ACC and Park West School Division partner to provide CHCA program

ACC signed a memorandum of understanding with Park West School Division (PWSD) earlier today, facilitating the delivery of ACC’s Comprehensive Health Care Aide (CHCA) program over a three year period at Birtle Collegiate starting this September.

The CHCA program will be made available to students in the PWSD and surrounding First Nations communities.

“This partnership is a wonderful thing because it allows students the chance to graduate from high school with additional, valuable skills,” said Don Cochrane, Board Chair of PWSD. “It gives them a head start in the workforce.”

The 24-week program will run every year at Birtle Collegiate from 2014 to 2016. Up to 22 high school students may enroll in each intake. Twenty students have already applied to PWSD for enrollment in the fall and are in the process of completing their ACC applications.

“There is strong demand in the health care industry for individuals with this type of education,” said Karen Hargreaves, Dean of Health and Human Services at ACC. “This collaboration with Park West demonstrates our commitment to strengthening Manitoba’s labour force while providing meaningful career opportunities to young people.”

Successful students of the program will be eligible to graduate from high school with a certificate in CHCA, meeting the educational requirements to work as health care aides.

Graduates of the program may also choose to continue their education at ACC in the Practical Nursing program and would receive transfer credit towards their diploma.