The National Institute for Work and Learning will support two area colleges to offer a substance use disorder and mental health counselor apprenticeship recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor
DURHAM, N.C. – As part of the National Institute for Work and Learning’s (NIWL) apprenticeship programs, NIWL is partnering with New Ways to Work, Cuesta College and East Los Angeles College to offer a substance use disorder and mental health counselor apprenticeship in Southern California.
The apprenticeship will equip employers with the resources needed to recruit and retain workers who have life experiences relevant to the communities they serve, while providing apprentices with an opportunity to build their skills.
“The expected demand for jobs related to mental health is predicted to be triple that of a typical U.S. job over the next decade,” says Lisa Johnson, director of the National Institute for Work and Learning at FHI 360. “Because of the potential barriers to entering this field – such as high education costs and traditional licensing requirements – the substance use disorder and mental health counselor apprenticeship aims to offer a career pipeline to strengthen the overall mental health workforce and train those eager to help their communities while simultaneously working and learning.”
Through a combination of paid, on-the-job learning and coursework, apprentices will gain an alternative, rigorous and rewarding point of entry into a profession that traditionally requires post-secondary education. Upon completion, program participants receive state-recognized certificate of completion and a nationally recognized credential from the U.S. Department of Labor.
“Getting an education while having a full-time job is incredibly challenging,” says Alyssa Rubal, grants manager for East Los Angeles College. “For employers that want employees to have formal training, apprenticeships offer an ideal path to foster a workforce that is more skilled, more productive and more likely to be retained.”
Registered apprenticeships consist of 2,000 hours of paid on the job learning and 150 hours of coursework, wherein substance use disorder and mental health counselor apprentices will learn active listening, relationship-building, research skills, healthcare system navigation and more.
To learn more, please visit: https://niwl.fhi360.org/apprenticeships/
About NIWL
FHI 360’s National Institute for Work and Learning (NIWL) advances solutions in education and workforce systems. We focus on two key drivers of individual well-being – education and employment – to improve lives. NIWL seeks to strengthen the capacity of public and private organizations, providing information, resources, and support needed to make decisions, strengthen programs, and improve outcomes for individuals.
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media@fhi360.org