Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Counselor Apprenticeship

As part of our Apprenticeship Programs, FHI 360 is partnering with New Ways to Work to develop a Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Counselor Apprenticeship. This apprenticeship equips direct services employers with the resources they need to recruit workers with life experiences relevant to the communities they serve.

Through a combination of paid on-the-job learning (OJL) and coursework, apprentices will gain an alternative, rigorous, and rewarding point of entry into a profession that traditionally requires post-secondary education. Upon completion, program participants receive a national credential from the U.S. Department of Labor. To learn more, read our fact sheet.

Peer Support Specialist Apprenticeship

As part of our Apprenticeship Programs, FHI 360’s Peer Support Specialist Apprenticeship partners with the Public Works Alliance (PWA) to train apprentices who have experienced recovery from personal and societal challenges. These include substance use disorder, PTSD, the re-entry process, and many other challenges. This shared experience enables apprentices to support others who are going through similar hardships.

By partnering with FHI 360, employers can use this apprenticeship to reinforce a holistic approach in their mental health services. Apprentices who complete their apprenticeship earn a national credential from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). To learn more, consult our fact sheet.

Learning and Workforce Development Overview

IWL’s programs serve youth and young adults in career exploration, workforce development, and education to career transitions – all to serve the greater workforce environment in a way that benefits workers, learners, and employers. Read the full overview to learn more.

Compass Rose Collaborative Fact Sheet

The Compass Rose Collaborative (CRC) brings together FHI 360 and a cohort of partners that will serve justice-impacted youth in a holistic way. Through IWL-designed training materials, a learn-and-earn working environment, and valuable mentorship activities, the CRC ensures that participants are equipped to thrive in their careers while minimizing further justice system involvement. Read this fact sheet to learn more.

Youth Development Practitioner Apprenticeship

As part of IWL’s Apprenticeship Programs, the Youth Development Practitioner Apprenticeship trains apprentices in youth-supporting fields through 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning and 165 hours of coursework where they learn skills such as positive youth development, coaching, career case management and more. Upon completing the program, apprentices receive a nationally recognized credential from the U.S. Department of Labor. To learn more, read this fact sheet.

Approach to Justice-Impacted Populations Overview

FHI 360’s Institute for Work and Learning partners with federal, state, local, and Tribal governments, the private sector, and civil society to improve the education and employment outcomes of young adults, ages 18 through 24, during and after involvement in the U.S. criminal justice system. Read this overview of our comprehensive services.

A Legacy of Partnership

FHI 360’s Institute for Work and Learning (IWL) partners with federal, state, local, and Tribal governments, community-based organizations, education and workforce agencies and community members to design, implement and evaluate social programs. Along the way, we and our partners learn alongside one another to develop our collective capacities to advance well-being through data-driven, locally led solutions — so that humanity thrives.

Second Chance Act Post-Release Rapid Employment Program

Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Second Chance Act Post-Release Rapid Employment Program (PREP) used evidence-based trainings to prepare individuals for employment after leaving incarceration in North Carolina through a partnership between FHI 360’s Institute for Work and Learning, Erika’s Closet, and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Read the full fact sheet to learn more!

2025 IWL Annual Report

Our work in 2025 reflects our commitment to meeting people where they are and building systems that support long-term economic mobility. Whether developing registered apprenticeships, working with corporate partners to build career pathways, supporting individuals returning from incarceration, or helping families navigate career exploration and advancement, IWL focused on connecting learning to opportunity, and opportunity to stability.

Read IWL’s 2025 Annual Report to learn more about our commitment to strengthening workforce systems that work for individuals, families, and communities.

Community Health Worker Apprenticeship

Developed and implemented in partnership with the Public Works Alliance and Westcoast Children’s Clinic, the Community Health Worker (CHW) Apprenticeship offers a comprehensive career path that ensures a high standard of training in both practical experience and classroom learning. Through the apprenticeship, participants are better able to serve as health advocates for their communities. 

Read the full fact sheet to learn more!