Our Apprentices say it best!

Elizabeth’s Success Story

Elizabeth Napoleon, a mom, cycle breaker, and Suquamish Tribal member, is a Substance Use Disorder Professional Apprentice at the Suquamish Tribal Wellness Center.

The apprenticeship program offers wrap-around support and is structured to help apprentices succeed through the apprenticeship and beyond. They get paid through their training and earn college credit. The cohort model also creates a built-in community. Having a supportive community has been essential in Elizabeth’s success. She continues to push herself and follow her purpose in helping others.  

“My biggest motivation has been my child, who reminds me daily why I chose to break generational cycles. I’ve also been inspired by tribal elders, mentors, and counselors who believed in me even when I doubted myself. Their encouragement showed me that healing doesn’t just happen individually—it happens collectively, when we lift each other up.” 

Elizabeth is using her training and lived experience to lift others up and to continue learning and serving her tribal community. The apprenticeship program is giving her the knowledge and clinical skills to become a fully credentialed SUDP.  

“Beyond that, I want to continue serving my tribal community, building programs for youth and families, and helping others reconnect to culture as part of recovery. It means everything to me. It’s more than just a job, it’s about giving back to the very people and community that shaped me. Working for my tribe is an honor and a responsibility. It allows me to bring culturally grounded healing, acknowledge our shared history, and help create a healthier future for the next generation. Long-term, I hope to mentor the next generation of counselors from our tribe, so this healing work continues to grow.” 

The SUDP apprenticeship program is a pathway for growth. Elizabeth continues to grow professionally and personally with the support of this program. She encourages others to consider this path too.  

“If you have a heart for helping others and you want to make a difference, this program is an incredible opportunity. It won’t always be easy, but it’s worth it. You’ll gain not just skills and education, but also a sense of purpose, connection, and strength. The apprenticeship opens doors—not only to a career, but to personal growth and healing.” 

Our Apprentices say it best!

Lanae’s Success Story

Lanae Seaworth was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington and has found her purpose in giving back to her community and helping others see their potential through peer counseling.

Lanae is a Peer Support Specialist Apprentice at Valeo Vocation, an organization that has participated in the apprenticeship program since 2022. The Peer Support Specialist Apprenticeship includes 29 hours of classroom instruction and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training with support from a mentor. Lanae started the Peer Apprenticeship program in October 2024 and completed her coursework in May 2025. She continues to receive mentorship from Calvin Fahnestock, [insert link to his story] who graduated from the first cohort at Valeo Vocation.  

Lanae began working in the mental health field about eight years ago. While working in this field, she realized she had a desire to better connect with people, especially because she understood so many of their stories. This led her to discover her passion for peer counseling.  

“When I joined Valeo, I began as a Case Manager. At that time, the organization was working to expand its approach by incorporating not only case managers but also peer counselors to better support our participants.” 

A Certified Peer Specialist brings their own model of resilience to benefit patients and enables them to overcome obstacles associated with substance use and other behavioral health disorders. Having personally navigated mental health challenges, addiction, domestic violence, and homelessness, Lanae has now been sober for 13 years and will remain committed to this journey every day. Lanae’s lived experiences fuel her desire to give back to the community and help others see their own potential for growth and healing. 

Her early life was marked by challenges, including a turbulent home environment that led to separated parents. This difficult start pushed her towards unhealthy coping mechanisms, and by the age of 15 she was drinking heavily. By 19, shewas using substances and drifting from place to place. At 22, Lanae met her children’s father, and though they both struggled with addiction, she took her first brief step toward sobriety when she had her first child at 26. However, she relapsed until her second child was born when she was 30.

When her son was just three weeks shy of turning one, he experienced an accidental drug poisoning but survived. That moment served as her wake-up call, leading her to leave behind that past and pursue a new life. She moved to a new city, hoping for a fresh start, but after a car accident due to alcohol use, she found herself facing community service and substance abuse classes. That is when she lost everything and became homeless with two young children, but refused to give up. 

She has now obtained her certification, and this is just the beginning of her journey. 

“I am earning college credits that contribute toward my goal of furthering my education, with the possibility of becoming a Substance Use Disorder Counselor. However, I’m still considering whether that is the path I want to pursue. Earning my Peer Certification has allowed me to shift into a more peer-centered role, meeting clients where they are. This transition has created stronger connections between staff and participants. People feel more comfortable and trusting, knowing that no matter their need, there’s someone who can assist.” 

Through empathy, understanding, and guidance, Lanae strives to help others overcome their personal obstacles and rebuild their lives. 

Our Apprentices say it best!

