflect a line item 
for health care equal to $300 per participants, $255 of which is paid 
for by the Corporation and $45 of which is paid for by the program.
    (4) For those programs proposing public safety projects, include in 
your budget an estimate of $700 for the cost of travel and per diem for 
the program director and two key supervisory staff to attend a three 
day training program that will be held in late April in a location to 
be determined by the Corporation.
    (5) The educational award of $1000 for participants who 
successfully complete the program will be administered directly by the 
Corporation and should not be included in the budget submitted for this 
proposal.

Selection Criteria

    The following criteria will be used to select applicants for award. 
Each criteria will be considered up to the percentage of the total 
proposal as noted.
(1) Quality (65%)
    (a) Plan (30%): The program narrative describes a high quality 
public safety and/or environmental service initiative with:

--Direct demonstrable outcomes;
--Feasible project implementation plans and realistic timetables, which 
were developed with input from the community to be served;
--A range of service activities appropriate to community needs and 
participant backgrounds and skills. Discussion of proposed service 
activities should include description of specific assignments;
--Recruitment and selection plans that will attract a qualified and 
diverse group of participants, including community residents;
--Evaluation reports, if available, that support the proposed program; 
and
--Self-assessment techniques to monitor performance against objectives.
    (b) Applicant and Partnership (35%): The applicant organization 
evidences:
--The existence or selection of a well-qualified project director and 
supervisors for participants;
--Experience in operating public safety or environmental initiatives;
--Track record demonstrating capacity to organize and facilitate 
partnership of participating agencies and organizations; and
--Ability to conduct fiscal affairs of program.

    In addition, for applicants proposing public safety activities, the 
proposal identifies a broad-based working partnership of agencies and 
organizations to carry out public safety-related service activities 
that:

--Includes appropriate public and private agencies and organizations 
with track records of operating public safety programs and youth and 
community efforts. If local law enforcement agencies/organizations are 
not included, proposal must explain why the participation of law 
enforcement is not necessary;
--Includes residents of the communities in which the program will be 
based;
--Evidences specific commitment from participating entities to 
contribute to and cooperate with activities initiated by community 
partnership;
--Identifies tasks and roles to be carried out by partnership members 
during project planning phase (prior to summer) and during operating 
phase; and
--Defines procedures for the effective operation of a practical working 
partnership.
(2) Cost Effectiveness (15%)
    The proposal evidences a cost effective approach to the use of 
Corporation and other Federal funds and non-Federal resource (cash, in-
kind, and human). Specifically:

--The budget is reasonable for the proposed service activities and the 
identified community needs;
--The match requirement is achieved. Additional match that enhances the 
cost effectiveness of the proposal is strongly encouraged;
--The extent and type of matching funds and other resources from other 
public (including Federal agencies and private sources will be 
considered; and
--Linkages with other federally-funded programs are encouraged.
(3) Sustainability (10%)
    The quality and feasibility of plans to sustain especially 
effective elements of program activity following the completion of the 
summer program without additional Corporation funding will be 
considered.
(4) Innovation and Replication (10%)
    The proposal incorporates innovative approaches to partnerships, 
community involvement, and service, and evidences strategies and 
activities potentially replicable in other locations.
    In addition to the above criteria, the Corporation will give 
special consideration to: (1) Youth corps programs that previously 
received funding from the Commission on National and Community Service, 
under the American Conservation and Youth Service Corps program, to 
operate summer programs; and (2) programs with creatively designed 
service projects that meet both environmental and public safety needs, 
e.g., a project that involves the clean-up and creation of a green 
space in a vacant lot that has attached much criminal activity.
    Moreover, the Corporation will ensure that at least 50% of the 
funds awarded to States for State-operated corps will support projects 
that will be conducted in areas of need, as detailed in Appendix #4.

Application Review and Selection Process

    The Corporation will evaluate the applications using a panel of 
reviewers consisting of experts in the field of public safety, youth 
corps, and the environment. Publication of this announcement does not 
obligate the Corporation to award any specific number of grants or to 
obligate the entire amount of funds available.
    Notification of tentative selection will be made by April 8, 1994. 
Selections will be considered tentative until execution of a final 
grant agreement, which may require discussions between Corporation and 
program staff to resolve remaining financial or programmatic issues and 
to refine and/or further develop plans or specific strategies.

Appendix 1

    The other components of 1994 Summer of Safety which are sponsored 
by the Corporation for National and Community Service are briefly 
described below. For further information about any of these Summer of 
Safety initiatives, please contact the Corporation.

