Transcript Slide 1

Founded in 1995 by the National Association of
Community Health Centers, Community HealthCorps
is the largest health-focused, national AmeriCorps
program that promotes healthcare for America’s
underserved, while developing tomorrow’s healthcare
workforce.
The mission of Community HealthCorps is to improve
healthcare access and enhance workforce
development for community health centers through
national service programs.
The vision of Community HealthCorps is to become a
national service pipeline for careers in community
health centers that is improving access to necessary
primary and preventative care services for the
medically underserved.
For further information about Community HealthCorps,
visit www.communityhealthcorps.org
Welcome to Community HealthCorps!
Program Overview
2012-2013
Welcome to Community HealthCorps!
Overview
Overview
• Launched by the National Association of Community Health
Centers (NACHC) in 1995
• Largest health-focused AmeriCorps program that promotes
health care for America’s underserved, while developing
tomorrow’s health care workforce.
• Community HealthCorps navigators try to help people who
have no regular primary care provider to:
– Increase access to health care
– Provide health education
– Recruit and develop volunteers for health centers
Oversight of National Service
Corporation for National & Community Service
(Federal Entity)
AmeriCorps
(and other national service programs)
National Association of Community Health Centers
(a grantee of CNCS, to run an AmeriCorps program)
Community HealthCorps Relationship Map
Navigator
Placement/Host
Site
Program Site
NACHC
CNCS
Corporation for National & Community
Service (CNCS)
• Federal entity created in 1993 by the National
Community Service Trust Act
• Engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in
community-based service that achieves direct and
demonstrable results
• 3 major programs:
•Learn and Serve America
•AmeriCorps (includes AmeriCorps*State &
National, AmeriCorps*VISTA, AmeriCorps*NCCC)
•Senior Corps
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
•Signed April 21, 2009 by President Obama
•Reauthorized and expanded national service
programs administered by CNCS
•Increased the size of AmeriCorps from 75,000 to
250,000 positions over the next eight years
• Established September 11 as a National Day of
Service and Remembrance
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
Created 5 national service priority areas for AmeriCorps State
& National programs:
Education
Unmet educational needs within communities especially
those that help children and youth achieve success in school
and increase high school graduation rates.
Healthy Futures
Unmet health needs within communities including access to
health care, disease prevention and health promotion
initiatives, and health literacy.
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
Clean Energy/Environment
Unmet energy-efficiency and environmental needs within
communities.
Veterans
Unmet needs of veterans, members of the Armed Forces who are on
active duty, and family members of deployed military personnel and
engagement of veterans in service.
Economic Opportunity
Unmet needs relating to economic opportunity for economically
disadvantaged individuals within communities including financial
literacy, housing assistance, job training, and nutritional assistance.
AmeriCorps
Specifically, AmeriCorps strives to:
• Get things done
• Strengthen communities
• Encourage responsibility
• Expand opportunity
Since 1994, more than 706,000 Americans have given
860 million hours of service through AmeriCorps.
AmeriCorps Pledge
I will get things done for America -to make our people safer,
smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together to strengthen our
communities.
Faced with apathy, I will take action.
Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity, I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member, and I will get things done.
National Association of Community
Health Centers (NACHC)
America’s Voice for Community Health Centers
The NACHC Mission
To promote the provision of high quality, comprehensive and
affordable health care that is coordinated, culturally and
linguistically competent, and community directed for all
medically underserved populations.
National Association of Community
Health Centers (NACHC)
• Organized in 1971 with the needs of Federally Qualified Health
Centers (FQHCs) in mind
• Works closely with a network of state health center and primary
care associations to serve its members in three major ways:
• Research-based advocacy for health centers and their clients
• Education of the public and training of health center staff and
boards
• Development of alliances with like-minded public and private
partners to foster delivery of medical care to those in need.
