Introduction to Healthcare employment and Apprenticeship Program (IHAP)

Steve’s Success Story

After completing the Introduction to Healthcare employment and Apprenticeship Program (IHAP) program and Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) training in about three months, Steve Nicholson is now an NA-C/Patient Safety Assistant at Providence Swedish.  

Steve’s personal experience and his own healthcare challenges played a defining role in his decision to pursue a career in healthcare. He learned about and enrolled in our IHAP program after searching for an entry-point into the healthcare field. 

“The compassionate nurses and staff who cared for me during those difficult times left an indelible mark. Their unwavering support, empathy, and dedication motivated me to pursue a career in healthcare. Now, I strive to make a difference for others, just as they did for me,” he shares.  

IHAP students learn medical terminology and prepare for a career in healthcare. The program also teaches life skills like time management, interview skills, cultural awareness, and more. Acknowledging the difficulties of pursuing a new career path, Steve says, “balancing academic commitments and career exploration can be challenging. However, I was able to successfully prioritize tasks and learn better time management skills.”  

The Training Fund is committed to creating viable entry-level pathway programs into the healthcare sector for people like Steve. But more importantly, we also focus on providing them with the wraparound support to overcome barriers and achieve their goals.  Steve’s example illustrates this:

“The Training fund provided support in all facets of my journey. It is as if they anticipated all my needs and challenges that I may encounter. This included financial support, studying and exam preparation, career options and mentorship.”

The mix of classroom and hands-on experience is also very useful for these entry-level students. “The team helps you transition from structured classroom learning to unstructured clinical environments. They guide you through the nuances of medicine and provide insights into patient-provider relationships,“ says Steve. 

He specifically credits Benjamin (at our IHAP partner Seattle Jobs Initiative) for his help during Phase 1 of IHAP, and his NA-C instructor Tabitha for her support preparing students for the state exam and clinicals. Our team is your community, and we are behind you every step of the way.  

Steve is now planning to pursue a career as a Medical Assistant and eventually a CT Technologist.  This is just the beginning, and he is already inspiring and encouraging family members and others to follow his steps through the IHAP program and dream big.  

“I’ve already started championing the program’s benefits among my colleagues and family. To those seeking a transformative and positive shift in their lives—and the lives of others—I wholeheartedly recommend enrolling in this program. Don’t hesitate; take the leap and experience the profound, life-changing benefits firsthand!” 

Our Members Say it Best!

Rachman’s Success Story

After moving to Washington, Rachman worked at Kaiser Permanente Washington as a Patient Care Technician for two-and-a-half years – yet he dreamt of more for himself and his child. A manager told him about the Training Fund’s HealthCare Apprenticeship Consortium and our various apprenticeship pathway programs. With encouragement from his colleagues, Rachman applied for the Medical Assistant (MA) Apprenticeship program and started training with a cohort at Kaiser Permanente.  

The MA Apprenticeship is an earn-while-you-earn program that allows students to receive on-the-job training in addition to instruction and a skills lab – all while getting paid. Rachman reflects, “One of the main reasons I decided to join the MA program was because it was accommodating a lot of my needs in terms of schedule and salary. I could not afford to be a full-time student and still provide for my child, myself, and my people back home.” He explains how the MA Apprenticeship program has impacted his life, “The program has helped me to improve my knowledge. And it was exciting to be able to work directly with our providers. It also gives me hope that maybe one day I’m going to further my studies.” 

Congratulations, Rachman, on passing the National Medical Assistant Certification Exam! This is just the beginning, because his new schedule as an MA allows him more time to take classes and continue to further his education. The sky is the limit! 

Rachman wants his coworkers and others interested in the apprenticeship program to know that even if you are facing challenges, there are support services and resources available to help with financial barriers. In his words,

“At the end of the tunnel there is a lot of light, take care of yourself, take a break if you need to, go out and dance!”  

Like, Rachman, you too can further your career and we are here to support you. Learn more about our apprenticeship programs and connect with us to find out how we can help you achieve your goals! 

Our Members Say it Best!

Annelie’s Success Story

The biggest roadblock to continued education was balancing this goal with a full-time job. Annelie reflects, “For a long time, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. But I felt like I would not be able to stop working to attend a program, which most nursing programs recommend.” This common challenge affects many healthcare workers, and the Training Fund actively collaborates with our partners to create workable solutions.  

WA state-funded Hospital Employee Education and Training (HEET) grants allow the Training Fund to collaborate with education and employer partners to create programs designed for incumbent workers. HEET funding also helps us provide extra member support resources to cover childcare, transportation, technology, and tutoring. Annelie completed one of these HEET programs and says, “My Training Fund navigator told me about the part-time nursing program at Green River College. It ended up being the perfect fit that allowed me to continue my education while supporting my family.” These HEET programs are vital for meeting healthcare workers where they are and providing the support that they need to succeed. 

While working on the nursing program at Green River, Annelie also had access to a wide variety of Training Fund services. “The Training Fund helped me find a tutor for some of the nursing prerequisite courses that were challenging for me. I ended up doing well in my prerequisites, which made me a strong candidate for nursing programs. I attended a workshop to help me prepare my nursing school application. The Training Fund provided me with a ton of resources to help me prepare for the NCLEX. They even helped me pay for gas to get to my clinicals that were sometimes very far away.” We strive to remove barriers to education and career growth. 

