HeartCorps members will work with host sites - health centers, community organizations, public health departments, or other qualified locations - to help people improve and control their blood pressure and promote cardiovascular health.
The HeartCorps members will work with their host site and AHA supervisor to assess current systems related to cardiovascular health and wellbeing and develop a work plan for their year of service. Examples include support blood pressure self-monitoring initiatives; facilitate BP, tobacco and nutrition security screenings and referrals to care; community training and education opportunities; and engage youth through engagement in schools
Service Activities
To address the disproportionate rates of uncontrolled hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases in rural communities, HeartCorps members will
• Support blood pressure self-monitoring initiatives in clinic and community settings.
• Facilitate adoption of evidence- based blood pressure measurement practices.
• Enable ongoing BP, nutrition security, and tobacco screening and referral to needed services in clinical or community settings.
• Build community capacity to support healthy living and skill building including organizing, connecting, and/or delivering community training and education opportunities.
• Engage local and social media in blood pressure control and healthy living promotion.
• Connect health centers and community organizations with social platforms to facilitate ongoing screening and referral for social needs.
• Establish local support for patients/community members in navigating the care or resources they need.
• Promote registration in research platforms among historically under-represented populations.
• Launch learning collaboratives for health or community centers with similar populations.
• Plan and implement local engagement events – days of service, town halls or community conversations – to raise awareness of blood pressure, cardiovascular health, and related issues and engage the community in supporting one another in key strategies for management.
• Cultivate and manage volunteer clubs in local schools or community organizations.
Community Need Addressed
The urgent need to address health in Rural America. Rural residents face higher rates of high blood pressure, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and diabetes. Long distances, lack of transportation, and worker shortages make it difficult to access quality preventive, specialty, and emergency care. Chronic disease is driving health disparities between people in rural and urban communities.
Position Outcomes
Provide needed capacity and support in state and local rural public health settings, advance more equitable health outcomes for rural communities who are currently or historically underserved, and establish pathways to good quality public health-related careers via onsite experience, training, and more.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
Credential or Certification
Over the course of the service year, members will earn 200+ training hours to become CPR trainers and acquire the skills to become Community Health Workers.
Skills you will gain
Public speaking, program management, patient navigation, community outreach, coalition building
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them
Tools
Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment