Become an Employer Partner
Build the Future Behavioral Health Workforce with Us
The Cook County Behavioral Health Apprenticeship and Retention Hub partners with behavioral health providers to develop innovative workforce solutions that strengthen recruitment, retention, and career advancement through registered apprenticeship.
Whether you're looking to fill critical vacancies, create career pathways for current employees, or build a sustainable workforce pipeline, our team is here to help. From planning and implementation to technical assistance and ongoing support, we will partner with you every step of the way.
Why Partner with the Hub?
Employer Partners gain access to a collaborative network of workforce, education, healthcare, and government partners committed to strengthening the behavioral health workforce across Cook County.
The Hub provides support to help employers:
Develop sustainable workforce pipelines.
Recruit, train, and retain skilled behavioral health professionals.
Create career advancement opportunities for current employees.
Connect with education and training partners.
Navigate the registered apprenticeship process.
Identify funding opportunities and implementation resources.
Strengthen mentorship and employee engagement.
Build a workforce that reflects the diverse communities they serve.
A Smart Workforce Investment
Registered apprenticeship is more than a workforce development strategy- it's a long-term investment in your organization.
Research suggests a median employer return on investment of 44%, meaning employers receive approximately $144 in benefits for every $100 invested through improved retention, increased productivity, and reduced hiring and turnover costs.
↑ 44% Return on Investment
Implementation Support
Depending on available funding, the Hub may be able to provide financial assistance to help employers implement registered apprenticeship programs.
Support may include:
Tuition for related technical instruction.
Onboarding and supervision costs.
Illinois Certification Board examination and certification fees.
Other implementation supports as funding allows.
Our team can also help identify workforce resources and connect employers with available funding opportunities.
Your Partnership Journey
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Connect
Complete the Employer Interest Form and meet with our team to discuss your organization's workforce goals, hiring needs, and opportunities for registered apprenticeship.
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Plan
Together, we'll develop a workforce strategy, identify education and training partners, navigate the registered apprenticeship process, and explore available implementation supports.
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Launch
Recruit new talent or create career advancement opportunities for current employees through a structured, paid registered apprenticeship program.
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Develop
Provide supervised on-the-job learning, mentorship, and progressive wage increases as apprentices build new skills and achieve program milestones.
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Grow
Strengthen your workforce pipeline, improve employee retention, and continue building your partnership with the Hub to meet your long-term workforce goals.
How it Works
Your Role as an Employer Partner
Employer Partners agree to:
Hire apprentices as W-2 employees or identify eligible current employees for apprenticeship.
Provide structured on-the-job learning, supervision, and mentorship.
Support apprentice wage progression as program milestones are achieved.
Implement the registered apprenticeship program in accordance with approved apprenticeship standards.
Partner with the Hub by sharing apprentice progress and participating in continuous program improvement.
Ready to Build Your Workforce?
Join a growing network of behavioral health employers committed to strengthening the workforce across Cook County through innovative workforce solutions.
Complete the Employer Interest Form to start the conversation. A member of our team will contact you to learn about your organization's workforce needs and discuss how the Hub can support your success.
Our Employer Partners
Building the Future Behavioral Health Workforce—Together.
The Cook County Behavioral Health Apprenticeship and Retention Hub is an initiative of the Cook County Health Office of Behavioral Health.