Appalachian Public Health Innovation (APP-PHI) Corps (Multiple Vacancies)

Posting Details

Work experience or education that is NOT included on the application will NOT be considered when screening your application. Please include ALL work experience and education on the application to ensure that you receive the appropriate credit toward qualification for this position.

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Working Title
2025-2026 Appalachian Public Health Innovation (APP-PHI) Corps (Multiple Vacancies)


Location
Boone, NC or one of the following counties listed below


Position Number
N57695


Department
Public Health - 273700

Position Summary Information


Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum age of 18 years old or 17 years old with parental permission
• High School Degree/Bachelor's degree
• Strong interest in public health
• Valid driver's license
• Criminal background check
• Must be a United States of America citizen or legal permanent resident
• Flexibility to adapt to both site-based and remote working environments

License/Certification Required


A valid driver's license is required.

Essential Job Functions

Location: Boone, NC or one of the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey and other Western NC locations.

The Appalachian Public Health Innovation (APP-PHI) Corps program provides opportunities for people to make an intensive commitment to service. There are many opportunities for AmeriCorps service in North Carolina, and across the country throughout the year. These are great experiences for new and upcoming graduates to consider!

As an Appalachian Public Health Innovation (APP-PHI) Corps member, you can gain new skills and experiences and you'll also find tremendous satisfaction that comes from helping others. In addition, members who complete their service earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award as outlined here , to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans; members who serve part-time receive a partial Award. Some AmeriCorps members may also receive a living allowance during their term of service.

PHA at AppState Mission: To foster meaningful relationships, develop public health professionals and bolster community resilience and preparedness in western North Carolina by addressing local public health disparities through service, volunteerism, and evidence-based interventions.

Our Purpose: To support public health preparedness in the Appalachian Region in Western NC.

Our Goals: To recruit, train, and develop new generations of public health leaders ready to respond to public health needs through public health service and capacity building in North Carolina's rural Appalachian communities. Help meet public health needs of the North Carolina rural Appalachian communities by providing needed capacity and support to local public health preparedness settings in collaboration with state and regional partners, to advance health outcomes for communities who are currently and historically underserved. Provide pathways to good quality public health-related careers by providing exposure through onsite experience, training, and more, with a focus on recruiting AmeriCorps members who reflect the communities in which they will serve.

Appalachian State University's Mission

Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as engaged global citizens who understand their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. Our location in the distinctive Appalachian mountain town of Boone, North Carolina, profoundly shapes who we are. As a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, we fulfill our core academic missions of teaching, scholarship, and service in ways that honor our geography and heritage. We bring people together in inspiring ways.

The transformational Appalachian experience develops individuals who are eager to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, to embrace difference, and to become contributing members of society.

We create rich environments where students can thrive. Our students are educated broadly and are simultaneously equipped with strong disciplinary knowledge. Academic learning occurs in a wide range of undergraduate, selected masters and intermediate programs, and the doctorate in Education offered on campus, at off campus sites, and online.

Faculty and students engage in research and scholarship that advance knowledge and address the problems of our region, state, and world through creativity and innovation. Learning takes place within formal and informal instructional settings with dedicated faculty members, in co-curricular programs that enrich classroom experience, in interdisciplinary educational formats, and through outreach to the local community and beyond. Appalachian cultivates vibrant arts that enrich the cultural and intellectual climate of the campus and region.

Our students think critically, communicate effectively, make local to global connections, and understand the responsibilities of community engagement. We embrace our obligation to help create healthy, just, and sustainable societies by equipping our students to live with knowledge, compassion, dedication, humility, and dignity.

Program Description

As an Appalachian Public Health Innovation (APP-PHI) Corps Member at Appalachian State University, you will be part of a dedicated team focused on enhancing public health and community resilience in Western North Carolina. Our mission is to develop public health professionals, foster meaningful relationships, and bolster community preparedness by addressing local public health disparities through service, volunteerism, and evidence-based interventions.

Our Purpose:

• We aim to support public health preparedness in the Appalachian Region of Western North Carolina.

Our Goals:

• Develop Future Public Health Leaders: We recruit, train, and develop new generations of public health leaders equipped to respond to public health needs in North Carolina's rural Appalachian communities. This involves capacity building and service in collaboration with state and regional partners to achieve better health outcomes for underserved communities.
• Enhance Community Capacity and Support: By providing essential capacity and support to local public health preparedness settings, we help meet the public health needs of North Carolina's rural Appalachian communities.
• Create Pathways to Public Health Careers: We offer exposure to high-quality public health-related careers through onsite experience and training. This includes psychological first aid training, with a particular focus on recruiting AmeriCorps members who reflect the communities they serve.

As part of the PHA initiative, a partnership between the CDC and AmeriCorps funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, we contribute to building a strong workforce ready to meet the nation's public health needs.

Formerly called the Public Health AmeriCorps, this project launched in 2022, Appalachian Public Health Innovation (APP-PHI) Corps addresses public health needs across 25 Western North Carolina counties. Our goals include career pathways and training and providing public health support. We provide pathways to quality public health careers through on-site experience and comprehensive training programs, including psychological first aid. Providing Public Health Support: We deliver Psychological First Aid and other necessary public health support to local organizations, such as health departments, long-term care facilities, and hospitals. A core aspect of our work is engaging with community members to build resilience and trust. By connecting with the community, we identify their needs and provide the support they require, fostering stronger, healthier communities in Western North Carolina.