Role of NACHC Staff in Community HealthCorps
Responsibilities Include:
– Administering the Community HealthCorps*National and Community
HealthCorps*VISTA program (developing and managing projects)
– Organize a competitive application process for choosing new program
sites and project stations
– Helping to interpret AmeriCorps regulations, providing technical
assistance and enforcing administrative policies and AmeriCorps
regulations
– Monitoring for compliance of grantees
– Approving navigator assignment descriptions
Community Health Centers
Spread across 50 states and all U.S.
territories, 1,200 health centers provide
vital primary care to millions of Americans
with limited financial resources through
over 8,000 service delivery sites.
Health center patients are among the
nation’s most vulnerable populations
• Nearly all patients are low income, with 72% of
health center patients having incomes at or below
poverty.
• Patients tend to be members of racial or minority
groups
• 38% are uninsured, and another 39% depend on
Medicaid
• About half of health center patients reside in rural
areas, while the other half tend to live in
economically depressed inner city communities
Community Health Centers Overcome
Barriers to Care
Health centers remove common financial, geographic, and cultural
barriers to care. They
– Are located in high need areas (those with elevated poverty, higher
than average infant mortality, and where few physicians practice)
– Are open to all residents regardless of insurance status, and provide
free or low-cost care based on ability to pay
– Offer services that help their patients access health care such as
transportation, translation, case management, and health education
– Tailor their services to fit the special needs and priorities of their
communities, and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate
services
For many patients, the health center may be the
only source of health care services available.
The number of uninsured patients at health
centers has doubled – from 3.9 million in 1998
to 7.3 million today.
Program Sites & Project Stations
Health Centers are the placement sites and the predominant
sponsors of the Community HealthCorps. Program sites and
project stations:
– Make a financial contribution to the program
– Hire the program coordinator and/or select site supervisors
– Recruit Community HealthCorps navigators for their team
– Provide navigator training
– Manage day to day navigator service activities
Welcome to Community HealthCorps!
AmeriCorps Navigators
Who is Community HealthCorps?
During the 2009-10 program year:
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Navigator age ranged from 17 to 77 years old
74% of navigators were between 25 and 29
33% of navigators were from California
36% of navigators were from New York, Michigan, or
Texas (12% each)
• Navigators come from urban, suburban, and rural
areas
Community HealthCorps Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria and provide required documentation
in order to be eligible to enroll in AmeriCorps:
• Complete an online application packet
• Complete program site interview process, which may include reference check
(requirements vary across program sites)
• Provide documentation of U.S. Citizenship or status as a U.S. National or a
lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Individuals in the U.S.
under a student, work, or tourist visa are not eligible to become AmeriCorps
navigators.
• At least 18 years of age at the commencement of service (or 17 with parental
permission)
• Have a high school diploma or GED or agree to obtain a GED while serving
• Fulfill National Service Criminal History Check requirements, which includes
National Sex Offender Public Registry, state and FBI criminal registry searches
Employee vs. Navigator
• An AmeriCorps navigator is not an employee of the placement
site
• An AmeriCorps navigator is not an employee of the program site
• An AmeriCorps navigator is not an employee of NACHC or CNCS
Acceptable Terms
Unacceptable Terms
navigator
Employee, worker
Position, slot
Job
Service, serves with
Employment, works for
Living Allowance
Wage, salary, pay
General Terms of Service
AmeriCorps navigators have made a commitment to the
community they serve.
– navigators agree to serve 1700 hours (FT), average of at
least 30 hours per week
– navigators may serve up to 12 months (minimum term of
service is 10 months)
– navigators can serve up to four terms in AmeriCorps State
& National
– navigator can receive the equivalent of two full time
Education Awards if they serve multiple terms
Benefits of Serving
• Living Allowance
• Education Award earned after successful completion of
agreed upon term of service, can be used to pay off federally
qualified student loans and for future schooling
• Health Insurance for navigators who are not otherwise
covered
• Child Care assistance for navigators meeting eligibility
requirements
• Loan forbearance and payment of accrued interest while
serving upon successful completion
• Unique training opportunities and experience related to
community health
Welcome to Community HealthCorps!
What will you do?
