Marcia Svenson, a Sarasota native, lives in Venice, Florida and is currently a Dwyer Workforce Development Scholar.
Earlier in life, I worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant and loved my job because it allowed me to serve people in times of need. But challenging circumstances shifted my career path, and in recent years I worked in retail to support my family. Still, I never lost my dream of one day returning to the healthcare field — and thanks to an innovative education-workforce partnership here in Sarasota, I am closer than ever to my goal of becoming a nurse.
In December I am completing my CNA training through a collaboration between Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD), CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, and Sun Coast Technical College in Sarasota.
I plan to pursue a nursing degree while working as a CNA, a path that would not be possible without the support and wraparound services I received from DWD through this partnership.
Current programs tend to focus on traditional education and training paths. But for prospective and current nurses like me who are juggling classes with personal obligations, the lack of childcare, inadequate transportation and unstable housing can become significant barriers to entering and remaining in the healthcare field.
Dwyer’s model for growing the pool of talented CNAs is uniquely effective in its holistic approach, offering not just training but job placement support, need-based wraparound services, and person-centered case management to individuals who are juggling the demands of their personal lives yet still want to achieve career goals.
For me, this person-centered approach provided a beacon of hope and was just the sign I needed to embark on my later-in-life career change.
Earlier this year, DWD, CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, and Sun Coast Technical College celebrated the graduation of the program’s first cohort of 11 Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). All the students received their CNA training free at Suncoast Technical College thanks to funding from CareerEdge Funders Collaborative and Dwyer, and once they pass the state’s licensing exam are ready to begin careers in health care. Dwyer scholars also have the chance to receive continuing health care education toward nursing degrees.
This partnership is one of several now happening across the state, as DWD establishes similar workforce-education collaborations to provide free CNA training – the goal being to foster a robust healthcare talent pipeline in Florida and significantly improve the lives of seniors throughout the state and beyond. This journey positions me to be part of the solution to Florida’s unprecedented healthcare workforce shortage.
Florida’s healthcare system has been under immense pressure, especially as nursing homes grapple with the new federal mandate that imposes minimum staffing requirements on nursing homes. The unprecedented healthcare workforce shortage not only strains existing healthcare workers but also compromises the quality of care for patients, particularly in a state with a rapidly aging population.
Sarasota and other regions of the state will need additional investments to grow the healthcare workforce in the wake of this mandate. This is why hiring more Certified Nursing Assistants will become even more critical.
The Dwyer model works: 81% of Dwyer scholars complete their CNA training program, with 86% successfully placed in healthcare careers. These numbers are a testament to the effectiveness of addressing not just the educational needs but also the personal circumstances of aspiring healthcare workers. Moreover, these national success rates begin at the local level with the commitment of partners like CareerEdge, Suncoast Technical College and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
As we look to the future, this multi-partner collaboration and “whole person” focus must be the approach moving forward. I’m proud to be a Dwyer Scholar and to be a part of this program. I want to urge other potential CNA scholars to apply at https://careeredgefunders.org/bridges-to-careers/.