The Outaouais Community

Health and Social Services Retention Project

This project aims to improve access to health and social services for the English-speaking population by implementing initiatives that will increase the number of students studying in a health and social services profession and retaining graduates to work in a health and social services institution in the Outaouais. More precisely, Connexions Resource Centre intends to: 1 - Collaborate with the CISSS de l’Outaouais to align with regional human resources priorities and address the needs of the English-speaking population; 2 - Effectively promote the Dialogue McGill Health and Social Services Community Leadership Bursary Program to secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, as well as to the general public; 3 - Offer innovative and creative activities that encourage English-speaking students in high school, in an adult or vocational education centre, and in a CEGEP, in urban and rural areas, to consider career paths in the health sector; 4 - Facilitate access to information on health career and employment opportunities in the Outaouais; 5 - Effectively manage the Dialogue McGill Bursary Program and support the integration of health and social services graduates in Outaouais health institutions.

The activities to achieve the objectives are based on best practices identified in previous projects, as well as new innovative approaches. Therefore, Connexions Resource Centre in this next round of Dialogue McGill, is implementing the following activities. Bursaries offered each year to students in health and social services programs who commit to return or stay to work in the Outaouais region; the opportunity for high school students, in urban and rural areas, to chat with a health and social services professional, bursary recipient or placement student, as well as learn more about the Bursary Program; workshops offered each year to students at a CEGEP and in a vocational education centre to learn more about the Bursary Program and careers in a health or social services profession. Connexions Resource Centre also participates in 1 or 2 2-3 career fairs per year with a kiosk to promote health and social services careers to students in high school, vocational programs or CEGEP.