By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
More than 325 new and returning AmeriCorps members were recently sworn in and have committed themselves to a year of service with one of the 20 different AmeriCorps groups across Kentucky.
AmeriCorps is a national service program administered by the bipartisan, governor-appointed group Serve Kentucky, formerly the Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service. Serve Kentucky is part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the federal Corporation for National and Community Service.
In all, Kentucky has about 900 AmeriCorps members in 105 of the state's 120 counties. The program is funded by nearly $6.7 million in federal grants and varying local matches.
The 20 Kentucky programs are dedicated to efforts such as providing drug-resistance education, teaching and tutoring children, combating homelessness, empowering victims of domestic violence, promoting post-secondary education opportunities, offering financial-literacy resources and assisting low-income elderly.
Health experts often refer to these unmet social needs as "social determinants of health," and it's been proven that they often have more to do with a person's or a community's health than health care itself.
For example, many of the Kentucky AmeriCorps programs focus on education, which is known to improve a person's social and economic opportunities, factors that ultimately impact health.
"Poverty limits access to healthy foods and safe neighborhoods, and more education is a predictor of better health," says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State Health Commissioner and AmeriCorps alumnus Dr. Jeffrey Howard told the members at the kickoff event about the impact service had had on his life and career.
“AmeriCorps gave me the opportunity for experiences and relationships that helped shape my path toward public health services and administration,” Howard said. “Through their service, AmeriCorps members can clearly see the needs of a community and get the chance to fill those needs. Being a part of the Kentucky Department for Public Health is the next step in my service, and I’m so glad AmeriCorps taught me -- as members of this year’s pledge class will learn -- that a commitment to serve can come in many forms.”
Since 1994, more than 12,000 Kentuckians have served approximately 19 million hours and nationally, more than one million men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.4 billion service hours, a news release said.
Serve Kentucky Executive Director Joe Bringardner said, "AmeriCorps members do more than just fulfill a service assignment; they make communities stronger and better prepared for the future.”
Kentucky Health News
More than 325 new and returning AmeriCorps members were recently sworn in and have committed themselves to a year of service with one of the 20 different AmeriCorps groups across Kentucky.
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| More than 325 AmeriCorps members were sworn into service Sept. 25 at the Capitol. (Commonwealth of Kentucky photo) |
In all, Kentucky has about 900 AmeriCorps members in 105 of the state's 120 counties. The program is funded by nearly $6.7 million in federal grants and varying local matches.
The 20 Kentucky programs are dedicated to efforts such as providing drug-resistance education, teaching and tutoring children, combating homelessness, empowering victims of domestic violence, promoting post-secondary education opportunities, offering financial-literacy resources and assisting low-income elderly.
Health experts often refer to these unmet social needs as "social determinants of health," and it's been proven that they often have more to do with a person's or a community's health than health care itself.
For example, many of the Kentucky AmeriCorps programs focus on education, which is known to improve a person's social and economic opportunities, factors that ultimately impact health.
"Poverty limits access to healthy foods and safe neighborhoods, and more education is a predictor of better health," says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
State Health Commissioner and AmeriCorps alumnus Dr. Jeffrey Howard told the members at the kickoff event about the impact service had had on his life and career.
“AmeriCorps gave me the opportunity for experiences and relationships that helped shape my path toward public health services and administration,” Howard said. “Through their service, AmeriCorps members can clearly see the needs of a community and get the chance to fill those needs. Being a part of the Kentucky Department for Public Health is the next step in my service, and I’m so glad AmeriCorps taught me -- as members of this year’s pledge class will learn -- that a commitment to serve can come in many forms.”
Since 1994, more than 12,000 Kentuckians have served approximately 19 million hours and nationally, more than one million men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.4 billion service hours, a news release said.
Serve Kentucky Executive Director Joe Bringardner said, "AmeriCorps members do more than just fulfill a service assignment; they make communities stronger and better prepared for the future.”
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