Americorps: Getting Things Done
San Francisco Community HealthCorps
   Americorps - State and National
   Americorps - VISTA
How To Apply For Any Position at San Francisco Community Healthcorps

Americorps
Getting Things Done

“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." Martin Luther King, Jr.

AmeriCorps is the national service program that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service in the five priority areas of education, public safety, environment, homeland security, and other human needs. Sometimes referred to as “the domestic Peace Corps,” it is a vital part of the growing National Service movement that follows in the footsteps of pioneer service programs such as the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, Peace Corps, and VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). Americorps service gives it members the opportunity to impact change in underserved communities, gain valuable life experience, and take steps toward their own future goals. In Community HealthCorps, serving side-by-side with clinic staff, you have the opportunity to be of service to your community and to learn about health careers.

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San Francisco Community HealthCorps.

Since 1995, San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium has been the host site for the San Francisco Community HealthCorps. Our program places individuals who have an interest in pursuing careers in the health professions at a variety of settings, including community clinics and other community-based health care organizations. Our AmeriCorps members increase access to, and utilization of, primary and preventive health care services. At the same time, members gain valuable experience and skills to help pursue a wide range of health careers. Our AmeriCorps program emphasizes an ethic of service, and members participate in service projects and oversee community volunteers.

AmeriCorps State and National:

Service Description: Community HealthCorps State and National AmeriCorps members focus on direct service by assisting health center patients and community residents in San Francisco's culturally diverse neighborhoods to access and utilize available health resources to maintain and improve their health. They will provide culturally and linguistically appropriate health education, outreach, referrals and enrollment into programs directly to community members while getting the skills they need to pursue a health profession. Required skills are dependent on placement site. Specific Member activities will include:

• Outreach and Advocacy: Conduct outreach in the community (i.e. schools, community centers and shelters); provide education about available health resources and related programs, and health care options.
• Enrollment: Assist individuals with the enrollment process for health programs and health insurance plans.
• Improve Utilization of Health Services and Programs: Provide health education in one-on-one or group settings; assist individuals with navigating health related services/programs; transportation assistance; provide positive reinforcement of treatment plans and prevention goals; follow-up as needed.
• Volunteer Recruitment and Volunteer Training and Management: Assist with recruitment, training, and retention of non-AmeriCorps volunteers; assist with the management of non-AmeriCorps volunteers.
• Service Projects: participate in various community service projects; coordinate and engage members in planning and participating in community service projects.
• Training on health skills and resources as needed for placement.

Our target populations include women, children, transgender, homeless, uninsured and low-income. They are mulit-cultural and multi-lingual.

We offer both full-time, stipended AmeriCorps positions and part-time, education-award only (non-stipended) positions. Full-time members receive a $12,000 stipend for approximately eleven months of service (a minimum of 1,700 hours), and receive a $4,725 educational award upon completion of their term of service. Health benefits, child care and student loan deferments during service are also available to those who qualify. Part-time members earn a prorated education award upon completion of 450 or 900 hours of service.

Service positions are available through the San Francisco Community HealthCorps as community health workers, health educators, outreach workers, and more. Members serve a wide variety of people in San Francisco’s diverse, under-served communities, including children, youth, women, and patients who are homeless, HIV-positive, or in need of diabetic care.

More information on the HealthCorps Service locations can be found here.

Recruitment: We are currently accepting applications for the 2010-2011 program year, which runs from September 2010-September 2011. We will ONLY have Full-Time positions, please only apply if interested in a Full-Time position. We will be accepting applications through May 31st, 2010 and hope to finalize placements by July 2010. We will be recruiting 22 Full-Time members. Please see section below on how to apply.

AmeriCorps VISTA:

Service Description: VISTAs will promote health and prevent disease among San Francisco's diverse low-income, medically under-served communities, including those who are homeless or marginally housed, and persons of color who are experiencing disproportionate health disparities. Members will expand primary and preventive health services and programs; develop and strengthen health information technology systems; and fortify community volunteer recruitment and management while developing the skills they need to pursue a health profession. Specific member activities will include:

• Develop screening and disease management programs and electronic chronic disease registries for diabetes, hepatitis B, and depression
• Develop or expand programs for prenatal and pediatric care, breast health, and healthier lifestyles
• Compile and analyze data to improve clinic quality, productivity and effectiveness
• Implement systems to improve the conditions of shelters
• Establish a community volunteer program recruitment and management system
• Write grants and promote sustainability associated with the above projects

VISTA’s will focus on capacity building and sustainability of programs and placement sites by utilizing methods such as: conducting research, needs assessments, identifying best practices, analyzing data and conducting trainings. Success will be measured by the collection and reporting of activities, achievements and challenges, and tracking progress in achieving assignment descriptions. VISTA's are placed in a variety of agencies, e.g., county Health Department, non-profit community clinics, and a local non-profit medical center. Required skills are dependent upon placement site. Training on health skills and resources is provided as needed for placement.

VISTA’s must be at least 18 years old, US citizens, national or legal residents.  VISTA is a twelve month, full-time commitment and members are required to work an average of 40 hours per week.  They usually serve within the work hours of their sponsoring organizations, but are expected to be available evenings and weekends to meet the needs of the project and community.  VISTA’s receive a living allowance stipend of $15,912 for twelve months of service, health coverage, and 10 personal and 10 sick leave days. Additionally all VISTA’s receive training and development opportunities including a mandatory Pre-Service Orientation provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service.  VISTA’s can choose to receive either the Education Award of $4,725 or an End-of-Service-Stipend of $1,200 at the end of their VISTA service.  Additional benefits such as child care and student loan deferment are available to those who qualify. 

Recruitment:  We are looking to recruit motivated self-starters with an interest in pursuing careers in community health. Candidates should enjoy multi-cultural, collaborative work environments and posses outstanding interpersonal and problem-solving skills, and excellent time-management. Applications are currently under review for 3 VISTA positions to begin in July 2010.

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How to Apply to the San Francisco Community HealthCorps

For an overall view of the Americorps program, including access to a download of the Americorps Member Handbook, please go to www.americorps.org

a) Click on the FOR INDIVIDUALS tab

b) Under “Which program is right for me?” click on Americorps State and National Programs or VISTA

This page contains information you may want to know about the Americorps program before you apply.

My AmeriCorps is the online space designed to help members to view and apply for Americorps positions. You may view a general program description of opportunities available at San Francisco Community HealthCorps. The site provides an easy way for individuals to get and give important information – before, during and after their service.

To access it, go to the www.americorps.gov program and click on "My Americorps." Then, register to create your own personal account and apply to our listed opportunities. Once you have applied to My AmeriCorps, you will get your own customized home page, where you can see the status of your application, update profile information and references, search for opportunities of interest, and submit your application to the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium. We will access your application through the portal and you will be notified when it is under review.

FOR ALL SF COMMUNITY HEALTHCORPS STATE AND NATIONAL APPLICANTS: Please submit your completed AmeriCorps application via your “My AmeriCorps” account to the San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium, and then complete our supplemental application via Survey Monkey at: Click here to take survey. Applications will be accepted now through May 31st, 2010. Preliminary review of applications will continue through June 2010 and interviews with placement sites will be scheduled Mid-June through Mid-July. We hope to have our placements finalized by July 31st, 2010 and the AmeriCorps year begins in September 2010.

Please be advised: AMERICORPS POSITIONS WILL BE SUBJECT TO A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK. Please consider this information before handing in your application.

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