NACDD is excited to announce the launch of its inaugural Public Health AmeriCorps (PHA) programmatic year focused on creating pathways to good quality public health careers, building the next generation of public health leaders, and strengthening public health infrastructure. PHA is a collaboration between the Building Resilient Inclusive Communities (BRIC) program and the YMCA of the USA to support existing state and local activities that impact food and nutrition security, safe physical activity access, and social connectedness through policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change strategies.

In collaboration with 10 BRIC states, NACDD selected passionate Service Members to help build the capacity of state and local health departments and similar agencies to continue addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to advance health equity in underserved communities through hands-on training and experience. The first cohort of Service Members will begin their service year on April 3, 2023 and contribute to various projects and initiatives the BRIC states are currently engaged in. For example, Washington will host a Service Member who will perform public outreach, engagement, and data collection to guide community-level efforts in Inchelium, a rural Native American community. In Louisiana, a Service Member will be placed within the state’s Division of Healthy Communities and support the implementation of PSE strategies aimed at reducing health disparities tied to food and nutrition security, safe physical activity access, and social connectedness. They will also assist in the implementation of built environment action plans and the execution of a Walkability Action Institute. The second cohort of Service Members is slated to begin in May 2023.

Recruited Service Members are committed to community work and volunteerism, and bring a breadth of knowledge and experience that will positively impact BRIC efforts. Service Members represent an array of educational background including public health, health sciences, nutrition, political science, communications, and sociology.

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.

To learn more about PHA or explore opportunities for a PHA Service Member in your state, please reach out to NACDD’s PHA Program Manager, Dr. Pascale Edouard, DrPH, at pedouard@chronicdisease.org.