CHCANYS AmeriCorps Host Sites
CHCANYS Public Health AmeriCorps is a workforce development program dedicated to assisting community health centers in addressing COVID-19 response and other health care needs in their communities. CHCANYS Public Health AmeriCorps members perform direct service with patients thereby filling service gaps, increasing access, and improving utilization of the health center’s services.
CHCANYS Public Health AmeriCorps is accepting proposals from interested community health centers who would like to host one or more AmeriCorps members at their site. Members perform a year of service at community health centers where they work to improve and expand delivery of services at their sites.
Below are examples of common activities members can perform and those they are prohibited from performing. Host sites contribute a $10,000 matching fee per AmeriCorps member that they host.
Common activities CHCANYS Public Health AmeriCorps members perform:
- Assess patient needs, consult, and recommend appropriate health education resources/services
- Respond to questions relating to health issues, providing relevant information and/or referring patient to appropriate care
- Provide direct community outreach to targeted populations
- Conduct basic presentations (non-clinical) on health education resources
- Call patients to confirm and get consent for telehealth visits prior to their appointment
- Engage in outreach to bring patients in for COVID-19 vaccination
Activities CHCANYS Public Health AmeriCorps members are prohibited from performing:
- Displacing any existing employee positions
- Duplicating already existing services
- Filing or working as medical clerk or other staff roles
- Duties of a Physician Assistant
- Fundraising for their match or stipends
- Development work unless they are implementing what they develop
- Advocacy on behalf of any legislation, political party or political candidate
- Duties related to religious instruction or worship
- Providing abortion services and referrals for such services
A detailed explanation of all rules and policies can be provided upon request. Any FQHC site interested in hosting member(s) should complete this application. Please feel free to contact Orlando via email (oreboredo@chcanys.org) with any questions or concerns.
- How does a Community Health Center apply to become an AmeriCorps host site?
Submit this interest form.
- Is there a limit to how many AmeriCorps members a CHC can host?
No. While slots are limited, host sites are welcome to request any number of members based on their health center’s needs. All requests are subject to review and availability.
- How much does it cost for a CHC to host a member?
$10,000 per member. CHCs are invoiced upon member placement.
- How long will AmeriCorps members work at the site? What is their typical schedule?
Each member serves a 10-month term starting in the fall 2023. Members work a full time 40-hour work week.
- How does the recruitment process work?
CHCANYS assists CHCs with recruitment by conducting initial interviews and then, from a pre-screened group of applicants, asks sites to conduct second round interviews and collaborate with CHCANYS on final hiring decisions. Sites are also able to identify candidates for the position and refer them to CHCANYS AmeriCorps staff, who will guide them through the application process.
- Who is a typical AmeriCorps member?
CHCANYS AmeriCorps members are typically recent college graduates with an interest in pursuing a career in medicine, health care, and public health.
- Who is eligible to serve?
Members must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents, age 17 or older, and have a minimum education of High School diploma or GED (if no GED, they must commit to pursuing a GED).
- Who should be the site supervisor and what is their role?
Community Health Center host sites must identify a Site Supervisor. The Site Supervisor must participate in Site Supervisor Orientation and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the AmeriCorps member position and is responsible for member supervision and support. The Site Supervisor also ensures that Members are not participating in prohibited activities and is responsible for signing timesheets and performing member evaluations.
- How do host sites develop a member position description?
CHCANYS works with CHC host sites to develop AmeriCorps roles that reflect the needs of their health center and the surrounding community. Some example of focus areas for member’s service activities includes supporting COVID-19 response, Vaccine education and outreach, Opioid and substance abuse response, Food security, SDOH, Open Notes and patient portal education.
- What activities are prohibited/disallowable for members?
While charging time to the AmeriCorps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or the Corporation, staff and members may not engage in the following activities:
(1) Attempting to influence legislation;
(2) Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes;
(3) Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing;
(4) Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements;
(5) Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office;
(6) Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials;
(7) Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization;
(8) Providing a direct benefit to—
(i) A business organized for profit;
(ii) A labor union;
(iii) A partisan political organization;
(iv) A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 except that nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent participants from engaging in advocacy activities undertaken at their own initiative; and
(v) An organization engaged in the religious activities described in paragraph (g) of this section, unless Corporation assistance is not used to support those religious activities;
(9) Conducting a voter registration drive or using Corporation funds to conduct a voter registration drive;
(10) Providing abortion services or referrals for receipt of such services; and
(11) Such other activities as the Corporation may prohibit.
(b) Individuals may exercise their rights as private citizens and may participate in the activities listed above on their initiative, on non-AmeriCorps time, and using non-Corporation funds. Individuals should not wear the AmeriCorps logo while doing so. Included in sample AmeriCorps member contract.
- Is the member training on-site or off-site?
Members receive training both on-site and off-site training throughout their term. Public Health AmeriCorps creates pathways to quality public health-related careers by providing exposure through experience and on-site training specific to their role.
CHCANYS provides specialized training such as Motivational Interviewing, SBIRT certification, Narcan administration and train-the-trainer, Harm Reduction, Cultural Humility, CPR/First Aid, and others. Public Health AmeriCorps members will also have access to Cornell University’s Public Health Essentials certificate course at no cost. Developed by Cornell’s Master of Public Health program, the four-part online training program is designed to give AmeriCorps members serving with CHCANYS the expertise and tools to take an active role in community-led initiatives surrounding public health improvement, and prevention and response in the event of public health emergencies.
- What benefits do AmeriCorps members receive?
Members receive a Living Allowance of $27,000 during the course of their term, in addition to other benefits provided by AmeriCorps such health insurance, transportation benefits, and an Education Award at the completion of their term.