The Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, is working with employers across the State of Minnesota to expand employment opportunities for the Community Health Worker (CHW).
Benefits of Apprenticeship
Employer can utilize CHW (certificate holder or student) at a high level in these areas: registration/intake, health education, service/care coordination, community fairs/events, outreach and more! CHW apprentice acquires valuable experience and career training, growth, and advancement in the CHW profession. CHW may be eligible for additional stipend.
Employer must be a registered apprenticeship site.
Apprenticeship Sites
- Ready Set Smile – Twin Cities Metro area
- Winona Health Services – Winona, MN
*This list will be updated as more sites become registered.
CHW students:
- Choose an organization from the list.
- Contact the organization (phone or direct email contact)
- Ask to speak with someone regarding potential internship opportunities or email the appropriate contact person.
- Connect with your school’s CHW Internship Instructor for direct contact information at organizations, and for a list of other potential internship opportunities.
- Angel Foundation (multiple counties)
- The Annex (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Apple Tree Dental (multiple counties)
- ACHLA (Rochester, surrounding areas)
- Alliance of Chicanos, Hispanics, and Latin Americans (ACHLA)
- Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging (AAAA) – (NE MN, including Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis counties Carlton-Cook-Lake
- St. Louis Community Health Board (Carlton, Cook, Lake, St. Louis counties)
- CAPI (Twin Cities Metro Area)
- Community University Health Care Center (CUHCC) (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Ely Well Being Development (Ely, MN)
- Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (multiple counties)
- Hennepin County Public Health
- House of Sanctuary (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Hmong American Partnership (HAP) (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Hue-Man Group (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Kiwi Collaborative (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Lutheran Social Services (multiple counties)
- Neighborhood Health Source (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Ready Set Smile (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Roots Birth Center (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Raices Sagradas Community Mental Health (bi-lingual or Spanish speaking preferred) (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Riverwood Healthcare (Aitkin, MN and surrounding area)
- Sanford Health (Bemidji, MN)
- Scott County Public Health Department
- Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC) (Worthington, MN and surrounding area)
- UCare (multiple counties)
- Vail Place (Twin Cities Metro area)
- Whitney Senior Center (Stearns County)
- Winona Health Services (Winona, MN)
Frequently Asked Questions for CHWs & Employers
Who can be a CHW Apprentice at a Registered Apprenticeship?
You are eligible to be an apprentice at an apprenticeship registered with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry if you are a CHW Certificate holder or if you are in your last semester of the CHW Certificate Program at any of the accredited Minnesota schools who offer the certificate program.
How do I become an apprentice?
Employers who have established a registered apprenticeship program through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry choose their own apprentices. For a list of employers who have established or are starting apprenticeship programs, contact apprenticeship@MNCHWAlliance.org
What are the benefits of being an apprentice?
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has requirements that employers who operate apprenticeships must follow. These include:
- Employers determine wage and must provide benefits to apprentices
- Wage must increase with training and education hours and at the end of the 12-month program be a living wage as determined by MN Department of Labor and Industry (adjusted by region/ area of employment)
- Apprentices must be employed full time (at least 32 hours per week)
- Employers must provide safety training (at least 50 hours)
- Minimum of 144 hours of relevant educational instruction must be provided (this can include the CHW Certificate Program at an accredited institution)
- On-site mentor who will guide apprentices through the training and education.
- At the end of the apprenticeship experience (1 year), apprentices will have a nationally recognized credential, and will stay on as an employee of the organization
What will the Community Health Worker Training Program (CHWTP) do to enhance the apprenticeship experience?
- Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance staff can help connect you with apprenticeship sites and other employment opportunities
- MNCHWA staff will connect with both you and your employer over the apprenticeship period to check-in
- You may apply for a $7500 stipend paid for by the grant
Interested in participating?
Contact Vonyee Howard at apprenticeship@mnchwalliance.org
Already received an offer letter for a registered apprenticeship?
Who can participate in this program?
The Community Health Worker (CHW) apprenticeship program is for any organization that would like to participate.
What is the difference between employing CHWs and offering a Registered Apprenticeship Program for CHWs?
Registered apprenticeships differ from traditional employment because of the infrastructure, support and accountability from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and required training and education. As an employer, you would be required to provide a mentor for the trainee and on-the-job training. This registered apprenticeship is a one-year program, and the assumption is that the apprentice will continue as an employee after the apprenticeship is complete.
Minnesota department of Labor and Industry Apprenticeship Requirements:
- Apprentices must be employed full time (at least 32 hours per week)
- Employers determine wage and must provide benefits to apprentices
- Wage must increase with training and education hours and at the end of the 12-month program be a living wage as determined by MN Department of Labor and Industry (adjusted by region/ area of employment)
- Employers must provide safety training (at least 50 hours)
- Minimum of 144 hours of relevant educational instruction must be provided (this can include the CHW Certificate Program at an accredited intuition)
- Program is meant to be one year and requires a minimum of 2000 hours
How can the Community Health Worker Training Program (CHWTP) help employers?
- Connect CHWs with your site
- Help you understand the scope of practice, roles and strengths of the CHW profession
- Help you decide if your organization would be best suited for the apprenticeship program, a field experience placement or traditional employment site for CHWs
- Connect with both you and your apprentices(es) over the apprenticeship period to check-in and provide support
- CHWs participating in the CHWTP apprenticeship may apply for a $7500 stipend paid for by the CHWTP
Process for Employers:
- Employers determine if apprenticeship is right for your organization with information and support from CHWTP staff and Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
- Employer registers for apprenticeship through Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
- Employers hire an apprentice
- Apprentices apply for the additional stipend through the CHWTP
I am an employer interested in participating:
For more information about the registered apprenticeship program and other ways CHWs could be added to your workforce, contact Vonyee Howard at: apprenticeship@mnchwalliance.org.
More Information
If you are interested in more information about the registered apprenticeship program and other ways CHWs can be added to your workforce, contact Vonyee Howard at: apprenticeship@mnchwalliance.org.