Open AmeriCorps Positions

Host Site: The Astor D. Rice Foundation, Inc.

One position available

Flexible schedule: 900 hours must be completed within one full year of service starting in Sept ’24 or later.

This Program Coordinator position provides essential support to the Astor D. Rice Foundation’s dedication to enhancing the lives of individuals and families and adding support into the communities where our underserved neighbors live, work and play.

This position requires a personal vehicle and a driver’s license. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in coordinating and organizing meetings, events, programs and workshops by managing invitations and materials
• Provide administrative support, including file management data entry and documentation
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and team members to develop and implement community outreach programs and initiatives.
• Assist in organizing, promoting and participating in community programs and events.
• Collect and analyze feedback from community members to inform program improvements for the future
• Complete intake paperwork in the home or community where participants live.
• Oversee the day to day operations of programs and projects
• Transport participants in the company provided vehicles.
• Engage with community stakeholders, partners and volunteers to broaden the organizations reach and impact

Host Site: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network

Two positions available

Flexible schedule: 1200 hours must be completed within one full year of service starting in Sept ’24 or later.
(Ex/ September 2024 – July 2025, 1200 hours, 30 hours/week) 

Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network’s Youth Services department is seeking two talented and inspiring individuals to join our team as Youth Education Specialists. Under the direction of the Youth Services Director, the YE Specialists will be involved with all aspects of the Youth Services department and will work alongside the educators to facilitate programs, create and/or edit program content, promote program information, and analyze data. Youth Services primarily works with middle and high school students in classroom settings, parents and caregivers, and local school districts to promote comprehensive sexuality education and life skills with the goal of providing young people with the information they need to protect their health and future.

This position requires a personal vehicle, driver’s license, and a four year college degree. 

PHA Position Details:

• Facilitate small group discussions in after-school or evening settings, or as part of in-school clubs and programs.
• Facilitate middle school classroom programs as needed with a focus on healthy relationships, nutrition, puberty and hygiene.
• Help to create and launch virtual parent education sessions.
• Work with the Youth Services team to update or create content and materials for presentations and social media.
• Assist with data collection and entry and some analysis.
• Attend community events, meetings, or webinars as needed.

Host Site: Food and Health Network of South Central New York

Two positions available

September 2024 – June 2025, 900 hours (24 hours/week)

Public Health AmeriCorps (PHA) Farm to School members are a part of the Food and Health Network’s regional Farm to School program that works collaboratively with 29 school districts in South Central New York. PHA Farm to School members will work as part of a team with the Farm to School Coordinator to develop, implement, grow, and evaluate programs to bring healthy, local food to students. Members will work with staff, students, parents, farms, and community partners to increase capacity for hands-on learning, local procurement, and creating a school-wide culture of health.

This position requires a personal vehicle. 

Program goals:

• Increase access to healthy, locally grown food through school meals including breakfast, lunch and snacks;
• Engage students in hands-on learning through growing, cooking, and tasting new foods in order to build their skills, food literacy, and healthy food preferences;
• Cultivate farm to school leadership among students, staff, and volunteers;
• Build capacity and sustainability through improved coordination, community outreach, parent involvement, and volunteer recruitment and management

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Develop and maintain relationships with Farm to School partners; including School Food Service, school staff, farmers, and community organizations; 
2. Create and deliver educational programs and special events including taste tests, after-school or summer clubs, community programs, and harvest celebrations;
3. Maintain a regular presence in school cafeterias to promote healthy options, local food, and NY Thursday menus;
4. Design outreach and publicity materials; 
5. Assist with promotion of local food, NY Thursday menus, and related farm to school content through social media, blog posts, newsletters, and video; 
6. Assist school staff, students, and volunteers with school garden maintenance and hands-on learning opportunities;
7. Support food access for students and families in the community through sharing resources, participating in community meetings, and assisting with food distribution as needed;
8. Attend regular trainings; 
9. Regularly record programming data for evaluation and reporting 
10. Serve as an independent member of the Farm to School team
11. Assist in resource development to support Farm to School activities to the extent permitted (10% of total time in service, no work on federal funding applications, etc. by the AmeriCorps National Service Program and with the specific guidance of the Rural Health Network).

