Current as of March, 2026
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What is AmeriCorps VISTA?
AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is the national service program designed specifically to fight and address issues relating to poverty. VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 50 years. It is operated by AmeriCorps, the federal government agency that leads volunteering, service, and grant-making efforts in the United States. AmeriCorps operates nationwide service programs such as various FEMA Corps and Senior Corps. AmeriCorps VISTA members build capacity and do not provide direct services.
What is the Oregon Health Authority AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project?
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is the state health department. OHA's mission is to help people and communities achieve optimum physical, mental, and social well-being through partnerships, prevention, and access to quality, affordable health care. OHA partners with AmeriCorps VISTA to reduce poverty in Oregon through sustainable public health initiatives and taking a systems-approach to creating healthy communities.
- This program is the largest AmeriCorps VISTA project in Oregon.
- Public and non-profit organizations, as well as local, state, tribal or federal agencies apply to the state Public Health Division to be selected as a host site for an AmeriCorps member.
- Since 2009, the program has expanded to tackle many projects targeting specific public health issues that impact people living in poverty. These include health department accreditation, chronic disease prevention, program quality improvement, substance use prevention, disaster healthcare volunteer management, healthcare reform, fighting the opioid epidemic, and more.
What are the benefits of AmeriCorps VISTA service?
Benefits during service:
- Modest living allowance of approximately $24,882 for the year, paid every two weeks. The amount is federally taxed and reflects the pre-tax amount.
- Student loan forbearance or deferment for qualified federal loans.
- Healthcare benefits (learn more at: americorpsvista.imglobal.com) and childcare assistance.
- Access to the network of AmeriCorps members & VISTA Alumni (220,000 strong)
- Valuable training from AmeriCorps, the Oregon Health Authority, and your project service site
- Travel support for those relocating over 50 miles for a service placement; settling-in allowance of up to $750; and relocation allowance of $0.40/mile (based on direct mileage between home of record and site)
- learn more directly on the AmeriCorps VISTA website.
Benefits after service:
- A Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($7,395) or post-service stipend (approximately $1,800)
- One year of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) status for a federal government job, giving you an edge in the federal hiring process
What are the benefits specific to serving as a VISTA through the OHA AmeriCorps Partnership Project?
The Oregon Health Authority, which is the state health department, manages the project to ensure the highest quality placements. We recruit and screen the host sites and supervisors, support members during the entire onboarding process, orient your future supervisor to their duties, provide an overhead team of staff and AmeriCorps VISTA Leaders to support you during your year of AmeriCorps service. We sponsor a four-day kick off orientation for each cohort, monthly virtual training and social events, and quarterly in-person events when possible.
Our members are integrated as a team to provide camaraderie, professional and personal support, and ensure a high quality and productive year of service for you and the community you serve.
- A dedicated VISTA Leader to provide peer support throughout service. AmeriCorps VISTA Leaders have already completed at least one year of AmeriCorps VISTA service, one full term of full-time service with either AmeriCorps State and National or AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), or at least 50% of one traditional term of Peace Corps service. Leaders must also demonstrate exemplary skills and leadership in community service.
- Regular team meetings and professional development opportunities
- Funding for conferences, trainings, and other professional development opportunities
- Transit passes and other benefits (select sites)
- A support system of a cohort of AmeriCorps members serving in similar projects across the state
- Structure and experience of the established 17-year program, which includes: connections to public health organizations throughout the state, support from leadership at the Oregon Health Authority, and a team of VISTA Leaders to ensure success throughout the service year
How long does an AmeriCorps VISTA member serve?
AmeriCorps VISTA members serve at a site for one year (12 months), approximately 40 hours each week. Sometimes members are eligible to extend their service term beyond 1 year or re-enroll for another full service term.
Are the start dates flexible?
No. Dates are predetermined by the federal program and cannot be adjusted. Members must attend required orientations and established start/end dates at their host sites.
What if I have questions about the program or application process?
Questions about the application process? Curious about the day-to-day work of our members? Need clarification about the benefits of serving with AmeriCorps? During recruitment we hold virtual Recruitment Office Hours. Join us to find out more about the Oregon Health Authority AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project!
RECRUITMENT OFFICE HOURS
Our leadership team hosts weekly Recruitment Office Hours on Zoom to answer your questions.
Join us on Fridays from 12:00-1:00pm Pacific Time to learn more!
This is an informal setting where you can chat with the OHA AmeriCorps VISTA leadership team and ask questions about our AmeriCorps program and the application process. There is no need to register in advance—just click on the link above and stay for as long or short a time as you wish.
How do I apply?
Create a profile on my.americorps.gov and and submit the online AmeriCorps application, which can be found at https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do under the "Apply to Serve" section. AmeriCorps also has an interactive application guide that can be found at https://americorps.gov/serve/fit-finder/americorps-vista.
