About Us

Idaho HealthCorps

Contact

ihc@isu.edu
208-282-4436
Institute of Rural Health Pocatello Office
Idaho State University
921 S. 8th Ave. Mail Stop 8174
Pocatello, ID 83209-8174

Institute of Rural Health
Meridian Health Science Center
1311 E. Central Drive
Meridian, ID 83642

Diverse volunteers packing donation boxes with canned food in food bank

Home » About Us

Through the Idaho HealthCorps AmeriCorps program, Idaho State University’s Institute of Rural Health places members across the state to address the health needs of Idaho’s low-income children and families in rural underserved areas. AmeriCorps members will be responsible for providing health education and health screening activities, which will result in improved access to health care in Idaho. In addition, the AmeriCorps members will leverage additional community volunteers who will be engaged in assisting the AmeriCorps members at their placement sites. Many Idaho residents are from rural, low income and underserved areas and face significant health care challenges. Families from low-income backgrounds are often uninsured, may have language barriers, and often lack access to health care due to lack of transportation, income or limited health literacy. As a result, the Idaho HealthCorps AmeriCorps member service locations stretch across most areas of the state.

The Idaho HealthCorps AmeriCorps program has two groups of members: Health Navigators and Benny’s HealthCorps.

Health Navigators

The Idaho HealthCorps AmeriCorps program partners Health Navigators with non-profits across the state in paid volunteer positions. These positions offer community members the opportunity to receive support while volunteering with their favorite non-profit. Health Navigators assist the non-profit through direct service including but not limited to recruiting and managing volunteers, working directly with community members to help make a change, or doing work involved in making a direct change. These members are required to collect and submit data on behalf of Idaho HealthCorps while still following the policies and guidelines of their site. These positions come in three different contract types: Full Time (1,700 hours), Reduced Full Time (1,200 hours), and Part Time (900 hours) and offer a living allowance and a Segal education award*. If the site and member decide that the member should serve in a full-time capacity, the member is also offered health insurance. Only Full Time (1,700 hours) positions
offer childcare. Please contact Idaho HealthCorps staff for stipend and education award amounts as well as health insurance allowances. Health Navigator positions require cash and in-kind match. For information on cash and in-kind match requirements, please contact Idaho HealthCorps staff.

Benny’s HealthCorps

The Benny’s HealthCorps is for students and community members who wish to serve their community and earn an education award (scholarship). Benny’s HealthCorps AmeriCorps members are either health profession students or can be community members who wish to be placed with non-profits across Idaho. These members serve by supporting non-profits, help organize and attend community service events and assist or educate community members through their clinical rotations. Benny’s HealthCorps members who are placed with non-profits provide assistance through direct service including but not limited to recruiting and managing volunteers, working directly with community members to help make a change, or doing work involved in making a direct change. These positions come in two different contract types: Reduced Part Time (675 hours) and Part Time (450 hours) which offer a Segal education award*.

Benefits

Benefits Per Position Type	Full Time (1,700 hours)	Reduced Full Time (1,200 hours)	Part Time (900 hours)	Reduced Part Time (675 hours)	Quarter Time (450 hours)
Living Allowance	X	X	X
Health Insurance	X	X**	X**
Childcare Assistance	X
Member Assistance Program or MAP (mental health benefits)	X	X	X	X	X
Training Opportunities	X	X	X	X	X
Student Loan Forbearance	X	X	X	X	X
Interest Forgiveness	X	X	X	X	X
Segal Education Award	X	X	X	X	X

*The Segal education award is limited and use and applicants are highly encouraged to review its guidelines to be sure it fits applicant’s needs.
**Offered to Health Navigators serving in a full-time capacity (30+ hours per week).
AmeriCorps members food stamp benefits and public housing benefits are not affected by the AmeriCorps living allowance. For information regarding other public assistance programs please contact Idaho HealthCorps staff.
AmeriCorps members are not entitled to unemployment benefits.

Staff

Jana Bodily-Roan

Project Director

Kayla Fielder

Project Coordinator

Laurie Benchley

Project Coordinator

Nohely Reyes

Technical Records Specialist

Annie Mendoza

Administrative Assistant

Dallin Forsgren

Financial Technician

Student Interns

Dakota Deanda

Abbigail Davis

Abbie Vaughan

Katie Forsgren

Nicole Ortega

Ethan Williams

Start Your Journey Today

Are you interested in gaining real-world experience in your chosen field, training opportunities, interest forgiveness, and making lifelong friendships all while earning an education award? The Idaho HealthCorps program is the right place for you! We offer five different contracted positions that allow members to serve their community while earning an education award and sometimes a living allowance. Check out the Bengal Service Corps and Health Navigators tab for more information!

Learn More