HeartCorps

Public Health AmeriCorps at the AHA
HeartCorps volunteer Shandiin smiling and looking over her shoulder

HeartCorps is a service opportunity for individuals who are passionate about caring for their communities’ health needs and wellness goals, while also gaining skills to support their own career journey.

This program is designed to support those living in rural areas where residents face a critical shortage of healthcare professionals, including public health workers, in a situation that negatively impacts their health, wellness, and care.

Communities need localized solutions that will allow individuals and families to achieve improved health outcomes. No one knows the changes needed in a community as well as the members themselves and that’s why we want to work with those who live in or near the communities they serve, and provide the training needed to educate our neighbors about improving nutrition, managing blood pressure, obtaining life-saving CPR skills, and much more.


HeartCorps is designed to support those living in rural areas where residents face a critical shortage of healthcare professionals, including public health workers.

Why HeartCorps?

Nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure, and many don’t know they have it. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a silent killer that causes unnecessary and inequitable disease, disability and death, robbing us of precious time with loved ones. It can cause heart attacks, heart failure, stroke and other devastating conditions.

Under-resourced communities and those living in rural areas face the highest death rates due to hypertension. Making matters worse, rural communities face a critical shortage of health care professionals, including public health workers, which negatively impacts the care rural residents receive.

The AHA is committed to addressing these inequities and improving blood pressure control and cardiovascular health in rural communities throughout the US.

Prospective Members

Apply to be a HeartCorps Service Member today! Full-time HeartCorps members will receive:

  • A biweekly living stipend of $1108.70 (taxable)
  • Healthcare benefits
  • Childcare subsidy, if eligible
  • An educational award up to $7395.00 (taxable) for those serving 1700 hours after successfully completing your hours of service
  • 200+ hours of professional development and training to launch or expand your public health career
  • Direct access to job opportunities upon successful completion of program with satisfactory performance

Please complete the or email your resume to us for immediate consideration. Be sure to indicate which state(s) you are interested in serving and/or willing to relocate to for this service experience. All accepted applicants must successfully pass a national criminal background check to become HeartCorps service members. For questions related to HeartCorps, please email us.

Testimonials

While HeartCorps is a new initiative, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is pleased that several of our current employees are AmeriCorps alums who have previously served. Each of these alumni have gone on to pursue opportunities supporting equitable health. Hear them share more about how AmeriCorps service has helped to shape their career paths.

Host Sites

If your health center or nonprofit organization is interested in hosting at least two (2) HeartCorps members onsite to aid in advancing heart health, please complete this interest form. HeartCorps is focused exclusively on supporting rural communities.

Please complete the interest form to express your interest in hosting HeartCorps members at your health center or nonprofit organization. For questions, please email us.

Next Steps

Be sure to submit your for consideration today! Check back here for updates about new cohorts starting in 2025.

For questions, please email us.

Privacy Statement

The AHA and AmeriCorps

Recently, AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have joined forces to launch a domestic service opportunity intended to:

  • Help meet public health needs of local communities by providing needed capacity and support in state and local public health settings and advancing more equitable health outcomes for communities who are currently or historically underserved.
  • Provide pathways to good quality public health-related careers by providing exposure through onsite experience, training, and more, with a focus on recruiting AmeriCorps members who reflect the communities in which they will serve.

This effort is now Public Health AmeriCorps, and as a grantee, the AHA is launching our own AmeriCorps program. HeartCorps is a service opportunity for those interested in driving health equity in rural America with the AHA. We are seeking service members who are interested in supporting this work as full-time AmeriCorps members for the 2024-25 service year. We are currently recruiting for our third-year placements. Those ages 18+ are encouraged to apply today!

While most of our opportunities are full-time, we may consider part-time opportunities for retirees or students. If you're interested, contact us today at to learn more.

The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ operates HeartCorps subject to the non-discrimination requirements found at §§ 175 and 176(f) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and § 417 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act, and relevant program regulations found at 45 CFR Parts 2540. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin, pregnancy leave, leave status, political affiliation, marital or parental status, religion, genetic information, and military or veterans’ status or any other improper criterion. It is also unlawful to retaliate against any person who, or organization that, files a complaint about such discrimination. In addition to filing a complaint with local and state agencies that are responsible for resolving discrimination complaints, you may bring a complaint to the attention of the Corporation for National and Community Service.