In 2013, Shawnee Health developed a “grow your own” program addressing the need for more healthcare staff to serve the community in their Clinical Behavioral Health (Counseling) department. Shawnee hired individuals with a Master’s degree in Social Work or Psychology, requiring at least two (2) years of supervised experience to sit for a licensing exam. Senior counselors at Shawnee provided the required supervision during normal work hours — a benefit not always available without cost to counselors in training. As Behavioral Health Care Managers, the new staff were able to provide individual and group counseling along with screenings, assessments, and other patient support while under the supervision and guidance of a more experienced clinician. To date, Shawnee’s “grow your own” counseling program has hired, trained, and prepared seven (7) future licensed counselors plus two (2) additional staff currently in the supervised training program, for an average of one (1) new person per year. Of the seven (7) staff who have achieved full licensure, four (4) remain with Shawnee, including the first to go through the program in 2013, who is now serving as the Clinical Behavioral Health Director.
Shawnee Health participates in DOL Apprenticeship Programs to develop a skilled workforce
During the pandemic in 2020, Shawnee, like many employers, experienced substantial staffing challenges. Shawnee recognized that there were individuals in our local communities who wanted to work in healthcare but had experienced barriers to employment. Many individuals were unable attend traditional educational institutions full-time while working to support their families, and some adults struggled with traditional classroom learning with practical application at a later date. Becoming a certified medical assistant took several months, and dental assistants faced years to complete the certification process.
To address these issues, Shawnee expanded their “grow your own” programs to include paid registered apprenticeships in partnership with Man-Tra-Con Corporation and the Department of Labor. The apprenticeship program trains individuals to become certified staff through an educational course, on-the-job training, and coaching from experienced clinicians. Apprentices are hired as employees and paid for all on-the-job training hours. In October 2021, Shawnee and Man-Tra-Con successfully registered the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program. In November 2021, Shawnee and Man-Tra-Con successfully registered the Dental Assistant Apprenticeship Program. In December 2022, Shawnee and Man-Tra-Con successfully registered the Community Health Worker Apprenticeship Program.
In spring 2022, Shawnee began its first Medical Assistant Apprenticeship program in partnership with the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA). To date, Shawnee has successfully completed four (4) apprenticeships, with one (1) currently in progress, one starting in September 2024, and one (1) upcoming for spring 2025. Shawnee has a success rate of 100% for apprentices completing the program, with the majority of them receiving high honors throughout the entirety of the NIMAA coursework. Thirteen (13) of the fifteen (15) apprentices are still working with Shawnee as Certified Medical Assistants.
Shawnee began its first Dental Assistant Apprenticeship with participants enrolled at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale in spring 2022. To date, Shawnee has successfully completed one (1) apprenticeship and has begun three (3) additional apprenticeships. Of the eight (8) enrolled, two (2) have completed the apprenticeship program as Certified Dental Assistants. While one (1) apprentice exited the program, the remaining five (5) continue their progress toward certification. Even while in training, the apprentices serve approximately 1,800 patients per year.
In fall 2022, Shawnee began its first Community Health Worker Apprenticeship in partnership with NIMAA. NIMAA developed the educational coursework using guidance provided by the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) regarding the specific competencies the state of Illinois will require for future community health worker licensing. The apprenticeship program trains individuals through educational coursework and on-the-job training to become community health workers, serving as a liaison between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality-of-service delivery. Apprentices are hired as employees and paid for all learning and on-the-job training hours. To date, Shawnee has successfully completed one (1) apprenticeship with a success rate of 100% for apprentices completing the program. Of the six (6) apprentices, three (3) are still working with Shawnee as Community Health Workers. As the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) works on the design and implementation of a licensing process for community health workers, Shawnee routinely provides feedback from both the perspective of an employer of community health workers and as community health workers working in the role.
Through apprenticeships, “grow your own” programs, and the assistance of local partners, Shawnee has successfully enhanced and stabilized its workforce while contributing to the economic viability of the local workforce, as well as expanded access to care for its community.