Welcome to Community HealthCorps!

2. Welcome to Community HealthCorps!

3. Community HealthCorps • Launched by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) in 1995 • Largest health-focused AmeriCorps program that promotes health care for America’s underserved, while developing tomorrow’s health care workforce. • Community HealthCorps members try to help people who have no regular primary care provider to: • Increase access to health care • Provide health education • Recruit and develop volunteers for health centers

4. Community HealthCorps

5. Oversight of National Service

6. Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) • Federal entity created in 1993 by the National Community Service Trust Act • Engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in community-based service that achieves direct and demonstrable results • 3 major programs: • Learn and Serve America • AmeriCorps (includes AmeriCorps*State & National, AmeriCorps*VISTA, AmeriCorps*NCCC) • Senior Corps

7. Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act • Signed April 21, 2009 by President Obama • Reauthorized and expanded national service programs administered by CNCS • Increased the size of AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000 positions over the next eight years • Established September 11 as a National Day of • Service and Remembrance

8. Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act Created 5 national service priority areas for AmeriCorps State & National programs: Education Unmet educational needs within communities especially those that help children and youth achieve success in school and increase high school graduation rates. Healthy Futures Unmet health needs within communities including access to health care, disease prevention and health promotion initiatives, and health literacy.

9. Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act Clean Energy/Environment Unmet energy-efficiency and environmental needs within communities. Veterans Unmet needs of veterans, members of the Armed Forces who are on active duty, and family members of deployed military personnel and engagement of veterans in service. Economic Opportunity Unmet needs relating to economic opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals within communities including financial literacy, housing assistance, job training, and nutritional assistance.

10. AmeriCorps • Specifically, AmeriCorps strives to: • Get things done • Strengthen communities • Encourage responsibility • Expand opportunity • Over 200,000 AmeriCorps members nationwide have completed a full or part-time term of service!

11. AmeriCorps Pledge I will get things done for America -to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.Faced with apathy, I will take action.Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.Faced with adversity, I will persevere.I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

12. National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) America’s Voice for Community Health Centers The NACHC Mission To promote the provision of high quality, comprehensive and affordable health care that is coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent, and community directed for all medically underserved populations.

13. National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) • Organized in 1971 with the needs of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in mind • Works closely with a network of state health center and primary care associations to serve its members in three major ways: • Research-based advocacy for health centers and their clients • Education of the public and training of health center staff and boards • Development of alliances with like-minded public and private partners to foster delivery of medical care to those in need.

14. Community Health Centers Spread across 50 states and all U.S. territories, 1,200 health centers provide vital primary care to millions of Americans with limited financial resources through over 7,000 service delivery sites.

15. Health center patients are among the nation’s most vulnerable populations • Nearly all patients are low income, with 71% of health center patients having incomes at or below poverty. • Patients tend to be members of racial or minority groups • 39% are uninsured, and another 35% depend on Medicaid • About half of health center patients reside in rural areas, while the other half tend to live in economically depressed inner city communities

16. Community Health Centers Overcome Barriers to Care Health centers remove common financial, geographic, and cultural barriers to care. They • Are located in high need areas (those with elevated poverty, higher than average infant mortality, and where few physicians practice) • Are open to all residents regardless of insurance status, and provide free or low-cost care based on ability to pay • Offer services that help their patients access health care such as transportation, translation, case management, and health education • Tailor their services to fit the special needs and priorities of their communities, and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services

17. Community HealthCorps Program Organization

18. Program Sponsor Sites Health Centers are the placement sites and the predominant sponsors of the Community HealthCorps. Program sponsor sites: • Make financial contribution to the program • Hire the program coordinator • Recruit Community HealthCorps members for their team • Provide the bulk of the member training • Manage day to day member service activities

19. Program Staff Roles

20. Community HealthCorps Members AmeriCorps members have made a commitment to the community they serve. • Members are not “volunteers,” “interns,” “students,” or employees • Members agree to serve a minimum of 1700 hours (FT) and through the end of contract term. • Members may serve up to 12 months (minimum term of service is 10 months) • Members receive certain benefits for serving, depending on their eligibility

