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Tipsheet: IU faculty comment on Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

EDITORS: The following Indiana University professors are available to discuss key issues related to the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act approved by Congress and soon to be signed by President Barack Obama. Find contact information for each faculty member below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Several faculty from Indiana University's top-ranked School of Public and Environmental Affairs have experience in the leadership of the U.S Corporation for National and Community Service and/or research expertise in volunteerism and public service. They address the following topics:

• The role that nonprofit service organizations play in this country's economic recovery has been overlooked
• The Serve America Act changes do not address chronic under-funding or effectiveness
• An effectively implemented act will keep young people engaged through economic challenges
• The law has potential to improve efficiency in the U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service

The role that nonprofit organizations play in this country's economic recovery has been overlooked

Beth Gazley is an assistant professor of public and environmental affairs and philanthropic studies. Her research addresses volunteerism, the capacity of community organizations to involve student service-learners, and collaborative motivations and collaborative capacity in intersectoral partnerships.

"Nonprofits employ about 10 percent of the nation's workforce and represent more than 7 percent of the gross domestic product. They represent the social service agencies, hospitals and health clinics, job training programs, housing programs, and food pantries that will be expected to provide a safety net to Americans who have lost their jobs. Many of these agencies report an enormous increase in demand for their services. Many have seen their endowment assets shrink in value. So they have an equal claim to stimulus support.

"I am especially interested in the Baucus-Grassley Nonprofit Capacity Building Amendment. We need to pay more attention generally to building the nonprofit sector's human, technological and leadership capacity -- and not just through a national service authorization bill. If nonprofits are to be expected to host greater numbers of volunteers from AmeriCorps and other programs, and to serve those affected by this economic recession, they must be given the tools to succeed. The government's efforts to increase the number of citizens who volunteer must always address the "supply side" of the equation -- increasing the capacity of agencies to host these volunteers.

"The National Council of Nonprofits deserves the credit for getting this legislation passed. It was due to a multi-year effort by local nonprofit resource centers that know best what kind of management strain many social and human service agencies are under. This amendment will help smaller nonprofits secure valuable management training. My only quibble is that the grants are targeted at small-to-mid-sized organizations. Mid-to-large sized nonprofit organizations are also under tremendous economic strain, and that is where most of the jobs are."

To speak with Gazley call 812-855-1464 or email bgazley@indiana.edu. Top

The Serve America Act changes do not address chronic under-funding or effectiveness

Leslie Lenkowsky is a professor of public affairs and philanthropic studies at Indiana University and was formerly CEO at Corporation for National and Community Service, 2001-03.

"There is a lot to celebrate in the Serve America Act of 2009, which makes a number of long overdue improvements in how AmeriCorps and the other programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service operate, many of which were initially proposed by President George W. Bush in 2002. But fans of these programs should not take at face-value the claims of its advocates that it will triple the number of full-time AmeriCorps positions from the current level (about 75,000) to 250,000.

"That's not the case, partly because the Serve America Act is an authorization bill. It appropriates no money for the program. Whether or not AmeriCorps will grow to 250,000 members will depend entirely upon the willingness of Congress to commit sufficient funds for it to do so. Including the newly increased educational award members receive for their term of service, the cost is apt to approach $20,000 per full-time AmeriCorps member.

"But the Serve America Act doesn't anticipate that many full-time members. In fact, half the positions now authorized for AmeriCorps are part-time, some requiring as little as 10 hours of service per week. The new law includes a provision aimed at ensuring that the proportion of full-time members does not fall below 50 percent, but none to increase it.

"While it has a number of useful provisions, the Serve America Act does not address the chronic under-funding of AmeriCorps, or take other steps to improve its effectiveness. We will have to see if Congress finishes the job of creating a high-quality national service program."

To speak with Lenkowsky call 812-855-4072 or 812-334-3140. Email him at llenkows@indiana.edu. Top

An effectively implemented act will keep young people engaged through economic challenges

James L. Perry is a distinguished professor of public and environmental affairs and adjunct professor of philanthropic studies and political science. He previously served as senior evaluator in the Corporation for National and Community Service (1999-2000) and co-authored the book "Civic Service: What Differences Does it Make?" in 2004.

"The National Service Act of 2009 extends America's commitment to national and community service that dates to the beginning of the 20th century. The Civil Conservation Corps is remembered as a key step in getting young people back to work and engaged in public service during the Great Depression. The National Service Act has the potential to do the same for America in our most significant economic challenge since the 1930s. We know from our experience with national and community service programs over the years that how such programs are implemented is critical to their effectiveness. We also know that programs that are effectively designed and implemented offer great promise for those who serve in them, for the beneficiaries of the programs, and for the wider communities in which service programs operate. The expansion of AmeriCorps and the new service corps it creates are important steps in fulfilling promises from the 2008 campaign to give Americans opportunities for "service greater than self."

To speak with Perry call 812-855-5971 or 812-824-3697. Email him at perry@indiana.edu. Top

Law has potential to improve efficiency in the U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service

David Reingold is the associate dean for the School of Public and Environmental Affairs on the Bloomington campus and was formerly director of research and policy development at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

"This is an important milestone in the history of national and community service in the United States. It represents for the first time an organic bill that brings together all national and community service programs under one unified law. This has the potential of improving efficiencies in the operations of the U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service. The law also simplifies the award process for AmeriCorps, and this has the potential of increasing demand for this program among nonprofit organizations that have historically been cool to national and community service. Moreover, this law strengthens performance and evaluation requirements that, if taken seriously, will improve the quality of these programs over time. The introduction of competition into RSVP is a step in the right direction, but it unfortunately does not subject Senior Companions and Foster Grandparents to the same requirement.

"Hopefully, the anticipated growth in AmeriCorps will be done carefully. Since we do not know how many individuals actually apply for the AmeriCorps program, it is hard to tell whether these goals can be reached. We would expect the current economic downturn, combined with the increase in the value of the education award and its transferability, to increase demand, but it remains an open question whether or not 250,000 Americans are willing to serve in this program. And, it remains to be seen whether congressional appropriators will agree to this planned expansion."

To speak with Reingold call 812-855-5058 or email reingold@indiana.edu. Top

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