Qualifications: 

• Experience gardening and/or farming, community organizing, studying food systems or sustainable agriculture, or working in public health
• Experience teaching or working with groups of kids (formal or non-formal) 
• Comfort working in a kitchen (home or commercial) desirable but not required 
• Commitment to public service
• Strong public speaking, writing, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Connection to and/or knowledge of the community you want to serve
• Understanding of our mission and scope

Host Site: Truth Pharm

Two positions available

Flexible schedule: 900 hours must be completed within one full year of service starting in Sept ’24 or later.
(Ex/ September 2024 – August 2025, 900 hours, 20 hours/week)

The Public Health AmeriCorps Community Overdose Prevention Specialist works on special projects that involve overdose reversal training and Narcan distribution in the community and at the Truth Pharm office.

This position requires a personal vehicle and a driver’s license. 

PHA Position Details:

Direct Service, Training, and Community Outreach:

• Attend tabling events (health and community events) to provide education, referrals and supplies
• Provide walk-in service response to community members to assist them with their immediate needs such as basic needs resourcing, drug testing supplies, treatment resources and overdose reversal supplies
• Distribute Narcan Kits and provide overdose reversal training

Program and Material Creation and Management:

• Assemble Narcan kits
• Prepare materials related to tabling, outreach, training, overdose prevention and Narcan Distribution
• Promote social media campaigns related to overdose prevention
• Assists with additional Truth Pharm projects and tasks related to overdose prevention.
• Grant writing assistance is limited to 10% of member’s time. No federal grants.
• Track data for reporting

Volunteer Management:

• Manage and organize community member volunteers to utilize their assistance for various overdose prevention strategies

Host Site: Faith in Action Volunteers (a Program of Broome County Council of Churches)

One position available

Flexible schedule: 675 hours must be completed within one full year of service starting in Sept ’24 or later.

Food insecurity and social isolation both have a large impact on the health of older adults due to lack of income and an increased risk of eating disorders caused by depression and anxiety. To help alleviate these issues, Faith in Action developed the program “Chop & Chat,” to encourage older adults to consider healthier eating habits and provide socialization. The program brings vegetarian recipes and fresh ingredients to senior centers for participants to chop up while engaging in conversation with one another. They then take the meal home to cook and enjoy. Each meal provides 3-4 servings, and most dishes can be frozen and saved for later. Chop & Chat provides healthy alternatives to pre-packaged food, the opportunity to make and maintain friendships, and presents new ways to enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables at no cost to the participant. With the rising cost of food, Chop & Chat helps offset some of that cost and eases the financial burden many seniors face. And, they enjoy the time they get to spend with their peers. Many participants that come regularly have commented that because of Chop & Chat, they are eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, are socializing more, and believe that it has a positive impact on their health.

PHA Position Details:

• Represent the Council and Faith and Action Volunteers in public, specifically at the local senior centers.
• Assist the program coordinator with the planning, preparation and execution of Chop & Chat sessions.
• Encourage conversation and engage with participants during Chop & Chat sessions.
• Research healthy recipes and nutrition information.
• Obtain data and statistics about the program by analyzing surveys, attendance, the cost of meals, and other record keeping tasks.

Host Site: Greater Good Grocery (a program of Broome County Council of Churches)

Two positions available

Flexible schedule: 900 hours must be completed within one full year of service starting in Sept ’24 or later.

The Greater Good Grocery Bus is a mobile market that sells fresh, healthy, and affordable food in different communities across Broome County. The Public Health AmeriCorps Greater Good Grocery Bus Community Coordinator is responsible for ensuring safe, timely, and efficient operations at each site as assigned by their daily route and schedule. Daily responsibilities include loading/unloading, restocking the bus, driving the van used for excess stock, providing exemplary customer service, handling money and other transactions with the point-of-sale system, and data collection.

The Greater Good Grocery Bus travels to different market sites across Broome County to provide healthy food access to both urban as well as rural communities. The Greater Good Grocery Bus operates all-year-round in rain or shine conditions with safety precautions. A successful candidate will have a servant leadership mentality, be able to thrive in a fast-paced environment and help meet the customers’ needs.

This position requires a driver’s license and the ability to lift 25 lbs. 