Annelie has overcome challenges through access to resources and inspiration from her family and friends. “My cousin is a Physical Therapist who specializes in women’s health and was a big inspiration for me to further my education. She has supported me the whole way with lots of encouragement. Some of my close friends are nurses, and they also provided a lot of support and motivation, especially when school was very challenging.” The people you have in your corner make a difference! 

At the Training Fund, we know it is not just about providing resources, but also uplifting our members and building connections. Annelie appreciates this and says, “My navigator Melanie has been amazing. The Training Fund has changed my life trajectory in a major way.”  Annelie’s healthcare journey is just beginning. She was recently accepted into the LPN-RN Bridge program at Highline College. Congratulations, we believe in you, Annelie! 

Many obstacles can make going back to school seem impossible, but like Annelie, with the right support you can follow your dreams and accomplish your goals.  

Annelie shares this sentiment, “I would encourage my co-workers who are even thinking about going back to school to talk to the Training Fund. Their financial and practical support with things like applications and resumes has been hugely helpful in furthering my career”. We are here to support you in your educational and career journey.   

Our Members Say it Best!

Reinhardt’s Success Story

It has not always been easy for Reinhardt to connect his past to who he is now, and he confesses to experiencing some amount of imposter syndrome as his future continues to expand. “The opportunities that have been given to me leave me feeling like I am living someone else’s life. When I look back on choices I have made in my life, and how I was before my journey of recovery, this is a road and path that was not on the horizon. ”

“ I know that this is where I am supposed to be, and the challenge is remembering that.”

Despite the challenge, Reinhardt remains driven in his purpose to help others, and it is why he decided to pursue the SUDP Apprenticeship. “I wanted to create opportunities for those seeking help and eliminate the hoops and obstacles. I wanted to collaborate with community partners and provide community wrap-around care to those who are sick. I wanted to identify creative solutions on how to tailor a support program to the person, instead of the person to the program.” The SUDP Apprenticeship allows Reinhardt to grow into this behavioral healthcare pathway while building relationships now and receiving hands-on training and support.  

The SUDP Apprentice program affords Reinhardt the opportunity to experience a diverse range of programs and contexts, including: Men’s Residential, Women’s Residential, Pregnant Parenting Women’s Residential, Withdrawal Management, Intensive Outpatient, Outpatient, Crisis Triage and Stabilization, Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA), Homeless Outreach Stabilization and Transition (HOST), support with walk-in assessments, and Jail Transition Services/Jail Reentry Services with our Therapeutic Courts.  

And Reinhardt is already planning his future career as an SUDP Professional! “I am in the process of proposing an outpatient group that is tailored to our unhoused community members. My goal is to create an outpatient group that will build unity within these communities. I can eliminate obstacles by bringing treatment to them that is tailored to their needs in an equitable way.” With motivation from his parents, a drive for improving systems, and passion for building unity within communities, Reinhardt’s journey is just getting started. 

As Reinhardt reflects on the apprenticeship program, he says, “I don’t wake up wondering what I am doing with my life anymore. The apprenticeship program has given my life purpose.” The SUDP Apprenticeship has enabled Reinhardt to collaborate with clients and build rapport to assist others in making real life changes now. “The Training Fund/HCAC has created an opportunity that has already been changing and saving lives,” says Reinhardt. 

Congratulations, Reinhardt, on your many successes, 10 years in recovery, and all your hard work to improve lives!  

Learn more about the Training Fund’s HCAC Behavioral Healthcare Apprenticeship Programs.  

Our Members Say it Best!

Lexi & Shelly’s Success Story

Since joining the MA Apprenticeship program, Lexi Young has also utilized supportive services to remove barriers and complete the program

Alexis (Lexi) Young is a busy mother of five and a Medical Assistant at Neighborcare Health. She began her journey to become a Medical Assistant in Louisiana, but natural disasters and related obstacles forced her to relocate. “After my area was damaged by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Gustav, I became very ill. I moved back and forth from Louisiana to Seattle three times – and it felt like my dream to become a medical assistant would never be possible.”

Yet Lexi persevered, and eventually joined as a Patient Service Representative at Neighborcare Health in 2021. “I heard about the Medical Assistant Apprenticeship program through our Union Newsletter. This was the perfect opportunity to restart my journey to become a Medical Assistant.”

Lexi was also able to access supportive services along the way to help her complete the program, like the Training Fund’s laptop lending program.

The Training Fund partners with Neighborcare Health to offer various apprenticeship programs through the Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium. These earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship programs reduce barriers to completion, help build education pathways, and promote retention and sustainability among healthcare workers.

Lexi has now completed the apprenticeship program, “I am now a Registered Medical Assistant. Now here I am doing everything I was trained to do. I was stressed and nervous about all of this before – they gave me the confidence. And now I am a better person for all the things I learned in this program.”

And she continues to build on her goals: “I don’t want to stop here. My dreams are to be either an RN or a (Physician Assistant-Certified) PAC – I will do everything in my power to get there, because I can’t stop”.

Lexi (center) shared her story at the Dec 2024 Training Fund Board meeting.

Pictured here with Training Fund Executive Director, Laura Hopkins (Left), and SEIU Healthcare 1199NW President, Jane Hopkins (right).

 We’re rooting for you, Lexi and Shelly!

Connect with the Training Fund to find out how you can achieve your career and education goals!