Become a Public Health AmeriCorps Host Site

Healing Action Network is seeking organizations interested in becoming Public Health AmeriCorps host site. This program is designed to provide strategic solutions to an organizations’ needs and to grow the public health workforce.

Members are recruited to serve for up to 1 year. In exchange for their service, members receive a modest living allowance and an education award to use towards post-secondary education or to pay back qualified federal student loans.

Members serve in either a full-time or part-time capacity at a partner organization that serves as a host site.

Public Health AmeriCorps members provide direct care services to their site such as crisis intervention and case management, as outlined in a service plan submitted by the site and approved by AmeriCorps

We are currently accepting applications for host sites. Please contact Libby Trammell at [email protected] with any questions. 
APPLY NOW TO BECOME A PUBLIC HEALTH AMERICORPS HOST
Members provide capacity building services which will support one or more of the following domains:
Data Collection and Planning

Inclusive of efforts to facilitate the collection of quantitative or qualitative data. The purpose of the data collection may be varied; however, these activities differ from community engagement insofar as the primary purpose is the planning of a data collection project or the actual collection of data rather than relationship-building, outreach, or dissemination of information.

Data Analysis and Interpretation for Improvement

Inclusive of any efforts to analyze or interpret data to inform program improvement or planning.

Analysis of extant or administrative data, interpretation, and summarization of external data to guide ongoing or future projects.

Internal Process Improvement

Inclusive of efforts to document, review, and improve upon existing internal agency processes. May be informed by activities in other categories.

Efforts to improve internal host site procedures for executing their strategic plan. Perform basic research and internal analysis, monitor or document organizational changes related to quality improvement, support or create internal communication channels.

Direct Services

Direct Services in a mental health organization encompass a range of interventions and supports provided directly to individuals in need. These services aim to improve mental health, enhance coping mechanisms, and promote overall well-being. Key components of Direct Services typically include:

  • Case Management 
  • Crisis Intervention 
  • Counseling 
  • Referring to resources 
  • Drop-In Center staffing 
  • Intake Assessments 
Community Engagement and Communications

Inclusive of any community engagement activities intended to strengthen awareness of a given issue and/or meaningful collaboration to strengthen implementation of a given program or initiative. Activities may focus on organizational partner engagement or individual community members and include efforts to empower the community to guide initiatives as well as those intended to inform the community.

Considerations before hosting a Public Health AmeriCorps Member:

Criteria for hosting a Healing Action Network Public Health AmeriCorps Member

An agency hosting a Public Health AmeriCorps member will pay a monthly fee for each month that the Public Health AmeriCorps member is serving with that subsite.

  • For full time 1700 hour roles, the fee is $600/month.
  • For smaller time commitments such as 300 or 675 hours, the fee is $300/month. 
  • Be an active member of the Missouri Coalition Against Trafficking and Exploitation (CATE) 
  • Agencies who are not active members may seek membership in conjunction with applying to be a Public Health AmeriCorps Host Site 
  • Be based in Missouri or East Illinois 
  • Have 501(c)3 nonprofit status 
  • Have the ability to build into their programming screening for human trafficking and exploitation OR have their current screening reviewed by HAN 
  • Provide monthly data to HAN and MOCATE regarding the Public Health AmeriCorps program and member activity 

Determine the number of AmeriCorps Members you wish to host at your site.

  • Does your organization need extra capacity-building support that a regular staff person is unable to provide? 
  • What is the size and scope of the community need? How many Public Health AmeriCorps members could your site host to meet this need?
  • How many Public Health AmeriCorps members can your designated Site Supervisor(s) reasonably support given their anticipated capacity?
  • Will the Public Health AmeriCorps member have enough meaningful service activities to fulfill their hours commitment either full- or part-time?
  • Where in the building would be the designated office space for the Public Health AmeriCorps member(s)?

Host Site Expectations

What is expected of a host organization?

  • Identify a staff person to fill the role of Site Supervisor.
  • Work in collaboration with Healing Action Network staff to find high-quality members and designate a recruitment contact to lead site-based recruitment efforts. The majority of our candidates are connected to the program by our site partners. 
  • Welcome the member to the organization, introduce to staff, and provide an orientation to the site. Ensure accessibility for each member at site, which includes, but is not limited to, the member workspace, site environment, and materials, etc.
  • Educate other staff about Public Health AmeriCorps to capture buy-in and support.
  • Allow the member to implement the Public Health AmeriCorps program appropriately, including obtaining and reporting required program data on a regular basis.
  • Provide a workspace for the member to use, including computer/device and internet access and a locked filing cabinet.
  • Submit a needs assessment outlining the capacity needs to the program.Use this service plan regularly at the site and with program staff to ensure projects are on track for success.
  • Support the member in implementing the service plan and regularly reporting service plan progress with the support of program staff.

What activities are viable for a member of the Public Health AmeriCorps program?

What members CAN do:

  • Case Management 
  • Crisis Intervention 
  • Counseling 
  • Referring to resources 
  • Drop-In Center staffing 
  • Intake Assessments 
  • Other direct service duties

What members CANNOT do:

The following activities may not be done during AmeriCorps time or while wearing the AmeriCorps logo(s). On a member’s personal time when they are not wearing AmeriCorps logo(s) they may engage in these activities of their own free will: 

  • Attempting to influence legislation 
  • Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts or strikes 
  • Assisting, promoting or deterring union organizing 
  • Impairing existing contacts for services or collective bargaining agreements 
  • Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office 
  • 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 
  • 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 
  • Providing a direct benefit to:
    • A business organized for profit;
    • A labor union;
    • A partisan political organization;
    • 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;
    • An organization engaged in the religious activities described in paragraph (g) of this section, unless Agency assistance is not used to support those religious activities; and
  • Conducting a voter registration drive or using Agency funds to conduct a voter registration drive;
  • Providing abortion services or referrals for receipt of such services; and
    • Such other activities as the Agency may prohibit.
  • 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-Agency funds. Individuals should not wear the AmeriCorps logo while doing so.

Still have questions? Contact Libby Trammell at [email protected].