PHA Position Details:

• Stock and price products on bus.
• Provide customer service: proces transactions, bag groceries, assistcustomer with bags.
• Educate SNAP customers about the programs available to increase their access to affordable healthy foods.
• Provide local program information on how to access food or other services to customers who are struggling with food insecurity.
• Follow assigned schedule and drive the van to sites as needed.
• Responsible for recording all sales in the point-of-sale system.
• Assist in maintaining accurate records of each site i.e. people served, items sold, profits, etc.
• Keep Greater Good Grocery Bus clean and organized.
• Stock the Greater Good Grocery Bus at the beginning and end of each shift.
• Conduct regular inventories of products throughout the shift schedule and restocks items as needed.
• Represent The Council and AmeriCorps in a professional manner at all times when interfacing with customers, donors, volunteers and/or constituent providers.

Host Site: VINES

One position available

March 2025 – November 2025, 675 hours total, 20 hours/week

The Rural Health Service Corps (RHSC) Community Garden Assistant will assist with the development, maintenance, and expansion of community garden operations, which will include the initiation of the community composting program and systematic soil testing. Furthermore, they will help implement Green Thumb Educational Workshops. The member’s service will be key to advancing the goals of both VINES and the Rural Health Service Corps program of combating food insecurity by educating program participants on how to plant, care for, and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables in VINES’ network of approximately 20+ community gardens. The Community Garden Assistant will help build relationships with community gardeners and site coordinators to ensure that community members are receiving the information and materials they need to grow their own food and make changes in their health.

 This position requires a driver’s license.

PHA Position Details:

• Assist with logistics and distribution of supplies, tools and materials to and from VINES’ 20+ community garden sites.
• Assist with managing volunteers through garden improvement projects and maintenance on volunteer days.
• Assist with data collection and entry regarding community garden needs and impacts.
• Conduct outreach including but not limited to tabling, distributing flyers, and door to door outreach to engage community members in all of VINES’ programs;
• Engage and educate volunteers and supervise volunteer work with Farm Share, Green Thumb Workshops, Soil Testing, the Community Meal and other areas as needed;
• Assist in the coordination of Green Thumb workshop series which provides educational events for the public on the topics such as raised bed gardening, home composting, food preservation, and healthy cooking. This may include but isn’t limited to, identifying and communicating with instructors, being VINES’ representative at workshops, attending and assisting with instruction of workshops.
• Assist the Community Garden Manager with creating educational materials for community garden members;
• Assist in the collection of soil samples for both Community Gardens and Build-A-Garden (residential) program.
• Occasionally drive van for distribution of Farm Share vegetable boxes.
• Assist with running community meal on the 5th Tuesdays of the month (~3 times per year) at the United Presbyterian Church;
• Document, report on and evaluate programs/progress;
• Assist in resource development to support VINES activities to the extent permitted (10% of total time in service, no work on federal funding applications, etc. by the AmeriCorps National Service Program and with the specific guidance of the Rural Health Network).

Host Site: VINES

One position available

March 2025 – November 2025, 675 hours total, 20 hours/week

The Rural Health Service Corps (RHSC) Farm Share Program Assistant will assist the Farm Share Program Manager with the implementation of the Farm Share Program. This includes coordinating drop-off and pick-up times for shares from local farmers, distribution of shares to residents, and coordination of nutrition and cooking demonstrations at distribution sites. The Farm Share Program Assistant will also focus on the development and expansion of new and existing educational materials and work directly with members to understand how to identify, store, and prepare produce. The Farm Share Program Assistant will increase the number of individuals receiving support, services, education, and/or referrals to alleviate long-term hunger. The Farm Share Program Assistant will also focus on volunteer recruitment and retention

 This position requires a driver’s license.

PHA Position Details:

• Assist with planning and implementation for VINES Farm Share Program;
• Input data into Farm Share Database on customer payments and other information from weekly pickups;
• Utilize Farm Share Database to create reports and extract other data;
• Create educational materials including recipes and cooking and storage guides for VINES Farm Share members to further understand how to utilize their shares;
• Create weekly recipe samples, demonstrations and/or tastings for the VINES Farm Share members;
• Organize educational events for the public on topics such food storage, preservation, and healthful cooking;
• Ensure adequate membership in the program by conducting outreach efforts in target communities;
• Engage and educate volunteers and supervise volunteer work with the VINES Farm Share Program;
• Increase volunteer recruitment and retention;
• Actively promote the VINES Farm Share Program through the development of written and electronic products, brochures, press releases, reports, etc.
• Document, report on and evaluate programs/progress;
• Assist in resource development to support VINES activities to the extent permitted (10% of total time in service, no work on federal funding applications, etc. by the AmeriCorps National Service Program and with the specific guidance of the Rural Health Network).

