Montana State University is playing a central role in launching a new AmeriCorps initiative aimed at strengthening the community health workforce across Montana. The Community Health Corps Montana program, which begins in January 2026, will place 14 AmeriCorps service members with about 14 host sites throughout the state.
AmeriCorps is a federal service program that addresses national needs such as education, health care, and disaster response. In 2024, the Governor’s Office of Community Service asked the Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center (MORH/AHEC), part of MSU’s Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing, to develop this new program.
Angela Davis, MORH/AHEC project manager, worked with communities statewide to determine how AmeriCorps members could help address local health challenges. According to Davis, “Our office already has a plethora of community-level data about health care needs across Montana, and we also held some focus groups and one-on-one conversations to assess if an AmeriCorps program could work to meet those needs.”
The main areas identified for support include mental health and substance use disorder services, chronic disease prevention and management, and social determinants of health such as food access, transportation, and housing. Service members will be matched with not-for-profit organizations—including hospitals, county or tribal health departments, or nonprofits—working in these fields. The program intends to prioritize rural and tribal communities.
Davis noted that this is the first statewide health-focused AmeriCorps effort in Montana. A previous program based in Sidney served eastern Montana but ended in 2023; this new initiative seeks broader reach.
Applications for both host sites and service members opened in September. The first term runs from January 12 through August 21, 2026.
“This program is geared toward folks who are interested in service and want to make a difference in their communities,” said Davis. “This can be a really great opportunity for resume building, to kind of bridge the gap from graduation into that long-term professional career. It can also be a great opportunity for folks with a community mindset who are still trying to figure out exactly what they want to do.”
Service members will provide institutional support at their host sites by helping with community engagement activities, educational events, meetings management, data tasks, branding efforts and outreach initiatives.
Davis emphasized that applicants do not need prior experience in medicine or health care; people studying or working in fields like psychology or social work may find it relevant as well. Preference will be given to Montana residents or those already living where they hope to serve. Davis expects strong interest from MSU students.
Sarah Shannon, dean of the nursing college at MSU said: “MORH/AHEC does critical work of bolstering our health care workforce through education, community coordination and financial support to support everyday Montanans, and this forthcoming AmeriCorps program does exactly that. The Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing is proud to support this important initiative that will positively impact the entire state.”
MORH/AHEC will provide part of the funding for the project as well as ongoing coordination during service terms—organizing meetings between participants and offering professional resources.
Looking ahead beyond its inaugural year—which runs eight months—Davis plans on extending future terms up to ten-and-a-half months as funding allows: “I do think that in the first year eight months with the right person and right fit can still really make a large impact for the host site,” she said,“which is then transferred into a large impact on local community.”
Kailyn Mock director at MORH/AHEC highlighted both immediate benefits for organizations involved—and longer-term workforce development: “At its heart this program is both service & workforce development in action,” Mock said.”Community Health Corps Montana will not only expand local organizations’ ability meet pressing health needs but also provide hands-on experience that can launch meaningful careers healthcare & community service.”
Further details about Community Health Corps Montana are available on the official website.
