East Island Network for English Language Services

English an Asset!

English an Asset! will work to reduce barriers to health and social services access for the English speaking population in the east end of Montreal. The initiative will help increase retention of English-speaking Health Professionals in Montreal’s East end through collaboration with educational institutions, public health institutions and community networks through 4 specific means:

- Encouraging English speaking youth to undertake careers in health professions;

- Providing opportunities for English-speaking students to contribute their linguistic abilities and theoretical understanding gleaned from coursework within healthcare settings and complementary community services;

- Collaborating with the CIUSSS in the East and North end of Montreal to increase internship opportunities for bilingual students.

The main outputs of the project will be to:

- Develop a Partnership Recruitment/Retention Plan and collaborate with the CIUSSS’ and educational institutions for the placement of bilingual students in disciplines which reflect the existing recruitment needs and English-language access programs of the local health establishments;

- Assist human resource and communications agents of two partnering CIUSSS' to develop and implement a bilingual staff recruitment strategy to recruit job applicants able to provide services in both English and French;

- Develop Community Sector Student Placements;

- Collaborate with community organizations in developing and accessing community placements in specialized fields such as: youth with special needs, seniors with reduced mobility, youth at risk, and addictions;

- Develop student placement opportunities in local private sector health facilities: Local community pharmacies and rehabilitation clinics;

- Work in partnership with the Centre of Dreams and Hopes and the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal and the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal to create training opportunities for nursing and medical interns to obtain firsthand experience working with special needs clientele at the new medical clinic in the Centre of Dreams and Hopes.