Frequently Asked Questions
What is HealthCorps?
A: HealthCorps® is a 501 (C) 3 founded by Dr. Mehmet Oz and his wife Lisa Oz that’s building a nationwide movement to shape a new generation.
HealthCorps has two primary programs.
- In the Coordinator Program, HealthCorps deploys recent college graduates to carry out unique in-school and community programming targeting high-need populations. Using peer mentoring to deliver a progressive curriculum in nutrition, fitness and mental strength, HealthCorps Coordinators empower high-school students and their communities to make healthier life choices.
- In fall 2012, HealthCorps also introduced HealthCorps University (HCU), a train the trainer model that enables school administrators and faculty to bring the HealthCorps curriculum to their schools. HCU is now in its pilot phase.
HealthCorps is also a committed advocate for reintroducing health and physical education into the core curriculum of the American education system.
Q: Where is HealthCorps® programming currently?
A: HealthCorps is in 66 schools across 14 states (AZ, CA, DE, FL, LA, MD, MS, NJ, NC, NY, OH, OK, OR, TX) and the District of Columbia.
We conducted our HealthCorps University pilot on the West Coast in Fall 2012 and will conduct an East Coast pilot in Spring 2013.
Q: How does HealthCorps choose which high schools it places coordinators in?
A: Our number one criteria in choosing high schools is that it is a high-need high school, which is defined as 50% or higher free and reduced lunch. There are a variety of ways that lead us into a school (sometimes a funder will have a school in mind, or schools will request us), but our number one criteria is that the high school is high-need and we don’t deviate from that.
The coordinator program is only in high schools, and we are in a mix of traditional public and public charter schools.
Q: How do I bring HealthCorps to my school?
A: You have two options to bring HealthCorps to your school – the coordinator program or by participating in HealthCorps University (HCU).
Coordinator Program: You can begin by emailing education@healthcorps.org with your request, or calling either our New York (212) 742-2875 or Sacramento (916) 919-8100 offices.
Note: The total cost to have a Coordinator at a school is $150,000 for a two-year duration. HealthCorps’ in-school programming is funded by a variety of public and private sources, and HealthCorps can help identify and foster funding sources to bring the coordinator program to a high school.
HCU: HealthCorps University is a new “train the trainer” professional development program that makes the HealthCorps principles and curriculum available to virtually any school. HealthCorps conducts an intensive two-day training program for a school or district, and also includes special sessions for parents and students. HCU is currently in its pilot phase; to find out more, please email HCU@HealthCorps.org.
Q: How do I become a coordinator?
A: HealthCorps coordinators go through a rigorous application process and if offered a position, stay at their high school for two years. More details about the application process, requirements and applications can be found at http://healthcorps.org/get-involved/coordinator-application/
Q: How can I help if there is not a school in my area (or even my state)?
A: There are a few ways to get involved! You can volunteer, assist at an event, become a fundraiser, advocate, or bring HealthCorps to your community. Please visit http://healthcorps.org/get-involved/ to learn more.
The best way to support HealthCorps is to join the HealthCorps nation! You can always sign up for our newsletter by visiting healthcorps.org and subscribing to our newsletter, as well as find us on Facebook and Twitter.
HealthCorps also benefits greatly from grassroots financial support. To make a donation to HealthCorps, please click here.
Q: I am a parent, teacher or administrator. How can I improve the health of my students and family?
A: Teachers and administrators can participate in HealthCorps University – please email HCU@HealthCorps.org to learn more.
Please check out our website for healthy resources at http://healthcorps.org/get-healthy/. There you will find healthy recipes, exercise videos and our blog, all of which serve as healthy resources for your family. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
Q: How do I volunteer for HealthCorps?
A: HealthCorps has numerous events throughout the year where volunteers are utilized. We have a volunteer application on our website – once you email the form, someone from our office will get in touch.
Q: I am interested in becoming part of the HealthCorps team. Are there jobs available?
A: We hire for coordinator positions on a yearly basis – please visit http://healthcorps.org/get-involved/coordinator-application/ to find out more.
While we do not have frequent openings for positions in the office, we do have regular openings for internships, which we post on Idealist.org. Also, feel free to check our Twitter page– we Tweet about our job openings.
Q: I am interested in partnering with HealthCorps, or sharing my products. How can I do that?
A: Please email any partnership or product inquiries to Rob.Lunde@HealthCorps.org.
Q: How is HealthCorps® funded?
A: Each HealthCorps school program costs approximately $75,000, which is made available at no cost to the school or to its students. HealthCorps receives funding from a combination of private and public organizations.
A big part of our funding comes from grassroots supporters like you – to make a secure donation, please click here.
Q:Can HealthCorps® provide a tax letter for donated goods?
A: Yes, in accordance with IRS regulations, HealthCorps can provide a letter acknowledging receipts of donated goods.
Q: How does HealthCorps measure impact?
HealthCorps re-evaluates its impact matrix on a yearly basis based on the size of schools we are in, and how the coordinator program is structured (i.e. weekly classes taught, exact role of coordinator, events held). We were in pilot mode from 2004-2006, so our evaluation begins in 2007. The average number of students impacted per school was 100 in 2007, increasing every few years up to our present rate of an average of 600 students impacted per school per year. This is how we configure our number of students impacted since inception.
Community members is number of students multiplied by two – this figure is based on in-school events, student testimonials and events for parents.
HealthCorps buttresses these numbers through biweekly reports submitted by the coordinators, which include quantitative and qualitative data. We are also in the process of redesigning our metrics for future use.
More information on research is available here: http://healthcorps.org/what-we-do/research/
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