The National Health Corps (NHC) has 94 members serving at sites in Chicago, North Florida, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Central California, and San Francisco. NHC members serve at over 60 host sites including community health centers, county health departments, schools and community-based public health organization. National Health Corps Chicago (NHC Chicago) began in 1994 with the mission to improve access to health services and address health disparities in underserved communities. National Health Corps Chicago (NHC Chicago) is administered by the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago (PHIMC), a not-for-profit organization that works in collaboration with local public health agencies and non-governmental organizations dedicated to building effective public health capacity to enhance the health of communities in the greater Chicago Metropolitan area. Since 1994, PHIMC has served as a source for dynamic support to solve public health challenges. National Health Corps Chicago (NHC Chicago) members commit to 1700 hours of service over a 46 week term of service. Each member is placed within a local health-related organization and fulfills the majority of their service at their site through activities such as conducing health outreach, teaching health education classes and linking clients to health services. Members are required to attend bi-monthly member meetings that provide training and group service opportunities to learn about various health and social issues related to Chicago’s diverse populations. Members are also encouraged to provide individual and group outside service to local organizations to increase involvement in communities and explore areas of interest related to health, education and social service. OUR IMPACT:
In 2010-2011 National Health Corps members served over 39,000 community residents:
*4,099 patients were enrolled in FREE MEDICATION PROGRAMS which saved individuals and health centers $3.2 million
*537 patients were enrolled in HEALTH INSURANCE
*To combat CHILDHOOD OBESITY, NHC members taught 904 nutrition and fitness workshops to 5,334 children and conducted BMI screenings on 1,443 youth
*1,135 school-aged children participated in asthma management classes, learning about the factors that trigger asthma, how to avoid those triggers and how to manage their asthma
*Members taught 1,169 children about ORAL HEALTH and helped 1,516 children receive DENTAL SEALANTS and basic DENTAL SERVICES
*1,799 NON-MEMBER VOLUNTEERS(NMVs) were recruited, trained, and oriented by NHC members. These NMVs provided a total of 12,396 volunteer hours to community-based organizations
*84% of NHC members stated that they plan to pursue careers or education in a HEALTH RELATED FIELD after serving as AmeriCorps members.
