Colorado’s COVID Containment Response Corps (CCRC) is a statewide effort engaging local public health agencies, non-profit organizations and business leaders across the state to contain the spread of COVID-19. At the heart of this effort were national service members who provided disaster relief assistance to the CCRC’s efforts from June 2020 through December 2021.
Drawing on our experience running National Service programs, Community Resource Center recruited, enrolled, and supported a total of 310 AmeriCorps members; 200 as VISTA Summer Associates during 2020 and 110 AmeriCorps State & National members, serving several departments and initiatives through December 2021. This dynamic project began by using national service members to support contact tracing, case investigation, and resource coordination efforts. As community needs shifted during the pandemic – particularly as COVID-19 vaccines became available – members were called upon to coordinate school testing programs, schedule vaccine clinics, support long term care facilities in hosting booster clinics and recording accurate vaccination data, assist in setting up monoclonal antibody treatment sites across the state, provide accurate vaccination information to Coloradans through the CIIS helpdesk, and more.
Over 115,000 Coloradans were served by the 860 national service members who joined AmeriCorps to participate in the COVID Containment Response Corps. This award winning program attracted a diverse candidate pool with a variety of skills and life experiences. The 310 members recruited and supported by CRC came from counties across Colorado, ranged in age from 19 – 73 years old, and brought experience from the fields of higher education, nursing, customer service, technology, public health, and many more. A majority of members were offered employment with CDPHE after completing their term of service – a successful pathway to employment for those AmeriCorps members interested in continuing in public health.
Vaccine Equity Initiative
Colorado’s nonprofits answered the call to help educate and connect their communities to the COVID-19 vaccine. With their trusting relationships across their communities, nonprofits and community-based organizations were critical partners in our state’s efforts to ensure every Coloradan had access to the COVID-19 vaccine. To support their efforts, in partnership with Serve Colorado, CRC brought on nine additional AmeriCorps State & National members who served at six community partners engaged in vaccine outreach and education across the state, on site at local nonprofit organizations. These members engaged with their communities through home visits, disseminating culturally responsive vaccine educational materials, assisting patients in making COVID vaccine appointments, and more.
By the Numbers
129,881+
hours served by CRC AmeriCorps members as of July 2021
301
CRC AmeriCorps members who have served in the CCRC since July 2020
11,065
contact tracing and case investigation calls completed by CRC AmeriCorps members from December 2020 through July 2021
203,803
community touchpoints made by AmeriCorps members serving in the CCRC
What People Are Saying
“Wise public health policy, individual commitment, and effective contact tracing are among the best tools we have to stop the spread of COVID-19. National service is a crucial strategy for meeting critical community needs… This initiative, a collaboration between the State of Colorado, AmeriCorps, Serve Colorado and Gary Community Investments, is another testament to the power of cross-sector collaborations.”
Maria Fabula
CRC President and CEO
“We are so proud of the service AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors have provided, and will continue to provide to the State of Colorado. These individuals stepped up to provide critical support during a challenging time. Because of their service, more Coloradans have received timely information and resources to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
Dianne Primavera
Colorado Lt. Governor
How it Happened
Meet the Members
“I enjoy connecting with cases and contacts by hearing their stories and trying to address their needs. It is really fulfilling when I reach those who were hard to contact and build rapport with those that I call, no matter their background and language.”
William Ware
COVID-19 Containment Response Corps
“My world has been widened from this experience in terms of personal growth. There is a tremendous good in people. When we show up to serve another, it transforms us. For me, it’s been a light in the dark of this pandemic.”
Pattea Carpenter
COVID-19 Containment Response Corps
“Joining forces with people who all have varying and unique motivations, backgrounds, and strengths is powerful. We all share the common desire to serve and do good for our greater community; to unite behind that in the face of this pandemic provides a sense of comradery and reassurance.“
Lance Sommer
COVID-19 Containment Response Corps
“Being able to provide accurate information about COVID-19 and educate close contacts and cases about the virus has been fulfilling. I am glad to have the opportunity to educate others on how to keep themselves and their communities safe in hopes of curbing the spread of the virus.”
Phyllis Elliot
COVID-19 Containment Response Corps
“Going through the intensive training with CRC and AmeriCorps, I have learned an amazing amount about our society, social/ health programs, and our job in making a difference, and saving lives in our communities. This has inspired me to move forward in a path of public service, beyond AmeriCorps service.“
Mia Greeson
COVID-19 Containment Response Corps
In the News
National award for Colorado’s COVID-19 Containment Response Corps
The Colorado COVID-19 Containment Response Corps was recognized at the 2021 America’s Service Commissions Innovation and Leadership Awards with the Outstanding Service Program award.
“Many Coloradans found the resources needed to thrive, families affected by this pandemic have hope for the future, and countless others across the state have been safeguarded from contracting the deadly virus because of the services provided by the members of the CCRC. We’re powering the Colorado Comeback because of the work done on the ground by these individuals and partners,” said Governor Jared Polis.
Innovative State Service COVID-19 Response Programs
America’s Service Commissions released the Innovative State Service COVID-19 Response Programs report in March 2020 featuring two Colorado programs, the COVID-19 Containment Response Corps and Mountain Roots Healthy Futures. Overall, 79 programs that adapted and responded during the COVID-19 pandemic are featured from 50 states and territories across the United States.
We Need a Dedicated COVID Vaccine Corps. Why Not an Intergenerational One?
By Gerald Bourne and Phyllis Segal
If the COVID vaccine is to liberate us, we urgently need new ways to deliver it. Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) recently proposed enlisting retired medical professionals. Just a few days later, University of Massachusetts leaders Dr. Michael Collins and Martin Meehan, formerly a seven-term Democratic Congressman, called for a “Vaccine Corps” made up of college students and recent graduates.
Both are great ideas. Even better: Let’s combine them, bring retired health care workers and young adults together, and create an intergenerational service corps that can quickly and efficiently vaccinate millions of Americans.
About the CCRC
Amid statewide and national shutdowns, the state of Colorado piloted a program during the summer of 2020 utilizing AmeriCorps members to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Community Resource Center and Conservation Legacy were invited to help design and implement a national service opportunity in partnership with Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), AmeriCorps’ VISTA team in the Mountain Region, and Gary Community Ventures.
Public Health agencies across the state of Colorado are using COVID containment efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and sharing information and vaccine safety and efficacy to keep our communities healthy, and keep our economy running. When outbreaks occur, Local Public Health Agencies (LPHAs) need immediate surge capacity to efficiently notify and support the increased number of cases in their community. In collaboration with our statewide partners, Community Resource Center and Conservation Legacy designed this national service opportunity for AmeriCorps members to serve within the Colorado COVID Containment Response Corps (CCRC) Team, led by CDPHE, and provide surge capacity to support case investigation, contact tracing, resource coordination, test result notification, isolation and quarantine monitoring, and other activities to contain the spread of COVID-19, as well as to promote and organize the disbursement of vaccines within Colorado.
About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps engages approximately 75,000 individuals each year at service locations across the country. AmeriCorps programs do more than move communities forward; they serve their members by creating jobs and providing pathways to opportunity as they enter the workforce. AmeriCorps members learn valuable skills, earn money for education, and develop a strong sense of civic responsibility. Serve Colorado, which promotes service and volunteerism through AmeriCorps Colorado, early literacy initiatives and Days of Service, has championed this national service opportunity.