AmeriCorps Week is a time for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on AmeriCorps and to motivate more Americans to serve.

About AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps, similar to the Peace Corps, is a community service program but focused within the US instead of abroad. AmeriCorps is a umbrella term for a very diverse range of service opportunities.

AmeriCorps Programs fall into 3 main categories:

1. State and National
2. National Civilian Community Corps
3. *VISTA

However, there are opportunities to work in almost any human service setting you can think of within each of the 3 categories.

About my program

I am currently serving as an Community HealthCorps member through the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers program. This program is considered a national AmeriCorps program, and HealthCorps members are placed at various community health centers throughout Massachusetts. There are 16 members placed at 11 health centers this year.

The HealthCorps was founded in 1995 by the National Association of Community Health Centers. It is the largest health-focused, national AmeriCorps program that promotes health care for America’s underserved, while developing tomorrow’s health care workforce.

As a group, my fellow HealthCorps members have completed several service projects together including:

• MLK Day of Service at the Greater Boston Food Bank
• Relay for Life
• Wake up the Earth (community festival)
• Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger
• and more in the works….

About the HealthCorps

Focused on direct services, HealthCorps members provide a variety of health services/programs for patients and community by serving as community health workers (CHWs).

• Navigating the health care system;
• Establishing a “medical home” and improving utilization of health care;
• Individual and group health promotion/disease prevention education;
• Adopting “self-care” practices that lead to improved health status;
• Follow-up, case management, and support on treatment plans;
• Enrollment in public health insurance; and
• Assessing other patient needs (financial assistance, housing, legal & etc).

Source: http://www.communityhealthcorps.org/healthcorps-americorps.cfm

Click below for more information and to apply



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