Funding To Support Healthcare Recruitment, Retention in Pictou County

A new website, monthly events and radio promotions about community activities are some of the proposed projects to welcome healthcare workers and their families to Pictou County. The projects are designed to address barriers and foster a sense of community.

Two organizations that focus on team building and newcomer settlement projects will receive funding for those activities and more through the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment (OHPR) Community Fund.

“Our communities know best how to promote themselves and connect successfully with new healthcare workers and their families to help them settle,” said Premier Tim Houston. “These Community Fund projects offer a variety of creative ways Pictou County is embracing healthcare newcomers and letting them know they’re valued here.”

The two organizations, their projects and funding amounts are:

• Healthy Pictou County —$86,699 to create a new strategic five-year plan, redesign its website, host regular “New to the Crew” monthly socials for healthcare workers and their families, and plan social events featuring local musicians.

• Pictou County Partnership —$54,097 to create welcoming community radio spots to share local activities and event news for newcomers, and to add welcome kits and other support materials to the settlement resource library.

In total, 30 organizations across the province will receive support through the OHPR Community Fund this year. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.

The fund, established in 2022, is an action item in Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare. It supports community healthcare recruitment and retention initiatives organized by local non-profit organizations, charity community groups, cultural organizations, member-based organizations and boards, municipalities and chambers of commerce.

Quotes:

“Whether it’s updating our website, organizing welcome kits or social events, we know our Pictou County community is ready and willing to embrace newcomers, especially healthcare workers, who are so appreciated. This funding goes a long way toward realizing our ideas for ways to make Nova Scotia feel like home.”
— Murray Hill, Chair, Healthy Pictou County

“We have lots of work to do to prepare our community and effectively welcome and help settle new healthcare workers here. This funding from the province lets our community get going on several action items from our wish list that will showcase our strengths and the many reasons we love our Pictou County home. Working together through collaboration and cooperation, we’ll be well prepared to welcome and settle newcomers here, so they’ll feel that connection, too.”
— Ryan Fraser, Chair, Pictou County Partnership

Quick Facts:

• the OHPR Community Fund supported 28 community-led recruitment and retention initiatives in 2022-23, investing more than $1.5 million into a range of projects, including healthcare worker recognition events, online support tools, marketing videos and even a community garden

Additional Resources:

New Release – Funding Supports Healthcare Recruitment, Retention in Cape Breton: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/03/07/funding-supports-healthcare-recruitment-retention-cape-breton

News Release – New Community Projects Support a Diverse Workforce: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/03/06/new-community-projects-support-diverse-health-workforce

Fund guidelines and details are available at: https://novascotia.ca/ohpr-community-fund

Action for Health: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/

Mandate letter of the Minister of Health and Wellness and Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf