Goodwill of Southern Nevada

Project Overview

Goodwill’s proposed project for funding, Employer-Driven Training Sprints – A Healthcare Sector Strategy, is an evidence-based, workforce solution to help Nevadans get trained, certified, and into high-wage, high-growth, in-demand healthcare occupations – namely, certified nursing assistant (CNA) or medical assistant (MA) – in less than 16 weeks. Employer-Driven Training Sprints (EDTS) can be defined as a short, yet comprehensive, just-in-time training model to get jobseekers trained and back to work – fast. It’s a sprint! Once a candidate gets into the career of choice, then it becomes a marathon of upward mobility as they can continue their education and pursue additional certifications steadily increasing their wages as they continue along their career pathway.

Because Nevada has the most dire healthcare workforce shortage in America, Goodwill’s goal is to increase the number of certified nursing assistants and medical assistants to help our community get securely on a path to recovery. Our intended participants are residents who are unemployed, underemployed, and new to the workforce into high-wage, high-growth, in-demand healthcare occupations. This is important as this project also helps to strengthen our community’s healthcare infrastructure so that it’s there for us when we need it. Additionally, we are committed to alleviating some of the health and economic disparities that have disproportionately impacted communities of color.

With a proven performance record of over 80 graduates that we’ve placed into employment over the last six months, Goodwill of Southern Nevada (GSN) will continue to attract hundreds of participants who have expressed an interest in becoming a CNA or MA. Upon receiving the requested funding, GSN will train and place into employment at least 175 Nevadans into a healthcare career. Funds will be primarily used to cover tuition and fees associated with getting and retaining employment. It typically costs about $5000 per candidate to get from unemployed and untrained, to jobseeker with an industry-recognized credential, to a fully employed worker with upward mobility. Because of our unprecedented success in placing 80-90 percent of enrolled participants into employment with our employer partners – Valley Health Systems, Intermountain Healthcare, or Marquis Companies – this is a proven solution worth the investment.