2022-2024 State Service Plan
Overview
Serve Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s National and Community Service Board. Our mission is to promote service, provide training and allocate resources to programs that enrich lives and communities through service and volunteerism. We achieve our mission primarily through our work with AmeriCorps programs and AmeriCorps members throughout the state of Wisconsin.
The following values guide & inspire all Serve Wisconsin actions & decisions:
We value justice, equality, and inherent human dignity without regard to ethnicity, religion, disability status, gender, sexual orientation, age, or socio-economic class.
We value and support people and communities experiencing discrimination and violence.
We are inspired and guided by communities striving for self-determination.
We value and strive for environmental sustainability both now and for the future.
We are inspired by national service and volunteerism that enhances individual leadership and capacity to meet critical needs.
We Work to Achieve:
National service, volunteerism, and civic engagement opportunities that work to achieve equity, strengthen communities, defend and improve the environment, and improve lives
National service opportunities that are accessible to all communities and meet their critical needs
National service and volunteerism opportunities that strengthen and build bonds across divisions in race, culture, belief systems, background, and experiences
National Service as a pathway to education and employment
2022-2024 State Service Plan Goals
Facilitate the Growth & Development of Strong AmeriCorps Programs
Develop Serve Wisconsin’s AmeriCorps VISTA Program to serve BIPOC lead organizations and alleviate poverty in Wisconsin
Support AmeriCorps & AmeriCorps VISTA Members from Recruitment through Alumni Status
Support Disaster Response & Preparedness in Wisconsin
Support Volunteerism in Wisconsin
Collaborate Across All Streams of National Service
Increase Service for Wisconsin Citizens Age 55 and older and People with Disabilities
Increase awareness of Serve Wisconsin, AmeriCorps, and National Service in Wisconsin
Advocate Nationally & Locally with AmeriCorps and Elected Officials for Policies and Procedures that Support AmeriCorps Members and Programs
Increase the Capacity of Serve Wisconsin to allow for increased and sustainable investment in our communities
2022-2024 State Service Plan Objectives
1. Facilitate the Growth & Development of Strong AmeriCorps Programs
Identify underserved areas and work with local partners to build AmeriCorps programs that meet local needs.
Provide program-specific training and technical assistance in grant writing, program development, performance measurement, fiscal management, member management, regulatory compliance, etc.
Encourage planning grants to support organizations interested in developing AmeriCorps programs.
Develop & support programs with a focus on job preparedness such as youth corps & conservation corps.
Support federal AmeriCorps initiatives relevant in Wisconsin
2. Develop Serve Wisconsin’s AmeriCorps VISTA Program to serve BIPOC lead organizations and alleviate poverty in Wisconsin
Identify appropriate host sites for VISTA members
Develop and provide the necessary training for VISTA host sites and members
3. Support AmeriCorps & AmeriCorps VISTA Members from Recruitment through Alumni Status
Support and recognize members throughout their service through trainings and Corps building opportunities.
Promote AmeriCorps service at college campuses and high schools.
Emphasize and strengthen the workforce development aspects of AmeriCorps.
Increase the number of Employers of National Service in Wisconsin to increase opportunities for AmeriCorps Alumni and provide employers access to a dedicated, highly qualified and mission-oriented pool of potential employees.
Advocate for the Education Award to be matched by public and private colleges and universities in the State of Wisconsin.
4. Support Disaster Response & Preparedness in Wisconsin
Organize and strengthen Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADS) and Communities Active in Disaster (COADS) through Volunteer Generation Funding (VGF) funding.
Engage AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps Seniors in disaster response.
Serve as a leader in the State of Wisconsin for emergency/disaster response volunteer management.
5. Support Volunteerism in Wisconsin
Support and promote Volunteer Wisconsin as the website of volunteer opportunities in Wisconsin.
Encourage AmeriCorps members to recruit community volunteers and report volunteer hours and numbers as required by AmeriCorps, the federal agency.
6. Collaborate Across All Streams of National Service
Coordinate with AmeriCorps Seniors, AmeriCorps VISTA, Tribal AmeriCorps and National Direct programs to promote and increase utilization of all streams of National Service.
7. Increase Service for Wisconsin Citizens Age 55 and older and People with Disabilities
Maintain and develop strong relationships with lead organizations serving older adults and people with disabilities to foster participation in volunteerism and national service programs.
8. Increase awareness of Serve Wisconsin, AmeriCorps, and National Service in Wisconsin
Promote AmeriCorps and national service to recruit new programs and members through conferences, digital outreach, monthly newsletters and other appropriate opportunities.
Improve reporting and promoting program results.
Record and report on the AmeriCorps member experience through the annual member survey.
9. Advocate Nationally & Locally with AmeriCorps and Elected Officials for Policies and Procedures that Support AmeriCorps Members and Programs
Develop and maintain positive relationships with elected officials at the federal, state and local level and AmeriCorps staff.
Advocate for policies and procedures that enable national service to be accessible to all communities and service to be accessible to all individuals.
Educate elected officials at all levels of government, federal, state and local, on the benefits of AmeriCorps in their communities and how elected officials can support AmeriCorps.
Participate & organize advocacy/Hill days.
Coordinate and sponsor the Governor’s Service Awards, as desired by the Governor, and/or National Service Awards.
10. Increase the Capacity of Serve Wisconsin to allow for increased and sustainable investment in our communities.
Provide training to current staff.
Secure the resources to hire additional staff.
Recruit Board members who are active in their communities and are engaged in our work.