To see videos of what navigators are doing, check out our
YouTube page at www.youtube.com/communityhealthcorps!
Get Things Done!
During the 2009-10 program year, approximately 1.2 million people
who lacked access and inadequately used available health services
and programs benefited from the service activity of Community
HealthCorps navigators!
– Of these individuals, 123,096 enrolled in health screenings, group
health education workshops and classes, health insurance plans, and
other health services and programs.
– At least 159,932 medically underserved individuals used preventive
and primary health care services two or more times during the
program year.
– 12,754 people were recruited to volunteer 25,543 hours to assist
health centers and other community-based organizations with
addressing health and human needs.
Service Activities
• Direct Service: Work that addresses unmet human needs, the
environment, public safety, and/or education. Examples include:
• Outreach & Advocacy: Conduct outreach in the community and
provide education about health insurance eligibility, available health
and related programs, and health care options
• Enrollment: Assist individuals with the enrollment process for health
programs, health insurance plans, and/or pharmaceutical assistance
programs.
• Improve Utilization of Health Services and Programs: Provide
linguistically and culturally appropriate translations, provide
transportation assistance, provide health education in one-on-one or
group settings, assist individuals with navigating health and related
services/programs, etc.
Grant Writing & Fundraising Activities
Navigators may raise funds directly in support of their service activities up to
10% of their total service time.
Allowable Fundraising Activities
Unallowable Fundraising Activities
Seek donations of books from companies and
individuals for a program in which volunteers
tutor children to read.
Raise funds for his or her living allowance
Write a grant proposal to a foundation to secure
resources to support the training of volunteers
Secure supplies and equipment from the
community to enable volunteers to help build
houses for low-income individuals
Seek donations from Community HealthCorps
alumni for specific service projects being
performed by current navigators
Raise funds for an organization’s operating
expenses and/or endowment
Write grant applications for AmeriCorps funding
and/or any other funding provided by CNCS
Write grant applications for funding provided by
any other federal agencies
Ideal Community HealthCorps Placements
• Outreach to vulnerable and/or underserved populations
• Development of new position(s)
• Involve service that would not otherwise get done and/or
expands availability of services
• Utilizes unique talents of individual navigators
• Does not displace or duplicate any paid employee providing
the same or similar service at the site
• Provides opportunities for Community HealthCorps navigators
to perform direct service activities that that address health
and/or human needs in the community
What is the purpose of the Navigator
Assignment Description?
The assignment description can make or break the placement.
• It charts a course of action for the navigator’s term of service
• A clear understanding of the assignment description helps
avoid confusion over what is expected of the navigator. Use it
at the beginning of the term to see what the year ahead
should look like. Go back to it every few months to develop
short-term plans.
• If used right, the assignment description provides direction for
the navigator and allows supervisors to talk about what is
working and what is not.
Welcome to Community HealthCorps!
Unallowable Activities
Employee Displacement & Duplication
• An AmeriCorps navigator is not:
– an employee of the program
– is not to be confused with a community volunteer
– is not to be confused with an intern or student
• Given that navigators are not employees, they are not allowed to
perform an employee’s duties or otherwise displace employees
• A navigator may not fill in for an absent employee
• Navigators may not, under any circumstances, perform services, or
activities that had been assigned to an employee or volunteer or to an
employee or volunteer who has recently resigned or been discharged
• Programs may not use navigators, even temporarily, to replace staff
(i.e. fill in when they are sick, on maternity leave, and/or offsite for any
reason)
Employee Displacement & Duplication
(continued)
AmeriCorps navigators may not displace or duplicate the
service provided by an employee or volunteer:
– If staff resigns or is terminated a navigator may not fill this
duty.
– If staff is out sick, on vacation, etc. a navigator may not fill
this duty.
– If staff leaves for his/her lunch hour, a navigator may not
fill this duty.
– A navigator may not assist staff to complete a duty in
his/her job description, unless the navigator is expanding
or enhancing this service in some way
Prohibited Activities
Community HealthCorps navigators or staff members charging time to the
AmeriCorps grant may not participate in any of the following activities:
• Attempt to influence legislation
• Conduct voter registration drives.