Host Site: VINES

One position available

March 2025 – November 2025, 675 hours total, 20 hours/week

The Rural Health Service Corps (RHSC) Urban Farm Assistant will help the Urban Farm Manager to implement a successful growing season. This includes all aspects of agricultural production and the supervision of volunteers and youth employees in this endeavor. The member’s service will be key to advancing the goals of both VINES and the Rural Health Service Corps program of combating food insecurity by increasing convenient access to healthy foods, and educating program participants on the production of fresh foods. The Urban Farm and Youth Program Assistant will help with day-to-day farm tasks, and also help to increase the growing area under production at the Binghamton Urban Farm, developing new systems for efficiency of production, data management, volunteer tracking and retention, and attend farmer’s markets.

 This position requires a driver’s license.

PHA Position Details:

• Helping with all aspects of plant care, including seed starting, transplanting, watering, weeding, and harvest.
• Helping with other farm maintenance tasks including but not limited to, mowing, weed trimming, managing compost, setting up irrigation, mulching, and pruning.
• Helping the Farm Manager coordinate volunteer events and workdays including leading small groups of volunteers in farm tasks and leading tours of the Urban Farm.
• Helping the Farm Manager in managing, collecting, and inputting harvest, growing, and volunteer data.
• The Assistant will aid the Farm Manager in writing the weekly CSA newsletter, including taking photos and conducting youth and volunteer interviews.
• Helping with distribution of produce at farm stands and farmer’s markets.
• Assist the CGYPM and UFM with supervising youth employees participating in VINES’ Grow Binghamton summer youth employment program and developing educational lessons to teach youth about food production, nutrition, cooking, food insecurity, local food initiatives and the need for fresh, affordable food;
• Document, report on and evaluate programs/progress;
• Assist in resource development to support VINES activities to the extent permitted (10% of total time in service, no work on federal funding applications, etc. by the AmeriCorps National Service Program and with the specific guidance of the Rural Health Network).

Host Site: Rural Health Institute of New York

Two positions available 

Flexible schedule: 20-35 hours weekly, 900 or 1200 hours term of service, Starting September 2024 (flexible), Hybrid limited pre-approved teleservice (up to one day a week, or 6-7 total hours weekly). Term of service will run 9-12 months, depending on the amount of hours served per week.

The Rural Health Institute of New York (RHI) works to measurably improve public health through facilitation of targeted community driven initiatives. Based in Cortland, New York, we are a public health institute committed to helping rural communities across the state improve population-level health through use of data, collaboration, and communication.

RHI has expertise in three primary areas of expertise that contributes to our success: data and epidemiology, administrative and collaborative leadership, and design and health communications. These “core competencies” aren’t unrelated areas of expertise, but all feed into each other. We use data to drive our collaborative action planning and to inform our health communications campaigns with locally relevant information; we use our partnerships to identify key issues and disseminate evidence-based information to multiple audiences; we use our design and marketing skills to effectively share local data with relevant partners and help build data literacy. 

For almost a decade, RHI has been facilitating the Literacy Coalition of Cortland County. This group is composed of relevant community representatives from agencies who provide early childhood and educational services, as well as community members. The Project Assistant is responsible for the daily support of the RHI Literacy Project, which includes providing office support to the RHI literacy projects, including Books to Grow On, Hello Cortland and the Early Learning Moments Campaign. The Project Assistant will also support other RHI health education activities as needed. 

This position requires a personal vehicle, driver’s license, and a two year college degree.

PHA Position Details:

• Assist with the development and implementation of community literacy projects, including the Books to Grow On Program
• Assist with the development and implementation of education and awareness campaigns, including the Early Learning Moments Campaign
• Main and work to enhance the Hello Cortland website, a hub of resources for local parents of young children
• Facilitate communications within the Coalition and to the community
• Manage social media accounts related to literacy and other health education activities 
• Assist with community education activities
• Support research and/or data collection and other related activities tied to literacy
• Maintain and organize records of project and Coalition activities
• Support other related health education activities
• Facilitate communications with Coalition members (scheduling, etc.)
• Help draft and disseminate public facing communications materials, including blog posts, social media content, newsletters, reports, presentations, and other documents

Host Site: Tioga County Public Health Department

Flexible schedule: 1200 hours must be completed within one full year of service starting in Sept ’24 or later.
(Ex/ September 2024 – July 2025, 1200 hours, 30 hours/week)

This position requires a driver’s license.