IDRPP Bids Farewell to the PSP VISTA Program
VISTA members pose together after their year-end banquet.
The Public & School Partnership (PSP) program abruptly ended late last month when its federal grant was terminated. The program leaves a hole here at the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice, where it was housed. The loss is also felt at the many Utah sites where its AmeriCorps VISTA members served their communities.
AmeriCorps was largely dismantled nationwide.
In the 2023-24 budget year, the program received $170,000 in Federal grant money. PSP generated $754,000 in donations and in-kind contributions to community organizations, through the work of its 15 members. Thanks to those members’ efforts, 48,000 new clients were served in 14 Utah sites. PSP’s VISTA members also mobilized 2,000 volunteers, who contributed 30,000 hours of service at locations throughout Utah.
One of them was Common Ground Outdoor Adventures in Logan; an organization with the goal of alleviating poverty for individuals with disabilities by ensuring they have opportunities and access to outdoor recreation and education.
“The way in which the VISTAs were ‘ripped’ from their service positions with no lead time or warning was devastating to the programs where they served,” wrote Samantha Macfarlane, Common Ground’s executive director, in an email interview. “Devastating to the low income individuals in our program and to the staff and volunteers these individuals worked with. The organization was left scrambling to fill the gaps of the lost position.
“I supervised AmeriCorps VISTAs for over 25 years at Common Ground, and the program has really made CGOA what it is today. ... We wouldn't even exist without the AmeriCorps VISTA program.”
MacFarlane is not hopeful that unpaid volunteers can replace the work the PSP VISTA members did. “We no longer have the training and oversight provided by PSP, and without the stipend, training, and benefits to serve, volunteers may not have the commitment and structure needed to fulfill a long-term intensive commitment to the organization,” she wrote. “Our organization's resources are thin, and we do not have the capacity to take on the important role that PSP provides in managing and training the VISTAs.”
Former PSP Director Roseline Hill sent out the following statements to VISTA members and sites:
“To our VISTA Members, your commitment to service, resilience in the face of challenges, and unwavering support for communities in need have made a lasting impact,” Hill said. “You have not only strengthened the fabric of our organization but also uplifted countless individuals through your efforts.
“To our partners, thank you for your collaboration, encouragement, and the vital resources you provided. Your support was instrumental in making this program a success and ensuring that our members could thrive in their roles.”