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AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and
national service programs that connects more
than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive
service to meet our country’s critical needs
in education, public safety, health and the
environment. AmeriCorps is often referred to
as a “domestic peace corps.” Its members
serve with more than 2,000 non-profit
organizations, public agencies, and
faith-based and community organizations.
Since 1994, more than 400,000 men and women
have provided needed assistance to millions
of Americans across the nation through their
AmeriCorps service. ComCorps is funded by
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 their nation. If
you are interested in making a year long
commitment to delivering health services in
Athens county, please contact Nancy Schell
schelln@ohio.edu 740-593-2293. (www.americorps.org).
ComCorps, which
currently has 20 members, is an AmeriCorps
program that is administered by the Ohio
University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Community Health Programs. The goal of
ComCorps is to provide health education,
access to health-care and health screenings
for children and families in Athens County.
Locally, many of the support systems needed
to insure adequate health services for
families are lacking. ComCorps volunteers
are active in many different areas of the
community. Collectively, some of the
important health education topics that the
volunteers are responsible for are dental
health, poison prevention, germs, testicular
cancer, flood and fire safety, tobacco
prevention, and breast and cervical health.
Members are also responsible for health
screenings for lice, vision, hearing, gross
motor skills and immunizations.
Additionally, they provide access to
health-care by supporting partner site
social service programs and administering
gas vouchers, providing transportation to
medical and dental appointments, and
providing home visits for families who need
case management.
ComCorps
members are involved in a countless number
of events. Some of the main events that
members attend and/or facilitate as a group
are blood drives, NAMI Walk the Walk, flu
clinics, Red Ribbon Week events, Make a
Difference Day events, MLK Day events, Go
Red Day events, Good Works Walk for the
Homeless, Kidfest, Habitat for Humanity
builds, and the Bike Rodeo. ComCorps is a
crucial service to the community because
many of the health services, health
education, and access to health-care would
not be possible without our program. Without
the ComCorps program it would be even more
difficult for many Athens County residents
to find adequate health services.
ComCorps
partner sites are variable but currently
they include OU-COM – CHP, Good Works, NAMI,
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Athens County
Department of Jobs and Family Services,
Athens County Children Services, Athens City
County Health Department, WIC, Hocking
Valley Community Residential Center, Trimble
Schools, Federal Hocking Schools, Athens
City Schools, Alexander Schools, and
Nelsonville-York schools and MRDD Beacon and
ATCO. |
