Chicago Health Corps, AmeriCorps Program

A primary goal of the CHC is to improve access to high-quality, comprehensive primary healthcare for communities that face barriers to basic health services. CHC Members are placed in community partner sites throughout the city, including community health centers, Chicago public schools (K thru 12), community-based minority health promoter organizations, and health associations - all of which serve chronically underserved minority communities (primarily African-American, Latino-American, and immigrant populations). Identified health priorities are: improving access to quality care (supporting community based health clinics, facilitating access to as well as continuity of care), community health education (asthma, smoking cessation, and healthy sexual behaviors), self care strategies for youth (including health literacy programs, self-management of asthma, and safe sex decision making) and disease prevention (STD/HIV/AIDS education, nutrition education, developing educational materials, and outreach & promotion efforts).