• Organize or engage in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes
• Assist, promote, or deter union organization
• Provide abortion services or make referrals* for such services
*A referral consists of a name, address, telephone number, and other relevant
factual information such as insurance accepted.
Prohibited Activities (continued)
•Engage in partisan political activities or other activities
designed to influence the outcome of an election
•Participate in, or endorse, events or activities that are likely
to include advocacy for or against a political party, platform,
candidate, proposed legislation, or elected officials
•Engage in religious instruction, conduct worship services;
construct, operate, or manage facilities devoted to religious
instruction or worship; engage in any form of religious
proselytizing
*Wearing the AmeriCorps and/or Community HealthCorps logo during the
above activities or in a situation that could negatively reflect on the
program is prohibited.
Prohibited Activities (continued)
AmeriCorps navigators may not provide a direct benefit to:
• A for-profit entity;
• A labor union;
• A partisan political organization; or
• An organization engaged in the religious activities
described earlier, unless Grant funds are not used to
support the religious activities.
• A nonprofit entity that fails to comply with the restrictions
contained in section 501(c)(3) of U.S. Code Title 26.
Welcome to Community HealthCorps!
PROVE that you’re making a difference!
Performance Measures
• NACHC is part of the national performance measures pilot in the Healthy
Futures focus area
• Overarching Program Goal: Improve the capacity of health centers to
provide quality health services and programs to medically underserved
people.
– Primary Performance Measure: Delivery of Health Services
– Secondary Performance Measures: Health Education; Reducing Childhood
Obesity; Volunteer Generation
• Data is collected in OnCorps Reports through Direct Service, Volunteer
Mobilization, and Capacity Building reports.
• Site supervisors are able to review and reject these reports.
Delivery of Health Services
• Output Target: 50,000 (107/navigator) unduplicated patients enrolled in
health insurance, health services, or health benefits programs.
• Output Target: 18,000 (38/navigator) unduplicated clients receiving
language translation services at clinics and at emergency rooms.
• Intermediate Outcome Target: 90,000 (192/navigator) unduplicated
individuals who are uninsured, economically disadvantaged, medically
underserved, or living in rural areas utilizing preventive and primary
health care services and programs.
• End Outcome Target: Over the long term, economically disadvantaged
individuals will improve their health status and overall quality of life.
Secondary Performance Measures
• Health Education
•
Output Target: 9,200 (20/navigator) unduplicated clients participating in health
education programs.
• Reducing Childhood Obesity
– Output Target: 3,000 (7/navigator) unduplicated children and youth engaged in inschool or after school physical education activities with the purpose of reducing
childhood obesity.
– Intermediate Outcome Target: 600 (9/navigator) participating children and youth will
experience an 8% increase in aerobic fitness during in-school or after school physical
education.
• Volunteer Generation
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Output Target: 7,800 (17/navigator) unduplicated non-AmeriCorps volunteers recruited
and coordinated
*Not every navigator will be performing activities under every performance measure.
Welcome to Community HealthCorps!
What kind of training will you receive?
Training will be conducted by the Program
Coordinator & Site Supervisor
Pre-Service Orientation:
• Provides an in-depth introduction to the Community HealthCorps, its
objectives, performance measures, and policies and procedures at the
beginning of the term of service.
Placement Site Orientation – conducted by the site supervisor and other staff,
introduces the new AmeriCorps navigator to the community, organization, project,
and assignment description during the first few weeks at the placement site
On-Going Training:
• Prescription for Success Curriculum - required for all navigators by April 30 of
the program year
• Develop knowledge & skills the navigator and supervisor identified as required
in reviewing the assignment description
• Regularly scheduled team meetings
• Life After AmeriCorps - Designed to provide navigators with the necessary
tools to transition from a year of service to a professional career or further
schooling, and should build professional skills
• Other examples include navigator Development calls hosted by NACHC and
local training opportunities when available
navigator Development & Training
• The Corporation for National and Community Service allows
up to 20% of total service time to be dedicated to training.
