POSITION OVERVIEW:
Position Name: NACDD Public Health AmeriCorps Service Member
Position Type/Hours: Three Quarter Time/1200 hours
Service Location: Alaska Division of Public Health, Section of Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion, Alaska Injury Prevention Unit; 3601 C Street, Suite 722, Anchorage, AK 99503
Email: margy.hughes@alaska.gov; Phone: (907) 334.5967; https://health.alaska.gov/dph/Chronic/Pages/InjuryPrevention/default.aspx
Living Allowance: $8,074.00
Education Award: $5,176.50
Total Award: $13,250.50
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:
The PHA Service Member will support the State of Alaska’s Division of Public Health, Section of Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion’s Injury Prevention and Surveillance Unit (IPSU). Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of premature death for Alaskans of all ages. Between 2011 and 2015, more than 18,000 injuries in Alaska led to hospitalizations. The four types of injuries that were most likely to lead to hospital care include: (1) elder adults falls, (2) assaults, (3) car and ATV crashes, and (4) attempted suicides. The State of Alaska Injury Prevention & Surveillance Unit work with partners across the state to prevent these injuries and related health care costs and to help Alaskans be physically active and safe. For more information, please visit the unit’s website: https://health.alaska.gov/dph/Chronic/Pages/InjuryPrevention/default.aspx.
This PHA Service Member will support the Alaska IPSU older adult injury prevention initiatives, which focus on mitigating unintentional injuries such as falls, poisoning, and transportation related injuries while increasing protective factors such as social connection and community engagement.
The general responsibilities of the Service Member include:
- Assisting Alaska Injury Prevention and Surveillance Unit to implement injury prevention activities and education. Community engagement may include but are not limited to:
- Conducting community outreach activities to engage partner who serve older adult populations to offer educational and outreach about older adult injuries. This may include in person presentations at senior community centers or health fairs.
- Developing factsheets and social media posts promoting fall prevention and medication management.
- Coordinating sponsored agencies to implement evidence-based fall prevention programs, such as Bingocize or Tai Chi programs with fidelity to the models. This will include evaluating program outcomes and measuring participating satisfaction and engagement.
- Assembling older adult fall kits to be distributed by partners and the IPSU at community events.
- Coordinating various stakeholders (e.g. AARP, State of Alaska Dementia Prevention Unit, State of Alaska Injury Prevention Unit, State of Alaska Physical Activity & Nutrition Unit, State of Alaska Commission on Aging, Anchorage Park Foundation) with similar program goals of increasing physical activity and social connectedness in elder populations. This will include researching community events within driving distance of Anchorage throughout the year and reaching out to partners to coordinate resources and education outreach.
DESCRIPTION OF ANTICIPATED SERVICE SCHEDULE:
- Hybrid service hours
- Service hours are to be completed Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm AK
- 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
- Listening to diverse partners/open, culturally sensitive communication skills
- Self-starter, independent worker, willing to do and learn new things
- Experience working with seniors and/or injury prevention (preferred) or has a desire to gain experience in this area
NON-DISCRIMINATION NOTICE
The NACDD PHA program operates in accordance with federal and AmeriCorps program requirements on non-discrimination. In accordance with applicable laws and regulations, the NACDD PHA program prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability (mental or physical), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, reprisal, pregnancy, genetic information (including family medical history), military service, or their submission of a complaint. NACDD’s compliance history is available upon request.
REQUIRED COMMITMENT
- Service members are expected to complete 1200 service hours within a one (1) year timeframe.
- The service year begins 02/03/2025 and ends 02/02/2026.
ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
Members must participate in
- Pre-service orientation
- PHA-specific training
- Program-specific training
- Any other trainings deemed necessary by the Host 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
Members must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or willing to get vaccinated upon acceptance of the position
PUBLIC HEALTH AMERICORPS PROGRAM BENEFITS
- Living allowance of $8,074.00 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 12/20/24: 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)
- NACDD Public Health AmeriCorps
- National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD)