Founded in 1995 by the National Association of Community Health Centers, Community HealthCorps is the largest health-focused, national AmeriCorps program that promotes health care for America’s underserved, while developing tomorrow’s health care workforce. The mission is to improve health care access and enhance workforce development through community health center sponsored AmeriCorps including VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), and related programs. Approximately 800 Community HealthCorps members serve in 41 partner organizations at over 150 delivery sites across 19 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Focused on direct services, HealthCorps members provide a variety of health services/programs for patients and community by serving as community health workers (CHWs). Examples of Activities:
- 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).
Focused on indirect services, HealthCorps*VISTA members work to alleviate poverty by improving the capacity of health centers to provide quality health services and programs to medically underserved people. Examples of Activities:
- Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation
- Resource Generation (Funding, Volunteers & Partners)
- Strategic Planning & Program Designing
- Health Curriculum Development
For more information, contact the Community HealthCorps at (301) 347-0400 or click here to get in touch with department-specific staff.
| 05-08-2008 |
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Community HealthCorps Fact Sheet
(67kb)
An overview of the Community HealthCorps, sponsors and the individuals that chose to participate in AmeriCorps national service through this program |
