Many positions at SCA are AmeriCorps eligible and as part of their SCA experience. Most members are offered the option to enroll in the AmeriCorps program. When you choose to serve in an SCA AmeriCorps program, you become an AmeriCorps member in addition to an SCA member. All you need to do is follow a few additional paperwork and easily attainable program requirements and commit to completing a minimum number of hours for your internship.
Watch this video to see how joining the SCA AmeriCorps program demonstrates your commitment to national service.
- Student Loan Forbearance
- Health Insurance Option (only applies to members serving 1700-hr Full Time award terms)
- Child Care Benefit (if applicable)
- Attending AmeriCorps State Service conferences and workshops that are a great addition to professional development and your resume
- Qualified Federal student loans (not applicable to private loans)
- Graduate or undergraduate tuition
- Educational expenses for qualified enrichment classes
Program Eligibility
- Be selected into an AmeriCorps eligible SCA position
- Be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or lawful permanent resident alien of the U.S.
- Be at least 17 years of age at the start of their SCA position (unless part of the Summer Opportunity Affiliate Program, which requires participants to be at least 14 years old)
- Have a high school diploma or agree to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent before using the award
- Provide a U.S. address (for background checks) and pass the AmeriCorps criminal history review
- Have served in AmeriCorps no more than 3 times (AmeriCorps terms are limited to 4) and received no more than the equivalent of two full-time, 1700-hour awards.
- Have performed satisfactorily in any previous terms of service.
Award Sizes
- $1,374.60 – 300 minimum service hours for positions 8 – 11 weeks
- $1,718.25 – 450 minimum service hours for positions 12 – 16 weeks
- $2,474.27 – 675 minimum service hours for positions 17 – 22 weeks
- $3,247.50 – 900 minimum service hours for positions 23 – 30 weeks
- $4,546.50 – 1200 minimum service hours for positions 31 – 43 weeks
- $6,495.00 – 1700 minimum service hours for positions of 44 – 52 weeks
In order to receive your education award, you must complete the entire length of your service term and serve your minimum required hours. For details about the AmeriCorps Education Award, visit AmeriCorps Education Award FAQs on the AmeriCorps website.
Hour Requirements
If you don’t believe you’ll meet the hours or if you’ll be working more hours, SCA has 90 days to upgrade from start date and 30 days to downgrade from start date. SCA cannot downgrade or upgrade an AmeriCorps award size after you have finished service.
Time Logs
Annual leave/PTO, sick leave, and holiday non-work hours are counted as zero and must still be reported as zero hours. The pay schedule will not be affected unless it passes 7 days of non-working hours, then a service interruption will be put in place. Non-working hours will affect the total hours needed for the AmeriCorps award, please plan accordingly with your site supervisor.
For more information on navigating Time Logs and Output Logs visit the Intern Resource Page.
Mid and End-of-Term Evaluations
AmeriCorps Uniform
SCA AmeriCorps Member Sign
Student Loans and Forbearance
Member Assistance Program (MAP)
AllOne Health provides members support with life coaching, legal referral, crisis intervention, medical advocacy, and work life service. Available 24/7, you can reach them at them at 800-451-1834. If logging in, use code: AmeriCorps.
Click here to view the orientation slides.
Grievances and Incidents
- First, attempt to settle the problem with the other party on a one-on-one basis.
- If this attempt is unsuccessful, attempt to settle the problem by involving your supervisor.
- If involving your supervisor is unsuccessful, attempt to solve the problem by working with your SCA Member Advisor. Your Member Advisor will facilitate conversation between your supervisor and/or additional SCA staff to assist in moving the issue to resolution.
- If your Member Advisor is unable to resolve the issue, your Member Advisor will bring the issue to SCA program management and identify a resolution based on the details of the specific situation.
- If you determine that this resolution is unsatisfactory, you may write to the Operations Director for your program outlining the issue and your requested resolution. This letter must be submitted within 30 days of the initial issue.
- In 99.9% of situations the above process will resolve all issues. If necessary, you have the right to a Formal Resolution Procedure which is outlined in your SCA AmeriCorps Member Agreement (found in your MySCA account).
Prohibited Activities
- Attempting to influence legislation or election to public office
- Organizing or engaging in boycotts, strikes, petitions, or protests
- Assisting or deterring union organizing
- Engaging in any form of religious proselytization; or providing a direct benefit to a for-profit business, labor union, partisan political organization, or religious organization.
- Raising funds for living allowances or for an organization’$s general operating expenses or endowment
- Writing a grant application to any federal agency
- Collecting fees, selling items, or participating in any money-handling duties on behalf of the agency with which you serve
Taxes
All SCA AmeriCorps members will have federal income tax deducted from their allowances, including living, housing and travel. You will be able to access your W-2 form in your PayCom account. Note: Your education award will be taxed in the year that you use the funds. AmeriCorps will mail you a 1099-Misc form in January for the preceding year.
Visit the page for Onboarding for SCA AmeriCorps Members
Visit the page for End of Term Wrap-Up for SCA AmeriCorps Members