21. Community HealthCorps Eligibility Requirements Applicants must meet the following criteria and provide required documentation in order to be eligible to enroll in AmeriCorps: • Complete an online application packet • Complete program site interview process, which may include reference check (requirements vary across program sites) • Provide documentation to verify that applicant is a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Individuals in the U.S. under a student, work, or tourist visa are not eligible to become AmeriCorps members. • At least 18 years of age at the commencement of service (or 17 with parental permission) • Have a high school diploma or GED or agree to obtain a GED while serving • Fulfill National Service Criminal History Check requirements, which includes both National Sex Offender Public Registry and Criminal Registry searches

22. Benefits of Serving • Living Allowance for some members • Education Award after successful completion of agreed upon term of service, can be used to pay off federally qualified student loans and for future schooling • Health Insurance for members earning a living allowance • Child Care assistance for members meeting eligibility requirements • Loan forbearance and payment of accrued interest while serving • Unique training opportunities and experiences related to community health

23. Direct Service Activities • Direct Service: Work that addresses human needs, the environment, public safety, and/or education. Examples include: • Outreach & Advocacy: Conduct outreach in the community and provide education about health insurance eligibility, available health and related programs, and health care options • Enrollment: Assist individuals with the enrollment process for health programs, health insurance plans, and/or pharmaceutical assistance programs. • Improve Utilization of Health Services and Programs: Provide linguistically and culturally appropriate translations, provide transportation assistance, provide health education in one-on-one or group settings, assist individuals with navigating health and related services/programs, etc.

24. Capacity Building Activities Examples include: • Conducting outreach and securing resources in support of service activities that meet specific needs in the community • Developing collaborative relationships with other organizations • Helping build the infrastructure of the sponsoring organization, including: • Conducting research, mapping community assets, or gathering other information that will strengthen the organization’s ability to meet community needs • Developing new programs or services in an organization seeking to expand • Developing organizational systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness • Automating organizational operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness • Staff and board education

25. Grant Writing & Fundraising Activities Members may raise funds directly in support of their service activities up to 10% of their total service time. Fundraising hours must be pre-approved by the program coordinator.

26. Service Projects All Community HealthCorps programs should be involved in (planning and/or collaboration) at least four service projects during the program year. • Examples of service projects include: Health Fairs, neighborhood clean-ups with a local environmental group, building a house with Habitat for Humanity, literacy fair in conjunction with Reach Out and Read • Unallowable service projects include: • Fundraisers for the general support of the program site • Participation in projects and/or fundraisers involving the promotion of alcohol, gambling, and other questionable activities

27. Employee Displacement & Duplication • An AmeriCorps member is not: • an employee of the program • is not to be confused with a community volunteer • is not to be confused with an intern or student • Given that members are not employees, they are not allowed to perform an employee’s duties or otherwise displace employees • A member may not fill in for an absent employee • Members may not, under any circumstances, perform services, or activities that had been assigned to an employee or volunteer or to an employee or volunteer who has recently resigned or been discharged • Programs may not use members, even temporarily, to replace staff (i.e. fill in when they are sick, on maternity leave, and/or offsite for any reason)

28. Prohibited Activities Community HealthCorps members or staff members charging time to the AmeriCorps grant may not participate in any of the following activities: • Attempt to influence legislation • Conduct voter registration drives. • Organize or engage in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes • Assist, promote, or deter union organization • Provide abortion services or make referrals* for such services *A referral consists of a name, address, telephone number, and other relevant factual information such as insurance accepted.

29. Prohibited Activities (continued) • Engage in partisan political activities or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election • Participate in, or endorse, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against a political party, platform, candidate, proposed legislation, or elected officials • Engage in religious instruction, conduct worship services; construct, operate, or manage facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship; engage in any form of religious proselytizing

30. Prohibited Activities (continued) AmeriCorps members may not displace or duplicate the service provided by an employee or volunteer: • If staff resigns or is terminated a member may not fill this duty. • If staff is out sick, on vacation, etc. a member may not fill this duty. • If staff leaves for his/her lunch hour, a member may not fill this duty. • A member may not assist staff to complete a duty in his/her job description, unless the member is expanding or enhancing this service in some way

31. Prohibited Activities (continued) AmeriCorps members may not provide a direct benefit to: A for-profit entity; A labor union; A partisan political organization; or An organization engaged in the religious activities described earlier, unless Grant funds are not used to support the religious activities. A nonprofit entity that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of U.S. Code Title 26.

