Texas State University’s Department of Nursing completed their 4th Annual Study Abroad Panama Service-Learning experience in January. Twenty-two students and three nursing faculty members spent 10 days in rural Panama, engaging in meaningful, hands-on community work.
During the trip, students conducted community assessments, participated in clinic days hosted in schools across remote areas, and delivered health education sessions—known locally as charlas—for families and Community Health Workers (CHWs). A particularly impactful aspect of the experience was student involvement in CHW education, helping to support sustainable improvements in community health.
Over the course of the program, students connected with more than 200 community members and provided training for 10 CHWs. Educational topics included first aid, diabetes management, breastfeeding, hypertension, oral hygiene, and other essential health concerns.
This immersive experience not only strengthened students’ clinical and cultural competencies but also contributed to lasting health benefits within the communities served.
Nayelly Granillo-Rios ’26 has experienced many firsts throughout her academic career.
She is the first in her family to pursue a college degree. The first of her loved ones to leave New Mexico and move to Texas. And now, she is helping shape history as one of the first graduates of the new nursing program at St. Edward’s University.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, a report shows that from now through 2036, some popular nursing careers like registered nurses and certified nurse midwives will be in a deficit compared to the ideal projections of nurses Texas should have.
For registered nurses, the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies (TCNWS) reports that the state will be over 50,000 short by 2036. The deficit for midwives isn’t as drastic, but the center still reports that Texas will be over 270 midwives short.
What’s happening: MGT’s new four-part report series explores how states and regions are redefining education-to-career systems: connecting students to meaningful, paid pathways that lead to economic mobility and meet workforce demand.
The Stackable Credentials white paper explores how stackable credentials within Career Connected Learning efforts create flexible, employer-aligned pathways that allow K–12 students to earn industry-recognized credentials, enter high-demand careers, and continue advancing their skills over time to achieve long-term economic mobility.
In Austin, the Central Texas Healthcare Academy created five stackable credential healthcare pathways beginning in high school.
Heather Severson used her undergraduate degree in molecular biology and physiology to start a career as a scientist. Though she found lab work interesting and had earned a few promotions, she felt disconnected from the families that her efforts benefited.
Unfulfilled, Severson decided on a career change and enrolled in the Accelerated Second Degree Nursing (ASDNU) program at Fairfield University’s Austin Campus. Thus began her journey to become a registered nurse and to work directly with patients.
Severson graduated from Fairfield University in August 2025 and was hired at Ascension Seton Northwest Hospital as a labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum nurse. Such assignments are notoriously difficult for a new nurse to land, and Severson credits her internship experience with helping to secure that role.
“I was a student nurse intern on the same floor during my last semester at Fairfield, and that experience served as a steppingstone into my position,” Severson said. “It allowed me to build relationships with many of my coworkers and managers before starting orientation. That undoubtedly helped me land my current role and made everything less stressful.”
Severson chose Fairfield’s 15-month ASDNU program for its small class sizes and hands-on experiences. Accelerated BSN programs move at a quick pace, and she wanted every opportunity to maximize her potential.
“We learned a lot in a short period of time,” Severson said, “and the skill labs and simulations are where I gained the confidence needed for the floor.”
That Severson developed confidence through Fairfield’s robust simulation program is not only expected but also deliberate. Fully accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, the program provides hands-on training in a variety of real-world simulations. In Austin, the facility features a 21-bed learning laboratory and eight simulation rooms for creating fully immersive learning scenarios.
As for her classes, Severson appreciated the personalized and positive atmosphere at Fairfield. “I was lucky to attend the ASDNU program at the Austin Campus because my classes were relatively small,” she said. “This was a great help throughout the program because our professors were very responsive to our questions.”
She added: “My classmates and I were very supportive of each other. They amazed me daily and provided so much inspiration along the way.”
After being laid off from a longtime role in healthcare, Cindy felt overwhelmed — unsure where to go or how to start over. That’s when she got connected to Workforce Solutions Capital Area — and everything started to change.
