English Community Organization Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean

The objective of this project is to support the opportunities available to English-speaking and bilingual students and increase the health and social services (H&SS) provided in English within the Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean region and to retain those health and social service professionals upon graduation. Through this project, ECO-02 is collaborating with Central Quebec School board, local CEGEPs and UQAC University and other institutions/organizations in the health and social service sector in the Saguenay--Lac-Saint- Jean and Chibougamau region. Together, they are developing a strategy that addresses recruitment and retention of bilingual workers in the health and social services field. A section devoted to retention and recruitment activities is being added to their website. This assists bilingual students and workers involved in the health and social service field. The section provides easy access to the Bursary program information. At the end of this project, their goal is to increase in the number of bilingual staff working in the health and social service field.

ECO-02 works in close partnership with public health institutions, community organizations and the education sector in the 02 region (SLSJ/Chibougamau) to foster an environment suitable to promote internships and careers in the health and social services sectors and support the retention of English-speaking bilingual graduates. ECO-02 is 1 — Promoting activities with schools (meetings and videoconferences between high school students and health professionals, development and distribution of promotional tools and possible open-house activities); 2 — Participating with various regional committees and initiatives related to local/regional employment; 3 — Collaborating with public health partners to encourage recruitment of interns and help these institutions in the Education sector and organizations in the H&SS sector to adapt existing recruitment policies to encourage the recruitment of English-speaking, bilingual professionals; 4 — Working with CIUSSS SLSJ to help recruit and secure employment in the region following their internships; 5 — Assisting in the development of long-term collaborations and partnership agreements between the teaching institutions and the Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean H&SS network to bring continuity/consistency to the recruitment and retention of English-speaking, bilingual professionals in the region; 6 — Working to increase the return of SLSJ graduates following the completion of their studies; 7 — Promote and manage the Bursary program.