Front Row (L to R): Ann Marie Stieritz, of Apprenticeship Carolina; James Williamson, of Agape Senior of the Pee Dee; Ron Bartley, of Northeastern Technical College. Second Row (L to R): Cheryl Stubbs, of Agape; Deborah Petricek, of Northeastern Technical College; Sherrie Chapman, of Northeastern Technical College; Cindi Hurst, of Agape Senior.

February 18, 2009
Partnership Establishes State’s First Apprenticeship Program for Nursing Field

Agape Senior, a first choice senior services provider, is now also a first in South Carolina ’s workforce development.  Apprenticeship Carolina™, a division of the SC Technical College System, is pleased to announce that Agape Senior of The Pee Dee located in Cheraw is sponsoring the state’s first federally-recognized apprenticeship program in the nursing field. Agape Senior, in partnership with Northeastern Technical College, will be providing a competency-based program for certified nursing assistants with specialties in Geriatrics and Mentoring. 

"Agape Senior is pleased to be a part of Apprenticeship Carolina's program for Certified Nursing Assistants.  As South Carolina's population ages and with the influx of retirees into our state, it is vitally important that our caregivers be well trained and up-to-date on all aspects of patient care.  We hope that this program will become a model for other geriatric health-care providers in the state and that Agape will lead the effort to improve direct patient care in long-term care facilities," said Agape Senior of the Pee Dee & Grand Strand’s regional president James C. Williamson, Ph.D.
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“Agape Senior understands that the true strength of any organization lies in its employees.  The apprenticeship program serves to truly strengthen their organization. Northeastern Technical College is pleased to be involved in a program that is so important not only to the company itself but to their employees and ultimately to the senior citizens of our state that depend on their care,” said Dr. Ron Bartley president of Northeastern Technical College.

An apprenticeship is a time-tested method of employee career development that combines supervised on-the-job learning and job-related education. A program “registered” with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) shows an employer’s visible commitment to developing a high-quality workforce that meets nationally recognized training standards.

Registered apprenticeship programs also enable employees to receive incremental way increases as they demonstrate new competencies throughout the training program.

Agape Senior’s apprentice program will train and mentor participants on the job for approximately one year.  The curriculum is being delivered by Northeastern Technical College through a unique approach incorporating distance learning
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Agape Senior’s registration of their program for Certified Nursing Assistants clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of apprenticeship as a career development tool in a wide range of occupations,” said Ann Marie Stieritz, director of Apprenticeship Carolina™. “As the need for qualified healthcare providers continues to grow, Apprenticeship Carolina™ and the technical colleges of South Carolina look forward to working with more organizations in the healthcare sector to fill this need.”

Agape Senior was founded in 1991. The company’s mission is to provide integrated health services to senior adults in a faith based atmosphere. Currently, Agape Senior is focusing operations in South Carolina and operates five assisted living campuses, two rehabilitation and nursing centers and hospice services in five regions across the state. The vision of Agape Senior and Agape Community Hospice, Inc. is to be an integrated health services company with a primary presence in strategic markets. It will be recognized as a senior services provider of first choice, which values its employees and functions in a financially stable environment. The company’s vision is focused on a model of integrated services that can assure responsiveness and quality of service for residents and their families. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.agapesenior.com.

Apprenticeship Carolina™ is a new division of the South Carolina Technical College System that works to ensure all employers in South Carolina have access to the information and technical assistance they need to create demand-driven registered apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship consultants are available to guide companies through the registered apprenticeship development process from initial information to full recognition in the National Registered Apprenticeship System. These services are available to South Carolina employers free of charge. Interested employers are encouraged to contact Apprenticeship Carolina™ at (803) 896-5287 or to visit www.apprenticeshipcarolina.com.