CHCANYS AmeriCorps program is accepting proposals from interested Community Health Centers who would like to host an AmeriCorps member at their site. Members perform a year of service at community health centers, where they work to develop, implement, improve and expand the delivery of existing opioid related services at their sites. Opioid Response Corps is a workforce development program dedicated to preparing its members for careers in community-based primary health care. Opioid Response Corps members perform direct service with patients thereby filling service gaps, increasing access, and improving utilization of the health center’s services.
Below is a brief overview of our AmeriCorps program, the activities members can perform, and those they are prohibited from performing. Host Sites contribute a matching fee per AmeriCorps member they are hosting. Please contact Orlando Reboredo for details.
Brief Overview of our AmeriCorps Program: AmeriCorps members under the CHCANYS Opioid Response Corps program have the mandate to serve in Community Health Centers and fill critical service gaps that exist in the delivery of primary care at CHCs. AmeriCorps members complete 1,700 hours of service of which 80% is direct-service and up to 20% of which is allotted for training. Direct Service generally refers to service that is conducted directly with patients of community health centers. Our program begins in September and runs for 10 months, with members averaging 40-45 hour work weeks. CHCANYS does all the recruiting and then, from a pre-screened group of applicants works with the host site health center staff on making the final hiring decisions.
Some of the common activities Opioid Response Corps members are allowed to perform:
Provide health education and promote overdose prevention
Conduct screenings and risk assessments of substance abuse for patients and in particular target patients on opioids prescriptions
Conduct outreach to at risk patients
Provide targeted care management services to patients at risk of opioid and prescription drug abuse, provide follow up and support with treatment plans
Raise awareness and reduce stigma by reaching out to the community i.e. schools, youth programs, and community programs
Outreach to community programs and increase patients’ knowledge of resources available and serve as liaison between health center resources and community resource programs
Opioid and prescription drug use health education and care management
Organize and promote opioid related workshops and trainings i.e. naloxone administration training for at risk patients and family members
Serve as Peer Mentors
In Addition:
Make reminder phone calls to patients for appointments
Work on hotlines, or provider referral services for the CHC and their clients
Conduct outreach to increase access to CHC and partnering facilities
Provide transportation for patients
Provide translation and interpretation services
Increase volunteerism at CHCs and surrounding communities
Enroll patients into Medicaid and/or other social service programs
Navigating the health care system
Facilitating self-management health programs and groups
Enrollment in public health insurance
Activities Opioid Response Corps members are prohibited from performing:
Displacing any existing employee positions
Duplicating already existing services
Filing or working as medical clerk or other staff roles
Duties of a Physician Assistant
Fundraising for their match or stipends
Development work unless they are implementing what they develop
Advocacy on behalf of any legislation, political party or political candidate
Duties related to religious instruction or worship
Providing abortion services and referrals for such services
A detailed explanation of all rules and policies can be provided upon request. Any FQHC site interested in hosting member(s) contact Orlando Reboredo, AmeriCorps Assistant Director. Please feel free to contact me via email at oreboredo@chcanys.org or call at (212) 710-3811 with any questions or concerns.
To learn more about applying to being a host site with CHCANYS, you can access our Opioid Program Informational Webinar here.
