Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and Saskatchewan Polytechnic partner to deliver the Continuing Care Assistant program

Image credit: Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Image credit: Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Agreement sets framework for the delivery of the Continuing Care Assistant program at the Iron Buffalo Centre


February 12, 2019 – Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and Saskatchewan Polytechnic signed an agreement today for the delivery of the Sask Polytech Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) program at the Iron Buffalo Centre, located at Mistawasis Nêhiyawak. This partnership will help meet the need for more continuing care assistants to support Mistawasis Nêhiyawak. It will enable students to access post-secondary educational programming close to home.

Theoretical courses will be delivered at the Iron Buffalo Centre, which provides enhanced education, training and employment programs and services for Mistawasis Nêhiyawak. Simulation laboratory training will take place at Sask Polytech Prince Albert campus. Clinical practice education will take place at health care agencies in neighboring communities such as Shellbrook, Canwood, Hafford and Duck Lake.

“The signing of this new agreement with Saskatchewan Polytechnic will help our community by educating our youth on-reserve. Continuing care assistants are needed in our community and this will help keep them on-reserve for the education portion of the program and eventually have them working here at Mistawasis Nehiyawak,” said, Chief Daryl Watson of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak.

“Continuing care assistants play a crucial role in Saskatchewan’s health care system. This partnership builds on Sask Polytech’s long-standing commitment of meeting the needs of students, First Nation communities and employers," says Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech president and CEO. "The opportunity for students to study and take part in clinical placements close to home will ultimately benefit students, Mistawasis Nêhiyawak, the community and local health care providers."

Sask Polytech’s CCA program is a one-year certificate program. CCAs work directly with clients in long-term care, home care, assisted living, some areas of acute care and special needs classrooms. They assist clients with mobility, personal care, eating meals and medication monitoring. The program consists of learning experiences in classroom, lab and clinical practice education settings. Students learn content such as gerontology, dementia management strategies, long-term care philosophies, promoting independence, nutrition, provision of safe client care and addressing psychosocial needs. Students complete clinical practice education in home care, long-term care or acute care settings.

About Mistawasis Nêhiyawak: In the past Mistawasis Nêhiyawak has utilized its land base for agriculture, fishing, hunting, fur trapping, silviculture, logging, herbs and craft materials. Economic development is not new to Mistawasis Nêhiyawak. It has always been based on the need to provide for the community, but also driven by a better quality of living. What culturally and historically started as being keepers of the land, grew to a trading industry, and has evolved into modern day business. It was with this mindset that Mistawasis Nêhiyawak started their journey to become a business ready entity that would provide financial stability as well as work opportunities for the nation.

About Saskatchewan Polytechnic: Sask Polytech serves students through applied learning opportunities at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, and through extensive distance education opportunities. Programs serve every economic and public service sector. As a polytechnic, the organization provides the depth of learning appropriate to employer and student need, including certificate, diploma and degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic engages in applied research, drawing on faculty expertise to support innovation by employers, and providing students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.

 

 

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