AmeriCorps: Integrating Health and Social Care at RUSH
Since 2019, each year three or more AmeriCorps service members have served patients, families, and the community at RUSH University Medical Center, in partnership with the University of Chicago’s C4P AmeriCorps program.
We have closed the application for the 2024-2025 year.
What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps is a national service program that involves people in “getting things done” in communities. AmeriCorps members develop an ethic of service while strengthening local communities. Each year in Illinois, thousands of AmeriCorps members give millions of dollars in service back to their communities. For up-to-date information on the impact on our state, visit AmeriCorps.gov.
Serve Illinois administers 45 AmeriCorps State programs in operation for the 2023-2024 program year and over 1,800 Members committing to a year of service. These Members serve 70+ counties in over 400 host sites.
Why Rush, and what is C4P?
RUSH University Medical Center is a large integrated academic medical center that serves patients and community members on the west side of Chicago. RUSH has several care management and community engagement initiatives seek to provide whole-person health care to RUSH patients, families, and community members, including a social determinant of health initiative that screens individuals for unmet social and economic needs, and provides follow-up resources and care management.
RUSH is proud to partner with The Comprehensive Care, Community and Culture Program (C4P) at the University of Chicago, which hosts up to 13 full time AmeriCorps members across all of its participating service sites in 2023-2024. RUSH is a satellite host site under this program, hosting three or more full time service members each year. The RUSH members will participate in RUSH initiatives that are aligned with but have distinct protocol from the University of Chicago’s C4P program. This page is specifically about the opportunity to serve in the C4P AmeriCorps at RUSH; to learn about C4P’s other AmeriCorps opportunities, please visit their website here.
Where will I serve and what will I do as an AmeriCorps member?
We are currently accepting applications to serve at RUSH University Medical Center’s Chicago campus on the near west side of Chicago. Members will serve approximately 9am-5pm M-F, with two or more days per week working in-person on RUSH’s campus. Members may occasionally travel to the University of Chicago for training activities, although no car is required for this position.
AmeriCorps members will be responsible for extending the reach of RUSH’s program to impact patient experience with care and health outcomes, lower hospitalization rates, and resolve unmet social needs for participants. The roles will provide AmeriCorps members with diverse learning experiences: program implementation, direct work with clients, working as part of interprofessional care team, and program evaluation.
The RUSH AmeriCorps members will assist with several tasks related to identifying and supporting patients’ basic and psychosocial needs:
Conduct social determinant of health screenings and resource connection as part of proactive outreach calls and other initiatives integrated into RUSH, the surrounding communities, and population health initiatives
Utilize electronic health record (EPIC) and a social service referral platform (NowPow) to track screening responses and initiate navigation of resources in collaboration with interprofessional health care teams
Provide ad hoc support for community initiatives and health promotion workshops put on by Rush Generations
Attend professional development opportunities within RUSH
What are the program requirements?
To be eligible to serve as an AmeriCorps member, you must:
Be 18 years or older; we encourage older adults too!
Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
Be able to attend the full first two weeks after start date (with two in-person days per week and 3 at-home days per week).
Some college experience is preferred, although individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent are welcome to apply
We strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds
As a member, you will:
Complete at least 1700 hours of service (42.5 hours per week, inclusive of lunch break) over 10-11 months, at least two days in-person per week at RUSH University Medical Center (1620 W. Harrison St., Chicago IL 60612)
Participate in professional development opportunities
Receive regular supervision from a field supervisor
Participate in at least two of the following AmeriCorps national days of service: 9/11, Veteran’s Day, MLK Jr. Day, and AmeriCorps Week.
Help plan and participate in 3-4 volunteer days with West Side community organizations with our smaller RUSH AmeriCorps team.
Attend an AmeriCorps Service Recognition Day (in Springfield or virtual)
What are the benefits of being a member?
Full-time members beginning their service fall 2024 or later will receive:
A living allowance of $22,700 over the course of your year of service. Pay is disbursed biweekly.
A Segal Education grant in the amount of $7,395 that can be applied to student tuition or loans within seven years of completing your year of service. If you are older than 55 at the time of service, you can give the education grant to a child or grandchild.
An opportunity to enroll in a health insurance plan
Child care benefits for qualifying individuals
Eligible to apply for loan forbearance, or a postponement of repayment for qualified federally-backed student loans
Professional and career development opportunities
The opportunity to attend workshops, seminars, and trainings at RUSH and at the University of Chicago
Gain experience and knowledge of the research process, the health care system, and social services
Join us
We have closed the application for the 2024-2025 year.
Contact us with any questions:
Emily Levi-D'Ancona, MPH
Program Coordinator, CHaSCI
Department of Social Work and Community Health
RUSH University Medical Center
E: Emily_Levi-DAncona@rush.edu | T: 312-563-1110
