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Gov. Josh Stein, alongside the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Dev Sangvai and leadership at Broughton Hospital, within state government on July 16.

The Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities Skills, Training and Employment Pathways North Carolina (STEP-NC) is a partnership between NCDHHS, , and the (NCBCE), according to .

STEP-NC serves 鈥渉igh school students, adult learners, and new talent,鈥� creating a pipeline for these individuals to enter 鈥渧ital roles in health care to strengthen the workforce in North Carolina鈥檚 health care system, including state health facilities, and meet mental health needs in North Carolina,鈥� said the .

鈥淭his partnership is one example of the efforts underway to boost the health care workforce in our state,鈥� Sangvai said in the press release. 鈥淭his initiative creates pipelines for clinical and non-clinical positions that keep our health systems running, supporting careers spanning from maintenance professionals to nurses.鈥�

This summer, six recent high school graduates participated in the first program cohort by working as pre-apprentices at two Morganton-based facilities: , a state psychiatric hospital, and , a state developmental center. These students are being trained in the behavioral health and maintenance technician fields. Upon their completion of this program, the students may apply for a registered apprenticeship in their desired field.

Health care shortages in NC

Similar to , North Carolina鈥檚 health care capacity is projected to decline over the next several years. Currently, the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis rates the state鈥檚 at 84%, with that adequacy dropping to 78% by 2033.

Furthermore, that North Carolina will have a shortage of nearly 12,500 registered nurses (RN) and 5,000 licensed practical nurses (LPN) by the year 2033. In 2024, NCDHHS designated counties as having a health care professional shortage in the field of mental health.

Apprenticeship programs like STEP-NC help fill those gaps by creating pathways for people looking to enter the field, allowing them to 鈥渆arn while they learn鈥� and gain hands-on experience under the supervision of experienced mentors.

鈥淲e are facing a critical shortage of health care workers in North Carolina, especially in our state-operated facilities. STEP-NC cultivates a sustainable workforce pipeline starting as early as high school,鈥� Stein said in the press release. 鈥淭hrough this program, students can qualify for free tuition, learn new skills, and jump-start their careers 鈥� all while helping North Carolina become safer and healthier.鈥�

The program is also in line with Stein鈥檚 , which committed the state to strengthening the behavioral health crisis and criminal justice systems. It also 鈥渁dvances the goals of the Governor鈥檚 Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships to reduce state vacancy rates and double the number of apprentices statewide,鈥� according to the press release.

What鈥檚 in the future for STEP-NC?

According to the , NCDHHS aims to expand apprenticeship programs across all state-operated facilities.

Right now, the program is only operating at two facilities through , which is a program 鈥渙pen to graduating seniors from Burke County Public Schools sponsored by .鈥� Opt-In combines community mentorship, professional development, and work experience to 鈥渋ncrease post-secondary credential attainment in Burke County.鈥�

鈥淭he apprenticeship model responds to critical workforce needs by creating a tailored pathway supporting both employee growth and long-term retention,鈥� CEO of Broughton Hospital Dr. Timothy Miller said in the press release. 鈥淭his program allows students to find rewarding job opportunities close to home that align with their career interests. Health care facilities like ours offer many different career options, from direct care jobs like nursing to administrative support functions to maintenance.鈥�

Sullivan emphasized the benefit of the program being tuition-free and local, allowing participants to pursue careers in skilled trades and health care in their own communities with no debt. This 鈥渕eans the workforce caring for our neighbors is coming from our neighborhoods,鈥� Sullivan said.

The interest form for STEP-NC is available .

This first appeared on and is republished here under a .

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