AmeriCorps Contact Tracers will support PDPH Community Health Nurses and Contact Tracing Staff by notifying exposed individuals (contacts are people who have come in close proximity of those who have been diagnosed with SARS-COV-2) of their potential exposure as rapidly and sensitively as possible, helping them quarantine, and facilitate follow-up communications. AmeriCorps members may also help to manage volunteer groups, facilitating regional and local partnership convenings, and liaising with local communities around contact tracing activities.
Members will rotate between service modules throughout their year including 1) contact tracing, isolation and quarantine support with PDPH or Public Health Management Corporation 2) Food access support at a food share program 3) service at a local health center
This program is in collaboration with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium.
Funding for the program is pending and will be confirmed by October 9th, 2020.
Service Activities
Member Duties Include:
• Call contacts of newly diagnosed patients.
• Communicate with contacts in a professional and empathetic manner.
• Collect and record information about signs and symptoms into the PDPH disease surveillance system.
• Provide contacts with approved information about Philadelphia and Pennsylvania quarantine procedures, and if appropriate, refer them to testing according to protocol and/or social service resources.
• Contact tracers will follow the script to inform contacts about the importance of quarantine and what to do if symptoms develop. They are not permitted to deviate from the script or provide information that is not included in the script.
• Maintain daily contact with supervisor.
Community Need Addressed
Members will rotate between service modules throughout their year including 1) contact tracing, isolation and quarantine support with PDPH or Public Health Management Corporation 2) Food access support at a food share program 3) service at a local health center
Position Outcomes
The outcomes of the program will be a reported increase of health education, knowledge, and awareness for COVID-19 precautions, causes, symptoms, testing, treatment, as well as community resources available. Over the course of the year of the program, Philadelphia, PA will see a decreased mortality and transmission of COVID-19, and there will be greater community awareness regarding prevention of COVID-19, and sustainability of food access.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance
Education Benefits
GED/High School Diploma
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise
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, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
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 environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Drive decision making, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
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