AmeriCorps Member – SBHC Community Outreach & Health Education Specialist

Healthy Communities is CHC’s AmeriCorps program designed to create cohesion in vulnerable communities and promote healthcare and support services through outreach, awareness, linkage to care, and support. The program identifies unique community needs and establishes strategic plans to address them. Service delivery directly tackles public health crises in vulnerable communities, making healthcare and support services accessible through flexible delivery.

About the Role

This is an AmeriCorps Member role – SBHC Community Outreach & Health Education Specialist – supporting School Based Health Centers (SBHC) primarily in Waterbury areas and housed at the main CHC site in Middletown. AmeriCorps members will conduct community outreach, education, patient engagement, and link patients to CHCI care and community-based referrals. Members will also participate in statewide and local activities promoting health and health services awareness.

Terms & Program Benefits

• One-year service term from September 8, 2026, through August 31, 2027
• Serve a minimum of 33 hours a week for a total of 1,700 hours during the service year
• $25,000 stipend over the course of one year, paid bi-weekly
• An education award of $7,395 at the end of successful service term completion

This is not a staff or volunteer position.

Responsibilities

• Conduct monthly patient health education workshops; monitor the completion of pre-post surveys by workshop participants; and complete data entry for workshops and surveys.
• Track and document all completed patient engagement activities in the patient’s electronic health record.
• Develop and implement outreach strategies for SBHC sites with lower awareness or utilization.
• Educate students, families, school staff, and community organizations about the benefits and availability of School-Based Health Center services.
• Represent the SBHC program at school orientations, open houses, health fairs, family engagement nights, and community events.
• Build relationships with parent organizations, school personnel, youth-serving agencies, and community partners to increase awareness of SBHC services.
• Distribute educational materials and resource information throughout school communities.
• Conduct classroom, parent, or community presentations (when requested) to increase understanding of SBHC services.
• Identify barriers that families report when accessing care and share trends with SBHC leadership to support continuous improvement.
• Collect outreach metrics and success stories to evaluate community engagement efforts.
• Support seasonal outreach campaigns, including back-to-school enrollment awareness, preventive health education, and wellness initiatives.
• Welcome students and families arriving for scheduled evening appointments.
• Provide wayfinding and escort patients from the designated entrance to the clinic entrance in accordance with school security procedures.
• Answer general questions about SBHC services and clinic hours.
• Ensure families know where to check in upon arrival.
• Communicate patient arrival to clinic staff when appropriate.
• Help create a welcoming and supportive environment that encourages families to utilize extended-hour services.
• Develop and/or provide educational materials regarding available SBHC programs.
• Participate in SBHC meetings to provide updates on engagement strategies and the success of events, activities, and workshops.

Qualifications

• High school or equivalent required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet-related applications
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve and remain calm during a crisis
• Successful clearance of all required criminal history checks (NSCHC)
• Able to travel between CHC sites and in-state
• Ability to serve in the evenings or weekends, occasionally, due to community events and educational sessions

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in public health, social work, or a related field
• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Experience in education, public health, communications, youth development, or community engagement

About the Organization

Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC), with offices in Connecticut, Colorado, and California, is one of the country’s most creative and dynamic providers of primary medical, dental, and behavioral health services, and a leader in practice-based research, health professionals training, and the use of innovative technologies to advance health and healthcare. CHC is designated as a federally qualified health center and a patient-centered medical home by HRSA, the Joint Commission, and NCQA, respectively. CHC delivers over 600,000 patient visits per year from primary care hubs and community clinics across Connecticut, all connected by technology and common standards for quality. CHC employs several hundred medical, dental, and behavioral health providers engaged in practice, teaching, and research. The Weitzman Institute, part of CHC, is devoted to research and practice transformation and is recognized nationally for improving healthcare and health outcomes for special and vulnerable populations. CHC has developed three wholly owned subsidiaries: the National Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Training Consortium (NNPRFTC), the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA), and ConferMed.

Schedule

• Part time
• Minimum of 33 hours per week

Pay

• $25,000 stipend over the course of one year, paid bi-weekly
• Education award of $7,395 at the end of successful service term completion