Johnson County Apprenticeship program seeks to remove barriers for community members

Johnson County is rolling out it’s new American Rescue Plan Act-funded apprenticeship program this year, starting with an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) apprenticeship with Johnson County Ambulance.

The new program will cover the cost of tuition to become officially certified, work uniforms, and other financial barriers to becoming an EMT, opening the door for underserved community members to enter a career they may not have previously considered, according to Paola Jaramillo Guayara, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion coordinator for Johnson County.

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“We are really working toward making all of our programs and services more amenable and more accessible to the community as a whole,” Jaramillo said. “I think apprenticeship programs, in particular, tend to be built to help lower a lot of the barriers that people might see in walking into these careers. So, that in itself we think is a really important component to perhaps reaching out to those (underserved) communities.”

Applications for the EMT apprenticeship are open, and the county hopes to have the position filled by June, Guayara said. No certifications or previous experience are required to apply for the program because the county is hoping to make it as accessible as possible.

The project was approved by the Johnson County Board of Supervisors in 2021, when decisions were made about how to use funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, and has been spearheaded by Guayara and her team.

The board allocated $800,000 for the development of multiple apprenticeships with the county. While the EMT apprenticeship is the first, Guayara said the county is working on developing an IT apprenticeship and is looking into other departments for internships as well.

“The really interesting part about developing apprenticeship programs is there's going to be some careers and some job lines that are just more opportune for building an apprenticeship program, versus other workforce development opportunities, and the reality is that we want to make sure that the people that participate in the apprenticeship program — if they’re chosen and move forward — they’re going to succeed in the workplace,” Guayara said.

The estimated cost of the EMT apprenticeship is between $50,945 and $68,693 per year, which includes a $16.75 per hour salary for the apprentice and expenses for classes through the University of Iowa Emergency Medical Services Learning Resource Center, according to a Johnson County Board of Supervisors agenda memo from March 8, when the specifics of the EMT apprenticeship were approved.

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“I’m just incredibly impressed and super proud that we get to have one of the only local governments to have this type of apprenticeship program. It really sets us apart,” said Johnson County Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz at the March 8 meeting.

Applicants for the apprenticeship must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED, but besides that, there aren’t many specific requirements.

“What we’re really excited to see is people who have an interest in pursuing these careers, that have a real interest in public service and that are looking for opportunities to grow both personally and professionally,” Guayara said. “We want participants and applicants to get excited about giving back to the community, to understand the important role that they have within our community and hopefully see themselves moving forward down the career path.”

The apprenticeship will last one year, and hopefully, lead to continued job opportunities in the county and elsewhere. Guayara said that one of the reasons Johnson County Ambulance was chosen for the first internship is because it’s a department that is often hiring, which could mean apprentices have opportunities to apply for full-time positions after becoming certified.

“We’re excited to launch this program and support our local workforce in this way,” said Johnson County Supervisor Royceann Porter in a news release about the program. “Our hope is that this program will serve as a model for other communities looking to invest in their workforce and create opportunities for their residents.”

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