Working effectively with multiple sites

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Abstract

Multi-site management is a reality for many national service programs. When members serve at multiple sites, program directors need to work closely with members and site supervisors to ensure everyone is working toward the same goals. Program directors shared effective practices for working with site supervisors and communicating with team members during a workshop on multi-site management at the 2001 National Conference on Community Volunteering and National Service in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Issue

Program directors who supervise national service members at multiple sites face common challenges including keeping site supervisors informed, ensuring program policies are being followed at each site, team building and communicating among members and site supervisors.

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Action

The following ideas were shared during a workshop on multi-site management during the 2001 National Conference on National Service and Community Volunteering.

Team building and communicating with members
  • More members at fewer sites works best. Place five to eight members at each site so members do not feel too isolated.

  • Maintain a separate phone line for AmeriCorps members to contact you.

  • Maintain a website for members to access updated information about the program such as meeting dates, reminders, forms, other issues that affect them.
Working with site supervisors
  • Provide technical assistance to potential site sponsors prior to them applying to the program so they understand the requirements for being a site.

  • Decide which sites to place members based on a pre-determined set of criteria.

  • Document the expectations of site supervisors and have each sign an agreement stating they understand what is expected of them.(See "Resources", Host Site Agreement from the Washington Service Corps.)

  • Conduct three days of orientation with site supervisors. Produce a site supervisors' manual that includes prohibited activities.

  • Focus on a few objectives for the program and make sure everyone -- site supervisors and members -- knows what the program objectives are.

  • Get site supervisors directly involved with the program to create buy in.

  • Encourage members to talk with staff at their site about the national service program and its objectives.

  • Encourage communication between sites.

  • Keep communication clear and direct. Provide information through newsletters, conference calls and the Internet.

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Posted On

August 9, 2001

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Resources

Intermountain AmeriCorps Host Site Agreement

http://nationalserviceresources.org/filemanager/download/19/ID7.pdf [457 KB]

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