AmeriCorps Members Power Community Health at Legacy

Nearly 70 AmeriCorps members strengthen community health efforts as patient demand rises across Texas

 

HOUSTON, TX (March 12, 2026) – With community health demands rising across the region, Legacy Community Health is spotlighting the expanding role of its AmeriCorps program during National AmeriCorps Week. What began as a small team of nine in 2018 has grown into one of Texas’s largest healthcare‑focused AmeriCorps cohorts, now approximately 70 members strong and providing vital support across Legacy’s community programs and services.

This year’s recognition comes amid rising patient demand and staffing shortages at community health centers across Texas and within Houston’s own safety‑net clinics. At Legacy, AmeriCorps members have stepped up repeatedly; for example, in 2024:

• updating 45,000 patient charts across Houston‑area clinics during the EPIC transition, and
• joining an emergency expansion to help patients set up and use MyChart.

These are just a few examples of the work AmeriCorps members take on, contributing to service milestones that include supporting more than 24,000 individuals and improving access to care for more than 17,000 patients.

As Legacy prepares to launch summer recruitment, the organization is encouraging service‑minded individuals to join a program that offers hands‑on community health experience, career‑building training, and the opportunity to make a measurable impact. New recruits will work alongside clinical and community‑based teams to support patient navigation, outreach, health education, and other services that strengthen Legacy’s overall health infrastructure.

How AmeriCorps Strengthens Care at Legacy

Legacy launched the nation’s first healthcare‑focused AmeriCorps program, creating a pathway for individuals to contribute directly to community health while developing careers in the field. Texas hosts one of the nation’s largest networks of AmeriCorps programs, and Legacy continues to lead among healthcare‑focused initiatives statewide.

The program’s growth has been supported by a strong partnership with OneStar Foundation, which oversees AmeriCorps programs across Texas and provides nearly $1.8 million in annual funding for an approximately 70 FTE AmeriCorps program at Legacy.

“AmeriCorps members are woven into the fabric of how we care for our communities,” said Robert P. Palussek, CEO of Legacy Community Health. “Their service strengthens our clinics, expands our reach, and helps ensure that every patient has the support they need to access quality care. Their impact is real, measurable, and deeply valued across Legacy.”

One of many members who have made a lasting impact is Ashley Harris‑Land, whose AmeriCorps journey began when she worked as a Community Health Worker. After her previous program ended, she discovered Legacy’s AmeriCorps opportunities and found a permanent home here. Her service story reflects what makes the program special: AmeriCorps isn’t just a year of service—it’s a launching pad for meaningful careers.

“Joining AmeriCorps was one of the best decisions that I made,” said Ashley Harris-Land, AmeriCorps Program Director. “Serving with Legacy showed me what it means to meet people where they are and remove the barriers that keep communities from getting the care they deserve.”

Ready to Serve

AmeriCorps members at Legacy provide essential support across the organization’s service network. They help identify and address systemic barriers that affect community health and strengthen patient connections to care. Service roles include:

• Community Health Workers
• Literacy Coordinators
• Outreach Specialists
• Maternal & Child Health Navigators

Members serve approximately 35 hours per week for 3 to 12 months, depending on their availability and goals. Whether someone is entering the workforce, changing careers, or simply seeking a meaningful way to give back, Legacy’s AmeriCorps program provides a powerful entry point.

National AmeriCorps Week is a celebration of service nationwide. At Legacy, it is a reminder of the extraordinary individuals who choose to serve the Houston community every day. Their work strengthens the organization’s mission, expands its reach, and ensures that more people receive the care and support they deserve.

 

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About Legacy Community Health

Legacy Community Health is a full-service health care system comprised of more than 60 locations in the Texas Gulf Coast region offering primary and specialty care, as well as pharmacy services. For over 40 years, Legacy has been innovating the ways we provide comprehensive, quality health care services to individuals, families, and communities in need. As the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Texas and a United Way-affiliated agency since 1990, Legacy ensures its services and programs are open to all, regardless of the ability to pay—without judgment or exception. To learn more, visit www.legacycommunityhealth.org.