SDAHO Encourages Members to Take Part in South Dakota Week of Work April 8-12, 2024

Prepare to influence the future workforce! South Dakota’s Week of Work provides real-world experiences through job shadowing, industry tours, or even mentorship opportunities. Together, let’s inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators. Don’t miss out on this chance to invest in our community and cultivate talent right here in South Dakota.

The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) has partnered with the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulations to promote South Dakota Week of Work, April 8 – 12, as a way to engage and connect with our future workforce. Finding workforce starts with building connections and growing relationships with your local school district and it’s not too late to take part in this exciting week.

Below are a series of tools to help inspire you and connect you with your area schools and community partners.

How Do Businesses Engage?  This includes our healthcare community!

• Guest Speaking – Guest presentation to classes from businesses and industry experts can illustrate connections between CTW Coursework and real-life careers.
• Become a CTE Specialist – Your business, organization or industry can help make classroom learning come to life. Contact your local school district or the regional CTE specialist in your area, to find out how you can help shape the state’s workforce and maybe even meet future employees.
• Donate – As you upgrade equipment and supplies, old items could get new life in a classroom. Gently used or unneeded industry-grade resources may be just what your local district needs to ensure students have access to appropriate tools, consumable supplies, and equipment to prepare them for the career fields they hope to enter.
• Become an Advisor – You have priceless insight into your community’s workforce needs. School districts regularly review and develop their CTE programs to ensure they remain up to date. You could contribute to this work by serving on a formal advisory committee or by providing informal feedback to a CTE teacher. By making yourself available in an advising capacity, you can provide guidance on high-demand workforce needs; CTE program revisions, additions, or other changes, based on workforce trends; and the latest industry standards, equipment, or certification options.

Need more help? Partner with local schools to provide career-connected learning opportunities to students in your community.

• • Download the SD Week of Work Business Toolkit for resources to help.

Host a tour! If conditions allow, consider offering in-person opportunities during the Week of Work, or anytime that works in your schedule.

• If you need assistance connecting with schools in your area, contact the Regional Career Ready Advisor.
• Contact a local school about being a guest speaker in a classroom.
  • Business Industry Guest Speaker Notes
• Coordinate with a class to offer job shadows.
  • Job Shadow Handbook
• Offer a tour of your facility for students to see firsthand what your work is like.
  • Industry Tours

Take it a step further!  Here is a work-based learning guide to navigate your start.

For information on Work-Based Learning in South Dakota, Career Ready SD has a resource workbook specially for industry partners.

SDAHO is actively engaged in our latest project involving the Network Development Workforce Grant, which has created a network of healthcare organizations and community partners called the South Dakota Rural Workforce Network (SDRWN). The focus is on workforce recruitment and retention, developing an all-inclusive pipeline of healthcare essential workers such as dietary, environmental services, nursing assistants, home health aides and more. To learn more about this opportunity through SDAHO, click here.