Ottawa, December 1st, 2021 – Société Santé en français is pleased to announce its support for a series of projects within the 2021-2023 period, to increase access to health services in French for Francophone and Acadian communities living in a minority setting.

As part of the Healthbound 18-23 – Focus on Access program – the SSF is proud to support thirteen (13) new initiatives that propose to meet the needs of Francophone and Acadian minority communities, in several regions throughout Canada. The funding for these projects is made possible thanks to the financial support of Health Canada, as part of the  Action Plan for Official Languages – 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future. 

” We are proud to support these projects designed in collaboration with several partners across Canada, and we are sure that they will ultimately have a positive impact on health services for Francophone and Acadian communities living in a minority setting ”, stated Mr. Antoine Désilets, SSF Executive Director.

Five (5) of these projects aim to promote increased access to bilingual health professionals in official language minority communities:

• Integration of Bilingual Human Resources – Health and Social Services – Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
• Café de Paris – Integration of bilingual health human resources – Services Francophones, Provincial Language Service, Provincial Health Services Authority (British Columbia)
• Integration of comprehensive French-Language Health Services – Eastern Regional Health Authority (Newfoundland and Labrador)
• Bilingual Household/Neighbourhood in Long Term Care – Health PEI – Long-term Care (Prince Edward Island)

• Improved French-Language Health Services Capacity – French Language Service Directorate, Government of Yukon

Eight (8) initiatives aim to improve Community wellness through better access to health services:

• Access to health care and social services in the official language’s standard recognition program – Accreditation Canada (National Scope Initiative)
• Accessible virtual and centralized access to care – Centre francophone du Grand Toronto (Ontario)
• Fall Prevention – Technology-assisted program – University of Ottawa (National Scope Initiative)

• Adaptation of programs for children in rural communities – Centre de pédiatrie sociale Sud-Est Inc. – Enfant Présent (New-Brunswick)
• Screening and referral of at-risk post-secondary students – Université de Saint-Boniface (National Scope Initiative)
• 65+ Mental Health and Addiction Bridging Service – Prescott-Russell Mental Health and Addiction Regional Centre of the Hawkesbury & District General Hospital (Ontario)
• Integration of French-language services -– Soins Communs Manitoba
• ACCÈS SANTÉ JEUNESSE [youth access to health services] – A community-based mental health approach tailored to a remote rural area – Centre de Bénévolat de la Péninsule Acadienne (CBPA) Inc. (New-Brunswick

“The selection of these projects led us to make some heartbreaking choices as the demand for funding greatly surpassed the funding capacity. The needs in health services in French are clearly evident across the country and the resources are lacking to fully meet them. We are nonetheless very optimistic about the impact of projects that are already operational, and we will continue to support innovative initiatives to improve access to health services in French whenever possible,” added Mr. Désilets.

Please visit the SSF website for more information on the 2021-2023 Projects.

About the SSF

The Société Santé en français is a dynamic national association that works to promote French-language health care in Francophone and Acadian minority communities in Canada. The SSF supports 16 regional, provincial and territorial French Language Health Networks in their efforts to engage partners interested in ensuring better access to French-language health care in every province and territory where French is not the majority language. For additional information, visit www.santefrancais.ca. 

For more information, please contact:

Adam Berrada, Public Relations Officer
Société Santé en français
Phone. : (613) 244-1889, ext. 241 toll free: 1-888-684-4253, ext. 241
Email: a.berrada@santefrancais.ca