Birtle, Man. next rural rotating site to host CHCA program

UPDATE: The start date for this program has been moved to Febraury 8, 2021. Attend an online information session to learn more.

Birtle, Man. has been selected by Assiniboine Community College as the next community to host the college’s rural rotating Comprehensive Health Care Aide (CHCA) program.

The full-time certificate program will commence in Birtle on January 11, 2021 with capacity for 22 students.

“We are pleased to work with Prairie Mountain Health and the community to deliver this program,” said Suzanne Nicolas, Dean of the School of Nursing at Assiniboine.

“The demand for skilled health care aides is immense and we know this program will be able to help support the demand in the province while providing terrific career pathways for individuals to pursue.”

A request for proposals to host rural rotating sites was issued this past June, with Assiniboine receiving three submissions from communities within the Prairie Mountain Health region.

“The Prairie View Municipal council is extremely pleased that the Assiniboine Community Centre’s Health Care Aid program will once again be available at the Birtle Collegiate Institute. Past participants/students have been welcomed in our Birtle Health Facility as well as in surrounding towns,” said Linda Clark, Reeve for Prairie View Municipality.

“With our aging population this training and these positions are so important to our rural communities and our people. For some students, this program has afforded them the opportunity to step into a position immediately following graduating from Grade 12. As well, some students have gone on to further their education in the nursing field. Our hope is that there will be many students who will look at this as an opportunity to become an accredited health care aid while living at home,” Clark added.

The CHCA program teaches graduates practical skills to care for patients and to communicate in a clinical setting, while also learning how to help patients with their well-being and managing their health care environment.

"We are pleased that Birtle's Birtle Collegiate Institute has been selected to host Assiniboine’s Comprehensive Health Care Aide Program for 2021. The Birtle Miniota & District Development Corp (BMDDC) recognizes the need for strong partnerships and rural facilitation,” said Jenny Kuemper Economic Development Officer at BMDCC.

“It was with these opportunities in mind that Prairie View Municipality and Park West School division entered into the Park West Fiber Co-op structure, providing fast and reliable connectivity. Offering continued education programs benefit both students and our community, allowing our region to retain local talent and labour force while filling positions within our healthcare facilities,” Kuemper added.

Birtle—via the Park West School Division—previously hosted Assiniboine’s CHCA rural rotating program from 2014 to 2018.

The college has a proven track record of delivering highly successful CHCA programs in other communities through the use of rural rotating sites, such as in Souris, Carberry, Glenboro, St Pierre, St Malo, Crystal City, Virden, and a variety of First Nations communities.

Prospective students should visit assiniboine.net/chca to find out more about the program and admission requirements before applying.