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AmeriCorps program
provides health care
assistance
OU-COM branch seeks
applicants for full-
and
part-time positions
By Richard Heck
May
18, 2009
Greta Black was
unsure of her plans
upon earning a
bachelor’s degree,
but she knew she
wanted to work in
the health care
field.
After nearly two
years serving as
member of the Ohio
University College
of Osteopathic
Medicine (OU-COM)
Community Health
Program’s ComCorps
program, she now is
looking at graduate
programs in health
care and at
opportunities to
become a physician
assistant.
“I was prone to
community service
opportunities and
health care, so this
was a good
opportunity,” Black
said. “It’s been all
really rewarding.
Whether working with
children or adults,
I enjoyed giving
them time and
attention.”
ComCorps is a branch
of AmeriCorps, out
of the Corporation
for National and
Community Service,
an independent
federal agency
created to connect
Americans of all
ages and backgrounds
with opportunities
to give back to
their communities
and the nation. The
goal of ComCorps,
according to
coordinator Nancy
Schell, is to
provide health
education, access to
health care and
health screenings in
Athens County.
Recruiting community
volunteers,
mentoring and
building ComCorps
member skills are
also important
components of the
program.
“Without the
ComCorps program, it
would be even more
difficult for Athens
County residents to
find adequate health
services,” Schell
said.
Black worked for
OU-COM’s Community
Health Programs,
helping to organize
blood drives,
assisting with
patient intakes for
the college’s mobile
health van and
various other free
clinics, and working
with the breast and
cervical cancer
screening program.
“I would definitely
recommend this to
anyone, especially
people in my age
group who can take
the time now to give
back to their
community,” Black
said.
Members also conduct
health screenings
for lice, vision,
hearing, gross motor
skills and
immunizations. They
provide access to
health care by
supporting partner
site social service
programs, providing
gas vouchers to
community members to
help them keep
medical
appointments,
conducting home
visits for families
needing case
management, and
connecting families
with health care
resources and
providers.
ComCorps members
work in a variety of
schools and agencies
in Athens County,
dealing with issues
such as dental
health, poison
prevention, tobacco
prevention, and
breast and cervical
health, Schell said.
Some members include
Athens, Alexander,
Trimble, Nelsonville
York and Federal
Hocking schools; the
Athens-based
homeless shelter
Good Works; the
Athens County Board
of Developmental
Disabilities-Beacon
School; ATCO; and
OU-COM’s Community
Health Programs.
The Office of
Community Health
Programs currently
is recruiting both
full-time and
part-time ComCorps
members for next
year, with service
starting on Aug. 10.
Those selected for
full-time service
receive a living
allowance of $11,400
and an education
award of $4,725.
Part-time members
receive an allowance
of $6,035 and an
education award of
$2,362.
Applicants must be
at least 17 years
old, have at least a
high school diploma
or GED and have
their own reliable,
insured
transportation.
“Never would I have
thought that this
opportunity to be an
AmeriCorps volunteer
would have made such
a difference in my
life,” said Emily
Eschmeyer, a
ComCorps member who
worked for OU-COM’s
Community Health
Programs. “It has
opened my eyes to
the people and the
culture of Athens,
Ohio, the place I
have called home for
the past five years.
It has further
developed my passion
to help others and
has opened my eyes
to new experiences
and opportunities.”
For further
information, or to
apply, contact
Schell at
740-593-2293 or
schelln@ohio.edu,
or visit the
ComCorps website at
www.oucom.ohiou.edu/csp.
Additional
information and
applications are
also available at
the AmeriCorps
website at
www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/ready/index.asp.
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