Welcome to Community HealthCorps!

5. Welcome to Community HealthCorps! Program Overview 2014-2015

6. Welcome to Community HealthCorps! Program Overview

7. Overview • Launched by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) in 1995 • Largest health-focused AmeriCorps program that promotes health care for America’s underserved, while developing tomorrow’s health care workforce • Community HealthCorps Members try to help people who have no regular primary care provider to: • Increase access to health care • Provide health education • Recruit and develop volunteers for health centers

8. Oversight of National Service

9. Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) • Federal entity created in 1993 by the National Community Service Trust Act • Engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in community-based service that achieves direct and demonstrable results • 2 major programs: • AmeriCorps (includes AmeriCorps*State & National, AmeriCorps*VISTA, AmeriCorps*NCCC) • Senior Corps

10. Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act • Signed April 21, 2009 by President Obama • Reauthorized and expanded national service programs administered by CNCS • Increased the size of AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000 positions over the next eight years • Established September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance

11. Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act Created 5 national service priority areas for AmeriCorps State & National programs: • Education - Unmet educational needs within communities especially those that help children and youth achieve success in school and increase high school graduation rates. • Healthy Futures - Unmet health needs within communities including access to health care, disease prevention and health promotion initiatives, and health literacy. • Clean Energy/Environment - Unmet energy-efficiency and environmental needs within communities. • Veterans - Unmet needs of veterans, members of the Armed Forces who are on active duty, and family members of deployed military personnel and engagement of veterans in service. • Economic Opportunity - Unmet needs relating to economic opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals within communities including financial literacy, housing assistance, job training, and nutritional assistance.

12. AmeriCorps • Specifically, AmeriCorps strives to: • Get things done • Strengthen communities • Encourage responsibility • Expand opportunity • Since 1994, more than 820,000 Americans have served more than one billion hours of service through AmeriCorps.

13. AmeriCorps Pledge I will get things done for America -to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier.I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities.Faced with apathy, I will take action.Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.Faced with adversity, I will persevere.I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.

14. National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) America’s Voice for Community Health Centers The NACHC Mission To promote the provision of high quality, comprehensive and affordable health care that is coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent, and community directed for all medically underserved populations.

15. National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) • Organized in 1971 with the needs of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in mind • Works closely with a network of state health center and primary care associations to serve its members in three major ways: • Research-based advocacy for health centers and their clients • Education of the public and training of health center staff and boards • Development of alliances with like-minded public and private partners to foster delivery of medical care to those in need.

16. Role of NACHC Staff in Community HealthCorps Responsibilities Include: • Administering the Community HealthCorps National program (developing and managing projects) • Organize a competitive application process for choosing new program sites and project stations • Helping to interpret AmeriCorps regulations, providing technical assistance and enforcing administrative policies and AmeriCorps regulations • Monitoring for compliance of grantees • Approving Member assignment descriptions

17. Community Health Centers Spread across 50 states and all U.S. territories, 1,200 health centers provide vital primary care to millions of Americans with limited financial resources through over 8,000 service delivery sites.

18. Health center patients are among the nation’s most vulnerable populations • Nearly all patients are low income, with 72% of health center patients having incomes at or below poverty • Patients tend to be members of racial or minority groups • 38% are uninsured, and another 39% depend on Medicaid • About half of health center patients reside in rural areas, while the other half tend to live in economically depressed inner city communities

19. Community Health Centers Overcome Barriers to Care Health centers remove common financial, geographic, and cultural barriers to care. They • Are located in high need areas (those with elevated poverty, higher than average infant mortality, and where few physicians practice) • Are open to all residents regardless of insurance status, and provide free or low-cost care based on ability to pay • Offer services that help their patients access health care such as transportation, translation, case management, and health education • Tailor their services to fit the special needs and priorities of their communities, and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services

20. CommunityHealth Centers Overcome Barriers to Care For many patients, the health center may be the only source of health care services available. The number of uninsured patients at health centers has doubled – from 3.9 million in 1998 over 7.3 million today.

21. The Program Sites Health Centers are the placement sites and the predominant sponsors of the Community HealthCorps. Program sites: • Make a financial contribution to the program • Hire the program coordinator and/or select site supervisors • Recruit Community HealthCorps Members for their team • Provide Member training • Manage day to day Member service activities

22. Community HealthCorps Relationship Map

23. Welcome to Community HealthCorps! AmeriCorps Members

24. Community HealthCorps Eligibility Requirements Applicants must meet the following criteria and provide required documentation in order to be eligible to enroll in AmeriCorps: • Complete an online application packet • Complete program site interview process, which may include reference check (requirements vary across program sites) • Provide documentation of U.S. Citizenship or status as a U.S. National or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Individuals in the U.S. under a student, work, or tourist visa are not eligible to become AmeriCorps Members • At least 18 years of age at the commencement of service (or 17 with parental permission) • Have a high school diploma or GED or agree to obtain a GED while serving • Fulfill National Service Criminal History Check requirements, which includes National Sex Offender Public Registry, state and FBI criminal registry searches

