NIcole Kaufman
Education, workforce development and healthcare are top of mind for Texas. Our population is growing, our workforce is young, and our state is aging faster than the rest of the nation.
Yet, we continue to hear reports of our healthcare industry in need of workers to care for our sick and rapidly growing senior populations. And troublingly, newly released U.S. Census Bureau data shows the number of working-age Texans has not kept pace with the growth of our state’s senior population. We simply do not have the qualified staff necessary.
Our state’s leaders recognize these issues, and career and technical education was central to conversations happening around the Texas Capitol this session. Bills and budget items passed that strengthen workforce development initiatives, including increasing accessibility and efficiency of existing programs and adding funding to Texas Workforce Commission programs, among others.
Innovative education models are recognized as a critical solution to workforce development challenges. I’ve spent the majority of my career in various areas of the post-acute care setting and serve on the board of Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD), a national workforce development nonprofit working to solve the healthcare staffing crisis by creating pathways for under-resourced individuals who lack opportunity and aspire to pursue a career in healthcare.
Education is transformative, and we know we must make education more accessible and achievable to communities who lack resources or face significant barriers. DWD is actively working in North Texas and across the state, deploying a holistic model that includes tuition-free education along with need-based support for obstacles like transportation, housing assistance, accessible childcare and person-centered case management to individuals who lack opportunities, helping them become registered certified nursing assistants (CNA). These are life-changing, long-term career paths with a no-cost opportunity for continued advancement through DWD’s program.
The need for support does not end after graduation. To change the landscape of lives and create generational impact, career progression is key. Dwyer Scholars are able to pursue long-term career goals with continued financial assistance, need-based support and case management.
Creative workforce models work. DWD's effectiveness in preparing students for meaningful employment is already apparent, with a graduation rate of over 81% for Dwyer Scholars. Of this percentage, 86% of these graduates have successfully transitioned into healthcare careers. DWD’s model is scaling fast, serving more than 2,000 Texas Dwyer Scholars and investing $1.3 million in comprehensive job training and support services in 2024.
The importance of empowering individuals and the urgency of filling the healthcare workforce is underscored by the 33% decrease in the number of CNAs in Tarrant County over the past decade. With Dallas-Fort Worth now ranked as the fourth-largest metro area in the country — and projected to become the largest in the United States by 2100 — it is critical that Texas invests in building a robust pipeline of healthcare professionals.
Our state has consistently recognized the importance of outcomes-based funding and innovative models, and continued investment in person-centered programs will help more of our workforce succeed. I’m so proud to be part of a comprehensive effort to address our healthcare workforce needs and drive positive, long-term outcomes for communities in North Texas.
Nicole Kaufman is the chief transformation officer at Genesis HealthCare and serves on the board of Dwyer Workforce Development and LTC 100.