Training and Technical Assistance FAQ

The information on this page is primarily intended to assist Corporation-funded national service and volunteer programs, projects, state commissions, and community service and volunteer programs in accessing national training and technical assistance (T/TA) resources and information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is training and technical assistance (T/TA)? The Corporation for National and Community Service provides tools, training, and information to assist our grantees, sponsors, and programs—as well as organizations with the potential to be future grantees, sponsors, and programs—to be more effective.

What are training and technical assistance providers? Training and technical assistance providers are organizations competitively selected by the Corporation to provide tools, training, and information on a variety of topics.

Who are the training and technical assistance providers? See our T/TA matrix for information on the current T/TA providers and their organizational focus.

How do I access T/TA materials? To find and access learning materials developed by the T/TA providers and experts in the field, including manuals, tip sheets, sample forms, effective practices, and thousands of other materials, use the various navigation functions located on The Resource Center website: the search engine feature, the Frequently Searched Topics web page, or by type of resource listed on the navigation bar located on the left of the web pages.

Can I get help over the phone or by e-mail? Yes, contact providers directly for these services. See T/TA Resources to read more about the specific technical assistance each T/TA provider offers.

Can I get someone to come to my organization and consult with us? Yes, call your parent organization, program officer at the state commission, state field office, or Corporation headquarters as appropriate prior to accessing these services. See T/TA Resources.

Can I get someone to conduct a training or a workshop at my conference or training event? Yes, find your program type in the table below to access one of the providers that offers on-site training at your project or to have them attend your regional, statewide, or multi-stream event.

If you are a/an..., then...

AmeriCorps*National parent staff member - Contact your program officer at the Corporation.

AmeriCorps*National program or site staff member - Contact your parent organization or the training officer at your site.

AmeriCorps*NCCC campus staff member or project site - Contact the training officer on your campus.

AmeriCorps state program staff member - Contact your program officer or the training officer at the state commission.

AmeriCorps*VISTA project staff member - Contact your state program officer at the state office.

Community projects not affiliated with the Corporation for National and Community Service - On-site training and technical assistance are only available for currently funded Corporation programs and projects.

Learn and Serve America project grantees and subgrantees - Contact your program officer at the Corporation or your direct grantor.

Senior Corps project director or staff member - Contact your state program officer at the state office.

Special projects and initiatives - Contact your program officer at the Corporation, state commission, or state office as appropriate.

State commission staff member - Contact your program officer at the Corporation.

Tribal programs - Contact your program officer at the Corporation, state commission, or state office as appropriate.

How much do training and technical services cost grantees, sponsors, and programs? All of the services provided by the T/TA providers are available free of cost to Corporation-funded grantees, sponsors, and programs; however, services are limited based on funding. Identify the appropriate contact person in the table above and inquire about T/TA provider availability.

Are the T/TA provider services only available for organizations receiving Corporation resources? All of the materials and services available online are provided free of charge to community service and volunteer programs not funded by the Corporation—as well as to our current grantees, sponsors, and programs. However, the following services are only available to programs currently funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service:

  • e-mail T/TA
  • phone T/TA
  • remote T/TA
  • on-site training
  • statewide training events;

What principles guide the delivery of T/TA services? The following principles guide the delivery of services from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Office of Leadership Development and Training, and the training and technical assistance providers:

  • The Corporation, states, programs, and communities are partners in learning, shaping decisions, and sharing in the delivery of cost-effective assistance that addresses critical needs.
  • Training and technical assistance is most effective within an ongoing relationship of trust and shared responsibility. Building understanding and mutual respect facilitates collaboration and growth.
  • States and programs should build toward self-sufficiency. States and programs should draw on national training and technical assistance resources selectively, relying as much as possible on locally based providers.
  • Providing peer-to-peer assistance and using a train-the-trainer approach are effective means for applying and multiplying the knowledge and expertise of the field.
  • Training and technical assistance resources should be competency-based and planned and allocated based on assessment of competencies using various data sources, including risk-monitoring plans.
  • Programs should assess their own needs and level of competence by identifying and measuring indicators of success. This enables a program to understand what works and what doesn't and to improve continually. Programs can also access online assessment surveys to assess where they are in relation to characteristics of successful programs.
  • Training should be consistent with the principles of adult learning. The transfer of knowledge and skills through training is likely to succeed when principles of adult learning are applied.

All training and technical assistance services should be designed using these principles.

How do I provide feedback on T/TA provider services received? If you attend a training activity conducted by one of the Corporation's T/TA providers, you will receive a survey requesting your feedback at the end of the session. All providers must aggregate survey responses and submit them to the Corporation as a part of their reporting requirements.