NEPA-AHEC

Program Listing: NEPA AHEC VISTA Project
Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center
Keystone College Campus
One College Green
LaPlume, PA 18440-0200
www.nepaahec.org

For more than 30 years, Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) in 47 states have been dedicated to bridging the gaps between primary health care and the population. The Northeast Pennsylvania AHEC, serving as the Sponsor organization for AmeriCorps* VISTA members, was incorporated in 1999, to serve nine northeast Pennsylvania counties: Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming. The AHEC program advances four strategic objectives: increase access to primary health care services; recruit and retain primary health care providers; promote workforce diversity for health care professions; and advance community education and public health initiatives. The NEPA AHEC works with all aspects of the health care environment to meet these objectives. The NEPA AHEC is a solid partner with numerous community organizations and initiatives working to eliminate poverty and poverty related problems in the region. These organizations will provide support and resources for the VISTA members in a variety of communities. The VISTA members will develop a volunteer training program; recruit and train volunteer faculty; create a teacher’s handbook; conduct community awareness campaigns in underserved communities; support volunteer faculty; create a database to monitor and communicate with faculty; and continue to build solid partnerships with other community organizations. VISTA members will have the opportunity to provide meaningful service; build marketable skills; develop a community network of contacts; and gain valuable experience in the field. AmeriCorps keywords: healthy behaviors education; health education; children; community development.

Duties, requirements and benefits:
The VISTAs will develop a training program for the NEPA AHEC interactive healthy behavior “Boxed Programs,” training volunteers to present the boxed curriculums throughout our nine county region. These “Boxes” contain teacher lesson plans, books, puzzles, and many hands-on activities for use with children of all ages and in a variety of educational settings to promote healthy behaviors and health careers. Multiple copies of the trunks are used to accommodate the large geographic area that NEPA AHEC serves. There are five trunks: Miles of Smiles; Health and the Human Body; Water, Water Everywhere; Sticks and Stones, Muscles and Bones; and One, Two Buckle My Shoe. These programs encourage dental health, good nutrition and physical activity, all cited as health issues for both urban and rural populations with deep pockets of poverty, inadequately funded schools and social service agencies, and a shortage of health care providers. The current economic climate has caused many community organizations to decrease or eliminate community health education. The “Boxed Programs” primary audience will be underserved and special needs children, helping to bridge the gap caused by funding cutbacks, and to educate and improve their lives and communities. In addition to training volunteer-teachers, the VISTAs will create a presentation schedule which covers nine counties; find funding to expand the “Boxes;” update and create curriculum; establish a volunteer recognition program; and design a tracking and evaluation mechanism to analyze the success of the program.

Terms: Car required, must be willing to travel. Requires full time service without outside commitments.

Service area: Children/Youth, Community Outreach, Education Length of tour: 12 months

Skills required: General skills, Communications, Computers, Education, Fundraising, Outreach, Public Speaking, Recruitment, Writing/Editing, and Working with volunteers.

Program Benefits: Choice of education award or stipend; health coverage; living allowance; relocation allowance; training.

Application Requirements: General qualifications include a Bachelor’s Degree. We are looking for highly motivated individuals with a desire to serve and an ability to take this project from the ground up to create a long term sustainable program in many communities. References are required, one professional, one personal.

Contact Information:
Amy H. Rowe
NEPA AHEC
Keystone College Campus
One College Green
LaPlume, PA 18440
amy.rowe@keystone.edu

Program Listing: Steps to a Healthier Luzerne County
Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center
Keystone College Campus
One College Green
LaPlume, PA 18440-0200
www.nepaahec.org

Since 1970 Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) in 47 states have been dedicated to bridging the gaps between primary health care and the population. The Northeast Pennsylvania AHEC, serving as Sponsor organization for AmeriCorps*VISTA members, was incorporated in 1999. The NEPA AHEC works with all aspects of the health care environment to advance community education and public health initiatives. The NEPA AHEC has a strong history in partnering with numerous community organizations and initiatives working to eliminate poverty and poverty related problems in the region through access to health education and care. The NEPA AHEC, the CDC and the PA Department of Health (PA DOH) have a “Steps to a HealthierPA – Luzerne County” grant which focuses on healthy lifestyles, with an emphasis on reaching underserved populations. “Steps to a HealthierPA – Luzerne County” promotes integration and addresses asthma, diabetes and obesity by focusing on the risk factors of physical activity, poor nutrition and tobacco exposure. According to the most recent Pennsylvania Behavioral Risk Factor Report 55.2% of the population of Luzerne County is overweight, 20.9% obese, and 73.4% do not eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily. According to the consulting firm Tripp-Umbach, 37.3% of the county respondents do not exercise at all and only 31.8% exercise for at least 20 minutes three times per week. The underserved population of the county represents a disproportionate segment of the above statistics.

The AmeriCorps*VISTA members will develop a volunteer base for the program, focusing on creating school health councils; participate in extensive asset mapping and program evaluation; create a resource guide; and assist with outreach. VISTA members will have the opportunity to provide meaningful service; build marketable skills; develop a community network of contacts; and gain valuable experience in the field. VISTA keywords: school councils; healthy lifestyles; health education; children; community development.

Duties, requirements and benefits:
The AmeriCorps*VISTA members, working throughout Luzerne County, will develop a volunteer base for the program, focusing on creating school health councils for all eleven county school districts plus private schools. The Steps program also mandates a focus on community health centers and free clinics, to reach out to the underserved. VISTAs will participate in extensive Luzerne County asset mapping and program evaluation, create a resource guide and assist with outreach. They will develop a training program for volunteers; create a training curriculum; create a health council handbook for distribution to school health councils, along with reporting forms and agreements; recruit volunteers and schedule volunteer training; develop a plan for tracking, sustaining and recognizing volunteers; and help create a Luzerne County Steps Resource Guide. With the help of the AmeriCorps*VISTA members, the community will participate in the development of funding alternatives for the projects. The community will provide volunteers and additional resources which will sustain the programs once the AmeriCorps*VISTA members have completed their tasks. The AmeriCorps*VISTA members and projects will identify other national service programs in the region and develop linkages that support the programs.

Terms: Car required, must be willing to travel. Requires full time service
without outside commitments.
Work schedule: Full-time

Skills required: General skills, Communications, Computers, Education, Fundraising, Outreach, Public Speaking, Recruitment, Writing/Editing, and Working with volunteers.

Program Benefits: Choice of education award or stipend; health coverage; living
allowance; relocation allowance; training.

Contact Information:
Amy H. Rowe
NEPA AHEC
Keystone College Campus
One College Green
LaPlume, PA 18440
amy.rowe@keystone.edu

NEPA-AHEC Health Careers: Career Guidance for You!