Welcome to the first issue of the Apprenticeship SEPA E-Newsletter.  We created this e-newsletter to keep you informed about what’s happening with apprenticeships in the region, nation, and world, as well as spotlight the hard-working partners and apprentices that make these programs a success.  I’ll use this space to provide any important updates and/or thoughts that I have about apprenticeships.  I hope you find this e-newsletter informative and insightful, and please don’t hesitate to contact us with any suggestions for future issues.  For this first issue, I thought it appropriate to include a story of why I do this work. 

So, why apprenticeship?  I’m constantly asked this question from employers, partners, and individuals in my professional and personal life, and when asked, I point to the picture above.  The young man in the middle is a first-year welding apprentice at Philly Shipyard and to his right is his former high school welding instructor.  We took this picture during National Apprenticeship Week in November 2016, and we took a similar picture about 2 years ago, when I dropped off his first paycheck after placing him in a summer internship at Philly Shipyard.  His summer internship grew to a school year internship to yet another summer internship and eventually to an apprenticeship upon graduation.

This process wasn’t without it’s bumps along the way, particularly with his math skills not being at the right level, but this young man persisted, constantly sending his report cards to the apprenticeship manager, and eventually was able to enter the program.  Now, he is not only on track to being placed in a great job, but on a career pathway to success with family sustaining wages.  It’s stories like these that make me believe in the apprenticeship model and show that with enhanced training and support, anyone can succeed. 
Partner Spotlight: District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund

The District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund's mission is to provide access to career pathways in healthcare and human services through education, training, and work-based learning. Today, the Training Fund serves over 4,000 students annually at the 35,000-square foot Breslin Learning Center in Center City Philadelphia.

The Training Fund recently created a standardized, employer-validated pre-apprenticeship curriculum for Direct Support Professional (DSP) and similar direct care occupations in the behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disability industry targeted at opportunity youth - young people aged 18-24 who are out of work and out of school - and launched the first program cohort in March 2017.  This pre-apprenticeship program will connect students to DSP Registered Apprenticeship programs with employers, including JEVS Human Services, SPIN, Community Behavioral Health (CBH), and Philadelphia Mental Health Care Corporation (PMHCC).  The program curriculum emphasizes industry/career exposure, activity, project, and work-based learning, and other instructional elements to help participants build and demonstrate DSP job competencies.

Resource Center: Youth Apprenticeships
"Where do we begin?" is the first question most people ask when they decide to develop a Youth Apprenticeship program in their community. Check out this guide developed by Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development Division of Employment and Training which identifies ten essential steps in the planning process to start a Youth Apprenticeship program.

Read more here.
Apprentice Spotlight
Brittany Fowler is a 22-year-old young woman who applied for the Behavioral Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Pre-Apprenticeship program upon hearing about it from the nurse aid program staff at District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund. Brittany was one of the top students to complete the nurse aid program in March 2017 and was excited to learn about the pre-apprenticeship program. Her goal is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in social work and help individuals suffering from mental health issues. Brittany eagerly applied for the program, completed the admissions process, and was accepted into the program. Since starting, Brittany has continued to excel, maintaining 100% attendance and being a leader among her peers. 
Employers See Benefit in Apprenticeship Programs
The American Center for Progress says, "Employers are increasingly worried about finding and holding on to quality, skilled workers and economists warn of a widening skills gap. What are employers to do?"  Here are 5 ways employers benefit from hiring an apprentice:
  1. Build a pipeline of skilled workers
  2. Gain workers with customized skills
  3. Boost retention
  4. Save money on wages
  5. Make a positive return on investment
PA Apprenticeship and Training Council Approves New Registered Apprenticeship Programs
The Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Council reviewed and approved several Registered Apprenticeship programs in the SEPA region at the most recent council meetings.  Congratulations to the following Registered Apprenticeship programs:
Apprenticeships in the News - SEPA & Beyond

PA Apprenticeship & Training Council Monthly Meeting Thursday, June 8, 2017
PA Department of Labor & Industry, Harrisburg, PA

National Fund for Workforce Solutions 2017 Leadership Convening 
Thursday, June 15 – Friday, June 16, 2017
Loews Philadelphia Hotel, Philadelphia, PA
Apprenticeship SEPA is an e-newsletter produced by Philadelphia Works.  Please contact Dara Zaleski at [email protected] if you have any questions or comments.  We hope you find this resource informative and value any feedback you may have.  Make sure to 'like' us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more updates!   Feel free to submit any upcoming events you'd like us to share to [email protected].