How to grow the ranks of community health workers
The following op ed, written by Grazia Yaeger, was published on the Times Union on November 26, 2025. Grazia is the associate executive director of the Caring Gene® Program
With healthcare coverage and cuts continuing across the United States, it’s a healthcare workforce shortage that should concern New Yorkers. Unfilled positions are straining services across the state.
According to the Healthcare Association of New York State, Inc., last year 97% of New York hospitals reported a shortage of nurses, and 88% reported the need for non-nursing healthcare personnel. An additional report from the Center for Health Workforce Studies confirmed these shortages spanned across all healthcare settings, with a particular concentration among registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and entry-level aides.
And while much of the focus has been on nursing—with thousands of vacancies partly fueled by retirement—there are other roles that are just as crucial to the healthcare workforce, improving treatment outcomes, and stabilizing an industry set to add 1.6 million jobs by 2033.
One of those roles that deserves more attention is the community health worker.
These medical personnel are frontline professionals who connect people to healthcare, behavioral health, and social care services. They often keep patients out of emergency settings while easing the burden on nurses and nurse aides.
Community health workers can:
- Facilitate access to available healthcare resources, counseling, and social support to those in need.
- Bridge the often-frustrating gap between patients and care.
- Work to promote, maintain, and improve the overall health of their communities.
Simply put, community health workers serve as a vital connection to improve access to care for people who may otherwise struggle to find it. With the need for these professionals set to increase by 14% by 2032, active pipelines are necessary to educate and train new recruits.
New Yorkers deserve creative solutions to strengthen the community health worker pipeline. That’s where partnerships between policy, education, healthcare, and nonprofit leaders come in.
For example, the Caring Gene® Career Pathways Training Program recently teamed up with educational partners SUNY Schenectady Community College (SCCC) and Hudson Valley Community College. We provide aspiring healthcare workers with funds for tuition and books, academic and career support services, and job search assistance for positions currently paying an average of nearly $57,000 per year.
That’s just one approach—and it’s working. SCCC has a cohort graduating this December, and is actively recruiting for the next session beginning January 29, 2026.
For some, training for work in community healthcare can feel intimidating. A career pathway model makes preparation more accessible because it connects people to education and training. With that real-world experience, they can step into a career with confidence and continue growing over time. This directly increase the likelihood of more people pursuing education and careers in the field. That in turn answers the current needs of our state’s healthcare workforce. Let’s come to the table with additional solutions.
Ensuring a stronger, more resilient healthcare system for New Yorkers starts with a robust pipeline of health professionals. These trainees will bridge the gap from where our workforce is to where it needs to be.