This fall HEP will welcome an AmeriCorps*Direct member from Notre Dame AmeriCorps to join our team.  The member will serve for 11 months as HEP’s Youth Outreach & Prevention Education Officer and will work on raising awareness about hepatitis amongst youth in and out of school. 

What is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is the national service program that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service in the five priority areas of education, public safety, environment, homeland security, and other human needs. Sometimes referred to as “the domestic Peace Corps,” it is a vital part of the growing National Service movement that follows in the footsteps of pioneer service programs such as the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, Peace Corps, and VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). Americorps service gives it members the opportunity to impact change in underserved communities, gain valuable life experience, and take steps toward their own future goals.

HEP Position Description

HEP’s AmeriCorps member will focus on reaching youth in the Greater Seattle area with medically accurate and appropriate information about hepatitis, With the support of HEP’s site supervisor, the member will serve as HEP’s Youth Outreach Program Officer and will work with schools and youth-focused service organizations in and around Seattle to schedule and facilitate education sessions, offer free hepatitis C testing and link at-risk and positive youth with local resources and services.  Specific Member activities will include:

• Outreach and Advocacy: Conduct outreach in the community (i.e. schools, community centers and shelters); provide health education in one-on-one or group settings.
• Peer Leader Recruitment and Support: Work with partner organizations to identify peer leaders and to schedule training of trainers for these leaders; support peer leaders during peer-to-peer education sessions – be available to answer questions and to provide additional information.
• Teamwork: The member will be part of a team under Sound Youth VISTA and Notre Dame AmeriCorps and will participate in team activities on a regular basis.
• Training on health information and resources as needed for placement.

AmeriCorps*Direct Benefits:

The position will be full-time; during the 11 months of service the member must serve a minimum of 1,700 hours and will receive a stipend of $11,800 in addition to a $5,350 educational award upon completion of the term of service. Health benefits, child care and student loan deferments during service are also available to those who qualify.

Recruitment and application:

Applicants must be over 21 and have work experience or a college education. A high school diploma is required unless the applicant is enrolled in a GED program while serving and completes his or her GED by the end of the year of service.

The ideal candidate will be flexible, open-minded and interested in public health issues.  It will also be beneficial for him/her to be confident speaking and teaching groups of people and with mentoring at-risk youth in particular.  Experience with scheduling will also be helpful.  While having a car is not a requirement, it is required that the member have a current driver’s license for identification purposes.