[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 222 (Friday, November 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58540-58541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29286]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

ACTION: Notice of 60-day review and comment period on the Revision of 
the 1997-1998 AmeriCorps Leaders Program Application Leader and Site 
Applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the AmeriCorps Leaders Program announces a 60-
day review and comment period during which AmeriCorps programs and the 
public are encouraged to submit comments on suggested revisions to the 
AmeriCorps Leaders Program Leader and Service Site Applications. The 
Leader application is submitted by AmeriCorps Members nominated by 
their program directors. The Leader's application has been revised and 
reduced to a one-page Part B, to take advantage of the already existing 
AmeriCorps application (Part A), thus

[[Page 58541]]

reducing duplication of effort for applicants. The Service Site 
application is submitted by AmeriCorps programs who want to host an 
AmeriCorps Leader. The Service Site application questions have also 
been slightly modified to provide additional clarity on the proposed 
role of the Leader and support mechanisms available to the Leader.

DATES: The Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps 
Leaders Program Office will consider written comments on the AmeriCorps 
Leaders Program Leader and Site Applications received within 60 days 
from the date of publication. The Corporation for National Service is 
particularly interested in comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Julie Catlett, Deputy Director, AmeriCorps 
Leaders Program, Corporation for National and Community Service, 1201 
New York Avenue, N.W., Room 9710-B, Washington, D.C., 20525

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Catlett (202) 606-5000, 
Extension 164.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose of the Revisions

    (1) AmeriCorps Leaders Program Leader Application and Reference 
Forms--as part of a Corporation-wide effort to reduce duplication of 
effort, the AmeriCorps Leaders Program has agreed to utilize the Part A 
AmeriCorps Application for basic recruitment information gathering. 
Therefore, some revision of our application was necessary to 
accommodate to the new Part A. The AmeriCorps Leaders Program developed 
the Part B portion to attain more detailed information on the 
applicant's leadership experiences, skills, and references. There is 
also a section added to assist the AmeriCorps Leaders Program in 
finding an appropriate Service Site match for the Leader.
    (2) AmeriCorps Leaders Program Site Application--
     Contact Information--Contact Information was rephrased and 
separated to distinguish between the person authorized to submit the 
application and the person who will ultimately supervise the AmeriCorps 
Leader.
     Program Description--Additional question added to request 
the Grant Identification Number of the program to assist in determining 
the eligibility of the program. Questions removed were the Number of 
Participants as this information was deemed extraneous and Amount of 
Time in Operation as this question became irrelevant to selection.
     Program's Need for an AmeriCorps Leader--This set of three 
questions has been combined and rephrased to encourage programs to view 
this program as a learning experience for the Leader, rather than an 
extra set of hands for their program. Therefore, parts A and B have 
been combined and programs must now justify why their program is best 
suited to providing a leadership service-learning experience that not 
only educates the Leader but also satisfies the needs of the program. 
Part C has been separated out as a new question to emphasize the 
importance of building sustainability into the proposal.
     Job Description--Programs are now required to document how 
AmeriCorps Leaders will carry out their shared responsibilities to the 
national service arena with support documentation from State 
Commissions and/or Parent Organizations indicating they support the 
activities. The responsibilities of the Leader have been rephrased and 
clarified to emphasize that the AmeriCorps Leaders Program is a service 
leadership training program and that the experiences and 
responsibilities of the Leader in a Service Site should be 
complementary to their training curriculum and designed to enhance the 
growth of the Leader while meeting the needs of the program.
     Recruitment and Selection of a Leader--The section 
regarding nomination has been cut, programs are now only able to 
nominate one candidate and the candidate is required to sign the Site 
application if they intend to return to that program. This will 
immediately indicate Leaders and Sites who are ``instant matches.'' The 
section regarding the Leader's experience in one of the issue areas 
listed has been broadened to allow for the changing emphasis of 
AmeriCorps programs.
     Support for the Leader--One question has been added 
regarding both in-kind and financial support of the AmeriCorps Leader. 
The question seeks to ensure that the Site is prepared to functionally 
support the AmeriCorps Leader by providing an appropriate place to work 
and access to office equipment and supplies, and to financially support 
the Leader's activities should the description of the Leader's 
responsibilities indicate such a financial need. (An example would be 
providing reimbursement for travel expenses if the Leader is required 
to visit Members across a state.) The section on supervision has been 
eliminated, the only information required will be the contact 
information on the first page.
    These documents are available in alternate format upon request 
(202-606-5000 ext. 164).
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: November 8, 1996.
Meri C. Ames,
Director, AmeriCorps Leaders Program.
[FR Doc. 96-29286 Filed 11-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P