From left to right: David Reed (instructor) and CNA Program Graduates Becky Rauser, Samantha Lake, Joel Shows, and Betty Strong
When it comes to our work in the world of home care, it’s important to us at EPAGA that our clientele has access to service they can trust. Our mission is not only to care for the individual, but to contribute to the betterment of the industry as a whole. That’s why we’re well on our way to becoming a leading entity in the world of home care; that we may further equip and empower current and future care providers. A primary way that we’re doing this is through our apprenticeship program, which became official in October of 2020. We’ve partnered with the Registered Apprenticeship Program, via the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, and in doing so, we’re proud to be the first in the state to become an associate of the American Red Cross. Upon entering our program, apprentice candidates receive specialized training, put in 3500+ hours of work, and are required to complete a Certified Nurses’ Aide (CNA) Program.
It’s important that future care providers receive a front row seat to our work at EPAGA, which is why we attained certification as a licensed CNA training site. This allows us the benefit of overseeing and facilitating a rigorous and comprehensive program for our apprentice candidates. In collaborating with the American Red Cross and the State of Montana, we’ve compiled an optimum training curriculum for our candidates, in which they gain specialized certification in the fields of Dementia Care, Palliative Care, and Restorative Care. Additionally, they receive extensive instruction from skilled trainers, as well as gaining access to our storehouse of resources. Because of the close-knit approach we take to our work, apprentice candidates attend small classes where they can connect with fellow CNA classmates and receive encouragement from their instructors.
At EPAGA, we’re well aware that our understanding of context often determines how deeply we can understand and care for our clientele. That’s why on-the-job training, in conjunction with the State of Montana, is a primary element of the program. As individuals become well-acquainted with the different phases of their skilled occupation, they become adaptable to the contexts and situations in which they will find themselves in their careers. Throughout the course of the program, classroom instruction is paired with real-life experience, and as a result, apprentice candidates are equipped with the necessary skill set required of care providers.
It’s with deep pride and excitement that we announce and applaud the first class to have completed the CNA program, the four following individuals:
BECKY RAUSER, CNA
SAMANTHA LAKE, CNA
JOEL SHOWS, CNA
BETTY STRONG, CNA
We’re extremely grateful for their hard work and diligence over the past several months, and look forward to the future with hope as they continue on in their work as care providers. We are also greatly appreciative of David Reed, CNA Class Instructor, and Nicole Cooper, RN, Program Coordinator, for their work in making our candidates successful.
Congratulations!
