In our first year, the Dekalb County Board of Health and AmeriCorps had quite an impact on the community and provided valuable leadership and public health experience to our five volunteers. For 2023-24 we have greatly expanded the program and are seeking 30 volunteers. We are seeking college graduates with have an interest in public health careers. AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. If you are interested in changing lives, including your own, send us your resume by applying for a position here.

“I had just graduated from undergrad and it was really hard to find a job out of that. I was looking for about six months until I found this position and thought it was a perfect segue into my career.”

“It was right up my alley of what I wanted to strengthen my skills in. I thought it was a long shot because I didn’t have a lot of work experience, but I took a chance and luckily it worked out.”

“I had just graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health. I had a lot of book knowledge that I was eager to apply to real life. I just wanted to gain experience. It has provided a lot of experience of the good and the bad in public health. Even in the bad, you grow a lot. “What are we doing wrong and how can this be adjusted?” And then to be a part of the adjustment, super cool.”

“I am on the Chronic Disease Prevention team as part of the Health and Assessment program… Half of my work is being out in the community, providing health screenings, education, and referrals if need be. The other half of my job is, when there’s a request from the community or an organization, I receive that request and I have to be the liaison between the community and the Board Of Health. Every week will look different.”

“I came in as the data analyst on the Maternal Child Health program. I was helping convert the database we use on my time to a new database. I’ve also done other things that aren’t related to data analysis... I got to learn a lot more about Maternal Child Health than I thought I would. It was nice to see the people I got to help throughout the program.”

“I’m involved in the Tuberculosis Outreach Team [as part of the Infectious Diseases and Refugee Health program]. I’m a case manager. I manage clients who have active or latent tuberculosis, and I assist them through their treatment.”

“The program has increased my understanding about how prepared I need to be [to achieve my goals]. I think I am better prepared to do what I want to do in the future.”

“I’m almost 40 years old. I was a stay-at-home wife and homeschooling mom for almost 15 years. AmeriCorps allowed me to have the same opportunity as someone who is 21 and has just graduated. I appreciate that so much. It has opened many doors because I’m a hard worker. I have options leaving AmeriCorps. Verses starting off with a [blank] resume. It provided a lot of opportunities that would have been a lot harder to get outside of this.”

“I was able to build with Americorps. The people I work with, they’re interested to learn and help. You get like-minded people to speak with and learn from.”

“AmeriCorps brought me close to the career I wanted. What I wanted to do was just in the next room over and I could learn from the people doing what I wanted to do.”

“While completing my internship, I interviewed and received a position from the Board of Health.”

“Be open-minded. What it says on paper might not be all of what you’re doing. If you’re open to doing a lot of different things then this may be for you."

“If there’s a need, you do more. And that more is extremely beneficial.”

“Be dedicated. Want to learn. Have Goals.”

“You have to do the job. After that, it’s up to you. It’s up to you to take the next step, if that’s what you want to do.”