Barb Clapp, CEO of Dwyer Workforce Development, a nonprofit organization supporting individuals pursuing healthcare careers, said that Texas lawmakers are taking appropriate steps to address the state's healthcare staffing crisis. "We’re glad to see Texas’ leaders dedicating time to this issue this session," she said in a comment to the Lone Star Standard on March 14.
"As DWD has grown throughout Texas over the past two years, the response we have received in communities has been overwhelmingly positive," said Clapp. "Education is power, which is why we are boldly addressing systemic barriers head-on to lift up communities and address the catastrophic healthcare staffing crisis in Texas. We're glad to see Texas' leaders dedicating time to this issue this session."
According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, an immediate solution is to train certified nursing assistants (CNAs), who provide essential care to the senior population in long-term care facilities and other healthcare settings. Texas' large and growing senior population is projected to reach 8.3 million individuals aged 65 and older by 2050—a 112% increase from 2020—while the healthcare workforce continues to shrink. CNAs are one of the most in-demand healthcare jobs, making up almost three-fifths of the nursing facility workforce. However, between 2015 and 2024, the number of CNAs in Texas decreased by over 30 percent.
Governor Abbott has prioritized workforce development for this legislative session, classifying it as an emergency item during his 2025 State of the State address. Numerous bills have been filed to advance workforce development initiatives.
Clapp told the Lone Star Standard that many Texans aspire to become CNAs but lack the necessary infrastructure. She added that Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD) is "providing life-changing career paths to thousands with significant opportunities for growth, including supporting our Scholars as they advance their healthcare training. We are in this for the long run and will support them as they pursue their dreams - even all the way through nursing school."
In 2024, Dwyer Workforce Development trained more than 2,100 healthcare workers, offering innovative case management and wraparound support to scholars in underserved communities. This support includes need-based financial assistance for housing, childcare, transportation, and more. The training is taking place across Texas in cities such as Austin, Houston, North Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Waco, Killeen, Elgin, among others with plans for continued growth in 2025.
The organization aims to address healthcare workforce shortages by supporting individuals who lack opportunity but aspire to pursue a career in healthcare. In 2024 alone, DWD invested $1.3 million in comprehensive job training and support services to directly assist its scholars across Texas.
