Welcome to the California Climate Action Corps
We are so excited to have you join the inaugural California Climate Action Corps Fellow Cohort this winter! This webpage is intended to provide you with instructions on next steps once you have accepted a position into the program. Please review all information below.
1. START DATE & ORIENTATION
Fellows will begin the 2021 Service Year on Monday, January 11th with a Program Orientation during which Fellows will learn more about the Climate Action Corps, connect with staff and other Fellows, and learn about their projects.
More detailed information, including a final schedule, will be sent in the coming weeks before Orientation.
2. CONTRACT AND NEW HIRE PAPERWORK
Climate Action Corps requires applicants to submit multiple forms as part of the hiring process, including a Fellow contract. You should have received the contract via an email link already. Please be sure to sign as soon as possible after accepting the Fellowship offer.
You will also need to download the Fellow New Hire Paperwork and read through the instructions document carefully. We will be hosting a weekly 30-minute session each Monday at 2:00pm PST for new Fellows to connect with our program staff to go over the documents, what you need to submit, and to answer any questions you might have. Please register for a session here.
After the session, you will need to complete all the documents and submit them on time. You will submit all forms electronically via this DropBox link (also found in the instructions document). Note that we will need your I-9 form submitted as soon as possible as it plays a key role in the background check process (as mentioned below), so the earlier you submit your documents the better!
We recommend downloading a free scanner app onto your phone for any printed items so it is easier to scan as a PDF and upload. We recommend Genius Scan and Tiny Little Scanner.
Info: Apart from this documentation, we will also complete an E-Verify request for all Fellows at the start of the service year. There is nothing you need to do on your end for this.
3. BACKGROUND CHECKS
AmeriCorps conducts two background checks – Fieldprint (FBI checks) and Truescreen (state and National Sex Offender Public Registry checks). You will need to create online accounts for both. Prospective Fellows must clear ALL background checks prior to beginning any service work with Climate Action Corps, including attending Orientation, beginning their project, or logging hours.
Fieldprint checks require you to make an appointment to go in-person to get your fingerprints taken, and the Truescreen checks can be done relatively quickly online. For Fieldprint, the appointment availability will vary by where you are located – due to COVID, some sites may have a long waiting list or are closed, so be sure to look for availability as soon as possible. Please let us know ASAP if you are unable to schedule an appointment before January 4th in a location near you.
To begin the process:
- Carefully review the instructions on how to create accounts for Fieldprint and Truescreen and begin the process for both.
- Create your Fieldprint account and schedule an appointment ASAP to have your fingerprints taken.
- Once you’ve uploaded your I-9 and other new hire paperwork, we’ll use the information there to send you an email via Truescreen to begin the Truescreen process (Truescreen does not require an appointment or fingerprints).
If you have any questions or issues as you go through this process, please contact us at cshr@civicspark.lgc.org.
**Fellows CANNOT log hours or receive any benefits until ALL background check results have been received by LGC and cleared. If you do not clear your checks, you will be notified immediately; if you do not hear from us, then you’re all set! Full clearance of checks usually happens around 1-2 weeks after you’ve submitted your final check.
Please do NOT use any other background check processes on your own outside of those mentioned above – the checks we use are specific to the requirements of AmeriCorps.**
4. FELLOW INFORMATION
All Fellows will receive Climate Action Corps gear and will have their bio updated on the CivicSpark website. Use this link to submit the following information:
- Fellow bio and headshot
- Jacket and T-shirt Size
Please submit your response by January 8th.
5. BENEFITS
Closer to the start of the service year, we will share information regarding signing up for health care and childcare, and applying to CalFresh.
During Orientation, we will cover the process for initiating loan forbearance, and other benefits.
6. QUESTIONS & NEXT STEPS
If you have any questions about any of the above, please contact us at cshr@civicspark.lgc.org. Remember to sign up to join one of our New Hire Paperwork Q&A sessions!
Your Regional Coordinator (CC’d on your offer) will reach out to you soon to connect and answer any questions before the start of the service year.