Houston Daily

A collaboration between Launch Point Community Development Center, Inc. and Dwyer Workforce Development has successfully trained over 600 healthcare workers in Houston without charging tuition fees. This initiative aims to address the shortage of healthcare professionals while supporting individuals who seek careers in the health sector by providing essential services such as transportation, childcare, and housing.

Barb Clapp, CEO of Dwyer Workforce Development, said, "Six hundred Houston healthcare workers trained, and six hundred goals realized. That’s the power of what we are doing here in Texas and across the country." She further emphasized their goal to train 100,000 Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) nationwide by 2030 to help resolve the staffing crisis in healthcare.

The partnership was celebrated on October 20 with a special event that included a resolution from Commissioner Rodney Ellis and a keynote speech by Commissioner Lesley Briones. The event honored 50 recent graduates who completed their training. Commissioner Briones remarked on the importance of such programs for transforming lives through education and job opportunities in Harris County, home to the Texas Medical Center.

Texas has experienced a significant decline in CNAs since 2012, losing more than 31 percent of these roles even as its aging population grows. CNAs are crucial to nursing facilities, comprising nearly 60 percent of their workforce. Commissioner Ellis highlighted the value of partnerships like this one for community growth through education and training.

Dwyer Workforce Development trained over 2,100 healthcare workers across Texas last year. Training is ongoing in various locations including Austin, North Texas, San Antonio, and more areas with plans for expansion by 2026.

Jack And Nancy Dwyer Workforce Development Center Inc is committed to continuing its efforts to enhance workforce development within critical sectors like healthcare.

Information from this article can be found here.