COVID Containment AmeriCorps Member

Colorado’s COVID Containment Response Corps (CCRC) is a statewide effort engaging local public health agencies, non-profit organizations and business leaders across the state to contain the spread of COVID-19. At the heart of this effort are national service members who have provided disaster relief assistance to the CCRC’s efforts since June 2020. This national service position is full-time, fully remote, and receives a weekly stipend of $450, in addition to other AmeriCorps benefits both during and after successful completion of service.

Amid statewide and national shutdowns, the state of Colorado piloted a program during the summer of 2020 utilizing AmeriCorps members to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Community Resource Center and Conservation Legacy were invited to help design and implement a national service opportunity in partnership with Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), AmeriCorps’ VISTA team in the Mountain Region, Gary Community Investments and Conservation Legacy.

Colorado’s Public Health agencies are leading COVID containment efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, keep our communities healthy and our economy running. When outbreaks occur, Local Public Health Agencies (LPHAs) need immediate surge capacity to efficiently notify and support the increased number of cases in their community. In collaboration with our statewide partners, Community Resource Center and Conservation Legacy designed this national service opportunity for AmeriCorps members to serve within the Colorado COVID Containment Response Corps (CCRC) Team, led by CDPHE, and provide the surge capacity communities need to support case investigation, contact tracing, resource coordination, test result notification, isolation and quarantine monitoring, and other activities to contain the spread of COVID-19 within Colorado. 

AmeriCorps engages approximately 75,000 individuals each year at service locations across the country. AmeriCorps programs do more than move communities forward; they serve their members by creating jobs and providing pathways to opportunity as they enter the workforce. AmeriCorps members learn valuable skills, earn money for education, and develop a strong sense of civic responsibility. Serve Colorado, which promotes service and volunteerism through AmeriCorps Colorado, early literacy initiatives and  Days of Service, has championed this national service opportunity.