Public Health AmeriCorps Reducing COVID-19 Disparities in Los Angeles County

AmeriCorps Member Job Description

The LA County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) is recruiting part-time (three fourths time and half time) AmeriCorps members. Half time members will complete a total of 900 hours during their service period and receive a living allowance of $16,200 for their service. Three fourths time members will complete a total of 1200 hours during their service period and receive a living allowance of $21,600 for their service.

AmeriCorps members will engage in community outreach, health education, and resource sharing in the most highly impacted communities located within Los Angeles County. Members will be assigned to one of the eight Service Planning Areas (SPAs) and work to meet the unique health needs of communities within their assigned region. The primary role of members will be to conduct community outreach. Outreach and field based efforts will comprise of 80% of the member’s time and the remaining 20% of time will be spent on training and education. Members will also have the opportunity to support LACDPH Community Field Office activities. Field office activities will focus on topics such as substance abuse disorders, HIV/STDs, nutrition, physical activity, violence prevention, environmental health and more.

Members will join an AmeriCorps cohort and will receive individual and group training to further support development as an emerging public health leader. This experience will provide members the opportunity to gain experience in the field while directly interfacing with community members, business owners, stakeholders, and public health experts.

Given the fluidity of information, candidates must be able to work well in a fast paced and changing environment. Candidates must be flexible team players and must be willing to respond to changing directives given the needs of the community. Members will report directly to a Supervising Community Health Worker.

AmeriCorps Members will be responsible for the following duties: 

• Conducting culturally and linguistically appropriate in person COVID-19 outreach which will consist of door knocking in neighborhoods, visiting local businesses, attending community events, and supporting vaccination clinics;
• Engaging community members to provide guidance and messaging on COVID-19 education, prevention, recovery, and other vital COVID-19 information;
• Supporting vaccine registration support to communities most impacted by the virus;
• Delivering healing-informed educational sessions centered around various public health topics;
• Offering resource navigation community members to support access to health and social services;
• Supporting a variety of public health activities assigned by LACDPH Regional Health Offices;
• Documenting community interactions and resource referrals in a timely manner using a data collection tool;
• Completing AmeriCorps training in addition to other mandatory programmatic trainings set forth by LACDPH;
• Adhering to responsible work habits, such as stating on task, remaining professional, and reporting for service on time;

Required Skills:

• Understanding of general health disparities and impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, low-income communities, and other highly impacted communities throughout Los Angeles County;
• Self-motivated to balance priorities and manage time when in the field and in the office;
• Aptitude to work both independently and as part of a team;
• Strong and effective communication skills, both written and oral;
• Capability to conduct educational sessions and presentations with a variety of groups;
• Ability to stay up to date with the latest information related to COVID-19, vaccines, testing, and policies

Minimum Qualifications:

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions such as outreach
• Be 18 years of age

 This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information and military service.