Serve as an Individual

VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Authorized in 1964 and founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993. VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than fifty years.

You will be expected to serve for one year (365 days) with a host site. Unfortunately, there is no flexibility on start and end dates. If you choose to leave early, you will forfeit all or most of the education award.

AmeriCorps VISTA is a full-time position. You will be expected to serve 40 hours each week.

Your stipend amount depends on the county in which you serve. This amount is subject to change each fiscal cycle. For the current stipend for Suffolk County, Massachusetts, please refer to the following document (PDF):

VISTA Living Allowance Rates by County – Effective September 8, 2024

You must be a United States citizen, US national, or a legal permanent resident of the United States to be a VISTA. You must be at least 18 years old, but there is no upper age limit. Other eligibility requirements are determined by the host site.

AmeriCorps VISTA members at Boston Medical Center serve full time for a year with various BMC pediatric programs. VISTAs perform indirect service, which means they help build the capacity of organizations to deliver valuable direct services to people affected by poverty.

VISTAs typically create new programs, write grants, create workflows, and recruit volunteers. For example, a VISTA could establish a social/emotional well-being program, raise money for the program, and recruit and train volunteers, but they would not directly facilitate (lead) any of the courses/workshops, unless doing so for a limited period would assist with overall understanding of program.

It depends on the program. AmeriCorps VISTA members may be allowed to work remotely, or “teleserve,” from their home or another location. For example, members might work from home for two days and at 801 Albany Street (the BMC pediatric staff office building) for three days per week.

However, some programs prefer to have their members serve in-person full time.

VISTA intermediary sponsors are organizations that grant VISTA positions to other organizations (in our case, pediatric programs) and act as intermediaries between the national VISTA program and these “host sites.”

Each sponsor site stipulates that its VISTA host site positions focus on a specific issue area, such as early childhood, transition-aged youth (teenagers becoming adults), children with intellectual disabilities, or community partnerships, with the overarching goal of alleviating poverty.

The BMC AmeriCorps Intermediary Program provides administrative support to its host sites and professional development opportunities to its participating VISTA members.

BMC’s AmeriCorps Intermediary Program focuses on creating systems that lead to healthier outcomes for our patient population. A significant portion of our patients are from the greater Boston area — Mattapan, Dorchester, Roxbury — and experience inequitable access to health care.

Each affiliated BMC program focuses on a unique pediatric patient population and establishes necessary intervention. Other sponsor sites in Massachusetts may focus on literacy, veterans’ services, employment, or education.

You are free to apply to any open position at Boston Medical Center.

To view the current open positions and apply, please complete this form:

BMC AmeriCorps VISTA: Applicant Survey

To apply to serve at BMC with AmeriCorps VISTA, please complete this form:

BMC AmeriCorps VISTA: Applicant Survey