Public health is at the root of many pressing community issues like pollution, disease, nutrition, gun violence, disaster preparedness, access to healthcare and more, which impacts community health. Hundreds of thousands of Americans work in public health, in a wide variety of interesting and exciting jobs. If you’re curious about a career in public health, it can be hard to know where to start. Serving with Public Health AmeriCorps can help you narrow down your interests, build skills, and decide which career path is right for you.
Serve with Public Health AmeriCorps for one year in full-time or part-time roles at nonprofit, government, and community-based organizations. AmeriCorps members receive hands on experience, training from experts, a living allowance, student loan deferment or forbearance, and an education award that can be used for school or existing student loans.
Not convinced, yet? Here are five careers that Public Health AmeriCorps service can prepare you for:
1. Community Health Worker
On the frontlines, community health workers are closely tied to the communities they serve. They are trusted liaisons between health/social services and the community to improve service access, quality of service, and cultural competence. They perform activities like outreach, community education, social support, and advocacy.
These organizations are actively recruiting AmeriCorps members to be trained as community health workers:
- Rio Arriba County Health and Human Services Department (New Mexico)
- Kentucky Health Departments Association (Kentucky)
- Volunteers of America (Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, Puerto Rico, Texas)
2. Health Communication and Public Relations
Effective communication can help people stay healthy. Health communication professionals help people understand health-related information, risks, and actions and inform community decisions around public health initiatives.
These organizations are recruiting AmeriCorps members to support health communication:
- National Network of Public Health Institutes (Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC)
- Boston Public Health Commission (Massachusetts)
- George Mason University (Virginia)
3. Behavioral Scientist
Ever wonder about the answers to big public health questions? Maybe you’ve wondered how social media affects mental health, or if playing video games correlates with a higher risk of violence? Behavioral scientists answer these tough questions by studying how people’s behaviors impact their health. Ultimately, their studies can inform how to have a healthier future.
These organizations have behavioral health-related AmeriCorps positions available now:
- Health Federation of Philadelphia (California, Delaware, Pennsylvania)
- Wisconsin Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (Wisconsin)
- Healing Action Network, Inc. (Missouri)
4. Environmental Health Specialist
Environmental Health Specialists help prevent the spread of diseases by performing critical work like restaurant inspections, water testing, and day care center evaluations. They also support emergency preparedness for natural disasters or disease outbreaks, like we just saw during the COVID-19 pandemic
These organizations are recruiting AmeriCorps members to help prevent and limit the spread of infectious diseases:
- OCHIN, Inc. (Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Wisconsin)
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (California)
- Arizona State University (Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas)
5. Community Health Center Case Manager
Community Health Centers are hubs for all essential healthcare services. They are community-based organizations that serve populations with limited access to health care. Case managers help people navigate the healthcare system by connecting them to resources and services.
These Community Health Centers are recruiting AmeriCorps members:
- Sixteenth Street Community Health Center (Wisconsin)
- Community Health Care Association of New York State (New York)
- Community Health Center, Inc. (Connecticut)
Be a changemaker in your community now. Don’t wait until the next public health crisis. Whether you’re looking for a way to spend a gap year, gain post-graduate experience, or navigate a career transition, you can help address our country’s public health needs by serving with Public Health AmeriCorps. Apply today to build your resume and kickstart your career in public health. Don’t miss out!