The Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) has announced its Registered Apprenticeship Program training participants as Patient Support Staff and Community Health Workers.

ASAC has identified a need to grow the counselor workforce who are trained in substance use and mental health due to the shortage in the healthcare workforce. This apprenticeship program supports the development of critical workers to serve in healthcare roles using an “earn while you learn” model offering mentorship and guidance, full time work while learning and certification upon completion.

ASAC’s Training Manager, Nicole Harrell, has developed a comprehensive program including trauma-informed care, medication management, electronic health records training and supervised work experience. 

“ASAC hopes that education and certification will better prepare workers to maintain employment and will provide for a better paying wage in the behavioral health workforce,” says Executive Director Jeannette Archer-Simmons. “We hope that many individuals who complete this program gain the confidence to go on to pursue additional higher education.”

Sign-up for the first cohort of 2021 has closed but ASAC intends to offer multiple trainings per year.