Oregon Medicaid Community Engagement VISTA

What is AmeriCorps VISTA?

AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 50 years.

About the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) AmeriCorps VISTA Public Health Partnership Project:

The Oregon Health Authority AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project aims to alleviate, prevent, and reduce poverty by engaging public health professionals in a year of full-time service in major public health organizations to create or expand public health systems capacity. We reduce poverty by building sustainable public health programs and systems that ensure health equity, community resiliency and improved health outcomes.

OHA AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time, forty hours per week in a capacity building role in statewide organizations, local public health departments, Tribal governments, or non-profits across the state of Oregon. Work is done in an indirect service and capacity building role in a professional office setting and there are many opportunities for training and professional development. AmeriCorps members at OHA focus their efforts on building the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of organizations that improve public health services.

This position joins Oregon Health Authority’s statewide AmeriCorps VISTA team. In addition to activities at your individual site, members receive additional orientation, training throughout the year, team meetings, and the support of the team leaders and project director based at the state public health agency. Professional development opportunities include conferences, training about social determinants of health, equity, cross-sector partnership, and mentorship. For more information about the Oregon Health Authority AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project, visit: http://healthoregon.org/vista.

Selections are made on a rolling basis and early applications are strongly encouraged. The last day to submit an application is June 12, 2024.

About this position:

The Medicaid Policy Unit within Oregon Health Authority (OHA) serves approximately 1.4 million Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members benefitting from Oregon's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program. OHP members are from all walks of life including working families, children, pregnant adults, single adults, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. Each day at OHA, you will work to enhance the OHP member experience alongside dedicated and thoughtful colleagues with the common goal of eliminating health inequities by 2030. 

AmeriCorps VISTA members serve through indirect service.

This position will include a hybrid of remote and in-person work.

In this role, the AmeriCorps VISTA will:

The member will work in the Oregon Health Authority’s Medicaid Policy unit to collaborate with subject matter experts, research local & national best practices, and learn from community voices to develop an outreach & engagement framework for Oregon Medicaid members.

You will document current community engagement initiatives, develop proposals for evidence-based community engagement efforts, create training materials to convey findings & make recommendations to OHA staff and leadership.

This work will be completed through an intersectional health equity lens and will center Oregon Health Plan members.

Desired skills:

• Experience with Medicaid as member, advocate, etc.
• Experience collaborating with community on engagement initiatives. Experience developing plain language communications.
• Experience conducting key informant interviews.

Program Benefits: Childcare assistance if eligible, Training, Health Coverage*,  Stipend, Relocation Allowance, Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend.  *For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/vista/benefits. 

Terms: Permits attendance at school during off hours, Permits working at another job during off hours.

Service Areas: Education, Community Outreach, Public Health AmeriCorps, Community and Economic Development, Health. 

Skills: Teamwork, General Skills, Communications, Public Health, Community Organization, Social Services. 

About Portland Oregon:

Portland is Oregon’s cultural center. It is dense with independent movie theaters and art galleries. The exceptional public transit system makes it easy to get around the city without a car, whether you’re visiting a food cart pod or a public park.

With the innovative and equity driven work happening in Oregon, Portland is a wonderful place to explore a future in public health.