Clare Oaks works with Elgin Community College apprenticeship program for CNAs

Clare Oaks is playing a key role in establishing Elgin Community College apprenticeship program for certified nursing assistants.

"Some of my friends have had trouble finding jobs in their field because they also need experience," said Claudia Alvarez, 25, of Carpentersville.

Alvarez, a student at Elgin Community College, jumped at the chance to carry out her certified nursing assistant apprenticeship at Clare Oaks, a continuing care retirement community in Bartlett.

"One of the biggest hurdles to obtaining employment in any field is a lack of experience and solid skills," according to Kathy Meisinger, director of Strategic Partnerships & Experiential Learning at Elgin Community College. "And one of the biggest challenges for employers in the current economy is finding and retaining skilled employees."

To ameliorate that situation, Clare Oaks worked with ECC to develop an apprenticeship model for certified nursing assistants in which an employer covers tuition, oversees first work experiences and pays wages to ECC students.

"We decided to grow our workforce through programs that support advancement of future employees," said Gigi Walker, CEO of Clare Oaks.

Since the program started last August, Clare Oaks has taken on two CNA apprentices.

Meisinger, who serves on the board of directors of Clare Oaks, considered Clare Oaks a natural fit for enabling apprentices to achieve high competency levels. The continuing care retirement community has consistently achieved five-star ratings from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for both its short-term rehab and skilled nursing care programs. It also ranks among the nation's top 12 percent of rehab providers surveyed by U.S. News and World Report for 2018-19.

Alvarez met the minimum GPA and credit completion criteria for the apprenticeship, having already earned an associate of arts degree from ECC. Right now, she's taking a phlebotomy class, and her tuition is being paid by Clare Oaks. She's also being paid above minimum wage while working an average of four eight-hour days per week at Clare Oaks.

"I feel a little pressure to do the best, but so far it's working to do the best I can," Alvarez said. "It gives me a chance to put into practice the skills I've been learning as a CNA."

Early in her internship, Clare Oaks assigned Alvarez duties as a food server, enabling her to build rapport with residents. After two months, she was assigned responsibilities as a CNA, providing care and support under the direction of nurses to residents receiving long-term skilled nursing care services and patients receiving temporary rehab services.

Alvarez welcomes the idea of staying on at Clare Oaks. She also aspires to earn nursing degree at ECC.

As an employer, Clare Oaks reasons that supporting the CNA apprenticeship program instills loyalty and a sense of belonging among CNAs who also may go on to become nurses.

"Our five-star rating is a reflection of our staff's ability to work together," said Walker. "We're committed to nurturing that sense of cooperation and support in new staff members for the future."

One of the benefits of this program is that it's U.S. Department of Labor-approved with competencies based on the highest occupational skill levels, added Walker.

"No other employer in Northern Illinois working in tandem with a community college has made such an apprenticeship program happen for CNAs," Meisinger said. "Clare Oaks played a key role in helping ECC create this model." As a result, Advocate Sherman Hospital has become involved and other employers have expressed interest as well.

CNA apprentices continue working under supervision while awaiting results for licensing with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Health Care Worker Registry. Once they pass tests, their nurse-supervisors verify their competencies, qualifying them for maximum salary increases and the chance to revisit essential skill training at ECC if they fall short.

"The CNA apprenticeship program is designed to foster solid skills and can help local healthcare providers prevent turnover among CNAs in the current low-unemployment economy," Meisinger said. "It's a win-win for CNAs and for employers."

About Clare Oaks

Since 2008, Clare Oaks has provided independent living apartments and cottages as well as a continuum of care for nearly 300 adults on its 41-acre campus. It also provides adult daycare on a limited basis.

Clare Oaks residents benefit from the CCRC's relationships with leading healthcare providers and educational institutions in the northwest suburbs.

For more information about Clare Oaks, 825 Carillon Drive, Bartlett, call (630) 372-1983 or visit www.clareoaks.com.