    Summer of Safety Grants Program--The Summer of Safety Grants 
program will provide opportunities for 1000 participants, at least 
17 years of age, to serve full-time in community-based collaborative 
efforts to respond to public safety needs related to crime, violence 
and fear. Awards will be made in 10 to 20 locations--both urban and 
rural--to programs run by partnerships that may include law 
enforcement, other public agencies, nonprofit and community-based 
organizations, institutions of higher education, Indian Tribes, and 
the business community.
    VISTA Summer Associates--The VISTA Summer of Safety program will 
support 1,000 full-time VISTA Summer Associates beginning service 
between June 1 and June 21, and serving from 8-10 weeks on projects 
which also have full-year VISTA Volunteers assigned. Participants 
will receive a living allowance, and those who successfully complete 
the summer term of service are eligible to receive a $1,000 
educational award from the National Service Trust.
    VISTA Summer Associate activities will address the issues of 
crime, violence, and fear in low-income communities by working on 
efforts such as community policing, crime prevention, and victim 
assistance. Both new and existing VISTA-sponsoring organizations are 
eligible to apply for VISTA Summer Associates through ACTION State 
Offices which will provide technical assistance in developing 
project applications.
    Learn and Serve America--Summer of Safety grants of up to 
$50,000 will be made through the Corporation's Learn & Serve America 
program to engage 1500 youth between the ages of five and seventeen 
in innovative public safety-related community service. Eligible 
applicants are public or private nonprofit organizations that have 
experience working with school-age youths, and that have been in 
existence for at least one year. K-12 Summer of Safety programs must 
be innovative, and may encompass multiple program sites.
    National Senior Volunteer Corps--The National Senior Volunteer 
Corps will fund 20 grants to existing NSVC sponsors involving the 
full range of public safety activities. An estimated 2,800 Senior 
Corps members will be recruited. The Corps will include 
professionally trained and other seniors interested in serving 
public safety needs. There will be a targeted recruitment campaign 
to attract highly skilled senior or retired police officers, 
sheriff's deputies, correctional officers, military police, social 
workers, teachers, public defenders and community leaders.
    Activities may include: providing administrative support to 
police departments, conducting neighborhood crime surveys, providing 
crime prevention education to seniors, assisting domestic violence 
victims navigate the court system, coordinating neighborhood watch 
programs, and serving as mentors, tutors and counselors to juveniles 
under court supervision.
    Guidance to existing sponsors will be issued in late January 
with projects becoming operational in June.
    National Civilian Community Corps--Approximately 200 Corps 
members, ages 14-17, will do public safety-related service projects 
with schools, local law enforcement agencies, and community-based 
organizations. Corps members will receive leadership training and a 
mix of the best military and civilian youth service programming 
during their eight weeks at the camp on an underutilized military 
installation. The site for the NCCC Summer of Safety camp will be 
selected by March, 1994.

Appendix 2

    This Appendix provides suggestions for how you might approach 
the development of a Summer of Safety program. It is meant to be 
thought-provoking and is not a required process.

I. Identify the Crime/Violence Problem To Be Addressed

    By working directly with local law enforcement, canvassing door-
to-door in neighborhoods, attending community meetings, setting up 
meetings for law enforcement with community groups, contacting and 
surveying local businesses, public agencies, service organizations, 
youth groups, senior groups, etc., your organization can identify 
specific crime problems which confront the community and concern 
residents. The types of issues most readily identified through this 
kind of analysis include:

--Specific population needs (e.g., seniors who are afraid to go to 
the market after dark, or children who can't use a playground 
because of drug activity, debris or disrepair, or teenagers who get 
in trouble when a facility--theater, club, etc.--closes for the 
evening, or targets of hate crimes);
--Physical hazards (e.g., drug houses, vacant structures used for 
drug trade or other illegal or disorderly purpose, abandoned 
vehicles, missing street lights, broken fences, dangerous vehicle 
traffic patterns, open-air drug markets);
--Resident safety concerns (e.g., fear of crime and victimization, 
need for crime prevention information--locks, etc., lack of 
information about crime within neighborhood); and
--Unreported or undetected criminal activity (e.g., drug use or 
sales in a neighborhood location, gang activity, prostitution, 
victims of crime who have not reported the victimization or who 
continue to be victimized--especially victims of domestic violence 
or fraudulent solicitors/practices).

II. Pick The Partners

    Think broadly about the range of organizations that are already 
involved in reducing crime and violence in your community, or that 
may be interested in joining such an effort. Try to determine which 
ones have missions, resources or experience comparable to yours. 
City agencies, especially local law enforcement agencies, should be 
considered. Other possible partners include:

--Schools (including higher education institutions).
--Private non-profit organizations (particularly those that work to 
prevent crime and violence or that work with youth or victims of 
crime).
--Community and neighborhood organizations.
--Senior or neighborhood centers.
--Private businesses.

    Please read Program Narrative section 2(g) (``Partnership'') 
carefully regarding the delineation of roles and other aspects of 
creating a useful partnership. Keep in mind that, while effective 
partnerships will involve many elements in a community, eligibility 
to receive funds and parameters of allowable activities are limited. 
(See sections entitled, ``Eligibility'' and ``Limitations''.)

