AmeriCorps VISTA Opportunity
Philadelphia Legal Assistance is seeking qualified, enthusiastic applicants for an AmeriCorps VISTA position in the PHENND Fellows program.
AmeriCorps VISTA is a national service program where individuals dedicate themselves to volunteering full time for one year at a non-profit organization (with the support of a modest stipend), and PLA is proud to host AmeriCorps VISTAs each year. Check out the position description below and apply here.
PHENND Fellows-PLA Opioid Response Project
Organizational Overviews:
PHENND (The Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development) is a 30-year-old consortium of over 25 colleges and universities in the Greater Philadelphia region. The consortium actively seeks to revitalize local communities and promote civic responsibility through service learning among the region's higher education institutions. The PHENND Fellows program fosters young non-profit leaders by giving them an opportunity to build capacity for local organizations through a variety of activities.
For more than 20 years, Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) has provided free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in Philadelphia. About 30% of the people in Philadelphia live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level. For those who are low-income, elderly, or disabled, our legal assistance is often crucial for them to protect their homes, their children, their safety, and their livelihood. PLA is dedicated to helping those who cannot afford legal counsel navigate the legal system, and understand and safeguard their rights. Since 2013, PLA has operated a Medical-Legal Community Partnership (MLCP) that provides free legal aid to medical patients in partnership with community health centers. The co-location of legal advocates with health and social service providers at health centers bridges the service gap affecting individuals and families struggling with the effects of poverty and also improves health outcomes by addressing social determinants of health. If you want to help build sustainable solutions in Philadelphia, please apply.
Member Duties: The overarching goal of the PHENND fellow is to build the capacity of Philadelphia District Health Centers to serve the legal needs of patients with substance use disorder. They will do so by implementing the Medical-Legal Community Partnership model into Medicine Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs. Specifically, the VISTA will 1) Assist MLCP attorneys with implementation of the MLCP model within an MAT program by developing systems for outreach, referral, and patient and health partner education that will facilitate the provision of legal services to MAT patients; 2) Implement and/or develop best practices for the delivery of legal services to MAT patients and assess the impact of the previously tested MLCP model on this new patient population; and 3) Build the sustainability of the MAT-MLCP project through increased financial and human resource development.
Program Benefits: Living Allowance, Health Coverage*, SEPTA Monthly Key Pass, Training, Childcare assistance if eligible, Relocation Allowance, Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend. *For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare
Terms: Permits attendance at school during off hours, Permits working at another job during off hours.
Service Areas: Health, Community Outreach, Education.
Skills: Medicine, Computers/Technology, Communications, Conflict Resolution, Social Services, Non-Profit Management, Law, General Skills, Public Health, Education, Team Work, Fundraising/Grant Writing, Recruitment, Public Speaking, Writing/Editing.