Since 2005, the Coalition has been able to expand and create new initiatives through a partnership with the North Florida Health Corps AmeriCorps program. NFHC AmeriCorps members serve 46 weeks in health care or public health settings throughout the First Coast, fulfilling unmet health care needs and decreasing disparities.

Current & Past AmeriCorps Member Projects

Make a Noise! Make a Difference! Intervention

Implementation in zip codes 32211 and 32210. The intervention trains community members to be Lay Health Advocates who are challenged to share what they’ve learned about infant mortality and how to prevent it with friends, family and other community residents.

Healthy Start Outreach

Expansion of provider outreach, ensuring doctors’ offices and hospitals in the five-county area are screening pregnant women and infants and appropriately referring high-risk clients into the Healthy Start program. This was done in conjunction with an effort to enter women who have not yet received prenatal care into Healthy Start. Members go out into the community to complete self-referrals with women who are uninsured, have not started care and⁄or are unsure how to access community resources.

Teen Leaders Program

Implementation at seven Northside parks through JaxPark’s Intramural Sports League for teens ages 13 to 17, as part of the Coalition’s Male Responsibility Initiative. A male life plan was taught to the teens.

Jacksonville Birthing Project

A mentoring program for women during pregnancy and for one year after the birth of their children.

Magnolia Project Outreach

Assisted with outreach activities to increase participant awareness and⁄or recruitment into project services; developed and maintained neighborhood and community contacts; and informed project participants and community residents on issues that affect health through project newsletter.

Florida KidCare Outreach

Community-based outreach activities included attending outreach events (e.g., health fairs); partnering with schools, businesses, and organizations to promote Florida KidCare; and fielding phone calls from families interested in Florida KidCare, the state children’s health insurance program.