III. Craft a Specific Problem Response

    After analyzing the community's needs and picking your partners, 
you will plan and implement a specific program designed to make a 
direct and demonstrable difference.
    It may help to have various activities linked with a common 
theme. For example, in a victim's assistance program, participants 
might be engaged in the following activities:

--Supporting victim services within the court, notify victims of 
court dates and procedures, meet and accompany victims to 
courtrooms, staff child care centers, follow-up on restitution 
orders, etc.:
--Accompanying law enforcement on calls to provide immediate crisis 
intervention support, accompany victims to hospital or police 
department, make social service referrals (including to battered 
women's shelters), arrange lock/home repairs, assist with emergency 
funds, lost documents, public assistance, etc.;
--Maintaining follow-up contact with victims to help identify 
longer-term needs; and
--Assisting in operation of a victim service program; i.e., work in 
a family violence shelter providing child care, tutoring, 
transportation, vocational help; serve with a sexual assault crisis 
center/hotline or abused children's center.

    It is also possible that, within a Summer of Safety program, 
there may be a number of different service activities which can 
positively impact the safety of the community. But make sure that 
the activities you are contemplating are realistic. Will they make a 
real difference in your communities within the short time frame of 
the summer? Clearly, not every problem can be solved in one summer, 
but appropriate responses can be developed that identify the parties 
responsible for necessary actions, specify and take initial steps, 
and evidence impact.
    While the range of possible effective activities is potentially 
limitless, below are additional examples of activities that can be 
started and have appreciable impact in a short time:

--Involving neighborhood youth in a senior escort service;
--Conducting and disseminating crime prevention surveys and 
information/advice;
--Undertaking community clean-up efforts, focusing on graffiti, 
vacant lots, alleys, AND other sites where fear of crime and 
disorder are evident;
--Identifying and boarding-up abandoned properties in which drug 
use/trade may be occurring;
--Organizing neighborhood watch-type programs;
--Initiating or enhancing relationships between law enforcement and 
local youth organizations;
--Developing a network of ``Safe Houses'' or ``safe Corridors'' in 
neighborhood, and training parents and children about the program;
--Developing and conducting anti-violence presentations for youth 
groups;
--Joining with senior volunteers in intergenerational efforts 
designed around youth safety themes;
--Developing and supervising youth activities that incorporate age-
appropriate personal safety/violence prevention training; e.g., 
illicit drug use, impaired driving, etc.;
--Establishing conflict resolution programs, including outreach, 
training, and ongoing activities for youth through schools and 
community-based youth organizations; and
--Leading public safety-related field trips for youth, with 
appropriate orientation; e.g., to jails/prisons, police stations, 
courts, hospitals, family violence shelters, etc.

Appendix 3

    The Corporation is in the process of determining the 
advisability of requiring health care policies for Summer of Safety 
participants. That determination will be discussed with prospective 
grantees prior to entering into a final grant agreement.
    The Act requires that service programs make child care available 
or provide an allowance for child care for service participants. The 
Act further requires the Corporation to issue guidelines for child 
care and the child care allowance.
    Below is the guidance contained in the Corporation's proposed 
regulations, Section 2522.250, published in the Federal Register 
(Volume 59, No. 5) on January 7, 1994. This guidance is subject to 
change upon issuance of the Corporation's final regulations.
    (a) Child care. Grantees must provide child care through an 
eligible provider or a child care allowance in an amount determined 
by the Corporation to those full-time participants who need child 
care in order to participate.
    (1) Need. A participant is considered to need child care in 
order to participate in the program if he or she:
    (i) Is the parent or legal guardian of, or is acting in loco 
parentis for, a child under 13 who resides with the participant;
    (ii) Has a family income that does not exceed 75 percent of the 
State's median income for a family of the same size;
    (iii) At the time of acceptance into the program, is not 
currently receiving child care assistance from another source, 
including a parent or guardian, which would continue to be provided 
while the participant serves in the program; and
    (iv) Certifies that he or she needs child care in order to 
participate in the program.
    (2) Provider eligibility. Eligible child care providers are 
those who are eligible child care providers as defined in the Child 
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n(5)).
    (3) Child care allowance. The amount of the child care allowance 
will be determined by the Corporation based on payment rates for the 
Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
9858c(4)(A)).
    (4) Federal share. The Corporation will pay 100% of the child 
care allowance, or if the program provides child care through an 
eligible provider, the actual cost of the care of the amount or the 
allowance, whichever is less.

Appendix 4

    The Act requires that, in selecting projects for funding under 
Subtitle C, the Corporation consider whether the project would be 
conducted in areas of need, which are:
    (1) Communities designated by the Federal government or States 
as empowerment zones or redevelopment areas, targeted for special 
economic incentives, or otherwise identifiable as having 
concentrations of low-income people.
    (2) Areas that are environmentally distressed.
    (3) Areas adversely affected by Federal actions related to the 
management of Federal lands that result in significant regional job 
losses and economic dislocation.
    (4) Areas adversely affected by reductions in defense spending 
or the closure or realignment of military installations.
    (5) Areas that have an unemployment rate greater than the 
national average unemployment rate for the most recent 12 months for 
which satisfactory data are available.

    Dated: February 4, 1994.
Catherine Milton,
Vice President and Director of National and Community Service programs.
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