Early Childcare Educator Apprentices Improve Lives of Workers and Community Story Image

Early Childcare Educator Apprentices Improve Lives of Workers and Community

In DuPage County, many ar... +
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Date: 02/27/2024
Career Pathway: Education and Training
Program: Apprenticeship Illinois
Impacted Geographical Area: County
Location of Service: 60137-6708

In DuPage County, many are turning to apprenticeships to solve staffing shortages. When the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program was announced, Jean Zaar, director of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) at the College of DuPage (COD), knew the time was ripe for her field to enter the apprenticeship game. “This program is something I always wanted to do. We began discussing how we could participate in apprenticeship pre-COVID. The ECACE scholarship program was a blessing that gave us the means to implement the program we had been wanting to develop for a few years.”

With funding from the ECACE Scholarship Program, employers who might otherwise not be able to support apprentices could support their incumbent workers in growing their skill set by providing on-the-job training opportunities. The ECACE scholarship program is available to current and past employees of childcare facilities in Illinois to help them seek further education and credentials to address the shortage of qualified early childhood educators. Members of the ECEC and Project Hire-Ed apprenticeship office at the College of DuPage began meeting in the winter of 2023 to develop a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program that would be student-centered and advantageous to area employers.

Last fall, the first cohort of apprentices began their coursework and on-the-job training. Ten employees from Educare in West Chicago were welcomed, introduced to the support the College of DuPage provides apprentices, and presented with laptops to help them start their journey strong. According to one apprentice in the program, the support provided by the College of DuPage staff helped her find her groove in the program. “When I started the apprenticeship program, I had many doubts and fears (I didn’t know if my English was good enough to study here), but the entire COD team has accompanied me along this path, filling me with words of encouragement.” Now in its second semester, the College of DuPage is excited to announce a 100% success and retention rate achieved through the intentional design of the program.

A cohort model was used to help develop connections and support for the participants. The program also includes on-site mentors who received training to support these apprentices, regular site visits with the apprentices to provide individualized support, and assistance with registration and campus needs. Most significantly, Zaar considered the apprentices' current knowledge, experience, and work schedules when designing the related technical instruction. The program improves accessibility for degree completion by creating a pathway for upskilling the incumbent workforce, acknowledging current and past experience in the childcare field, and recognizing the need for convenience for those trying to balance work, life, and school. The ECEC team developed prior learning assessments and moved courses online to support the schedules of incumbent workers, who previously may not have been available to attend in-person classes.

Zaar is proud of what they were able to accomplish this past semester. “I wanted the apprentices to feel like they were part of COD, even though they weren’t taking classes here on campus. Being present was important so that they knew that we were there. They never felt like they were just left to do anything alone. We helped the apprentices build their confidence, and they all felt like, ‘I can do this.’ And to make someone have those feelings about themselves makes me happy.”

One apprentice sums up how this program has impacted her career, “This apprenticeship program has brought back my spark. It has helped me prove that pursuing a career is never too late. I have become more confident in my work abilities and improved during my teaching.”

In addition to changing the lives of the ten apprentices in the cohort, it produced positive outcomes for the employer and the community.  According to the employer, this program has impacted the community and the families at their school. “It has helped to improve the quality of education provided to children. Staff are better equipped to meet the needs of individual children and families and are more likely to stay up-to-date on the latest research and best practices in early childhood education. This has led to better outcomes for children, families, and the community.”

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Name: Emily
Date: 02/02/2024
Career Pathway: Health Science
Program: Apprenticeship Illinois
Location of Service: 60118-3328

Emily Munoz has always had a passion for nursing since she was little. With a strong desire to help people and support them during times of sickness and pain, she knew she wanted to be a nurse. Due to barriers, she could not begin nursing school immediately after high school. To get work experience, Emily first connected with Elgin Community College (ECC) through the Future Workforce Leaders Program (FWLP), which connects area youth ages 16-24 with opportunities to explore different career paths through paid work experiences and job shadowing.

Through FWLP, Emily was connected with Hanover Township, completing a paid work experience with their Community Health Department. As her paid work experience ended, her WIOA Navigator suggested she explore the CNA Apprenticeship through ECC. In December 2023, Emily completed her CNA course with AVID CNA School, ECC’s RTI vendor, and passed her state exam.

Now a licensed CNA, Emily is completing her on-the-job training with The Vines, a senior care center in Elgin. She loves working with patients and has developed a strong sense of the kind of healthcare worker she aspires to be. As she completes her apprenticeship, Emily takes the necessary prerequisites to enter ECC’s nursing program. Her experience as a CNA apprentice gives her insight into current issues with health care and a chance to refine her basic skills, making her an excellent candidate for the nursing program.

Starting Over in the U.S. Story Image

Starting Over in the U.S.

Salim Medjdouba immigrate... +
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Name: Salim
Date: 02/02/2024
Career Pathway: Manufacturing
Program: Apprenticeship Illinois
Location of Service: 60118-2856

Salim Medjdouba immigrated to the United States from Algeria in 2022. With a degree in commercial and management sciences from the University of Boumerdes, he set out to establish his life in a new country. Thanks to family connections, he settled in the Elgin region. With experience as a machine operator, he found employment at a local manufacturer working as a materials handler, moving on to roles in production assembly as he worked to find his fit in the workplace.

Fluent in three languages, Salim knew he needed to master a fourth, English, for his career to flourish truly. In September 2023, he enrolled in Elgin Community College’s (ECC) English as a Second Language (ESL) Program, hoping to become proficient enough to enroll in the college’s technical courses. While in the ECC ESL program, Salim heard about ECC’s free Pre-Apprenticeship in Manufacturing. He and a family friend signed up to take the course together. Salim began the program eager to learn how to translate his technical knowledge into English, finding a common language on the machine floor. Salim passed all pre-apprenticeship classes, earning his OSHA-10 card and Forklift Driver certification. He then successfully interviewed for a materials handler job with a well-known local manufacturing company. As he began his new job, Salim was grateful for the chance to upskill and get into a company with upward mobility and opportunities. His new employer, Elgin Sweeper, is also on ECC’s target list to develop registered apprenticeships; hiring one of our pre-apprentices opened the door for those discussions in 2024.

Learning Best Practices Story Image

Learning Best Practices

Community partners travel... +
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Date: 01/29/2024
Career Pathway: Not Available
Program: Apprenticeship Illinois
Location of Service: 61821-1818

Community partners traveled to West Michigan to identify best practices for apprenticeship expansion and local collaboration. Employers and community organizations discussed DEIA strategies; the community college shared public-private partnerships involvement in economic development and a trusted training provider; and the local workforce board provided insight into industry councils and apprenticeship expansion. Illinois partners included representatives from the local workforce board, local government, community college, and other stakeholders.