[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 46 (Friday, March 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10689-10690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-5521]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Announcement Concerning Corporation Program Resources and 
Homeland Security

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Announcement concerning Corporation program resources and 
homeland security.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter the ``Corporation'') announces that organizations which 
currently receive program grant funds or any type of Federal program 
assistance from the Corporation and use service and volunteering as a 
strategy to meet community needs may redirect program activities to 
support homeland security. The Corporation defines homeland security to 
include programs supporting public safety, public health, and disaster 
preparedness and relief.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Nancy 
Talbot at 202-606-5000 ext. 470 ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In the State of the Union address, the President announced the USA 
Freedom Corps that will build on the great American ethic of service. 
The USA Freedom Corps will promote a culture of responsibility, 
service, and citizenship. It will work with key service agencies in 
government and the nonprofit sector to provide incentives and new 
opportunities to serve at home and abroad. The USA Freedom Corps will 
draw on help from Americans of all ages and of every background. The 
Corporation and its programs--National Senior Service Corps, 
AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America--are part of the efforts under 
the USA Freedom Corps.
    The Corporation's support for homeland security includes:

Public Safety

    Public safety is one of the four primary service activities for 
AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America. Thousands of 
volunteers serve with and for police departments, fire departments, 
rescue teams, emergency response agencies, and land management 
agencies. They are not armed, nor can they make arrests, but they carry 
out vital tasks including organizing neighborhood watch groups, 
community policing, victim assistance, fingerprinting and other tasks 
that free officers and other professionals to do front line work. In 
its first five years, AmeriCorps has organized 46,000 safety patrols, 
and in one year alone senior volunteers carried out 131,000 patrols 
that freed up 540,000 hours of police time.

Public Health

    Currently, AmeriCorps members, Learn and Serve America 
participants, and Senior Corps volunteers fulfill a variety of public 
health roles including assisting in immunizing children and adults, 
serving as case managers, distributing health information, and 
providing health screenings. Last year alone, AmeriCorps members 
distributed health information materials to 500,000 people and provided 
health screenings to 181,000 individuals, while Senior Corps volunteers 
assisted in immunizing 270,000 children and adults. Learn and Serve 
America students, faculty, and teachers developed education materials 
on a broad range of health topics, served in

[[Page 10690]]

clinics, and provided needed medical care in underserved areas.

Disaster Preparedness and Relief

    AmeriCorps members, including the National Civilian Community 
Corps, and Senior Corps volunteers have a long track record of working 
with FEMA and other relief agencies in helping communities to respond 
to disasters. Learn and Serve America participants respond to local 
disasters as well. National and community service participants help run 
emergency shelters, assist law enforcement, provide food and shelter, 
manage donations, assess and repair damage, and help families and 
communities rebuild. Since September 11, many have been actively 
engaged in relief efforts.

Corporation Announcement Concerning Existing Volunteer and Service 
Programs

    The Corporation announces that organizations that currently receive 
program grant funds or any type of federal program assistance from the 
Corporation and use service and volunteering as a strategy to meet 
community needs are encouraged, where appropriate, to direct activities 
to support homeland security in the three areas described above--public 
safety, public health, and disaster preparedness and relief. This 
notice applies to all Corporation grantees, including state commissions 
on national and community service, nonprofit organizations, state 
education agencies, institutions of higher education, and state and 
local governments.
    In general, organizations receiving Corporation program grants or 
federal program assistance have considerable flexibility to focus 
activities on meeting community needs. The Corporation encourages all 
organizations to consider directing resources toward the needs 
associated with homeland security. Please address any specific 
questions concerning the flexibility to redirect any available 
resources to your appropriate program officer at the Corporation. Any 
material change in activity that will prevent your organization from 
accomplishing the objectives for which the grant was issued requires 
that you notify the Corporation in writing and that the Corporation 
provides you written approval. Similarly, changes in applicable budget 
categories, as specified in the grant provisions, requires written 
approval. To ensure that you are aware of any specific requirements 
concerning the redirection of Corporation resources or activities, we 
advise you to inform your appropriate program officer of your proposed 
changes.

    Dated: March 4, 2002.
Gary Kowalczyk,
Coordinator, National Service Programs.
[FR Doc. 02-5521 Filed 3-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-$$-P