Apprenticeships answer emerging workforce demands

A Staten Island collaborative of hospitals, community-based providers, organized labor and higher education institutions has developed an apprenticeship program to address emerging workforce demands. The training programs specifically target the impending need for certified nurse aides (CNAs), community health workers (CHWs) and community peer recovery advocates (CPRAs) to address increased demand related to the opioid crisis. According to an American Hospital Association Workforce Capacity Case Study, two-thirds of the participants were home health aides who moved from $10 per hour positions to unionized CNA positions with benefits and a starting salary of $17 per hour. The program also trained CHWs to help “direct patients to the right care within the community and reduce reliance on the emergency department (ED) as a place for primary care.” The CRPAs can use their lived experiences and recovery to provide empathy and pathways to recovery for patients they counsel. The coalition says the apprenticeships have reduced turnover and overtime costs while improving staff communication, teamwork and morale. The case study also includes lessons learned and plans for further expanding the program.