Our own CNA Training Center
Onsite education in Waunakee with Quality CNA
The area’s largest
Youth apprenticeship program employer
Learning at every stage
Hands-on preparation, Memory Care education, and Home Again U
TRAINING LED BY EXPERIENCE Meet Crystal Long.
Director of Training & Compliance
With 14+ years at Home Again, Crystal leads training and compliance across our three
communities. She began as a resident assistant, served as Cambridge’s Community Director,
and became Director of Training & Compliance in 2018. She holds an associate degree in
Healthcare Administration.
Crystal created Home Again’s training program, processes, and checklists, coordinating 75+
hours of new-hire preparation and ongoing continuing education. She also built Home Again U,
developing training and resources for our staff.
Through new-employee check-ins, individualized coaching, audits, and policy development,
Crystal supports staff growth and strengthens consistent training and compliance—reflecting
Home Again’s investment in the people who care for our residents.
- UW–Oshkosh Dementia Specialist designation
- Certified instructor in Fire Safety, First Aid, and Challenging Behaviors
- Creator of Home Again’s training program and Home Again U
MEDICATION EDUCATION LED BY A NURSE PRACTITIONER Meet Brooke LaChance.
Nurse Practitioner (APNP) Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Director
A nurse practitioner with 10+ years at Home Again, Brooke brings advanced clinical expertise to
the education of our care team. She leads our medication-administration training and
certification, connecting instruction with the responsibilities staff carry when administering
medications.
Her hands-on approach gives staff opportunities to develop practical skills, ask questions, and
learn directly from an experienced nurse practitioner. Through ongoing caregiver education,
Brooke reinforces the knowledge and careful practices that support safe medication
administration and attentive resident care.
- Nurse practitioner leadership of medication training and certification
- 10+ years of experience with Home Again and our care teams
- Ongoing, hands-on caregiver education and practical skill development
A STRONG FOUNDATION Learning the work. Learning our residents.
New team members need time, instruction, and someone to turn to. Our approach brings structured education together with practical experience in our communities.
Hours of structured
new-hire preparation
Including six or more full days of mentored, hands-on training.
Build the knowledge
Online orientation introduces important practices and expectations. Role-specific instruction connects that foundation to the work each employee will do.
Learn alongside our team
Mentored, hands-on training gives new employees opportunities to ask questions, learn routines, and connect their education to daily resident care.
Develop practical skills
Individualized nurse-delegation and competency training provides additional guidance for the care responsibilities assigned to each team member.
MEMORY CARE EDUCATION Keep learning. Keep understanding.
Supporting people living with dementia takes continued learning and attention to the person. We reinforce our team’s knowledge through specialized education and ongoing conversations about care.
Throughout the year Quarterly specialized education
Dedicated Memory Care learning creates regular opportunities to revisit approaches and deepen understanding.
IN THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK Ongoing touchpoints
Long-serving leaders and care staff bring steady support, practical mentorship, and a team you can see yourself growing with.
ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES Experienced support
Home Again’s local owners stay involved in the communities we serve and the teams who care for them. The people making decisions understand your work because they are close to it.
EXPANDING OUR DEMENTIA EDUCATION
More opportunities to
deepen our care.
We offer opportunities to deepen dementia care knowledge through UW–Oshkosh alongside Crystal’s Challenging Behaviors class, and through Alzheimer’s Association training for selected staff. These programs complement our hands-on training, Memory Care education, and ongoing learning
through Home Again U.
UW–Oshkosh Dementia Specialist
We continue to offer the UW–Oshkosh Dementia Specialist opportunity alongside Crystal’s Challenging Behaviors class. Staff can pursue specialist coursework that builds their understanding of communication, daily living, and meaningful engagement with people living with dementia.
Successful completion earns course certificates and an entry on UW–Oshkosh’s Dementia Training Registry.
Alzheimer’s Association essentiALZ® certification
We offer this training to selected staff who are eager to deepen their knowledge and apply it in daily care. The program covers person-centered dementia care, communication, daily activities, and responding to dementia-related behavior.
Staff who complete the training and pass the certification exam earn an individual essentiALZ certification, valid for two years
AN ONGOING INVESTMENT Education is part of working here.
Learning continues well beyond orientation, through annual continuing education, specialized instruction, and opportunities to develop new skills.
Hours of annual continuing
education
A continuing commitment to learning and professional development.
Home Again U
Our ongoing education program offers short, practical learning opportunities for staff across Home Again.
Classes evolve throughout the year, helping employees expand their knowledge, strengthen teamwork, and receive recognition for learning.
Up to 60 short learning opportunities offered annually
- Resident and family communication
- Memory care and dementia support
- Documentation and ECP charting
- Kitchen, food safety, and dining service
- Housekeeping and memory care cleaning
- Teamwork and time management
AN INVESTMENT FAMILIES CAN SEE Our own onsite CNA Training Center.
Home Again has its own CNA Training Center at our Waunakee community. In partnership with Quality CNA, we provide an onsite pathway for staff to earn Certified Nursing Assistant certification.
Having a training center within our community makes education a visible part of Home Again. It reflects our commitment to developing the people who care for residents and investing in their knowledge and skills.
Professional education. Practical preparation. An ongoing
investment in our care team.
GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CAREGIVERS The area’s largest youth apprenticeship program employer.
We work closely with local high schools to introduce students to meaningful work in care. Youth apprentices learn alongside our teams, gaining experience and building relationships within our communities.
For families, this is another way to see our commitment to the future of caregiving—helping young people learn from experienced staff and develop an understanding of the people they support.
Our local school connections
DeForest · Waunakee · Sun Prairie · Columbus · Cambridge · Dodgeland · Middleton · Monona Grove · Deerfield · Beaver Dam · Evansville · Fall River · Madison East · Marshall · Milton · Sauk Prairie · and more
Meet youth apprentices and former care team members: eleven stories of learning, care, and the next step in healthcare. The website rotates through these spotlights; each appears on the following pages for review.
Meet Layla.
Nursing at Winona State University
A Sun Prairie High School graduate and 2024 Home Again youth apprentice, Layla is attending the nursing program at Winona State University. Her story shows how an introduction to care at Home Again can become the beginning of a future in nursing.
Winona State University
Attending nursing program
Meet Mara Dipiazza.
Looking ahead to nursing
Mara joined Home Again as a resident assistant in May 2025. Now a high school senior and youth apprentice in Cambridge, she plans to study nursing at Edgewood. Her experience caring for residents is part of the foundation she is building for that next step
Edgewood University
Plans to study nursing
Meet Keira Breininger.
Nursing at Madison College
Keira joined Home Again in April 2024 and completed her youth apprenticeship in 2026. She is studying nursing at Madison College while continuing to work part time as a resident assistant—bringing her growing knowledge back to the residents she supports.
Madison College
Studying nursing
Meet Sydney Kast.
A career in radiation therapy
Sydney’s path began as a youth apprentice in Waunakee. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in radiation therapy, she became a radiation therapist at SSM Health.
She continues to work at Home Again each week, staying connected to our community as her
healthcare career grows.
University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
Radiation therapy graduate
Meet Jayla.
Nursing at Carroll University
Jayla joined Home Again’s Columbus team in December 2024 and participated in the youth apprenticeship program. After graduating from Dodgeland High School in 2026, she began pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Carroll University. She continues to work with us as a resident assistant on an as-needed basis.
Carroll University
Pursuing a BSN
Meet Elizabeth Olsen.
From youth apprenticeship to ICU experience
Elizabeth is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Iowa, with graduation expected in May 2027. She works as a CNA and patient care technician in the university hospital’s Burn Trauma ICU and has also completed a nurse externship with UW Health. She continues to pick up Home Again shifts during college breaks.
University of Iowa
Pursuing a BSN · Class of 2027
Meet Kailee Yelk.
Nursing at Concordia University Wisconsin
Kailee joined Home Again in February 2024 and completed her youth apprenticeship in 2026.
She is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Concordia University Wisconsin, with a goal of becoming an emergency room or labor and delivery nurse. She remains part of our team, working on an as-needed basis.
Concordia University Wisconsin
Pursuing a BSN
Meet Tyler Gavinski.
From hands-on care to physician assistant
A former Waunakee High School student, Tyler joined Home Again in 2018 as a CNA and care provider. He went on to graduate from UW–Madison and complete physician assistant training at Rocky Mountain College. Today, he practices as a PA-C at Roundup Memorial Healthcare in Montana, following experience in emergency medicine. His journey shows how early hands-on caregiving can be part of a lasting career in healthcare.
Rocky Mountain College
Physician assistant program graduate
Meet Sage LaChance.
Building a future in nursing
Sage began her Home Again youth apprenticeship in 2024 as a Deerfield High School student. She is now studying nursing at Edgewood University, continuing her education after gaining early experience in our care community.
Edgewood University
Studying nursing
Meet Kendall LaChance.
Learning in college. Caring in Cambridge.
Kendall started with Home Again as a Deerfield youth apprentice in 2025. She is now studying nursing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and continues to pick up shifts at our Cambridge community, staying connected to residents while pursuing her education.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Studying nursing
Meet Sophia Gehling.
From early care experience to emergency medicine
Sophia started with Home Again in 2019 as a Waunakee High School student. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Physiology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and her master’s in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Today, she is a board-certified physician assistant practicing Emergency Medicine at UW Health.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Physician assistant studies graduate
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CARE Education supported by experience.
Training is one part of our commitment. Involved ownership, strong nursing leadership, and long-serving team members help shape the everyday
experience of Home Again.
Local, involved ownership
Our owners are involved in our communities and the
people who make them feel like home.
Strong staffing & nursing leadership
We invest in staffing and nursing guidance to support our teams in the daily work of caring for residents.
Local, involved ownership
We take pride in the longevity of our leadership and care staff, and the knowledge and relationships they bring to our communities.
Required training, taught by our team
Our experienced trainers provide instruction for applicable roles in standard precautions, fire safety,
first aid and choking, and medication administration
A culture that recognizes care
Through Home Again Golden Ticket recognition, we celebrate staff who go above and beyond for residents and support their teammates.
Learning across the whole
community
Education reaches beyond direct care, with topics for dining, housekeeping, communication, documentation, and teamwork.
People make the difference. We invest in ours.
Choosing a community means getting to know the people who will care for your loved one. We welcome your questions about our team, training, and approach to daily care.