25. Employee vs. Member A Member is NOT: • an employee of the placement site • an employee of the program site • an employee of NACHC or CNCS When referring to a Member:

26. General Terms of Service AmeriCorps Members have made a commitment to the community they serve. • Members agree to serve 1700 hours (FT), average of at least 30 hours per week • Members may serve up to 12 months (minimum term of service is 9 months) • Members can serve up to four terms in AmeriCorps State & National (two terms with Community HealthCorps) • Members can receive the equivalent of two full time Education Awards if they serve multiple terms

27. Benefits of Serving • Living Allowance • Education Award earned after successful completion of agreed upon term of service, can be used to pay off federally qualified student loans and for future schooling • Health Insurance for Members who are not otherwise covered • Child Care assistance for Members meeting eligibility requirements • Loan forbearance and payment of accrued interest while serving upon successful completion • Unique training opportunities and experience related to community health

28. Welcome to Community HealthCorps! What will you do? To see videos of what Members are doing, check out our YouTube page at www.youtube.com/communityhealthcorps!

29. Service Activities Serviceis work that addresses unmet human needs, the environment, public safety, and/or education. Examples include: • Outreach & Advocacy: Conduct outreach in the community and provide education about health insurance eligibility, available health and related programs, and health care options • Enrollment and Registration: Assist individuals with the enrollment and/or registration process for health programs, health insurance plans, and/or pharmaceutical assistance programs • Improve Utilization of Health Services and Programs: Provide linguistically and culturally appropriate translations, provide transportation assistance, provide health and health-related financial education in one-on-one or group settings, assist individuals with navigating health and related services/programs, etc.

30. Service Activities Capacity Building is: • Conducting outreach and securing resources in support of service activities that meet specific needs in the community • Developing collaborative relationships with other organizations • Helping build the infrastructure of the sponsoring organization, including: • Conducting research, mapping community assets, or gathering other information that will strengthen the organization’s ability to meet community needs • Developing new programs or services in an organization seeking to expand • Developing organizational systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness • Automating organizational operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness • Staff and board education

31. Grant Writing & Fundraising Activities Members may raise funds directly in support of their service activities up to 10% of their total service time.

32. Community HealthCorps Placements The ideal placements for a member are: • Conducting Outreach to vulnerable and/or underserved populations • Development of new position(s) involving service that would not otherwise get done and/or expands availability of services • Utilizing unique talents of individual Members • Not displace or duplicate any paid employee providing the same or similar service at the site • Providing opportunities for Community HealthCorps Members to perform direct service activities that that address health and/or human needs in the community

33. What is the purpose of the Member Assignment Description? The assignment description: • Charts a course of action for the Member’s term of service • Sets a clear understanding of the Member’s assignment, helping avoid confusion over what is expected of the Member • Provides an outlook of the year ahead at the beginning of the term • Allows you to refer back every few months to develop short-term goals • Provides direction for the Member and allows supervisors to talk about what is working and what is not • Helps define the Member’s role in the team’s Performance Measure targets

34. Welcome to Community HealthCorps! Unallowable Activities

35. Employee Displacement & Duplication REMEMBERING that a Community HealthCorps Member is NOT… • an employee of the program site, placement site, NACHC, or CNCS • is not to be confused with a community volunteer • is not to be confused with an intern or student Community HealthCorps Members may NOT displace or duplicate the service provided by an employee or volunteer: Members are NOTallowed under any circumstances to: • perform employee’s duties or otherwise displace employees • fill in for an absent employee or volunteer • perform services, or activities that had been assigned to an employee or volunteer • or to an employee or volunteer who has recently resigned or been discharged for any reason

36. Employee Displacement & Duplication (continued) Programs may not use Members, even temporarily, to replace staff: • If staff is on maternity leave, and/or offsite for any reason, a Member may not fill this duty • If staff is out sick, on vacation, etc. a Member may not fill this duty • If staff leaves for his/her lunch hour or break, a Member may not fill this duty • If staff is on strike or boycott, a Member may not fill this duty • A Member may not assist staff to complete a duty in his/her job description, unless the Member is expanding or enhancing this service in some way

37. Prohibited Activities Community HealthCorps Members or staff members charging time to the AmeriCorps grant may NOT participate in any of the following activities: • Attempt to influence legislation • Conduct voter registration drives • Organize or engage in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes • Assist, promote, or deter union organization • Engage in partisan political activities or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election • Participate in, or endorse, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against a political party, platform, candidate, proposed legislation, or elected officials • Provide abortion services or make referrals* for such services *A referral consists of a name, address, telephone number, and other relevant factual information such as insurance accepted.*

38. Prohibited Activities (continued) AmeriCorps members may NOT provide a direct benefit to: • A for-profit entity; • A labor union; • A partisan political organization; or • A nonprofit entity that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of U.S. Code Title 26 • Engage in religious instruction, conduct worship services; construct, operate, or manage facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship; engage in any form of religious proselytizing • An organization engaged in the religious activities described earlier, unless Grant funds are not used to support the religious activities

39. Prohibited Activities (continued) Important Note Wearing the AmeriCorps and/or Community HealthCorps logo during the above activities or in a situation that could negatively reflect on the program is prohibited.

