Madison, WI | Youth Apprenticeship Program
Ella Tallman starts her day bright and early as a Youth Apprentice at Home Again Assisted Living in Cambridge. Ella shares her daily experience at the facility, highlighting her 6am start catching up on NOC shift updates from the night before. Ella’s daily responsibilities include assisting with resident wake-up routines, helping with meals, leading activities, responding to call lights, and providing personalized care throughout her shift.
For Ella, the best part about her role is the meaningful interactions she has with the residents. "I love being able to talk to the residents and learn more about them every day," she muses. "Building connections with them and doing activities together is so much fun!"
A beneficial feature of Youth Apprenticeship (YA) programs is the mentorship students receive while earning a wage. Ella gives a shout out to her mentor, Kayla Minard, for making her apprenticeship such a rewarding experience. "Kayla is amazing because she's so flexible with my busy schedule. She’s always there to answer my questions and offer help whenever I need it," Ella explains.
Kayla speaks just as highly of Ella’s performance on the job. "Ella always arrives with a positive attitude, ready to work. She works extremely well with her co-workers and the residents, and her communication skills with management are excellent. She’s doing an amazing job at Home Again!"
A senior at Deerfield High School, Ella encourages other students to consider the Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program as a way to explore future career paths.
"If you think you want to do something, you should try a YA to really see if it’s something you want to do for the rest of your life!"
The Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin (WDBSCW), in collaboration with Dane County School Consortium (DCSC), works to administer DWD Youth Apprenticeship programming to provide students like Ella valuable opportunities for hands-on training in their fields of interest.