To confront a looming health care crisis that projects New Jersey to face one of the country’s largest worker deficits—including an estimated shortfall of 4,000 Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) by 2028—a new program is stepping in to build an immediate talent pipeline.
Through a partnership between Clipboard Health and the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development (NJCCCWED), 24 New Jersey students have been awarded full scholarships through the newly minted CNA Accelerator Program.
The program covers 100% of tuition, course materials, and exam fees, allowing participants across Essex County College, Mercer County Community College, and Rowan College of South Jersey to earn their credentials and enter the workforce debt-free in just two to three months. Clipboard Health is funding the initiative, while NJCCCWED serves as the administrator.
To celebrate the inaugural cohort, Clipboard Health and NJCCCWED are hosting a kickoff lunch on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at The Conference Center at Mercer.
The event will bring together student scholarship recipients, academic leaders, and state officials dedicated to fortifying New Jersey’s health care infrastructure. Confirmed speakers and special guests include:
- Wei Deng, Founder and Co-CEO, Clipboard Health
- Catherine Starghill, Esq., VP and Chief Workforce Innovation Officer, NJCCCWED
- Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, New Jersey General Assembly
- Assemblyman Cody Miller, New Jersey General Assembly
- Assemblyman Michael Venezia, New Jersey General Assembly
- Commissioner Terrence Stokes, Mercer County Board of County Commissioners
Event details
- What: NJ CNA Accelerator Program Kickoff Lunch Celebration
- When: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM
- Where: The Conference Center at Mercer, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor Township
