Are you still seeking a JV for 2024-2025?
Consider making your position available to a Flex JV!
So, what is Flex?
Simply put, these are JV AmeriCorps members recruited from within the city where you’re based to serve at your organization with flexible options of either full–time, ¾ time, or ½ time. They don’t fly in from other states or live in a household with other JVs. They’re already in your community, leading their own lives.
Why We've Launched Flex
We want to create new equitable and accessible pathways for adults to gain experience in professional fields and serve as a JV AmeriCorps member.
Currently with our residential model, JVs can only be within a narrow life stage that allows them to move and live in a new household for a year, full-time, without other commitments.
This excludes people who are in domestic partnership, going to school part-time, those who are under 21 or beyond 26ish years, those who need to work part-time, have children, and more!
Because the barriers for our residential model are high for many people, Flex allows for more flexible options for both the JV and you, the site.
Flex will allow people to fold AmeriCorps service into their lives with other obligations and commitments while also gaining valuable skills, experience and benefits that come with national service.
While the Flex model is much more open in its structure and degree of participation, we will continue to focus on our organizational values (community, simple living, social and ecological justice, and spirituality/ reflection), just in a different way than we ask of our residential cohort.
AND we want to create opportunities for people to serve that come FROM WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY, your city, maybe even from your organization’s clients.
We want Flex JVs who already have an investment in your community. We want them to have a voice in your organization because they live in your city; to have a seat at the table because that’s their home too; to be part of the solution because they are the ones experiencing the issues as well.
The only positions eligible for Flex in 2024-2025 are positions that were previously approved, but not yet filled.
What's Different with Flex?
- The JV position can be a full time, ¾ time, or ½ time, for 11 months.
- They start in September and serve through July.
- You, the site, play a major role in local recruitment to fill the position.
- These JVs can have outside employment if they’re serving at your site less than full-time. (This must be approved by the site and must not interfere with their service.)
- These JVs can be full-time or part time student. If a full-time student, they could only participate in a half-time service position.
- They can have flexible position hours.
- Flex JVs provide their own housing.
- Recuiting will look different.
We know you feel like you’ve heard ‘Flex’ before. We want to acknowledge this and say this is different. Our past approaches were reactionary and in response to low recruitment numbers. This iteration of Flex has been intentionally built into JVC Northwest programming over the past several months and can still operate regardless of the number of Flex JVs in a locale.
What's the Same with Flex?
Even though they’re Flex JVs they still:
- Are AmeriCorps members and both you and the JV will need to follow the same AmeriCorps guidelines and regulations.
- Can’t engage in Prohibited Activities like certain kinds of fundraising, advocacy, replacing or duplicating staff positions and all other AmeriCorps prohibited activities.
- Receive a monthly living allowance.
- Receive an Education Award at the completion of service. (pro-rated to their amount of service if they are less than full-time)
- Receive health benefits. (full time AmeriCorps members only)
- Have an assigned site supervisor who meets weekly with the JV.
- Have Site Visits. (virtual or in person)
- Have a Program Coordinator.
- Don’t do overnight service. (no service from 11pm-6am)
- Exceptions for fieldtrips, etc. that has to be a 3-party conversation and ensuring the JV is getting breaks and not being “over worked.”
- Engage with the local Former JV (FJV) and the In Locale Coordinator (ILC).
Learn More so you can Discern
Recruiting for a Flex JV
Your agency can recruit for Flex JVs as you would recruit for a job opening at your organization. We recommend thinking outside the box as well, as there may be people within your organization’s network, like former clients, dedicated volunteers, etc., who could be a great fit for your Flex JV position. JVC Northwest also provides a recruitment resources packet to agencies who have signed up for the Flex program to support your organization’s recruitment efforts. Once you have opted in, we will also provide custom social media and fliers for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Before applying for a Jesuit Volunteer (JV)/AmeriCorps member, please review the following guidelines to ensure your agency will qualify for a volunteer. When a Partner Agency agrees to host a JV/AmeriCorps member, they commit to the following list of responsibilities:
Yes! If you sign up for the Flex program, your JV position(s) will be available to both residential and Flex JV applicants. Your organization could have your position filled by either the Flex Program or the residential program. Once your position is filled by either a Flex or residential JV, then your agency has completed the JV selection and placement process for the coming program year.
Agencies will receive support from the locale Program Coordinator (PC). PCs vet JV applicants prior to sending them to our partner agencies for an interview to ensure they’re a good fit for the program and for your positions. During the program year, PCs visit each agency a minimum of once per year during Area Visits. Agencies will also receive support in the form of tools for evaluation like the Initial Placement Assessment, Mid-term Evaluation, and End-of-Year Evaluation. Lastly, agencies will have access to support from PCs and JVC Northwest staff through email, phone, and virtual gatherings.
Flex JVs will receive support from a JVC Northwest Program Coordinator (PC). PCs visit with Flex JVs twice per year during locale Area Visits and implement retreats for Flex JVs. Flex JVs also receive support from the In-Locale Coordinator, local support people, and former volunteers. They also have access to the JVC Northwest Mentorship Program, spiritual direction resources, and the AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program.
The Flex positions to be offered will be full-time (100%), three-quarter time (71%), or half-time (53%). (The actual percentages are set by AmeriCorps, and they correspond to the number of service hours required of AmeriCorps members in these various slots). The table below shows the Flex Fees for 2024-25 based on these percentages. For the position categories with fees shown as ranges, we will determine the exact amount of the fees in the months ahead once we learn the specifics of our AmeriCorps funding for the upcoming year.
|
Position History |
Full-time Fee |
Three-Quarter-time Fee |
Half-time Fee |
|
# of Service Hours Required by AmeriCorps |
1700 |
1200 |
900 |
|
Lower 48 AmeriCorps Positions in Year 1 |
$17,700 |
$12,567 |
$9,381 |
|
Lower 48 AmeriCorps Positions in Year 2+ |
$ 19,000 – $21,000 |
$13,490 – $14,910 |
$10,070 – $11,130 |
|
Alaska AmeriCorps Positions in Year 1 |
$18,700 |
$13,277 |
$9,911 |
|
Alaska AmeriCorps Positions in Year 2+ |
$ 21,000 – 23,000 |
$14,910 – $16,330 |
$11,130 – $12,190 |
Yes, your organization may host multiple flex JVs, so long as they are equal to or less than the number of positions JVC Northwest has accepted or alternated for your organization. Please contact your PC if you have further questions about what options you have.
Yes, your organization may have a combination of Flex and residential JVs during the same program year if your organization has been approved to host more than one JV position for the coming program year.
You can sign up by filling out this brief form, and a JVC Northwest staff member will connect with you shortly thereafter with recruitment resources and other supports.
Questions?
Reach out to your program coordinator if you need help discerning whether to opt in to this opportunity. Once you have filled out the interest form, someone from our recruiting team will be in touch to support you in that process.
