The College Health Corps (CHC) is an AmeriCorps VISTA national service program working to promote health equity and support the wellness of low income people in Minnesota through health care, health education, food and nutrition, and more . VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is the capacity-building, indirect service arm of the AmeriCorps national service program, likened to a domestic Peace Corps. CHC VISTA members commit to serving one year, full time, to address health issues affecting low-income Minnesotans through capacity building projects focused on program development and enhancement. VISTA members are provided a modest living allowance and several other financial supports during their year of service. CHC is a program of Minnesota Campus Compact, an organization that supports civic engagement and democratic renewal through its diverse network of colleges and universities. CHC connects higher education institutions with community clinics and nonprofits to create greater healthcare access and health literacy for underserved populations. For program information visit: www.mncampuscompact.org
Service Activities
Duties may include:
• Developing and implementing projects that address healthcare access, the social determinants of health, health education, and food and nutrition access for low-income individuals
• Identifying ways to leverage campus assets to increase healthcare access (i.e. use of campus facilities, engaging faculty, staff, and student groups, service learning across multiple academic disciplines, etc)
• Developing culturally specific health messaging materials
• Developing outreach and community engagement strategies
• Serving as an intermediary between the campus and community healthcare organizations
• Supporting project evaluation and implementing feedback
• Developing and piloting health prevention and intervention programming
• Writing grants and other funding outreach to increase financial support
• Building and improving systems to build organizational infrastructure
• Creating or expanding volunteer and outreach programs
Community Need Addressed
Though Minnesota boasts excellent health care, this state also has the some of the most significant health disparity rates in the United States. In 2000, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that the African American and American Indian mortality rates were nearly three times higher than the white rate; the Latina teen pregnancy rate was nearly five times higher than the white rate; the African American and American Indian diabetes mortality rates were nearly three times higher than the white rate. "Given the growing racial and ethnic diversity of Minnesota, these disparities are increasingly urgent. People of color and American Indians have grown from just over 6 percent of the total population in 1990 to almost 17 percent in 2012 and many of them lack the same opportunities to be healthy because of factors such as economic instability, unsafe neighborhoods, and inadequate access to health care. These differences ultimately result in poorer health outcomes, shorter life spans, higher healthcare costs, and lost productivity." (2013 Minnesota Department of Health report to the Legislature) The College Health Corps VISTA program (CHC) is well positioned to address these growing health concerns by partnering with host sites throughout the state that serve low-income, culturally diverse individuals with a majority living below 200% of the poverty level. Currently, seven Twin Cities sites provide services in communities with particularly high concentrations of poverty, or through public systems, such as the Minneapolis Health Department, with a focus on medically undeserved populations in Minneapolis. The six greater Minnesota CHC sites in Northfield, Mankato, North Mankato, Duluth, and Rochester serve large immigrant, at-risk youth, and low-income populations with limited access to culturally-specific healthcare, preventative care, and other resources. Several non-clinical host sites take a public health approach to addressing health inequities, such as the American Indian Cancer Foundation and WellShare International. Some sites also address health through the lens of food and nutrition. Many sites address food security and non-academic resources for college students through on-campus food shelves, the creation or enhancement of student resource centers, and other programs.
Position Outcomes
Each College Health Corps VISTA site has its own specific output and outcome targets. VISTA capacity building projects will report on the following outcomes: number of new activities completed and/or program outputs produced by the VISTA. (e.g., number of community outreach meetings coordinated, communications tools developed, manuals written, trainings piloted, etc.); number of new or enhanced systems put in place as a result of VISTA activities. (e.g., volunteer management system, patient outreach/engagement system, evaluation or data collection system); number of additional types of services offered by organization as a result of VISTA activities. (e.g., new type of patient service or educational program now being offered). College Health Corps VISTA projects will track how they have contributed to low-income communities' access to health care, health insurance, information about accessing care, health education, translation services, emergency food and long-term food security. Not all site assignments will address all of the above performance areas, but each will address at least one.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Student loan forbearance, Training
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Training
End of Service Benefit: $5,920 Education Award (can be used within seven years for future tuition or to repay student loans) OR $1,800 cash stipend. Only awarded upon successful completion of service. Relocation Allowance: if moving more than 50 miles to a new location, $550 settling in allowance can be requested. Healthcare Support: $7,350 healthcare allowance to supplement the VISTA's qualifying comprehensive health insurance plan. Student Loan Forbearance: is available to those you elect the Education Award and can be applied to any qualifying federal student loans.
Skills you will gain
Project management; partnership development; community mapping; peer coaching; knowledge about health equity, social determinants of health, and other issues impacting health outcomes in low income communities.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
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, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, 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, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Set goals
Service
Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization