[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 112 (Monday, June 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34354-34355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14014]
[[Page 34354]]
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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Notice Inviting Informal Public Comment on Training and Technical
Assistance and Disability Inclusion Programming
AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).
ACTION: Notice Inviting Public Comment.
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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is
inviting informal public comment from the public concerning the
development and implementation of a unified training and technical
assistance (TTA) strategy and disability inclusion programming for all
CNCS programs. This input will be used to inform competitive processes
for funding TTA as we transition from a formula-based methodology to
competitive processes.
The new budget environment requires a more focused and outcome-
oriented strategy for TTA and disability programming. Our desired
outcomes for TTA center on performance measurement and management,
member/volunteer development and impact, as well as assisting programs
in meeting requirements related to fiscal and program compliance. For
disability inclusion, our goal is to increase the numbers of people
with disabilities serving in national service programs. Stakeholder
feedback on the most effective way to address these outcomes will be
helpful to CNCS as we plan and prepare for this work.
We will accept comments in writing, as described below, or in
person at a listening session at the National Conference on
Volunteering and Service in Chicago, June 19, 2012. We will also hold
two conference calls before the end of the comment period (please see
schedule below). Please see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for topics to
consider when formulating input. CNCS will not respond individually to
those providing input, but will consider comments in preparing for
future competitions.
Please note that this Notice does not request comments on
individual application forms used under the various programs of CNCS.
CNCS periodically publishes separate requests for comment concerning
such application forms.
DATES: Comments due: July 6, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
(1) Electronically through the CNCS email address system sent to:
[email protected] or via www.regulations.gov.
(2) By participating in any of the conference calls or the
listening session described below.
(3) By mail postmarked no later than July 6, 2012 sent to:
Corporation for National and Community Service, Attn: Gina Fulbright-
Powell; 1201 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20525.
(4) By fax to: (202) 606-3477 Attn: Gina Fulbright-Powell.
For more information on CNCS and its programs, please visit our Web
site at http://www.nationalservice.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Fulbright-Powell, Corporation for
National and Community Service; [email protected]; (202) 606-7515 or TDD
(202) 606-3472. Persons with visual impairments may request this notice
in an alternative format.
Description of Requested Input
CNCS is inviting informal input from the public concerning the
development and implementation of a unified training and technical
assistance strategy and disability inclusion programming to make the
best use of federal funds to support all CNCS programs--AmeriCorps,
Senior Corps, VISTA, NCCC, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service,
the 9-11 Day of Service, and the Social Innovation Fund. We will accept
written comments via [email protected] or www.regulations.gov.
We will also accept comments at a listening session held at the
National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Chicago on June 19,
2012, and will conduct two conference calls between now and the end of
the comment period.
CNCS will not respond individually to those providing comments, but
will consider input in planning for future competitions. Please submit
written input to [email protected] or via www.regulations.gov as soon as
possible. Comments should be received no later than 5:00 p.m. ET July
6, 2012 in order for full consideration.
When providing in-person or written input, please consider the
following questions:
Aligning TTA With CNCS Strategic Priorities
The CNCS outcomes for training and technical assistance will focus
on performance measurement and management, member/volunteer development
and impact, and fiscal and program compliance. How are these priorities
similar or emergent across CNCS programs? What are other program-
specific needs or priorities that should be considered? What might be
the best way to deliver TTA to address these priorities? Are there
external partners or other federal agencies with intellectual capital
in any of these areas we could examine and possibly leverage?
Cost Efficiencies
Funds for training and technical assistance are appropriated under
several distinct authorities. However, in what ways can CNCS maximize
TTA investments by identifying a common set of needs and strategies?
How can we ensure that all programs receive the right level of support?
What competencies are common to all CNCS programs? What competencies
are unique to a specific program? What learning strategies or
infrastructure can be common to all programs? How might we use
technology to reach more grantees more effectively? What applicable
learning infrastructure exists at the state or intermediary level or
through other federal agencies that CNCS might replicate or adopt?
Measuring TTA Impact
How can TTA produce the greatest impact? What are the most
important outcomes of successful CNCS training and technical
assistance? What are some low cost ways CNCS can measure and account
for TTA investments?
Additional Considerations
CNCS seeks additional thoughts and feedback on the following ideas
and strategies we have identified and are considering:
Development of core competencies and assessments across CNCS
programs (with tailoring as needed for specific audiences)
Enhanced Online Learning Center (with tracking of knowledge
gains by course and completion by grantee/project/member)
Knowledge Networks (to stimulate online user-generated content
on what works through communities of practice in the focus areas)
Convenings (both face-to-face and virtually) Regional,
national, or local convenings meetings, trainings, or institutes around
key competencies (e.g. performance management) or convened by subject
(i.e. effective practices in a particular focus area)
Individualized TA to support targeted programs and projects
(based on assessment of capacity and a developmental coaching approach)
Maximizing Disability Inclusion Resources
The intent of funding for Disability Inclusion is to increase the
participation of individuals with disabilities in national service and
for demonstration
[[Page 34355]]
activities to further that goal. Given that goal, what competencies are
needed for CNCS programs to conduct outreach and recruit people with
disabilities to participate in national service programs? What is the
best approach for making reasonable accommodations on behalf of all
CNCS programs? What are the strategies most likely to lead to greater
inclusion of people with disabilities in national service programs?
Given the restrictions for collecting information on people with
disabilities (other than self-disclosure), how do we track and report
the numbers of people with disabilities across CNCS programs?
Conference Calls and Public Input Meeting: CNCS has scheduled two
conference calls as follows:
Conference call #1: Monday, June 25 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. ET, call-in
number 888-324-4147, participant passcode: POWELL.
Conference call #2: Thursday, June 28 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET,
call-in number 800-779-1632, participant passcode: 2116663.
CNCS would like to anticipate the number of participants on each
call. If you intend to participate, please indicate your intent by
sending an email with your name, title, organization, contact
information, and which call you will be joining to [email protected].
Transcripts will be available on the CNCS Web site following each call.
The public input listening session will be held on Tuesday, June 19
during the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Chicago,
Illinois at the McCormack Place West at 2301 S. Indiana Avenue from
8:30-10:00 a.m. CNCS would like to anticipate the number of
participants. Please send an email indicating your intention to attend
the listening session at the National Conference with your name, title,
organization, and contact information. We will follow up with a
confirmation. Should you not be registered as an attendee for the
National Conference you will use this confirmation to secure your
admittance. If you are registered for the conference, please go to the
conference Web site (www.volunteeringandservice.org), and add session
3336 to your Itinerary.
Also, if you cannot attend the listening session at the National
Conference in person, a transcript of the session will be posted on the
Web site for online review.
Please check our Web site at http://www.nationalservice.gov/tta for
further information and updates.
Dated: June 5, 2012.
Gretchen Van der Veer,
Director, Leadership Development and Training.
[FR Doc. 2012-14014 Filed 6-8-12; 8:45 am]
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