40. Welcome to Community HealthCorps! PROVE that you’re making a difference!

41. Performance Measures Click here to learn about Community HealthCorps’ Performance Measures. • ACCESS TO CARE: educating economically disadvantaged individuals about health insurance, management of chronic conditions, and navigation of the health care system to help increase proper utilization of preventive and primary care services. • FINANCIAL LITERACY:emphasizing economic opportunity with a focus on engaging economically disadvantaged individuals in improving their financial knowledge as it relates to health care. • INDEPENDENT LIVING: assisting older adults and individuals with disabilities with receiving food, transportation, or other supportive services that help them to live independently. *Not every Member will be performing activities under every Performance Measure.

42. Performance Measure Data Collection Community HealthCorps’ Performance Measures are collected through the Direct Service Reporting ExcelSpreadsheet and in OnCorps Reports through the Volunteer Mobilization and Capacity Building reports. Site Supervisors are able to review and reject these reports.

43. Welcome to Community HealthCorps! What kind of training will you receive?

44. Training conducted by the Program Coordinator Pre-Service Orientation (PSO): is conducted at the beginning of the program year, and when Members begin service throughout the year • It provides an in-depth introduction to the Community HealthCorps, its objectives, performance measures, and policies and procedures On-Going Training: All programs are required to provide 12 hours per month of training/development to Members • Prescription for Success Curriculum - required for all Members by April 30 of the program year • Regularly scheduled team meetings • Spokesperson Trainings: Elevator Speech & Great Story training • Life After AmeriCorps - Designed to provide Members with the necessary tools to transition from a year of service to a professional career or further schooling, and should build professional skills • Other examples include Member Development calls hosted by NACHC and local training opportunities when available

45. Training conducted by the Site Supervisor Placement Site Orientation – conducted by the site supervisor and other health center staff during the first few weeks at the placement site. Which introduces the new Community HealthCorps Member to: • Community culture • Organizational culture • Member-Supervisor relationship and communication • Project-specific skills • Safety policies On-Going Training – Conducted at key points in a Member’s term of service. For example: • Early in the term – develop knowledge & skills the Member and supervisor identified as required in reviewing the Member Assignment • Should a development opportunity present itself (i.e. local training opportunities)

46. Member Development & Training • The Corporation for National and Community Service allows up to 20% of total service time to be dedicated to training. • Members may earn no more than 10% of a Members total service hours (as part of the 20% cap on training hours), can be earned through an approved college/GED coursework. This must be pre-approved by the Program Coordinator. • Member Training & Development is tracked in OnCorps Reports on the timesheet and in the HC Member Development report.

47. Welcome to Community HealthCorps! Expectations & Code of Conduct

48. Be Familiar with the Member Contract! A Community HealthCorps Member Contract MUST be completed and signed by the Member and Program Coordinator before the Member begins serving. The Site Supervisor should sign prior to or very soon after the Member’s service begins. The Member Contract outlines the following information: • Eligibility Verification • Term of Service • Service Description & Member Assignment Description • Benefits (including living allowance, training, child care, health care, loan forbearance) • Rules of Conduct & Disciplinary Procedure • Release or Suspension from Term of Service • Member Restrictions • Grievance Procedure

49. Member Expectations • Show respect for the program staff, agency staff, the community, and fellow AmeriCorps Members at all times • Act as an appropriate role model with service recipients and within the community • Follow directions as set forth by the program • Uphold all privacy regulations as set forth by the agency • Direct concerns, problems and suggestions to their Site Supervisor and/or Program Coordinator • Abstain from engaging in prohibited activities while earning service hours and/or wearing the AmeriCorps and/or Community HealthCorps logos • Communicate effectively and respectfully with site supervisors, program coordinators, and other program staff • Be present and punctual for service • Satisfactorily complete service assignments as defined in the Member Assignment Description, and determined by the Program Site • Consistent and reliable attendance is essential to providing service. • Members are expected to report to their service sites as scheduled and be ready to serve at the scheduled time • Member must certify the integrity of data contained in surveys and other reporting tools* Review the Rules of Conduct found in the Community HealthCorps Member Contract.

50. Always call your Program Coordinator if… Members should call the Program Coordinator if… • They feel they were discriminated against • They had a family emergency and need to get home • They were arrested • They have a work-related injury • The site supervisor attempted to terminate the Member • The site supervisor asked them to perform unallowable activities Site Supervisor are trained call the Program Coordinator if… • The Member doesn’t show up for service • The Member is hospitalized • The Member is arrested • The Member is not performing and you tried dealing with the challenges • You want to terminate the member • The Member is doing a wonderful job!!