"2025-26 Rural Public Health AmeriCorps Members (Multiple Vacancies)"

Job Details

Department: Public Health - 273700

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum age of 18 years old or 17 years old with parental permission
• High School Degree/Bachelor's degree
• Strong interest in public health
• Valid driver's license
• Criminal background check
• Must be a United States of America citizen or legal permanent resident
• Flexibility to adapt to both site-based and remote working environments

Essential Job Functions:

Location: Boone, NC or one of the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey and other Western NC locations.

The Public Health AmeriCorps program provides opportunities for people to make an intensive commitment to service.

As a Public Health AmeriCorps member, you can gain new skills and experiences and you'll also find tremendous satisfaction that comes from helping others. In addition, members who complete their service earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans; members who serve part-time receive a partial Award. Some AmeriCorps members may also receive a living allowance during their term of service.

PHA at AppState Mission: To foster meaningful relationships, develop public health professionals and bolster community resilience and preparedness in western North Carolina by addressing local public health disparities through service, volunteerism, and evidence-based interventions.

Our Purpose: To support public health preparedness in the Appalachian Region in Western NC.

Our Goals: To recruit, train, and develop new generations of public health leaders ready to respond to public health needs through public health service and capacity building in North Carolina's rural Appalachian communities. Help meet public health needs of the North Carolina rural Appalachian communities by providing needed capacity and support to local public health preparedness settings in collaboration with state and regional partners, to advance health outcomes for communities who are currently and historically underserved. Provide pathways to good quality public health-related careers by providing exposure through onsite experience, training, and more, with a focus on recruiting AmeriCorps members who reflect the communities in which they will serve.

Program Description: As a Public Health AmeriCorps (PHA) Member at Appalachian State University, you will be part of a dedicated team focused on enhancing public health and community resilience in Western North Carolina. Our mission is to develop public health professionals, foster meaningful relationships, and bolster community preparedness by addressing local public health disparities through service, volunteerism, and evidence-based interventions.

Our Purpose: We aim to support public health preparedness in the Appalachian Region of Western North Carolina.

Our Goals: Develop Future Public Health Leaders: We recruit, train, and develop new generations of public health leaders equipped to respond to public health needs in North Carolina's rural Appalachian communities. This involves capacity building and service in collaboration with state and regional partners to achieve better health outcomes for underserved communities. Enhance Community Capacity and Support: By providing essential capacity and support to local public health preparedness settings, we help meet the public health needs of North Carolina's rural Appalachian communities. Create Pathways to Public Health Careers: We offer exposure to high-quality public health-related careers through onsite experience and training. This includes psychological first aid training, with a particular focus on recruiting AmeriCorps members who reflect the communities they serve.

As part of the PHA initiative, a partnership between the CDC and AmeriCorps funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, we contribute to building a strong workforce ready to meet the nation's public health needs.

This project launched in 2022, App State PHA addresses public health needs across 25 Western North Carolina counties. Our goals include career pathways and training and providing public health support. We provide pathways to quality public health careers through on-site experience and comprehensive training programs, including psychological first aid. Providing Public Health Support: We deliver Psychological First Aid and other necessary public health support to local organizations, such as health departments, long-term care facilities, and hospitals. A core aspect of our work is engaging with community members to build resilience and trust. By connecting with the community, we identify their needs and provide the support they require, fostering stronger, healthier communities in Western North Carolina.

Benefits:

• Living Stipend Available based on Member Type
• Education Award
• Child care benefits for those who are eligible
• Travel reimbursement specifically related to program activities (additional details in the PHA Handbook)
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Member Assistance Program, which includes: 24/7 unlimited telephonic counseling services, Text/Chat Counseling & Coaching, Video Counseling & Coaching, Up to six face-to-face counseling sessions, Medical Advocacy, Life Coaching, Personal Concierge for Everyday Needs, Work/Life Resources & Referrals, Legal and Financial Assistance (30-minute free consultations)
• AmeriCorps partners with more than 300 colleges and universities to offer benefits to AmeriCorps alumni. Five of these schools offer AmeriCorps scholarships specifically for public health-related programs!
• Graduate School Application Waiver (While funding lasts!)
• Student Loan Forbearance

What Can This Do For You?

• Provide a gateway to the public health profession
• Continuous education and training
• Practice based experience in rural health
• Public health preparedness leadership
• Community health experience

Recruitment: Appalachian State University aims to recruit and engage with underrepresented populations in the Appalachian region. The following position is available: Public Health AmeriCorps Member - Required Responsibilities: Ensure a rich learning and service experience by showing up and participating, Participate in training sessions and service activities, Contribute to team projects and individual initiatives, Engage in vocational training and professional development opportunities. Qualifications: Interest in public health, community service, or emergency response, Willingness to learn, collaborate, and contribute to program goals.

Additional Opportunities for Leadership: Lead program pillars, Implement Interventions, Train community members, Collaborate and communicate internally and externally, Coordinate fellow-specific activities and communication, Help connect fellows to the larger project and disseminate good communication practices, Represent the fellows' interests and feedback to the leadership team, Support fellows in their training, service, and projects.

Example Pillar Categories: Implementation & Community Engagement: Disseminate and implement Psychological First Aid (PFA) training, Promote PFA training and ensure its accessibility, Engage with community partners in all 25 counties in Western NC. Communication & Creative: Manage digital communications, Develop professional development materials and presentations, Foster communication between pillars, stakeholders, and the community. Evaluation: Guide evaluation of PFA implementation and overall project progress, Collect and analyze data for reporting and improvement, Create infographics and reports to communicate outcomes. Team Engagement and Professional Development: Foster communication and collaboration among team members, Organize social programming and professional development events, Assist in training development and coordination.

Immediate Supervisor & Contact Information: Jennifer Schroeder Tyson, tysonjs@appstate.edu

Service Position Summary: Essential Functions of Position (all basic duties that must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations)

Commitment Required: Members will complete various hours of service over the course of 11 months based on the start and end date of October 1st, 2025 - August 31, 2026. Member hours commitments are dependent upon the position. Members will be expected to work a schedule that is agreed upon between both the program director and the member. Some weekend and evening service could be required. The member will complete a minimum of hours of service during the term of service indicated in this position description: Reduced Full-Time Members must serve 1200 hours during a period of 11 months (110 hrs/month), Half Time Members must serve at least 900 hours during a period of 11 months (82 hrs/month), Reduced Half-Time Members must serve at least 675 hours during a period of 11 months (62 hrs/month), Quarter-Time Members must serve at least 450 hours during a period of 11 months (41 hours/month), Minimum Time Members must serve at least 300 hours during a period of 11 months (28 hrs/month). Necessary criminal history background checks Members must agree to conduct - National Sex Offender check, State criminal check, and FBI check and notification that selection for service in the AmeriCorps program is contingent upon the organization's review of the NSCHC component results. Reasonable accommodations can be made for interviews and service. Please make these requests in writing to tysonjs@appstate.edu.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required for this Position:

Preferred Qualifications: Demonstrated ability to work independently of direct supervision, Demonstrated ability to plan work efforts to achieve and document project goals, Demonstrated ability to work effectively in an educational environment, Excellent communications, organizational and problem solving skills, Attention to detail and excellent quantitative and record-keeping skills, Flexibility, creativity, independence, accountability, and reliability, Proficiency with Excel, MS Word, and relational databases, Educational outreach to communities from different backgrounds, Public health work.

Work Schedule/Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Anticipated Hiring Range:

Closing Date: 8/31/2026

To apply, visit https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/52286