ABOUT US

Are You Ready to Be A Champion Of Health Equity?

With support from Public Health AmeriCorps, the American Heart Association is launching HeartCorps to accelerate our work and advance more equitable health outcomes for rural communities. In general, people in rural America face higher death rates from heart disease and stroke, lower life expectancy and higher maternal mortality. Broad, innovative, and sustained approaches are needed to address the range of challenges faced by rural populations. HeartCorps is a new service opportunity for those interested in driving health equity in rural America with the AHA. We are seeking service members to support this work as AmeriCorps members for the 2022-2023 service year.

DESCRIPTION

ROLES OF SERVICE MEMBERS:

To address the disproportionate rates of uncontrolled hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases in rural communities, HeartCorps members will:

• Support blood pressure self-monitoring initiatives in clinic and community settings.

• Facilitate adoption of evidence- based blood pressure measurement and treatment practices.

• Enable ongoing BP, nutrition security, and tobacco screening and referral to needed services in clinical or community settings.

• Build community capacity to support healthy living and skill building including organizing, connecting, and/or delivering community training and education opportunities.

• Engage local and social media in blood pressure control and healthy living promotion

• Mobilize the community in addressing cardiovascular health and contributing conditions such as nutrition and tobacco

• Connect health centers and community organizations with social platforms to facilitate ongoing screening and referral for social needs

• Establish local support for patients/community members in navigating the care or resources they need

• Promote registration in research platforms among historically under-represented populations

• Launch learning collaboratives for health or community centers with similar populations.

• Plan and implement local engagement events – days of service, town halls or community conversations – to raise awareness of blood pressure, cardiovascular health, and related issues and engage the community in supporting one another in key strategies for management.

• Cultivate and manage volunteer clubs in local schools or community organizations.

QUALIFICATION

• At least 21 years of age by October 1, 2022.

• A United States citizen or National or have a permanent resident visa

• Have reliable transportation.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Willingness to learn and grow during service term.

• Passion for health equity and interest in promoting health in rural America.

• Demonstrated ability to organize responsibilities and meet deadlines.

• Customer focused, solution focused, and creative problem solver. Good listener, non-judgmental, patient, open minded, and resourceful.

• All accepted applicants must successfully pass a national criminal background check to become HeartCorps service members.

• Experience or coursework in public health, health communications, health promotion, or health sciences preferred.

• Experience living in Rural community preferred.

BENEFITS

HeartCorps Members Will Receive:

• A bi-weekly living stipend of $1062.50 (pre-tax)

• Healthcare benefits and a childcare subsidy if eligible

• An educational award upon successful completion of service

• Professional development and training

• Direct access to job opportunities upon successful completion of program

Please complete the general application for HeartCorps service members. Be sure to indicate which state(s) you are interested in serving and/or willing to relocate to for this service experience.

For questions related to HeartCorps, please email us: HeartCorps@heart.org #AHAWAYUP

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities

The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. We fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide critical tools and information to save and improve lives.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The size and scope of our organization, along with our more than 40 million volunteers and supporters, allows us to make a real impact on our shared focus of cardiovascular and overall health.