BARRHEAD — It’s not a sure thing yet, but it’s looking as though Pembina Hills will be able to revive its dual credit Health Care Aide (HCA) program this January.
Pembina Hills School Division has offered a dual credit HCA program in partnership with Norquest College since the 2012-2013 school year, though there have been disruptions related to provincial funding.
Through the program, high school students are trained to work in continuing care institutions, home care agencies, group homes, assisted or supportive living programs, specialized care centres, acute care hospitals and private care.
Generally, health care aides provided assistance to the elderly, disabled individuals, newborns and chronically ill people who require short-term assistance or ongoing support.
As detailed in an article posted to the Pembina Hills website in early September, the division was unable to offer the program in the fall due to a lack of registrations.
Notably, this is the first time since the program’s inception that there weren’t enough students interested in signing up.
Karen Fischer, dual credit co-ordinator for Pembina Hills, said Norquest College had told her that registrations for all of their dual credit programs were down.
“It’s not just our program that’s had reduced interest,” she said.
However, Pembina Hills started taking online registrations for a new dual credit HCA cohort to begin in January 2023.
Fischer stated that as of Oct. 5, they had 20 people signed up for the program through the division website and a few more that had expressed interest.
She noted that due to their contract with Norquest, they haven’t been able to inform those registrants what the program cost will be. Once they find out, Fischer said she expects there will be a little attrition, but there will still be enough sign-ups to move forward.
“Right now, it’s looking pretty good for having a cohort starting in January,” she said.
She noted a minimum of 12 registrations are needed to provide the program. That is a lower number than usual, but Norquest recognizes the health care industry is in dire need of new workers.
Bursaries
On Sept. 27, an Alberta Health news release highlighted three streams of funding that are available through the HCA Education Funding program.
Firstly, students who were enrolled in a licensed HCA program between Jan. 1 and June 30 are eligible for up to $4,000 if they agree to work a minimum of 1,000 hours with an identified continuing care operator within one year of starting employment.
Eligible HCA students enrolled in a licensed HCA program after July 1, 2022, could also receive $9,000 through a HCA Bursary Program, with preference being given to students attending school full-time or already working for a continuing care operator.
Finally, there is a Workplace Tutor program that provides up to $9,400 in funding for identified continuing care operators to educate HCAs at their workplace.
Fischer said their most recent cohort that completed the program in June was able to take advantage of this bursary program.
However, she noted that the work requirement meant that it wasn’t for all students, especially those with plans to move on from being health care aides and instead become licensed practice nurses, registered nurses, emergency medical technicians or other positions in the health care industry.
“It may not be for everybody, but it’s certainly a great deal that it’s a good fit for,” she said.
Further information about these bursary programs can be found by visiting www.norquest.ca.
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