NACDD’s Public Health AmeriCorps (PHA) program proudly announces the successful conclusion of its inaugural year with the graduation of 10 Service Members, marking a significant milestone in its mission to bolster the public health workforce and advance more equitable health outcomes for local communities. Upon the conclusion of the service year, 100% of Service Members strongly agree or agree that their participation in NACDD’s PHA program improved their public health skills and developed their professional skills. Eight of the program’s alumni plan to continue their public health journeys post-service through a graduate degree program or a public health-related career path. These outcomes indicate substantial strides toward creating pathways to good quality public health careers through onsite experience and training, and ultimately strengthening the national public health infrastructure. The PHA program is committed to building off this success to amplify its impact and expand its reach in the second year of the program.

The future of PHA is bright, with the conclusion of Year 2 recruitment efforts culminating in the placement of 18 Service Members across 9 Host Site states (IL, IA, MN, MS, MO, NV, OK, PA, and WV). Over the one-year service term, Service Members will augment the capacity within their Host Site organizations by providing direct support to state- and community-level activities that address food and nutrition security, safe physical activity access, and social connectedness through policy, systems, and environmental change approaches.

For example, a Service Member with the Philadelphia Department of Health is supporting the city’s farmer’s market network through marketing campaigns, identifying new locations for markets, and navigating city requirements for markets to increase access to nutritious fruits and vegetables in underserved communities. Another Service Member will split their time between the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City to develop a social connectedness roadmap that will guide the implementation of evidence-based social connection initiatives throughout the state. This Service Member will serve across both organizations to integrate social determinants of health and healthy aging principles into the strategic plan. In addition to experiential learning at their Host Sites, Service Members receive foundational public health training and professional skills development to prepare them to join the next generation of public health leaders.

The Year 2 Service Members represent a broad array of intersecting educational backgrounds and professional experiences, yet they share a common passion for public service, advancing equity within local communities, and creating meaningful change for a healthier nation. NACDD is proud to welcome its newest cohort of Service Members.

A partnership between AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the PHA program is a five-year, $400 million investment from the American Rescue Plan Act that supports the recruitment, training, and development of the next generation of public health leaders. The two main goals of the program include:

• Addressing public health needs of local communities by providing support in state and local public health settings and advancing more equitable health outcomes for underserved communities; and
• Creating pathways to good quality public health-related careers through onsite experience and training, with a focus on recruiting AmeriCorps members who reflect the communities in which they will serve.

For more information, please contact Tierney Thomison, NACDD’s PHA Program Manager, at tthomison@chronicdisease.org.