Welcome to Community HealthCorps!

Founded in 1995 by the National Association of Community Health Centers, Community HealthCorps is the largest health-focused, national AmeriCorps program that promotes healthcare for America’s underserved, while developing tomorrow’s healthcare workforce.

The mission of Community HealthCorps is to improve healthcare access and enhance workforce development for community health centers through national service programs.

The vision of Community HealthCorps is to become a national service pipeline for careers in community health centers that is improving access to necessary primary and preventative care services for the medically underserved.

For further information about Community HealthCorps, visit www.communityhealthcorps.org

Welcome to Community HealthCorps!

Program Overview2014-2015


Program 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

Overview

Oversight of National Service

Corporation for National & Community Service(Federal Entity)

AmeriCorps(and other national service programs)

National Association of Community Health Centers(a grantee of CNCS, to run an AmeriCorps program)

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

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

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

Created 5 national service priority areas for AmeriCorps State & National programs:

1. Education - Unmet educational needs within communities especially those that help children and youth achieve success in school and increase high school graduation rates.

2. Healthy Futures - Unmet health needs within communities including access to health care, disease prevention and health promotion initiatives, and health literacy.

3. Clean Energy/Environment - Unmet energy-efficiency and environmental needs within communities.

4. 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.

5. Economic Opportunity - Unmet needs relating to economic opportunity for economically disadvantaged individuals within communities including financial literacy, housing assistance, job training, and nutritional assistance.

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.

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.

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.

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:

o Research-based advocacy for health centers and their clientso Education of the public and training of health center staff and boardso Development of alliances with like-minded public and private partners

to foster delivery of medical care to those in need.

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

Role of NACHC Staff in Community HealthCorps

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.

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

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

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.

Community Health Centers Overcome Barriers to Care

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

Community HealthCorps Relationship Map

Member

Placement/Host Site

Program Site

NACHC

CNCS


AmeriCorps Members

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

Community HealthCorps Eligibility Requirements

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:

Employee vs. Member

Acceptable Terms Unacceptable Terms

Member Employee, worker

Position, slot Job

Service, serves with Employment, works for

Living Allowance Wage, salary, pay

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

General Terms of Service

• 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

Benefits of Serving


What will you do?

To see videos of what Members are doing, check out our YouTube page at www.youtube.com/communityhealthcorps!

http://www.youtube.com/communityhealthcorps

Service is 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.

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:o Conducting research, mapping community assets, or gathering other

information that will strengthen the organization’s ability to meet community needs

o Developing new programs or services in an organization seeking to expando Developing organizational systems to improve efficiency and effectivenesso Automating organizational operations to improve efficiency and

effectivenesso Staff and board education

Service Activities

Grant Writing & Fundraising Activities

Members may raise funds directly in support of their service activities up to 10% of their total service time.

Allowable Fundraising Activities Unallowable Fundraising Activities

Seek donations of books from companies and individuals for a program in which volunteers tutor children to read.Write a grant proposal to a foundation to secure resources to support the training of volunteersSecure supplies and equipment from the community to enable volunteers to help build houses for low-income individualsSeek donations from Community HealthCorps alumni for specific service projects being performed by current Members

Raise funds for his or her living allowanceRaise funds for an organization’s operating expenses and/or endowmentWrite grant applications for AmeriCorps funding and/or any other funding provided by CNCSWrite grant applications for funding provided by any other federal agencies

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

Community HealthCorps Placements

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

What is the purpose of the Member Assignment Description?


Unallowable Activities

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 NOT allowed 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

Employee Displacement & Duplication

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

Employee Displacement & Duplication (continued)

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.*

Prohibited Activities

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

Prohibited Activities (continued)

Important NoteWearing the AmeriCorps and/or Community

HealthCorps logo during the above activities or in a situation that could negatively reflect on the

program is prohibited.

Prohibited Activities (continued)


PROVE that you’re making a difference!

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.

Performance Measures

*Not every Member will be performing activities under every Performance Measure.

http://prezi.com/u6ogugz23gll/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Performance Measure Data Collection

Community HealthCorps’ Performance Measures are collected through the Direct Service Reporting Excel Spreadsheet and in OnCorps Reports through the Volunteer Mobilization and Capacity Building reports.

Site Supervisors are able to review and reject these reports.


What kind of training will you receive?

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

Training conducted by the Program Coordinator

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)

Training conducted by the Site Supervisor

• 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.

Member Development & Training


Expectations & Code of Conduct

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

Be Familiar with the Member Contract!

• 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*

Member Expectations

Review the Rules of Conduct found in the Community HealthCorps Member Contract.

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!!

Always call your Program Coordinator if…

• Written Warning- It is at the discretion of the program site and placement site to decide when to issue a written warning based on the severity and frequency of the violation(s)

• Suspension – Upon continued refusal to comply after a written warning, the Member may be suspended for one day or more, at the discretion of the program site, during which time his/her living allowance is pro-rated. The Member will not be able to make up those days and/or hours for which Member is suspended for disciplinary actions

• Release for Cause – Upon continued refusal to comply after the Member has been suspended, the Program Site may terminate the Member, and the Member will receive no part of the education award

Disciplinary Procedure

A Member can only be suspended or terminated by the Program Coordinator.

• Every Member should receive 2 reviews: – Mid-term: Within 30 days of the half-way point of a Member’s service– End-of-term: Must occur within 30 days prior to the expected end

date• Review is focused on skills, quality and quantity of work, job knowledge,

work habits, adaptability, cooperation, dependability, attendance, etc.• Used to determine whether the Member is eligible to serve a second term• Review is ideally conducted by the site supervisor• Communicate review to Member(s) verbally and in writing• Members will receive a copy of their evaluation

Member Performance Reviews


Timekeeping

• Timesheets are to be completed by the Member in the OnCorps online reporting system each pay period

• Members enter in and out time rounding to the nearest quarter (.25) hour

• Members note their daily activities by choosing a service category and using the “comments” box each day

• Members submit the timesheet electronically, and the Site Supervisor approves the timesheet, certifying that the Member served the hours indicated

• Program coordinator is responsible for final approval

• Timesheets must be approved in OnCorps within 2 weeks after the end of the pay period

• If errors are found on the timesheet the Program Coordinator must ensure that the timesheet is corrected and approved

Timekeeping

• Timesheets must be submitted for every day of a Member’s term of service, unless the Member is suspended

• Community HealthCorps Members do not earn vacation leave or sick leave; however, it is understood that circumstances may arise that require a Member to take a day off

• Record days off on the timesheet as 0 hours• Leave should always be approved by the site supervisor• Leave policies should be communicated to the Member at the beginning

of the term of service

VOTING

• Members who cannot vote before or after service hours should be allowed to take time off to vote without penalty

• Members may not earn service hours for voting

JURY DUTY

• While serving on jury duty, Members may accrue service hours

Leave and Civil Duty

DAILY BREAKS REQUIREMENTS

Lunch Breaks (Members do not accrue service hours during lunch breaks)

• Members must be scheduled for a 30 minute lunch break if the Member is scheduled for a 6-8 hour service day

Breaks • Breaks are designed for Members to use the restroom, get water, etc.

Members are authorized a 15 minute break for every 4 hours served.

MEMBER TRAVEL• No hours should be earned for travel to and from home to the service site

each day

• If attending an event or training, service hours may be earned for travel that exceeds the distance the Member would normally travel to get to the service site*For example, if the Member’s normal commute is 30 minutes, but they are attending a training that requires a 60 minute commute, the Member will earn 30 minutes of service hours.*

Breaks & Travel

• Timesheets must be submitted for every day of a Member’s term of service, unless the Member is suspended

• Community HealthCorps Members do not earn vacation leave or sick leave; however, it is understood that circumstances may arise that require a Member to take a day off

• Record days off on the timesheet as 0 hours• Leave should always be approved by the site supervisor• Leave policies should be communicated to the Member at the beginning

of the term of service

VOTING

• Members who cannot vote before or after service hours should be allowed to take time off to vote without penalty

• Members may not earn service hours for voting

JURY DUTY

• While serving on jury duty, Members may accrue service hours

Leave and Civil Duty


Exiting from Service

• ONLY the Program Coordinator can terminate or suspend a Member• Members can be terminated in 2 ways:

– For compelling personal circumstances• Circumstances that make completing the term of service very difficult or

impossible (i.e. personal injury or illness, injury or illness of a family Member whom the r must care for)

• May receive a pro-rated education award if the Member served at least 15% of his/her term

– For cause• All other reasons that are not compelling personal circumstances• Member receives no part of the Education Award

• Be sure to keep the Program Coordinator informed if you are having problems or issues at your placement site!

Suspension & Termination

Members have successfully completed service when: 1. The Member has earned at least 1700 hours, and

2. Served an average of at least 30 hours per week, and

3. Served their agreed upon term of service (as defined in the Member Contract

which can be no less than 9 months), and

4. Satisfactorily completed PSO, the Prescription for Success curriculum, and

any related service assignment training, and

5. Satisfactorily completed service assignments as defined in the Member

Assignment, and determined by the Program Site

Successful Completion of Service

To be eligible for a subsequent term of service with the Community HealthCorps, the following must take place:

1. Member must receive satisfactory performance reviews2. Completed the required number of service hours 3. Completed the entire term of service4. Eligible Members are only allowed to serve two terms with

Community HealthCorps

Completion of one term of service with Community HealthCorps does not guarantee placement for a subsequent term.

Eligibility for a Subsequent Term

Community HealthCorps Hotline: 301-347-0481The Community HealthCorps Hotline is designed to allow callers to report important

information to NACHC anonymously and confidentially. Calls are answered by voicemail, and checked by the Monitoring & Compliance Unit each business day.

Website Name Web Address Purpose

Community HealthCorps www.communityhealthcorps.org Up to date program information & materials

OnCorps Reports https://healthcorps.oncorpsreports.com Submit Member timesheets & service reports; OnCorps tutorials

AmeriCorps www.americorps.gov CNCS website with information about AmeriCorps programs. Go here to log into your My AmeriCorps account.

Find Community HealthCorps on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube!

The Hotline and Program Resources

http://www.communityhealthcorps.org/

https://healthcorps.oncorpsreports.com/

http://www.americorps.gov/

Documents

Welcome to Community HealthCorps!