AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps VISTA
Agency overview
Jurisdiction Federal government of the United States
Agency executive
  • Eileen Conboy, Acting Director
Parent agency AmeriCorps
Website www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-programs/americorps-vista

AmeriCorps VISTA is a national service program designed to alleviate poverty. President John F. Kennedy originated the idea for VISTA, which was founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965, and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993.[1] VISTA is an initialism for Volunteers in Service to America.

On May 23, 2017, the President sent his official Fiscal Year 2018 (FY 2018) Budget request to Congress. As previously outlined in the President’s Budget Blueprint released in March, this budget proposes the elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in FY 2018, and provides funding for an orderly shutdown, including all CNCS programs, such as Senior Corps and AmeriCorps (which includes VISTA and NCCC).[2]

Background

VISTA is an anti-poverty program created by Lyndon Johnson's Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as the domestic version of the Peace Corps.[3] Initially, the program increased employment opportunities for conscientious people who felt they could contribute tangibly to the War on Poverty. Volunteers served in communities throughout the U.S., focusing on enriching educational programs and vocational training for the nation's underprivileged classes.

VISTA's legislative purpose, as defined under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act (DVSA) of 1973, is to supplement efforts to fight poverty in low-income communities by engaging Americans from all walks of life in a year of full-time service. VISTA members support the program's purpose through three primary objectives: 1) encouraging volunteer service at the local level, 2) generating the commitment of private sector resources, and 3) strengthening local agencies and organizations that serve low-income communities. There are currently over 5,000 VISTA members serving in over 1,000 projects throughout the nation.

During the Clinton Administration, VISTA was brought under the newly created AmeriCorps program, a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and was renamed "AmeriCorps*VISTA". VISTA members sign up with a host agency to a full-time term of service – 365 days. In return for their service, members are provided with orientation and training, a living stipend calculated at no less than 105% of the poverty line, settling in and transportation costs, child care benefits, and a basic health care plan. Upon completion of their one-year term, VISTA members have the option of receiving a cash award or the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award.[4]

Directors

The first Director of VISTA was Glenn W. Ferguson and there have been many appointed and acting directors since then.[5] Eileen Conboy currently serves as the Acting Director for AmeriCorps VISTA.[6]

DirectorService DatesAppointed byNotes
1 Glenn W. Ferguson 1964 - ? Johnson
Padraic Kennedy ? - 1966 acting director
2 William Crook 1966 - 1968 Johnson
Padraic Kennedy 1968 - 1970 acting director
C.R. Lane 1970 acting director
3 Carol Khosrovi September 15, 1970 - ?[7] Nixon
4 Frank E. Williams ? - 1975 - ?
5 Margery Tabankin 1977 Carter
6 James H. Burnley IV 1981-1982 Reagan
7 Jane A. Kenny 1986-1989
Dana London 1989 - ? acting director
8 James Scheibel 1993 - Clinton
9 Paul Monteiro 2014 - 2015 Obama
11 Max Finberg[8] 2015-2017 Obama Director
11 Eileen Conboy 2017- Trump acting director

Oversight

Created by the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducts and supervises independent and objective audits and investigations of Corporation programs and operations. Based on the results of these audits, reviews, and investigations, the OIG recommends policies to promote economy and efficiency and prevent and detect fraud and abuse in the Corporation's programs and operations.

References

  1. ↑ "AmeriCorps | Corporation for National and Community Service". Americorps.gov. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  2. ↑ "Budget". Corporation for National and Community Service. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
  3. ↑ "President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society ... included a domestic equivalent of the Peace Corps called Volunteers in Service to America, or VISTA." (Neuman 2009, p. 3): Neuman, Scott (21 April 2009), National Service Act continues U.S. tradition (PDF), National Public Radio (NPR.org), archived from the original (PDF) on 30 March 2012
  4. ↑ "H.R. 3794".
  5. ↑ "VISTA Timeline". Corporation for National and Community Service. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "Leadership". Corporation for National and Community Service. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Director Named for Vista". The V-line. Office of Economic Opportunity. 6 (6). 25 September 1970.
  8. ↑ "Conversation with Max Finberg—Director of AmeriCorps VISTA".
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