We recruit members twice per year. We recruit for positions that start in mid-April from January through March. We recruit for positions that start in mid-August from May through July. Please apply early, as applications are accepted and positions are offered on a rolling basis. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions related to applying:
- AmeriCorps VISTA Eligibility Requirements
- Be at least 18 years old upon entering AmeriCorps training; there is no upper age limit
- Hold one of the following citizenship/legal residency statuses: US citizen, US National, Lawful Permanent Resident Alien, and persons legally residing in a state that have any of the following legal residency classifications: refugee, asylum or asylee, temporary protected status, or deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) status.
- Pass a national service criminal history check
- Can I become an AmeriCorps VISTA with OHA if I don't have a college degree?
- Yes! We recognize that higher education is a privilege. If you don't have a degree and want to serve with us, you can substitute relevant work experience for education on a year-for-year basis or by using a combination of both.
Should I apply to multiple positions in the Oregon Health Authority team?
Yes! We highly encourage people to consider multiple positions in our cohort. Each position is handled separately by the site supervisor and interview panel for that position and host site. It does not weaken your standing in their eyes to apply to multiple positions. Only the Oregon Health Authority internal team sees your multiple applications and we encourage it in order to ensure the strongest candidates find just the right match among all the host sites we are recruiting for.
What happens after I submit my application?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You should expect to hear from a representative from the Oregon Health Authority within two weeks to schedule an informal call to have a conversation about the expectations that come with a year of service and answer any questions you may have. Please be timely with your responses to our team and be sure to monitor your junk/spam folders. After the initial pre-screen conversation, you may be moved to the formal interview process if the host site feels your application is a good fit. The last step is formally selecting the candidate in the AmeriCorps system and waiting for federal approval. No candidate is officially approved and placed for service until they've received federal approval.
Once a candidate is selected and approved, the OHA AmeriCorps VISTA Leadership team will begin onboarding members by sharing important materials and information. It is important to check your inbox regularly during this time.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to check on the status of your application!
Where do Oregon Health Authority AmeriCorps VISTA members serve?
AmeriCorps members conduct public health-related service in professional office settings at statewide organizations, local public health departments, tribal agencies, or non-profits sites throughout the state of Oregon, in rural frontier and urban communities.
Learn more about our program or view our open positions here: http://healthoregon.org/vista
What will my schedule be?
AmeriCorps members serve their nation 24/7 and are expected to be available for service whenever needed. Most of our host sites follow the "standard" Monday through Friday schedule with working hours between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, though this will vary by site. Members are required to serve approximately 40 hours a week.
OHA AmeriCorps members follow the State of Oregon holiday schedule and are required to participate in Martin Luther King Jr. and 9/11 days of service and will be required to attend (in person or virtual) group training events throughout the year.
AmeriCorps members serving in the VISTA program are allotted 10 personal days and 10 sick days during their service year. Generally, leave in the first 3 months of service or last month are limited to emergencies and family matters. More on AmeriCorps VISTA leave benefits can be found in the AmeriCorps VISTA Member Handbook at the link here: https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/2021_06_01_Member_Handbook_VISTA_0.pdf.
While many of the positions are remote or hybrid work environments, members are required to relocate to the service area prior to their start date.
Can I get a part-time job or take classes on the side?
Yes. Outside employment and must be approved by the site supervisor,
OHA, and AmeriCorps, be legal, and not interfere with regular service work
hours or other AmeriCorps VISTA events and trainings. AmeriCorps VISTA service
must be the paramount focus of members. Members are not permitted to leave work
early to go to another job or school.
Facts about the Oregon Health Authority AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project
- In Oregon, there are 36 counties with 34 Local Health Departments, and 9 Oregon Tribes.
- AmeriCorps is a voluntary civil society program supported by the U.S. federal government that operates nationwide service programs, such as AmeriCorps VISTA and Senior Corps.
- In 2009, the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division (OHA-PHD) applied to AmeriCorps to become a Sponsoring Agency to develop a partnership project between the Medical Reserve Corps and the AmeriCorps VISTA programs. Since then, OHA has expanded its AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project to include health department accreditation, chronic disease prevention, environmental health, oral health, disaster healthcare volunteer management, healthcare reform, health equity, and many other projects targeting specific public health issues that impact people living in poverty.
- The OHA AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project continues to be the largest AmeriCorps VISTA project in the state of Oregon.
- Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs), Tribes, state and federal agencies, non-profits and other organizations apply to the state Public Health Division to be selected as a host site for an AmeriCorps member. During this process we vet each site to ensure they have dedicated and enthusiastic supervisors, clear vision for the project, and the resources needed to fully support the AmeriCorps member's projects and year of service.
- Agreements are drafted and signed between Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division and AmeriCorps, as well as between the Public Health Division and each host site.
- The state Public Health Division has developed a training and orientation program for all AmeriCorps VISTAs. Site supervision and on-site training will happen throughout the year of service.
- A service year is one year, full-time. For example, those AmeriCorps VISTA members who are sworn into service beginning April 11, 2024 will complete their year on April 10, 2025.
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