AmeriCorps VISTA Hub

About | ▸ Overdose prevention | COVID-19 response | The service year | FAQ | For current members

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

Saving lives from overdose in partnership with AmeriCorps

Through the California Overdose Prevention Network (COPN), we sponsor the largest AmeriCorps VISTA program dedicated to opioid safety in the country, with the capacity to place 40 VISTA members in coalitions across California.

VISTA members serve for one year, bolstering the impact of coalitions to incite transformational change within health systems and the communities they serve.

 
 
 

AmeriCorps members help save lives across California

Since 2018, we have placed 92 members across sites in California. The primary focus of COPN AmeriCorps members is to conduct community assessments, foster community awareness and engagement, and expand and strengthen partnerships.

 

95%

of coalitions rated AmeriCorps members as one of the most valuable aspects of the COPN Accelerator program

 
 
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AmeriCorps members placed in the field with our coalitions have…

 
 
 

Distributed 5,400 Naloxone doses to 13 agencies across Los Angeles county in 3 weeks.

 
 

Created a website so that the Sacramento Opioid Coalition could launch an anti-stigma campaign.

 
 

Designed a two-day training to address stigma and develop strategies to implement harm reduction principles in Butte county.

What our coalitions are saying

  • “Our VISTA has been by far the most value-added aspect of the program. Her dedication and work ethic, passion for serving disenfranchised persons; and demonstration of professionalism, tact, and judgement at such an early point in her career have been truly inspiring to the rest of our coalition members that she has worked tirelessly and for very little pay to assist.”

    -Butte County

  • “VISTA members have been incredibly helpful and have greatly expanded our capacity.”

    -Humboldt County

  • "Our VISTA is the reason we have come so far so quickly."

    -Sacramento County

  • "[Our VISTAs] are always willing to go above and beyond with a ton of motivation and interest to learn."

    -Butte County

  • “The most valuable piece has been the VISTA member. A dedicated staff person to carry out the goals of the coalition and to keep everyone on task has been immeasurably helpful.”

    -Placer-Nevada Counties

 

ABOUT THE SERVICE YEAR

Discover what it’s like to make an impact as an AmeriCorps member

Learn more →
See current opportunities →

 

FOR CURRENT MEMBERS

Access resources to support your year of service

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Learn more about our overdose prevention work and how we build the capacity of coalitions across California