32. Ideal Community HealthCorps Placements • Outreach to vulnerable and/or underserved populations • Development of new position(s) • Involve service that would not otherwise get done and/or expands availability of services • Utilizes unique talents of individual members • Does not displace or duplicate any paid employee providing the same or similar service at the site • Provides opportunities for Community HealthCorps members to perform direct service that addresses unmet health and/or human needs in the community

33. Community HealthCorps Members Are Doing Great Things in Health Centers During the 2008-09 program year, more than 746,803 medically underserved people benefitted from the diligent service of Community HealthCorps members nationwide. • Of these individuals, 77,472 enrolled in health screenings, group health education workshops and classes, health insurance plans, and other health services and programs. • At least 75,028 medically underserved individuals used preventive and primary health care services two or more times during the program year. • 5,880 people were recruited to volunteer 33,595 hours to assist health centers and other community-based organizations with addressing health and human needs.

34. Community HealthCorps Program Sites NACHC-OPERATED PROGRAMS • Marana Health Center (Marana, AZ) • LifeLong Medical Care (Berkeley, CA) • AltaMed Health Services (Los Angeles, CA) • Central Valley Health Network (Sacramento, CA) • San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium (San Francisco, CA) • Alliance for Rural Community Health (Ukiah, CA) • Family HealthCare Network (Visalia, CA) • Community Health Center, Inc. (Middletown, CT) • Community Health Center Assoc. of Connecticut (Newington, CT) • Metro Community Provider Network (Englewood, CO) • Plan de Salud del Valle (Ft. Lupton, CO) • DC Primary Care Association. (Washington, DC) • Premier Community HealthCare Group (Dade City, FL) • Institute of Rural Health-Idaho State University (Pocatello, ID) • Louisiana Primary Care Association (Baton Rouge, LA) • Penobscot Community Health Care(Bangor, ME) • Mass. League of Community Health Centers (Boston, MA) • East Boston Neighborhood Health Center/Boston HealthCare for the Homeless (Boston, MA)

35. Community HealthCorps Program Sites (cont.) • Cherry Street Health Services (Grand Rapids, MI) • Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers, Inc. (Saint Louis, MO) • Lutheran Family Health Center Network (Brooklyn, NY) • Hudson River Health Care (Peekskill, NY) • Syracuse Community Health Center (Syracuse, NY) • Institute for Family Health (New York, NY) • Ryan Chelsea Clinton Community Health Center (New York, NY) • Open Door Family Medical Center (Ossining, NY) • Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (Columbus, OH) • SouthEast Lancaster Health Services (Lancaster, PA) • Primary Health Network (Sharon, PA) • Corporación de Servicios de Salud y MedicinaAvanzada (Cidra, PR) • United Neighborhood Health Services (Nashville, TN) • Tennessee Primary Care Association (Brentwood, TN) • Brownsville Community Health Center (Brownsville, TX) • Heart of Texas Community Health Center (Waco, TX) • SeaMar Community Health Center (Seattle, WA) • Yakima Valley Farmworker’s Health Center (Toppenish, WA) • Sixteenth Street Community Health Center (Milwaukee, WI)

36. Community HealthCorps Program Sites (cont.) AFFILIATE PROGRAMS • Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (Topeka, KS) • Michigan Primary Care Association (Lansing, MI) • Community Health Care Association of New York State (New York, NY) • Association for Utah Community Health (Salt Lake City, UT)

37. The Hotline: 301-347-0481 The Community HealthCorps Hotline is designed to allow callers to report important information to NACHC anonymously and confidentially. Calls are answered by voicemail, and checked by the Monitoring & Compliance unit each business day. Callers who choose to leave contact information will receive a response within one business day. We look forward to delivering more effective customer service to you.

38. Visit Our Website! www.communityhealthcorps.org

39. Thank you for serving!