Neighbours Retention Incentive Initiatives in AT

Neighbours aim is to enhance access to health and social services in English within the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region (08) in accordance and collaboration with pre-existing programs and projects such as Networking Partnership Initiative, Neighbours Health Committee, Abitibi-Temiscamingue Access and Advisory Committee, Adaptation Programs, and Language Training.

We will focus on building and strengthening beneficial partnerships and strategies that will lead towards improving the recruitment and retention of health care professionals who can provide and deliver services in English. We will work with institutions to help implement local and regional priorities specific to services in English.

We will mobilize stakeholders to the issues of language access (Act Respecting Health Service and Social Services regarding the right to English-speaking clients in Quebec), and building relationships with public health partners as well as partnerships with community partners, health professionals, and educational partners.

We will develop activities that focus on recruitment of students into the health field, retention of students in current health studies throughout the province and maintenance of actual (new) graduates. Promotion, administration and monitoring of McGill bursary programs throughout Region 08 and work in collaboration with willing partners to support students in internship programs.

We will try to improve access to a full range of health and social services in English through measures designed to build and maintain a sufficient complement of health personnel capable and willing to provide services in English.