Kerry Leonard has always believed in second chances—and in the power of lived experience to transform lives and communities. As Director of the Training Institute at Community Assistance & Placement Services, Kerry has taken that belief and turned it into a bold, statewide workforce initiative. Through the CAPS Academy Registered Apprenticeship Program, she’s creating structured, sustainable career paths for individuals with personal or family experience in mental health and substance use.
“This program is about breaking down barriers and helping people who’ve traditionally been left out of the workforce conversation,” Kerry explains. “They have so much to give, and now they have a real pathway into meaningful work.”
From Training to Apprenticeship
CAPS had long offered peer training programs—but by launching a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship in 2024, Kerry and her team elevated that training into something more powerful. “We were already doing this work. Apprenticeship gave it structure, credibility, and longevity,” she says. “It formalized the career pathway and opened new doors for the people we serve.”
With Related Technical Instruction provided directly through CAPS Academy and strong partnerships with organizations like Mental Health America of California, Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation (IWSI), and Telecare, the new apprenticeship program now extends CAPS’ mission across the state—from Southern California to new frontiers in the North.
Connecting Lived Experience to Apprenticeship
Kerry is passionate about including individuals with lived experience—not just as recipients of services, but as the future leaders of the behavioral health workforce. “Our apprentices know the struggle first-hand,” she says. “They’ve been through it, and that makes them uniquely qualified to support others.”
This mission now reaches all corners of the CAPS ecosystem, from Spanish-language support groups to reentry programs. Apprenticeship has even expanded into California state prisons: the CAPS team now operates a 12-week training program at the California Institution for Men in Chino. “Three graduates from that first cohort have already come home and gotten jobs,” Kerry shares. “That’s the kind of impact we want to scale.”
A Message to Other Employers: “This Is How You Change Lives”
Kerry urges other organizations to see apprenticeship not as an add-on, but as a transformational tool. “Anyone can offer training and a certificate,” she says, “but Registered Apprenticeship connects it to employment. It gives people the structure, the support, and the opportunity to thrive.”
She points to one graduate, Jennifer, as an example. “She was mowing lawns when we met her. All she wanted was to help people like her. Apprenticeship gave her a path, and now she’s doing exactly what she set out to do. That’s what makes this program so powerful.”
Looking Ahead
With demand growing and new partners joining—including the Amity Foundation for reentry services—Kerry is focused on expanding access, especially for those with the highest barriers. “This is just the beginning,” she says. “We’re building something that’s not just changing lives—it’s changing systems.”
Through the CAPS Academy apprenticeship program, Kerry Leonard is proving that lived experience isn’t a limitation—it’s a qualification. And with Registered Apprenticeship as the vehicle, she’s helping hundreds across California turn their past into a purpose-driven future.
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