(July 9, 2008) Saskatoon – Twenty-four new health care aides will soon enter the health care workforce, thanks to a partnership between Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) and Saskatoon Health Region.
SIIT and Saskatoon Health Region partnered on the 45-week health care aide educational program currently underway. To celebrate this new partnership, Saskatoon Health Region and SIIT signed an agreement Wednesday to seek education and training opportunities that increase Aboriginal participation in the Saskatoon Health Region workforce.
The health care aide program trains individuals to provide personal care and activities of daily living to encourage optimum level of functioning and provide support while meeting physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people either in their own home or within a long-term care facility.
“The program has made education for me possible, because we’re able to join the workforce very quickly,” says Marla Mann, a student in the health care aide program at SIIT. “I’m optimistic about the future.”
Fellow student Shannon Mike also sees value in the program.
“The health region has offered me a profession, and I feel like more people could benefit from other opportunities like this,” says Mike. “As an urban native living in the city, I also see the need for positive role models and influences. This is my driving force.”
The health care aide program started at the end of May, and students begin their practicum on July 14.
“This important relationship with SIIT helps Saskatoon Health Region work with the community to recruit and retain the skilled representative workforce needed to meet the health needs of a growing and aging population,” says Bonnie Blakley, the Region’s Vice-President People Strategies. “We need to work with the Aboriginal community to link our young people to job opportunities.”
The health care aide program is an example of the type of initiatives that SIIT and the Region hope to pursue through the partnership agreement.
“Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies is very pleased to be signing an agreement with the Saskatoon Health Region,” says Randell Morris, President of SIIT. “We are especially excited to be providing a health care aide employment and training program for our students. This is another great example of how our organization can partner with industry and assist in providing exciting future opportunities for our youth.”
The partnership between the Region and SIIT is one part of a larger strategy to address the health care needs of the future.
“We also need to actively recruit our nursing grads, former residents now elsewhere in Canada, and international health-care workers to grow and stabilize our workforce,” says Blakley.
SIIT and the Region will commemorate their relationship at a signing ceremony on Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 11 a.m. at SIIT’s Career Village – Main Floor, 229 4th Avenue South, Saskatoon.
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies has been in existence since 1976 and offers training and education programs to First Nations adults in Saskatchewan. In 2007-2008, more than 700 students enrolled in a wide range of programming provided throughout the province, both on and off-reserve.
Saskatoon Health Region is the largest employer in Saskatchewan and serves its communities through hospital care, long term care, home care, public health and many other health programs and services. Saskatoon Health Region commits to building a representative workforce as part of its health care recruitment strategy.
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For more information contact:
James Winkel
Corporate and Public Affairs Adviser
Saskatoon Health Region
306-655-3253
Saskatoon Health Region
“Healthiest people, healthiest communities, exceptional service.”
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