AMERICORPS COMMUNITY TRAINING (ACT) FOR OVERDOSE RESCUE
AMERICORPS COMMUNITY TRAINING (ACT) FOR OVERDOSE RESCUE is a program of the Strategies and Tools for Overdose Prevention (STOP) unit at the Center for Urban Studies, which aims to stop overdose deaths and other harm related to opioids.
Learn more about our initiatives to STOP Overdose Deaths >>
Despite being preventable and treatable, overdose emergencies continue to cause death and lasting harm for individuals and communities across the country. In Michigan, preventable opioid overdose fatalities have reached a record high, claiming the lives of 2,033 people in 2017. To save lives, it is imperative that people in the community be prepared to intervene during an overdose emergency.
SAVE LIVES IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN.
BECOME AN OVERDOSE RESCUE TRAINER.
ACT is now seeking Overdose Rescue Trainers to teach people how to provide aid during an overdose emergency. This is a paid opportunity to develop real-world skills and experience through hands-on service. Selected candidates will receive comprehensive training, as well as ongoing feedback and support to succeed in this role and achieve program objectives.
As an Overdose Rescue Trainer, you will:
- promote the ACT program to diverse audiences across the tri-county area
- recruit community members to participate in Overdose Rescue training
- schedule, organize and deliver Overdose Rescue training sessions
- distribute Overdose Rescue Kits containing easy-to-use Narcan overdose-reversing nasal spray to training participants
- raise awareness about opioid use disorder and harm reduction strategies
People selected for this position will commit to a term of at least 450 hours, which can be completed on a part-time (20 hours/week) basis. Hours are typically scheduled during normal business hours Monday – Friday, with occasional evenings and weekends.
We are currently recruiting for the Fall 2019 term, which is scheduled to begin on October 21. Applicants who wish to be considered for this Fall recruitment cycle should review the full job posting and complete an application by September 18. The ACT program accepts applications on an ongoing basis, and term start dates are scheduled 3-4 times per year. If you would prefer to participate in a future term, you may submit an application any time and indicate your term preference on your application.
View the full position posting for more details >> 
Learn more about position benefits >>
Visit the STOP Overdose Deaths site >>
FAQs
What is AmeriCorps?
ACT is sponsored by AmeriCorps, which is a national network of independent programs that all incorporate community service as a key strategy for addressing critical community challenges. ACT is a program in the AmeriCorps network, supported by funding from the federal Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Learn more about AmeriCorps >>
What is an AmeriCorps member?
An AmeriCorps member is a person who commits to providing community service with an AmeriCorps program in exchange for a paid living stipend, an education award, an opportunity to gain transferable skills and experience, and other benefits. AmeriCorps members serving with the ACT program will perform the role of an Overdose Rescue Trainer – organizing and delivering Overdose Rescue Training sessions for people in the community. AmeriCorps members pledge to complete 450 hours of service work, typically during a 6 month service term. Members serve on a part-time (20 hours per week) basis. Learn more about AmeriCorps >>
What are the ACT program’s objectives?
ACT aims to achieve the following objectives during each program year:
- Deliver 17,000 hours of service to the community by recruiting leaders across the region to commit to and successfully complete an AmeriCorps service term
- Educate 750 community members in health emergency preparedness, including overdose rescue strategies and CPR techniques
- Distribute 750 Overdose Rescue Kits containing life-saving Narcan nasal spray (a medicine that reverses opioid overdose) to trained community members
- Inform 7,500 additional community members about the capabilities of trained Community First Responders (CFRs) and how to access training and other resources
What compensation and benefits do Overdose Rescue Trainers receive?
In exchange for committing to a service term (450 hours), AmeriCorps members will:
- Receive a $3,250 living stipend (distributed bi-weekly) and information about supplemental resources
- Earn a Segal Education Award of $1,612 upon completion of your service term, which can be used to help pay for college, graduate school, or vocational training, or to repay qualified student loans. Some student loans may also qualify for forbearance during the term of service
- Get an Overdose Rescue Kit containing overdose-reversing nasal spray (Narcan)
- Receive over 80 hours of extensive professional development and training
- Gain valuable skills and real-world experience that can lead to other employment opportunities
- Save lives and contribute to positive change in your community
- Join a team with other community members who are also committed to public service
- Become part of the broader AmeriCorps national service network
- Have access to Service Year Alliance: an online network of resources that provide job opportunities and continued professional development to AmeriCorps alumni
- Connect to career opportunities with leading employers from the private, public and nonprofit sectors
How big is the ACT team?
ACT members will serve with cohorts of 10-20 members at a time. Over the course of a year, 38 AmeriCorps members will pledge 450-hour service terms with the ACT program – together, they will provide more than 17,000 hours of public service.
What communities will Overdose Rescue Trainers work in?
ACT will serve the metropolitan Detroit tri-county area of Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties – more than half of Michigan’s opioid overdose deaths in 2017 occurred in this region. ACT AmeriCorps members will be deployed to high-need communities in the region to recruit training participants and conduct trainings. Participants will include community members who are likely encounter an overdose situation before medical professionals arrive on the scene – such as members of block clubs and safety patrol groups, private security companies, community centers, libraries, schools, local businesses, people who use opioids and their friends and families, and agencies serving high-risk, underserved, or vulnerable populations.
What topics will Overdose Rescue Trainers cover during training sessions?
During an overdose rescue training session, participants will learn how to recognize an opioid overdose, how to reverse an overdose with Narcan nasal spray, and how to perform CPR when needed. Each trained participant will receive an Overdose Rescue Kit containing Narcan for use during an emergency.
What is Narcan (also called Naloxone)?
The longer an overdose goes untreated, death and other negative health consequences become more likely. Fortunately, Narcan (also known as naloxone) is a life-saving medicine that can quickly reverse the effects of opioids. Narcan is an easy-to-use nasal spray, is non-narcotic, has no potential for abuse, and has no negative effects on individuals who have not taken opioids. In the event of an overdose, immediately administering Narcan can increase the likelihood of survival, minimize other negative health effects, and serve as a bridge to recovery from addiction. Learn more about Narcan >>
How do I find treatment or recovery services?
If you or someone you know uses heroin or opioids:
YOU CAN HELP STOP OVERDOSE DEATHS.
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