Arkansas Community Health Corps VISTA

As part of the Healthy Food Systems Team, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) builds capacity in nonprofit organizations and communities to help bring individuals and communities out of poverty. The work of Arkansas Community Health Corps service members centers on food security, nutrition, agriculture, and community-based work across the state. AmeriCorps VISTA service members do not engage in direct service work, but instead focus on-capacity building in an effort to expand the scale, reach, efficiency, and effectiveness of programs and organizations.

Service member tasks include activities such as fundraising, grant writing, research, and volunteer recruitment. Members gain experience and leadership skills to prepare for a life of service in the public, private, or nonprofit sector.

VISTAs:

• Must be at least 18 years old (there is no upper age limit)
• Must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents
• Serve full-time (40-hours per week)
• Make a one-year commitment
• Pass a criminal history review
• Receive a bi-weekly living allowance (approximately $575.40)
• Receive an end-of-service educational award (approximately $6,495)
• May be eligible for relocation benefits
• Are entitled to holidays and personal and medical leave
• Are eligible for healthcare and child care options
• Engage in professional development training and activities
• Meet knowledge, skill, and ability requirements set by the sponsoring organization
• Receive non-competitive eligibility for employment in the federal government

For more information, read the AmeriCorps VISTA Handbook or click here to see more AmeriCorps VISTA benefits. For more information about becoming an Arkansas Community Health Corps VISTA, contact Kelly Dundon at kdundon@uams.edu.

Organizations interested in becoming Arkansas Community Health Corps Service Sites must complete a project application, including details about their organization’s community based food work as well as a Volunteer Action Description detailing how an Arkansas Community Health Corps VISTA Service Member will assist in their work.

AmeriCorps VISTA Service Sites must identify an employee within their organization to act as a Service Site Supervisor who will manage their service member(s) on a day-to-day basis using their AmeriCorps VISTA-approved Volunteer Action Description as their Member’s service template, pay a required cost share per Member, and sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the Arkansas Community Health Corps VISTA program’s host organization.

Check out the Sponsor Handbook here.

For more information on becoming an AmeriCorps VISTA service site, contact Cale Nicholson at CMNicholson@uams.edu.