• Navigators may earn up to 10% of their training hours through
approved college/GED coursework. This must be preapproved by the Program Coordinator.
• Navigator Training & Development is tracked in OnCorps
Reports on the timesheet and in the HC navigator
Development report.
• For the complete guidance and requirements on navigator
Training & Development, please see the “Tools for Program
Staff” section of the Community HealthCorps website.
Welcome to Community HealthCorps!
Expectations & Code of Conduct
Navigator Expectations
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Show respect for the program staff, agency staff, the community, and fellow AmeriCorps
navigators at all times.
Act as an appropriate role model with service recipients and within the community
Follow directions as set forth by the program
Uphold all privacy regulations as set forth by the agency
Direct concerns, problems and suggestions to their Site Supervisor and/or Program
Coordinator
Abstain from engaging in prohibited activities while earning service hours and/or wearing
the AmeriCorps and/or Community HealthCorps logos
Communicate effectively and respectfully with site supervisors, program coordinators, and
other program staff
Be present and punctual for service
Satisfactorily complete service assignments as defined in the navigator Assignment
Description, and determined by the Program Site
Consistent and reliable attendance is essential to providing service.
navigators are expected to report to their service sites as scheduled and be ready to serve at
the scheduled time.
Please review the Rules of Conduct found in the Community HealthCorps
Navigator Contract.
Always call your Program Coordinator if…
• You feel you were discriminated against
• You had a family emergency and need to get home
• You were arrested
• You have a work related injury
• Your site supervisor attempted to terminate you
• Your site supervisor asked you to perform unallowable
activities
• You are unhappy in your service assignment
Your Site Supervisor is trained to always
call the Program Coordinator if…
• You don’t show up for service
• You are hospitalized
• You are arrested
• You are not meeting performance or behavioral expectations
and the situation has not been resolved
• He/she wants to terminate you
• You are doing a wonderful job!!
Disciplinary Procedure
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Written Warning- It is at the discretion of the program site and placement
site, when to issue a written warning based on the severity and frequency
of the violation(s)
Suspension – Upon continued refusal to comply after a written warning,
the navigator may be suspended for one day or more, at the discretion of
the program site, during which time his/her living allowance is suspended
Release for Cause – Upon continued refusal to comply after the navigator
has been suspended, the Program Site may terminate the navigator, and
the navigator will receive no part of the education award.
A navigator can only be suspended or terminated by the Program
Coordinator.
Navigator Performance Reviews
• Every navigator should receive 2 reviews:
– Mid-term: Within 30 days of the half-way point of a navigator’s
service
– End-of-term: Must occur within 30 days prior to the expected end
date
• Review is focused on skills, quality and quantity of work, job knowledge,
work habits, adaptability, cooperation, dependability, attendance, etc.
• Used to determine whether the navigator is eligible to serve a second
term
• Review is ideally conducted by the site supervisor
• Communicate review to navigator(s) verbally and in writing
• Navigators will receive a copy of their evaluation
Be Familiar with the Navigator Contract!
A Community HealthCorps Navigator Contract MUST be completed and
signed by the navigator and Program Coordinator before the navigator
begins serving. The Site Supervisor should sign prior to or very soon after
the navigator’s service begins. The navigator Contract outlines the
following information:
• Eligibility Verification
• Term of Service
• Service Description & Navigator Assignment Description
• Benefits (including living allowance, training, child care, health
care, loan forbearance)
• Rules of Conduct & Disciplinary Procedure
• Release or Suspension from Term of Service
• Navigator Restrictions
• Grievance Procedure
Welcome to Community HealthCorps!
Timekeeping
Timekeeping
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Timesheets are to be completed by the navigator in the OnCorps online
reporting system each pay period.
