Here you will find information about joining AmeriCorps VISTA or AmeriCorps State as a host site (Boston Medical Center partner program).
Why Become a Host Site?
Hosting Overview and Requirements
AmeriCorps VISTA
Scope of Work
AmeriCorps VISTA servicemembers are primarily focused on indirect service work to strengthen and evaluate internal systems for anti-poverty initiatives. This is often referred to as “capacity building,” which is administrative in nature. Therefore, members are expected to have limited interactions with patients, unless minimal direct service is necessary for a servicemember to gain a broader understanding of their service-year project or carry out the objectives of the project. Possible projects for VISTA members may include (but are not limited to):
- Building sustainable relationships with community organizations and partners
- Evaluating clinical systems and implementing interventions to improve long-term efficiency
- Fundraising or grantwriting
- Recruiting community volunteers
- Writing and researching curricula for classes offered to patients
Hosting Program Commitment
- Participate in the servicemember placement process: conduct second- and/or third-round interviews with applicants, and select a final candidate
- Create an orientation plan for hosted servicemember during their first months in service
- Supervise a full-time VISTA servicemember, including at least biweekly meetings with them
- Attend a bimonthly (financials) meeting with the BMC AmeriCorps Intermediary Program Coordinator
- Review quarterly newsletters and attend quarterly intermediary meetings
- Attend the annual intermediary conference
- Complete annual, semiannual, and supplemental reports
AmeriCorps State
Scope of Work
AmeriCorps State servicemembers are primarily focused on direct service work to produce immediate outcomes for the community. At Boston Medical Center, AmeriCorps State servicemembers are embedded in various clinics to conduct needs assessments with patients and offer assistance with applying for various social programs such as PT-1, WIC, the StreetCred economic bundle, and other resources.
Member activities have two main objectives:
- Conduct needs assessments with patients
- Based on the results of those assessments, help patients to apply or register for government and community support programs that address their social determinants of health
Hosting Program Commitment
- Cost — host sites must pay 24 percent of the total grant (the cost for individual programs will depend on how many members you request)
- Participate in the servicemember placement process: conduct second- and/or third-round interviews with applicants, and select a final candidate
- Facilitate weekly case-study meetings with AmeriCorps States servicemembers
- Extend professional development opportunities to servicemembers
- Review quarterly newsletters and attend quarterly intermediary meetings
- Attend the annual intermediary conference
- Facilitate end-of-year focus groups
- Complete annual, semiannual, and supplemental reports
Apply to Become an AmeriCorps Host Site at BMC
Our grant runs on an annual renewal cycle and we are currently not accepting applications to join the Boston Medical Center AmeriCorps Intermediary Program.
If you are interested in joining for the next fiscal year, please complete the following brief form and the Program Coordinator will reach out to you shortly.