Calvin’s Success Story

Calvin Fahnestock, CJ, graduated from the first Peer Support Specialist Apprenticeship Cohort at Valeo Vocation. Now he is a mentor for the program, has been promoted to Facilities Manager, and is continuing his education.  

Valeo Vocation in Tacoma, Washington, has partnered with us since 2022 on the first Peer Apprenticeship Cohort. They also partner with us for the Substance Use Disorder Professional Apprenticeship. The Peer Support Specialist Apprenticeship program highlights the impact of stories and creating communities of support. 

CJ had been experiencing homelessness for seven years and struggling with drug addiction when he began his own recovery journey. Tacoma Rescue Mission’s search and rescue team made contact with CJ at the end of a trailhead he had been living at for several years. They offered him essentials and shared the New Life Recovery program as a resource. He thought “Anything will help, right? I want to get my life back.” The next day he went to the mission and joined the one-year recovery program.  

After putting in effort to change, he returned to doing electrical work, a job he used to love, but he started feeling stagnant. Looking for more fulfillment, he moved back to Tacoma, his hometown. That is when he found an opportunity to work for Valeo Vocation, a non-profit geared towards ending homelessness and drug addiction through barrier reduction.  

CJ believes the positive community created through the apprenticeship cohort model made it possible for him to succeed. He values having a growth mindset and says going through the program with others also striving to be their best made the coursework and apprenticeship more meaningful.  

“The apprenticeship gave me both the courage and the tools to advocate for myself, to seek growth, and to aim higher than I ever imagined possible. This program can do the same for anyone willing to step forward. The skills, encouragement, and confidence you gain will not only change your own life but also allow you to impact the lives of others.” 

CJ completed the apprenticeship program and became a Certified Peer Counselor in August 2024, but he has continued to strive to learn more and support others. He is pursuing further education in project management and is working as the Facilities Manager at Valeo Vocation. He shares, “What drives me to pursue project management is knowing that I can help people stay in a safe place and help build a positive community.” CJ is also now a mentor to his first mentee, Lanae Seaworth, who is in the fourth Peer Support Specialist cohort. 

“When my organization invited me to become a mentor, they supported me every step of the way. That encouragement gave me the confidence to say yes. I really enjoy being a mentor because I’m an uplifter. I am an encourager, and I like guiding people in a positive way. Being a mentor to Lanae has been huge not just for her growth, but mine as well.  

My perspective has broadened—not only do I support people in their recovery, but I also mentor peers as they work toward becoming peer specialists themselves. Today, my role extends beyond helping individuals pursue sobriety; I also help guide others in their professional journeys. This shift has been deeply rewarding.” 

Read Lanae’s Story

This is just the beginning for CJ as he continues to learn how to be his best self. He has found stability and purpose. He was recently married and received custody of one of his children.  

“I couldn’t be in a better place today. I live in a beautiful home, and I get to go to work and serve people every day. I give a big part of the success that I’m going through right now, to the success I was able to achieve during the apprenticeship.” 

Our Learners say it best!

Kidist’s Success Story

Kidist Tessema, a mother, immigrant, and future nurse has just passed the Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) Exam after completing the Introduction to Healthcare Employment & Apprenticeship Program (IHAP) course in June and the Nursing Assistant-Certified training program in August.

When she was looking for a CNA program, she learned about the Training Fund’s IHAP course. She delayed signing up to prioritize her family as she was having a baby, but then jumped right into the class in May. 

“I started with IHAP, and they helped me learn to write a resume and how to do a lot of things. They are like family now and everyone tries to help. When I call, they answer. They really are there for us and I want to thank them.” 

Taking the IHAP course and going on to the Nursing Assistant Training program with a newborn and a seven-year-old was incredibly challenging for her. 

“Because I couldn’t work, it was a really hard time. In the middle of class I thought, ‘I have to go back to work. I can’t pay my bills.’ I was stressed. It was very hard for me not going to work. I also had to leave my baby and needed a babysitter. When we started the skills lab, I was going to give up. But Yusuf, our IHAP Navigator, encouraged me and helped me a lot. He told me not to worry and that the program would support me.” 

Financial assistance and a community of support made it possible for Kidist to continue pursuing her goal. She is determined to keep learning and finds purpose in helping people. Kidist also encourages others looking for a good job to think about a career in healthcare. 

“I love this job. I was crying seeing people suffering, but it is very nice to see I can do something to help them and that is my goal, so it makes me very happy. This position is very good for my future. Helping people and just being there for them to do small things makes a difference. I love this job.”  

This is just the beginning for Kidist as she continues in her healthcare journey and pursuit of becoming a nurse.  

“You helped me and now I think I can do it and even go on to study more. It might take longer, but I can do it. Thank you!”