Benefits:

• Living Stipend Available based on Member Type
• Education Award
• Child care benefits for those who are eligible
• Travel reimbursement specifically related to program activities (additional details in the PHA Handbook)
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Member Assistance Program, which includes:
  • 24/7 unlimited telephonic counseling services
    • Text/Chat Counseling & Coaching
    • Video Counseling & Coaching
  • Up to six face-to-face counseling sessions
  • Medical Advocacy
  • Life Coaching
  • Personal Concierge for Everyday Needs
  • Work/Life Resources & Referrals
  • Legal and Financial Assistance (30-minute free consultations)

• AmeriCorps partners with more than 300 colleges and universities to offer benefits to AmeriCorps alumni. Five of these schools- Washington University , Emory University , University of Pittsburgh , Case Western Reserve University , and Thomas Jefferson University -offer AmeriCorps scholarships specifically for public health-related programs!
• Graduate School Application Waiver (While funding lasts!)
• Student Loan Forbearance

What Can This Do For You?

• Provide a gateway to the public health profession
• Continuous education and training
• Practice based experience in rural health
• Public health preparedness leadership
• Community health experience

Recruitment:

• Appalachian State University aims to recruit and engage with underrepresented populations in the Appalachian region.
• The following position is available:
  • Public Health AmeriCorps (PHA) Member
    • Required Responsibilities:
      • Ensure a rich learning and service experience by showing up and participating
      • Participate in training sessions and service activities.
      • Contribute to team projects and individual initiatives.
      • Engage in vocational training and professional development opportunities.
    • Qualifications:
      • Interest in public health, community service, or emergency response.
      • Willingness to learn, collaborate, and contribute to program goals.

Additional Opportunities for Leadership:

• Lead program pillars.
• Implement Interventions.
• Train community members.
• Collaborate and communicate internally and externally.
• Coordinate fellow-specific activities and communication. Specifically helping support fellow track their member progression chart.
• Help connect fellows to the larger project and disseminate good communication practices.
• Represent the fellows' interests and feedback to the leadership team.
• Support fellows in their training, service, and projects.

Example Pillar Categories:

Implementation & Community Engagement:

• Disseminate and implement Psychological First Aid (PFA) training.
• Promote PFA training and ensure its accessibility.
• Engage with community partners in all 25 counties in Western NC.

Communication & Creative:

• Manage digital communications.
• Develop professional development materials and presentations.
• Foster communication between pillars, stakeholders, and the community.

Evaluation:

• Guide evaluation of PFA implementation and overall project progress.
• Collect and analyze data for reporting and improvement.
• Create infographics and reports to communicate outcomes.

Team Engagement and Professional Development:

• Foster communication and collaboration among team members.
• Organize social programming and professional development events.
• Assist in training development and coordination.

Immediate Supervisor & Contact Information: Jennifer Schroeder Tyson, View email address on click.appcast.io

Service Position Summary Essential Functions of Position (all basic duties that must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations)

Commitment Required

• Members will complete various hours of service over the course of 11 months based on the start and end date of October 1st, 2025 - August 31, 2026.
• Member hours commitments are dependent upon the position
• Members will be expected to work a schedule that is agreed upon between both the program director and the member. Some weekend and evening service could be required

The member will complete a minimum of hours of service during the term of service indicated in this position description:

• Reduced Full-Time Members must serve 1200 hours during a period of 11 months (110 hrs/month).
• Half Time Members must serve at least 900 hours during a period of 11 months (82 hrs/month).
• Reduced Half-Time Members must serve at least 675 hours during a period of 11 months (62 hrs/month).
• Quarter-Time Members must serve at least 450 hours during a period of 11 months (41 hours/month).
• Minimum Time Members must serve at least 300 hours during a period of 11 months (28 hrs/month).

Necessary criminal history background checks Members must agree to conduct - National Sex Offender check, State criminal check, and FBI check and notification that selection for service in the AmeriCorps program is contingent upon the organization's review of the NSCHC component results

Reasonable accommodations can be made for interviews and service. Please make these requests in writing to View email address on click.appcast.io .

Preferred Qualifications
• Demonstrated ability to work independently of direct supervision
• Demonstrated ability to plan work efforts to achieve and document project goals
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in an educational environment
• Excellent communications, organizational and problem solving skills
• Attention to detail and excellent quantitative and record-keeping skills
• Flexibility, creativity, independence, accountability, and reliability
• Proficiency with Excel, MS Word, and relational databases
• Educational outreach to communities from different backgrounds
• Public health work

Work Schedule/Hours


Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Number of Hours Per Week
Varies


Number of Months Per Year
11


Mandatory Staff
No


Physical Demands of Position


Members may need to drive, present information, or move resources as needed. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Hiring Range
Please see description above for member benefits

Pay will be commensurate with applicant competencies, budget, equity and market considerations.


Posting Details Information


Posting Date
10/01/2025


Closing Date
08/31/2026


Open Until Filled
No


Applicant Pool Preference
External (Post on the Web)


Special Instructions to Applicants

Submit the following materials through AppState's HR Portal:

• Cover Letter (Please indicate which member commitment you are applying for. Please indicate which specialist role you would like to fill and why you would flourish in that role.
• Resume/CV
• One (1) Letter of Recommendation
• A list of 3 Professional References with Contact Information Included

Quick Link




Posting Number
201501005P