The Corporation for National and
Community Service (CNCS) doing business as AmeriCorps, has
submitted an emergency modification to a currently approved public
information collection request (ICR) entitled Senior Corps Grant
Application for review and approval in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13, (44 U.S.C. Chapter
35). The proposed modification will collect information regarding
alternative service plans of AmeriCorps Senior grantees.
AmeriCorps Seniors
provides grants to organization to engage Americans 55 years and
older in volunteer service. AmeriCorps Seniors knows that due to
the continued impact of COVID-19, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers may
continue to be unable to serve. AmeriCorps Seniors FGP and SCP
grantees have been authorized to continue to pay AmeriCorps Seniors
volunteers who are unable to serve a temporary allowance through
March 31, 2021. The temporary allowance may be discontinued
following this date, following an OMB review of the situation.
Information from the survey – detailing how many volunteers are
still unable to serve and potential vaccine affect on volunteers’
ability to serve – will be useful in making a determination to
extend the temporary allowance. During COVID-19 grantees were to
put in place a plan and structure – i.e. infrastructure, training,
electronic equipment – that supports AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers
in FGP and SCP service in an alternative manner and complies with
each programs’ statutory and regulatory requirements. OMB has
requested information about service activities during COVID-19.
Existing reporting mechanisms – grant applications, progress
reports, financial reports - were not sufficient to get at this
information. Public harm is reasonably likely to occur if normal
clearance procedures are followed and if the temporary pay
allowance is not extended past March 31, 2021. The temporary pay
allowance is crucial to helping preserve the volunteer workforce
who are trained and experienced service providers and to minimize
potential service disruptions. It is also vital to ensuring the
continuity of service for these programs. AmeriCorps Seniors runs
the risk that volunteers will leave, not return, and that grantees
will cease from seeking to engage in national service. There is
also the very real economic costs associated by senior volunteers –
all of which are below 200% of the poverty line. For these seniors,
their stipend is vital to getting their prescriptions, getting to
doctor appointments, ensuring payment of their utilities, etc. This
is needed more than ever due to the exceptional circumstances of
COVID-19.
The burden has increased
because we will be asking the questions every two months through
the end of September rather than just one time. This is the only
change in this request for nonsubstantive change; the instrument
and burden per response remains the same.
$15,609
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Amy Borgstrom 202 606-6930
aborgstrom@cns.gov
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.