Get Involved

Further your involvement through volunteerism

NEHA’s community of dedicated members may contribute their expertise and time in a variety of ways to strengthen our field and advance their skills and connections. Volunteering not only serves the association but also makes the work of Environmental Health professionals more visible.

Ongoing Opportunities within NEHA

You are already a member and now you want to contribute more! One of the best ways is to consider volunteering for a leadership position. Here are some of the opportunities offered to our members:

Technical Advisor (TA) — This year-long appointment is made each summer by the NEHA President. TAs provide subject-matter expertise and counsel to the NEHA board, staff, affiliates, and membership on environmental health professionals' latest developments and educational needs. Mostly, this takes the form of assisting with the development of NEHA’s Annual Educational Conference sessions.

Credential Exam Reviewer — NEHA routinely reviews the relevancy of its credentials. Individuals with a NEHA credential are needed to conduct a thorough evaluation of job task analyses and exam items/questions to ensure that the credentials are up to date and accurately reflect the profession they represent.

Peer Reviewer for the Journal of Environmental Health (JEH) — Scientific manuscripts submitted to the JEH for publication consideration go through a peer-review process. Peer reviewers are subject matter experts who provide constructive comments designed to help the author produce a better article, as well as provide direction on the suitability of the manuscript for publication.

Social Media Contributor — These members will help us share the latest news stories, policy changes, and issues in the environmental health profession using social media channels. Social media contributors collaborate with NEHA staff to engage the community with the information they need to stay updated, informed, and relevant in the EH profession.

Subject Matter Expert (SME) — NEHA routinely participates in environmental public health workgroups and projects, develops training, and reviews and updates course materials. Subject matter experts are needed to assist in these efforts in various topic areas, ensure appropriate representation of the environmental health profession, and that developed training and materials are relevant, up-to-date, and accurately reflect the needs of the environmental health professional and community. This role is outside that of the Technical Advisor, and the Journal and Credential Peer Reviewer.

Run for a NEHA Board position — For those who are ready to commit even more time and energy, it might be time to consider running for a spot on the NEHA board. Elections are held each March.

VOLUNTEER TODAY

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS

One-off Opportunities within NEHA

If your schedule does not allow for an ongoing commitment, there are still opportunities for you to be involved. Here are some one-off ways that you can share your experience with NEHA:

Submit an idea for a blog post— The Day in the Life of an EH Professional Blog is a quick and fun way to tell the stories of our profession. If you have a story idea or topic you’re interested in, we welcome contributions from members at membership@neha.org.

Submit an Annual Educational Conference (AEC) session proposal— In submitting an abstract, you are contributing to advancing your colleagues' professional development and enrichment. A call for abstracts is sent to our members each fall.

Submit a nomination for an AAM award—We take pride in recognizing outstanding individuals and groups who have dedicated themselves to excellence within the field of environmental health. Nomination periods begin each fall. Learn more about NEHA's awards program.

Connect with a NEHA Affiliate—Joining one of our affiliate organizations allows you to be a part of a community of individuals who live in your state and/or share your specific area with environmental health.

Opportunities Outside of NEHA

Environmental Health professionals are frontline workers when disasters strike. Those who have recently retired or are just entering the field are often be looking for opportunities to serve in this area. NEHA has compiled a list of national organizations that may require EH related assistance in the event of an emergency or otherwise:

Medical Reserve Corps  

MRC is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. It comprises more than 200,000 volunteers in roughly 800 community-based units located throughout the United States and its territories.

AmeriCorps 

AmeriCorps is a voluntary civil society program that engages adults in public service work to strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. 

The Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professional 

ESAR-VHP is a federal program created to support states and territories in establishing standardized volunteer registration programs for disasters and public health and medical emergencies.

Citizen Corps 

Citizen Corps is a national network of over 1,200 state, local, and tribal councils that bring together local government, business, and community leaders who work to prepare their communities for disaster and to make them more resilient. 

American Red Cross

Red Cross volunteers work to deliver vital services from providing relief and support to those in crisis, to helping you be prepared to respond in emergencies.

AARP “Create the Good” program

Create the good connects volunteers with opportunities to share life experiences and skills within their community. People of all ages are welcome to volunteer.

Volunteers of America 

Volunteers of America services are delivered through a partnership of professional staff dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential.

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster 

National VOAD is a forum for sharing knowledge and coordinating resources — money, materials, and manpower – throughout the disaster cycle: preparation, response, and recovery.