Orienting Your VISTA

Overview

Creating and delivering an effective OSOT (On-site Orientation and Training) for your VISTA members sets the tone for the entire VISTA service year. Use the resources on this page to ensure that your members understand your site, community, organizational culture, and work expectations from the get-go.

OSOT Checklist

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Use this checklist to plan your member onboarding and orientation activities.
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On-Site Orientation and Training Guidebook

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Use this guidebook to plan and deliver an effective and inspiring OSOT for your new VISTA members. It offers a planning timeline, sample agendas, tips for making your orientation interactive and fun, and suggestions for evaluating your OSOT in a meaningful way.
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Pre-Service Orientation Blended Curriculum

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The PSO Blend is an approach to VISTA Pre-Service Orientation that employs distance learning and fieldwork to introduce VISTA member to the terms, conditions and benefits of service and key programming principles at the start of their service. The resources below allow VISTA supervisors to adjust their On-Site Orientation and Training to fit the PSO Blend schedule and to support their VISTA members as they participate in the PSO Blend.
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OSOT Template

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Use this calendar template to lay out your multi-day member orientation.
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Community Entry Worksheets

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A set of tools for supervisors to identify cultural and community norms to plan successful community entry for VISTA members.
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OSOT Guidelines

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Follow these guidelines to include the elements required in your member orientation.
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Difference Between VISTAs and Employees

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Make sure your employees and VISTAs understand the distinctions between their roles. Use this document to promote dialogue among employees about the differences and to prepare for a VISTA's smooth entry into the project and community.
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