Overview
As part of the Healthy Food Systems Team, Community Health and Research supports a statewide AmeriCorps VISTA program called “Arkansas Community Health Corps.” AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) builds capacity in nonprofit organizations and communities to help bring individuals and communities out of poverty. AmeriCorps VISTA is a federal program where Service Members serve a 12-month term at their Service Site for an average of 40 hours per week.
The work of Arkansas Community Health Corps Service Members centers on food security, nutrition, agriculture, and community-based work across the state. Our Service Members play a valuable role in their communities by providing nutrition education, food distribution, volunteer recruitment and management, as well as assisting with grant writing, fundraising, and research. Members gain experience and leadership skills to prepare for a life of service in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. 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.
Food Security Initiative (FSI)
The AmeriCorps VISTA Food Insecurity Initiative (FSI), a national AmeriCorps initiative housed within Arkansas Community Health Corps, brings new opportunities for collaboration and coordination to address food insecurity among Arkansans. FSI VISTA members are hosted in organizations working to address food insecurity among Arkansas’ most vulnerable and underserved populations. These AmeriCorps members expand capacity and increase food access through their service in the charitable food system, support of local agriculture and production programs, improving coordination and connection to essential services that impact food security, and increasing access to culturally and medically appropriate foods.
For organizations interested in hosting a service member, please use the following link to determine your eligibility: https://redcap.link/AmeriCorpsFSI. This national initiative is prioritizing BIPOC-led Service Sites and Sites which serve communities of color. However, all applications received will be considered.
For more information, join us for an information session at the following times:
Who are VISTAs?
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.
Becoming a VISTA Service Site
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.