Preparing Our Future Workforce: The Benefits of Hosting a Community Health Worker Apprentice

Invest in the Future and Impact of Community Health Workers

Trailhead works with training programs and public health organizations across Colorado to strengthen and grow the state’s public health workforce. We design and support hands-on learning programs that open multiple pathways into public health careers.

One key effort is Colorado’s Community Health Worker (CHW) apprenticeship program, registered with the U.S. Department of Labor, through Colorado Public Health Works. This program takes a local approach, partnering with public health and community-based organizations across Colorado. These organizations, known as host sites, host CHW apprentices who gain on-the-job experience while helping address local health priorities through community health worker projects.

Public Health AmeriCorps member Emily Evans sits with fellow program members at a meeting at the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment

Colorado Public Health Works benefits both apprentices and employers who participate in the program. Host sites build their future workforce and have more support to address local health priorities, while apprentices earn wages, receive training and education, and gain valuable mentorship in the public health field.

Apprenticeships support employers to:

Build a stable, reliable pipeline of public health talent.
Grow a diverse, skilled workforce that meets both organizational and field-wide needs.
Tackle local health priorities through apprentice projects aligned with community health worker initiatives.
Improve employee retention and lower hiring costs—93% of apprentices stay employed after completing their program.
Give current employees leadership roles as apprentice mentors, boosting their engagement.
Foster a culture of learning and keep staff current with industry trends, skills, and technologies.
Prepare future leaders from within the organization.
Preserve institutional knowledge as experienced staff near retirement.
Reduce barriers to training by using an “earn while you learn” model that pays apprentices, supporting those who cannot afford unpaid training or time away from work.

For more in-depth information on the benefits of registered apprenticeship programs, visit the Colorado Depart of Labor & Employment’s Apprenticeship Colorado webpage.

The Benefits of Partnering With Trailhead

Trailhead supports host sites with strategic planning, clear procedures, and technical assistance to make apprenticeships valuable for both employers and learners. We also help host sites meet the requirements of federally registered apprenticeship programs.