Meeting the promise of racial and ethnic minorities' interest in health care careers

HealthCorps (a voluntary service AmeriCorps program) provides job-skill training in Community Health Centers with the opportunity to earn a stipend and monetary award for further formal education. HealthCorps (HC) is demographically diverse, and service increases interest in health and social work careers and in working in community-based organizations. HealthCorps outcomes in terms of the portion earning educational awards and using them is equal to or better than AmeriCorps overall even though HC has a more diverse volunteer population. However, disparities remain within HC particularly for black members in earning and using educational awards.

Responses of 2004-05 volunteers to a confidential exit survey, historical data covering 1995 through 2003 obtained from the Corporation for Community and National Service, and census data provide the basis for this study. Seventy-one percent of HC volunteers in 2004-05 identify themselves as a member of a minority race/ethnicity compared with 58% during program years 1995-2002. Forty-one percent of members are college graduates. One in four HC members comes from a community where 12% or more of 20 to 24 year olds are unemployed (ranging as high as 43% unemployed for males and 35% for females).

After service in HC, more report being interested in health care and social work as a career and in working in community-based settings. Two-thirds agree that they were predisposed to these fields before HC, but 87% are considering these fields upon exit. The change is greatest among members with less education (from 54% to 80% for members with some college). Members with a bachelor's degree enter with 84% being interested and this only rises to 90%.

Three out of four earn an educational award; this matches the overall AmeriCorps rate. Black HealthCorps volunteers are less likely to earn one and even if an award is earned, are less likely to spend it. Hispanics' rate of utilizing the award is higher than among black volunteers (65% vs. 52%).

Improved screening at enrollment and mentoring during service may increase retention rates and thus earning of awards. The portion of volunteers earning an award from 1995-2002 varies by HC program site from 52% to 94%; this measure could be used for site performance monitoring. All volunteers may benefit from counseling about opportunities for educational placements after service to ensure award use. Follow-up surveying of graduates will help determine long-term impact.