Vernon, B.C. (October 27, 2020) – BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) has secured another round of funding through the Community Workforce Response Grant which will allow 16 new students to pursue careers in seniors’ care.
$270,776 will go towards training a 16-person cohort of health care assistants (HCAs) through Discovery Community College in Vernon. Four other cohorts are currently in training thanks to funding the Association received in 2019. The entire cost of tuition for program participants, as well as provide financial supports for travel, childcare and other training allowances, is covered.
“Thanks to the Community Workforce Response Grant, students who were previously limited by financial constraints and family obligations were given the opportunity to pursue meaningful careers as health care assistants,” says BCCPA CEO Terry Lake. “BCCPA, in partnership with Discovery Community College, is excited to train another batch of HCAs that will soon join the sector to provide excellent care to seniors in B.C.’s Interior.”
Students enrolled in the training program will receive skills training by way of the provincially approved curriculum for health care assistants, as well as enhanced health and safety training delivered by SafeCare BC.
BCCPA has gained strong support for this initiative from six employers in the region. The Good Samaritan Society, Vantage Living, H&H Total Care, Kaigo Senior Living Group, Park Place Seniors Living, and Vancouver Resource Society are seeking to fill part-time and full-time positions in their organizations by participating in the program.
“We greatly appreciate the support of the BCCPA and the Community Workforce Response Grant,” says Melanie Reinhardt, President of Vantage Living. “Bringing the HCA program to the Interior will ensure that our community members receive training for meaningful, in-demand jobs and seniors receive excellent care. As a Vernon resident, and a future employer of the students, I’m really excited to see this opportunity come to our community!”
Following the completion of the skills training program, BCCPA will host hiring fairs for participating employers and program graduates.
Since 2018, BCCPA has undertaken multiple measures to resolve the health human resources crisis in British Columbia, including hosting a sector-wide collaborative with care providers, government, labour unions and training colleges; issuing two reports outlining the scale of the crisis and providing 10 recommendations on how to resolve it; establishing a $25,000 HCA bursary program in partnership with Okanagan College; partnering with Health Match BC to design their new Choose2Care recruitment campaign; and delivering the provincially approved HCA curriculum to 80 students in communities on Vancouver Island and in the Interior.
BCCPA and Discovery Community College will be hosting an online information session on October 27th, 2020 for interested applicants to learn more.
Training will begin on November 23rd. Details on the training program are available on BCCPA’s website.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Mike Klassen
VP, Public Affairs
mklassen@bccare.ca
604-377-5499
About BC Care Providers Association
Established in 1977, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is the leading voice for B.C.’s continuing care sector. Our growing membership base includes over 400 long-term care, assisted living, home care, home support, and commercial members from across British Columbia.
