Open Doors Lead to Open Doors
There’s a wall of kudos at Regency Omak Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, and Skylar Simmons’ name is all over it.
Handwritten notes recognize her for stepping in to help, for being a positive presence, and for leaning in to learn. It’s the board where Employee of the Month names are chosen — and right now, Skylar’s shows up again and again.
Skylar struggled in school from an early age with ADHD. By middle school, she had stepped away from the classroom completely. The years that followed pulled her further off course, including a period of addiction that surrounded her with people making the same hard choices she was.
At 15, she woke up one day feeling awful about where her life was headed.“I decided I needed change,” she says.
Finding treatment as a minor wasn’t simple. Some programs wouldn’t take her insurance. Others wouldn’t accept someone under 18. She kept looking until she found a place that would help her begin recovery.
In 2024, after her parents divorced, Skylar and her mom moved to Omak without stable housing and, for a time, were living in a tent. During that stretch, Skylar was arrested, and part of her conditions required her to return to school. A recommendation led her and her mom to connect with WorkSource Okanogan County, where she enrolled in Open Doors Youth Re-engagement in September 2024.
Alongside rebuilding her education, Skylar knew she wanted work experience — specifically in healthcare. A work experience opportunity at Regency Omak became that chance.
With help covering the cost of scrubs, proper work shoes, and other essentials, Skylar began a 120-hour placement as a Hospitality Aide. She answered call lights, delivered meal trays, refilled water pitchers, learned facility regulations, and shadowed staff to better understand the daily routines of resident care.
When SkillSource visited Regency Omak to photograph her on the job, Skylar moved confidently through the halls, greeted by name by residents and coworkers. She spoke easily about what she was learning and how much she appreciated the team around her.
The placement confirmed what she had hoped: healthcare felt right.
Her strong performance led to a permanent offer. Skylar was hired as a Hospitality Aide and continues building her skills on the job. She plans to earn her Certified Nursing Assistant credential next, with a long-term goal of supporting individuals in their homes as an Individual Provider.
In rural communities like Omak, quality healthcare depends on people who show up with consistency and kindness, treat residents with dignity, and are willing to grow into greater responsibility. By choosing this path, Skylar is already an important part of the workforce that cares for her neighbors. And that deserves an entire wall of kudos!
