Sea Mar CHC’s Community HealthCorps is part of the national AmeriCorps program. Community HealthCorps is intended to promote health care for America’s underserved populations, and helps to develop tomorrow’s health-care workforce.

Community HealthCorps members provide direct service to Sea Mar clients while enhancing their skills and experiences in the field of health and human services. Each member’s personal growth is fostered through a highly supportive, challenging, and educational team environment. 

Members are committed to improving access to services, increasing utilization of clinic services, assisting patients to navigate the medical system, providing culturally appropriate services, and providing health education for the medically underserved.  

HealthCorps members are placed in Sea Mar Community Health Centers (CHC) or partner sites that offer health services, including health education, maternity support services, medical clinics, child development center, drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for youth, volunteer program, and childhood literacy program. Members serve at sights in various geographical areas of western Washington.

HealthCorps members also participate in team-led service projects and regular (weekly or bi-weekly) team trainings. See our position descriptions for more information.

Service Term
Sea Mar Community HealthCorps service starts in early September and runs through early August of the following year. Sea Mar offers full-time HealthCorps contracts which require completion of 1,700 service within 11 months. 

Benefits
HealthCorps’ annual living stipend is approximately $11,800 or about $850-900 (net) every month.  Members receive an education award of $5350 upon completion of their service contract.

In addition, HealthCorps members gain the personal satisfaction of making a difference in the lives of the most needy populations in our society, and they benefit from unforgettable personal and professional growth experiences. HealthCorps builds a solid foundation for anyone interested in pursuing careers as future health-care leaders and community advocates. 

Other benefits include:

• modest living allowance ($800-$850 per month depending on individual tax situation);
• child care (when eligible);
• food assistance (when eligible);
• individual health insurance;
• student loan deferment;
• training;
• education award for college, graduate school, student loan repayment,  etc.;
• improved communication and leadership skills;
• a unique perspective on healthcare.
  

Program Eligibility:

• must be U.S. citizen, U.S national or permanent legal resident at the time of application;
• must be at least 18 years old;
• all education levels considered, but minimum of high school diploma, or GED is required;
• strong interest in serving the community within the health and human services fields.
  

HealthCorps Training and Development
Community HealthCorps members receive training in ten Prescriptions for Success for service in a public-health setting.  Members learn new skills and gain knowledge that enhance their effectiveness and value to patients. 

 

Prescriptions for Success: HealthCorps members receive training in the following areas:
Health Disparities	Patient Relations
Professional Development	Cultural Sensitivity
Civic Engagement	Health Outreach/ Health Education
Disaster preparedness	Primary Care Environment
Case Management

 

What is Community HealthCorps?
Community HealthCorps is a national AmeriCorps service program that links medically underserved populations with community health centers (CHC) that provide culturally appropriate, preventive, and primary health-care services.  Community HealthCorps works in collaboration with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), the Corporation for National and Community Service, and 33 community health centers located across the country, including Sea Mar CHC.

Mission
To help traditionally underserved populations access quality health care that is, comprehensive, coordinated, and culturally and linguistically appropriate.

Community HealthCorps members:

• Provide outreach and support to medically underserved children and families.
• Improve access to quality health care for uninsured and newly insured individuals and families, especially children.
• Reduce unnecessary utilization of hospital emergency rooms and inpatient beds.
• Strengthen local communities through service projects, recruiting volunteers, and continuing an ethic of service beyond AmeriCorps.
• Serve in federally qualified health centers (also known as community, migrant and homeless health centers). 
• Deliver culturally appropriate assistance in a language other than English; conduct outreach in the community; provide education about health insurance, healthcare options and advocate for patients as they navigate the system; provide positive encouragement for treatment plans; assist with enrollment in medical programs.

To learn more about the Community HealthCorps program, visit the website at www.communityhealthcorps.org