With the right support, she was able to refresh her credentials, find new confidence, and land a job she’s proud of in a place where she feels valued.
“WFS immediately made the turnaround… and caused me to get interviews and ultimately a great job that I’m very, very pleased with.”
Beth Vaughn of St. David’s HealthCare shares how partnering with Workforce Solutions Capital Area is helping address one of healthcare’s most pressing national challenges: a shortage of qualified workers across critical roles.
Through collaborative efforts like the Central Texas Healthcare Partnership, Beth and other employers are strengthening clinical rotation access, improving student engagement, and increasing the number of local nursing graduates — from around 600 in 2019 to nearly 1,300 in 2024.
“Coming together has made the difference in creating a stable pipeline here in Austin.”
This is what happens when community, education, and industry align for long-term impact — and lead by example.
Higher education costs, a booming population and aging workforce are all challenges identified by health care executives at the state and local level in a first-time health care forum held at Austin PBS in August.
When Homewatch Caregivers of Austin launched in December 2023, their mission was clear: deliver compassionate, personalized in-home care to individuals and families across the Austin area. But like many new businesses, they faced a critical challenge—how to build a strong, reliable team with limited resources.
Through the Earn & Learn service offered by Workforce Solutions Capital Area, Homewatch found more than just staffing support—they found a strategic partner committed to workforce development and long-term business success.
Why it matters: As a newly established in-home care agency, Homewatch needed a dependable workforce to meet growing client needs. However, with tight startup budgets, recruiting and training qualified employees posed a significant hurdle.
That’s where the Earn & Learn service made the difference. By providing funding support for on-the-job training, Earn & Learn is assisting Homewatch to build its team without compromising service quality or financial stability.
Through our Earn & Learn service, Homewatch accessed a diverse talent pool and filled essential care positions using WFS Capital Area’s Reverse Referral model, which allows employers to directly refers a current employee or a candidate for employment to Workforce Solutions.
This streamlined approach allowed Homewatch to refer promising candidates for subsidized training and employment, reducing hiring risks and accelerating onboarding. The partnership also opened doors to attend local hiring events and tap into a network of job-ready individuals seeking purpose-driven careers in healthcare.
Angelica Hernandez
What’s happening: Since joining the Earn & Learn initiative in November 2024, Homewatch Caregivers of Austin has made significant strides in workforce development:
They successfully placed candidates through community hiring events, including Workforce Solutions’ healthcare-focused job fairs.
Homewatch advanced their employee Angelica Hernandez to a Care Coordinator role earning $21 per hour through On-the-job training.
Another employee is being upskilled through the Reverse Referral process and will be transitioning into a new role as an Office Administrative Assistant, showcasing Homewatch’s dedication to internal growth and employee advancement.
Driving the news: Homewatch recruited Carilu Ledezma (at top) as a caregiver at a healthcare industry job fair hosted by WFS Capital Area in July.
Carilu is earning $17.25 an hour in her new role.
What they’re saying: “As small business owners, the board’s hiring events and employer services have been a turning point for us,” Maresha and Imo Eshiet, owners of Homewatch Caregivers of Austin, said.
“Running a new agency means every hour matters, and this support gave us the time to focus on building the right team from within. We have been able to empower our employees with opportunities, resources, and confidence to grow alongside us,” Maresha and Imo said.
More: “That investment has not only strengthened our business, it has allowed us to stay true to our purpose of providing compassionate care while creating a workplace where people feel valued and supported. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and the difference it has made for our business and our team.”
The success of Homewatch Caregivers of Austin’s participation in Earn & Learn illustrates the true power of collaboration. With support from WFS Capital Area, they have filled vital positions and invested in their employees’ futures—building a stronger, more resilient workforce.
Our tailored solutions at various levels of support can assist your business with awareness-raising, training, placement, and upskilling. Learn more and contact us to begin.
