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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
 
Program Assessment

Program

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AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America

The AmeriCorps*VISTA program supports efforts to alleviate poverty by placing volunteers in communities for 12 months of full-time intensive service. These volunteers strengthen local organizations that serve low-income communities, encourage local volunteer service, and generate the commitment of private sector resources.

Rating

What This Rating Means

PERFORMING
Adequate

This rating describes a program that needs to set more ambitious goals, achieve better results, improve accountability or strengthen its management practices.
  • The program purpose is clear and addresses a compelling need, but is duplicative of other volunteer efforts and federal programs. While the demographics and nature of poverty have changed over the years, the need for help in addressing conditions that cause poverty remains current. There is a well-documented need to help organizations serve low-income communities.
  • The program is well managed and resources reach intended beneficiaries, but the impact of the program is unclear. Monitoring protocols ensure that resources are used appropriately and ineffective projects are terminated, but the program has not been evaluated relative to other similar programs, nor has its impact on alleviating poverty.
  • The program has set ambitious targets, but lacks historical data to measure performance and progress toward targets. In addition, regular high-quality independent evaluations have not been conducted to support program improvements.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Continuing to upgrade and enhance electronic data systems that will enable the program to accurately establish baselines and measure program performance.
  • Initiating a rigorous, external evaluation to assess the program's performance in building the capacity of local organizations to carry out sustainable anti-poverty programs.

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