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Navigators enter in and out time rounding to the nearest quarter (.25)
hour
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Navigators note their daily activities by choosing a service category and
using the “comments” box each day
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Navigators submit the timesheet electronically, and the Site Supervisor
approves the timesheet, certifying that the navigator served the hours
indicated.
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Program coordinator is responsible for final approval
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Timesheets must be approved in OnCorps within 2 weeks after the end of
the pay period.
• If errors are found on the timesheet the Program Coordinator must ensure
that the timesheet is corrected and approved.
Leave
• Timesheets must be submitted for every day of a navigator’s
term of service, unless the navigator is suspended.
• AmeriCorps navigators do not earn vacation leave or sick
leave, however it is understood that circumstances may arise
that require a navigator to take a day off.
• Record days off on the timesheet as 0 hours
• Leave should always be approved by the site supervisor
• Leave policies should be communicated to the navigator at
the beginning of the term of service.
Breaks & Travel
DAILY BREAKS REQUIREMENTS
Lunch Breaks
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Navigators must be scheduled for a 30 minute lunch break if the navigator is scheduled for a 68 hour service day.
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Navigators do not accrue service hours during lunch breaks
Breaks
Breaks are designed for navigators to use the restroom, get water, etc. Navigators are
authorized a 15 minute break for every 4 hours served.
navigator TRAVEL
• No hours should be earned for travel to and from home to the service site each day
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If attending an event or training, service hours may be earned for travel that exceeds the
distance the navigator would normally travel to get to the service site.
(For example, if the navigator’s normal commute is 30 minutes, but they are attending a
training that requires a 60 minute commute, the navigator will earn 30 minutes of service
hours.)
Voting & Jury Duty
VOTING
• Navigators who cannot vote before or after service hours
should be allowed to take time off to vote without penalty
• Navigators may not earn service hours for voting
JURY DUTY
• While serving on jury duty, navigators may accrue service
hours
Welcome to Community HealthCorps!
Exiting from Service
Suspension & Termination
• Only the Program Coordinator can terminate or suspend a navigator
• Navigators can be terminated in 2 ways:
– For compelling personal circumstances
• Circumstances that make completing the term of service very difficult or impossible
(i.e. personal injury or illness, injury or illness of a family navigator whom the
navigator must care for)
• May receive a pro-rated education award if the navigator served at least 15% of
his/her term
– For cause
• All other reasons that are not compelling personal circumstances
• Navigator receives no part of the Education Award
• Be sure to keep the Program Coordinator informed if you are having
problems or issues at your placement site!
Successful Completion of Service
Navigators have successfully completed service when:
• The navigator has earned at least 1700 hours, and
• Served an average of at least 30 hours per week, and
• Served their agreed upon term of service (as defined in the Navigator
Contract), and
• Satisfactorily completed PSO, the Prescription for Success curriculum, and
any related service assignment training, and
• Satisfactorily completed service assignments as defined in the Navigator
Assignment Description, and determined by the Program Site.
Eligibility for a Subsequent Term
To be eligible for a subsequent term of service with the Community
HealthCorps, the following must take place:
• Navigator must receive satisfactory performance reviews
• Completed the required number of service hours
• Completed the entire term of service
Completion of one term of service with Community HealthCorps does not
guarantee placement for a subsequent term.
The Hotline: 301-347-0481
The Community HealthCorps Hotline is designed to
allow callers to report important information to
NACHC anonymously and confidentially. Calls are
answered by voicemail, and checked by the
Monitoring & Compliance Unit each business day.
Callers who choose to leave contact information will
receive a response within one business day. We look
forward to delivering more effective customer
service to you.
Resources
Website Name
Web Address
Purpose
Community HealthCorps www.communityhealthcorps.org Up to date navigator
resources, training, and
alumni information!
OnCorps Reports
http://healthcorps.oncorpsrepor Submit navigator
ts.com
timesheets & service
reports; OnCorps
tutorials
AmeriCorps
www.americorps.gov
CNCS website with
information about
AmeriCorps programs.
Go here to log into your
My AmeriCorps account.
Find Community HealthCorps on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube!