Public Health AmeriCorps Missouri I Service Member
POSITION OVERVIEW:
Position Name: NACDD Public Health AmeriCorps Missouri I Service Member
Position Type/Hours: Three Quarter Time/1200 hours
Service Location: Southeast Missouri State University
Mark F. Scully Building, 1115 Woodland Dr, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Living Allowance: $7,144.00
Education Award: $5,176.50
Total Award: $12,320.50
PROGRAM PURPOSE:
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is a national public health non-profit agency focused on improving the health of the public by strengthening state and national leadership and expertise for chronic disease prevention and control. NACDD’s core membership is composed of the 59 State and Territorial Health Department Chronic Disease Directors and their staff who protect the health of the public through primary and secondary prevention efforts and work “upstream” on root causes of chronic conditions. NACDD promotes health and reduces the burden of chronic disease through various programs and initiatives in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity and the Division of Population Health, and a team of nationally recognized experts.
To enhance public health resources across the country and support state and local public health settings respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Health AmeriCorps (PHA) program supports the recruitment, training, and development of the next generation of public health leaders. In partnership with State Health Departments, local health departments, other community-based organizations, and/or local YMCAs or YMCA State Alliances, Service Members will be placed across twenty states to advance existing efforts around food and nutrition security, safe physical activity access, social connectedness, and health equity, all within the context of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
SPECIFIC SERVICE FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
PHA Service Member will engage in and support activities that align with Missouri’s State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) program within designated Missouri communities, including nutrition and physical activity strategies that address health disparities related to poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and/or obesity. Assignments will be related to:
Promote and assist with statewide Federal Food Service Guideline and Healthy Eating Research Guideline initiatives for local public health agencies, worksites, food service management, food policy councils, and food banks/pantries, collaborating with community sites to incorporate guidelines into respective nutrition criteria.
Promote and assist with the expansion of existing fruit and vegetable voucher incentive and produce prescription programs, collaborating with applicable State of Missouri departments, food banks, University of Missouri Extension, farmers markets, and other community partners.
Assist with statewide Early Care and Education (ECE) programs to integrate national obesity prevention standards and Farm to ECE into Missouri ECE settings.
Assist with statewide breastfeeding initiatives for local public health agencies, hospitals, businesses, worksites, and ECE settings to achieve continuity of care for breastfeeding families.
Participate and collaborate with the Missouri Complete Streets Advisory Committee, Missourians for Responsible Transportation, Regional Planning Commissions, and local governments in the promotion of Complete Streets within Missouri communities, to increase community access to physical activity throughout Missouri.
DESCRIPTION OF ANTICIPATED SERVICE SCHEDULE:
Hybrid service hours, approximately 20-50% onsite and 50-80% teleservice, pending strategy, area of focus, community partner locations, etc.
Service hours are to be completed Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm CT. Service hours are in addition to regularly scheduled courses. An alternative schedule may be considered and hours of work may occasionally vary to accommodate for trainings, service location, travel to communities, etc.
A maximum of 20% of service hours may be training, education, or other similar approved activities
A maximum of 10% of service hours may be fundraising activities
DESIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
Dependable and effective time management
Critical thinking and problem-solving
Independent worker while still able to connect as a team
Effective communication
Network and make community connections
Passionate about community health, improved food and nutrition security within communities and improved access for physical activities
NON-DISCRIMINATION NOTICE
NACDD provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, gender identity, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, marital status, parental status, reprisal, genetic information, military service, protected veteran status, pregnancy, or submission of a complaint.
REQUIRED COMMITMENT
Service members are expected to complete 1200 service hours within a one (1) year timeframe.
The service year begins 09/30/2024 and ends 09/29/2025
ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
Members must participate in
Pre-service orientation
PHA-specific training
Program-specific training
Any other trainings deemed necessary by the Host Service Site supervisor
Note: Trainings will be limited to 20% or less of PHA Service Members service hours
EVALUATION AND REPORTING
PHA Service Members will:
Complete quarterly assessments of the PHA Program including their Host Site experience, trainings, sense of belongingness and inclusivity, interest in pursuing a career in public health, etc.
Complete monthly reflection forms
Participate in quarterly performance evaluation and reviews with their Host Site supervisor
Be required to submit service timesheets biweekly
PUBLIC HEALTH AMERICORPS ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
PHA Service Members must:
Be at least 18 years of age at the commencement of service
Have a high diploma or its equivalent
Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States
Satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check eligibility criteria pursuant to 45 CFR 2540.202
Live within commutable distance of the Host Site to accommodate a hybrid service schedule
OTHER PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
Must be willing to comply with all Host Site and applicable community site vaccination and background check requirements, including but not limited to COVID-19, drug screening, criminal background, etc.
Service Member must be an active student (2nd, 3rd, or 4th year undergraduate student, or graduate level student) in Southeast Missouri State University’s B.S. Nutrition or M.S. Applied Nutrition program to be eligible for this opportunity.
PUBLIC HEALTH AMERICORPS PROGRAM BENEFITS
Living allowance of $7,144.00 over the course of the term of service
$5,176.50 Segal Education Award at the end of a successful service term
Student loan deferment and interest forbearance
Increased professional awareness and accumulated real-world experience to enhance job competence following completion of service year
Join a network of like-minded leaders who are passionate about improving communities and the health and wellbeing of community members
HOW TO APPLY
Submit Your Application by 8/30/24: Complete and submit the NACDD Public Health AmeriCorps Program Application through the following Smartsheet link:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/766fd3822c5942aa909458fef11dd12a
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Tierney Thomison, Public Health AmeriCorps Program Manager, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (tthomison@chronicdisease.org) and Chelsea Cole, Public Health AmeriCorps Senior Program Coordinator (ccole@chronicdisease.org)