This initiative seeks to develop an AmeriCorps program tailored to Montana's health needs, focusing on mental health, chronic disease management, and social determinants of health.

What is AmeriCorps?

Mission: To improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

AmeriCorps is a federal program for national service and volunteer work. It helps fund organizations that solve important community problems by placing AmeriCorps members in service roles. Members serve for a set period to help with challenges like education, health, disaster services, and economic opportunity. AmeriCorps programs use people’s time and skills to make a lasting impact and create real solutions.

Overview of the AmeriCorps Planning Initiative

The Montana Office of Rural Health & Area Health Education Center (MORH/AHEC) at Montana State University received a planning grant from the Montana Governor’s Office of Community Service to explore how an AmeriCorps program can help meet Montana’s public health needs.

The initiative will take place in three primary phases; 

number 1

Crafting Program Direction
In this phase, we will set the program’s goals based on data from the Community Health Needs Assessment, Community Health Implementation Plans, and the State Service Plan. We’ll also gather feedback from stakeholders and hold focus groups with organizations already working on these goals. This will help us decide what results we want the program to achieve.
number 2

Building Program Management
The second phase of the AmeriCorps Planning initiative includes establishing program regulations such as term lengths, host site agreements, member recruitment plans, and program data management.  
number 3

Program Implementation
The final phase will focus on finalizing the program’s details and preparing for the official launch. 

Planning Progress

We are currently in the Crafting Program Direction phase. After analyzing data from the Community Health Needs Assessments, Community Health Implementation Plans, the Montana State Service Plan, and talking with our advisory committee, we have set the following program goals:

  • Strengthen mental health and substance use services
  • Improve chronic disease prevention and management
  • Address social factors that affect health, like housing, food security, and transportation

Next, we’ll work with community partners to finalize the program’s outcomes and objectives. This began with the AmeriCorps Discovery Call held on November 7th and continues with small group discussions through the middle of December.

 


Questions?

For more information about our AmeriCorps planning initiative or to find out
how your organization can get involved, please contact:

Angela Davis
angela.davis9@montana.edu
406-994-2984