A new grant-funded health program will position Drake University as a strategic leader in community health across the state and increase financial aid to Drake students who are engaged in public service, the university announced.

The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service issued $166,348 in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service to launch the new AmeriCorps Community Health Coaches Program.

The program will enable 10 full-time and 10 part-time AmeriCorps members — a combination of graduate and undergraduate students at Drake University — to go into both rural and underserved urban areas across Iowa to develop practices that improve the health of residents in those communities.

“The program is a model for national service and utilizing private-public partnerships to meet measurable outcomes related to health in our state,” said Mandi McReynolds, director of community engagement and service-learning at Drake. “It demonstrates Drake University’s commitment to serve the communities of which we are a part and become a national leader in innovation around service, community and economic development, and education.”

AmeriCorps members will serve as liaisons between Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative and local schools, businesses and community organizations to foster the establishment of smarter lunchrooms, safer walking routes to schools, community gardens and tobacco-free workplaces.

“We are excited to partner with Drake University to build capacity within local communities to support our efforts to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation,” said Jami Haberl, executive director of the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative.

Nonprofits, municipalities, schools and government agencies interested in serving as host sites may apply online until July 24.