Huron Expositor, 2007-09-19, Page 14Page 14 The Huron Expositor • September 19, 2007
News
Healthkick Huron may need a name change
New proposal could see successful program expand beyond Huron County
Susan Hundertntark
Healthkick Huron may be
expanding past its geographical
boundaries as the project orga-
nizers plan its funding proposal
for the next three years.
Healthkick Huron manager
Laura Overholt told the
Seaforth Community Hospital
Local Advisory Committee
(LAC). recently that while fund-
ing for the first three-year pro-
ject was extended until the end
of March, 2008, organizers are
hoping to make it sustainable
for the next 10 years.
"I'd like to see the project
around for 10 years. You need
that kind of window to have an
impact," she said.
Overholt said the proposal for
another three years of funding
from the Rural Economic
Development (RED) fund "is
written and ready to go."
And, she said the next. propos-
al is "broadening the scope" and
looking at developing partner-
ships outside of Huron County.
f -..i.:. r"" t,. q -101? -1. 1 .ire -1, " = :g r-• re ----..1 ( . Y-! fir -
1
1 III— `�=
MI pi •) li►. : 1 I ilii IV) r :
t >j �Z t _ --�
•..mow..
• The perfect combination of slim profile, high resolution and compact size • Super IPS technology will
ilal ( J ; dazzle you with incredible clarity and brightness
•Widescreen
.High Definition
•Widescreen
•High Definition
•V/idescreen
•High Definition
•Widescreen
•High Definition
•Widescreen
.High Definition
•Swivel Base
*497 *797 '897 81097 1297 1597
PLASMA TVVS,
The Pinnacle of Technological Triumph! The stunning aesthetics move you as much as the
Incredible Visuals. Plasma TVs can last up to 3 times longer than traditional TVs
•Widescreen
•High Definition
•Widescreen
•High Definition
/idescreen
•High Definition
•Swivel Base
•Widescreen
•High Definition
•Swivel Base
51997
•Widescreen
•High Definition
'7497
°2297 x3997
Home Theatre Systems
• Remote control Dolby Digital
Surround Sound Receiver • 5 Speakers plus Sub Woofer miliN
H�s..�� *397
TREO
The Chisholm TV & Stereo Difference
/Careful Delivery
/Complete Setup & Demonstration
/Professional In -House Servke
29 Kingston St., Goderich, Shoppers' Square 5249576 Mon. - Sat. 9-6
www.chisholmtv.com
.74 21e
HOURS
"We could just be Healthkick
soon, not Healthkick Huron,"
she said. •
Overholt added she's feeling
support from the RED funding
mechanism.
"They're very supportive of us
- we're lucky. they'll consider a
second application," she said.
"I think we're feeling good
about it. We've certainly been
encouraged and it's been a good
experience. It's too good to let it
go," said Overholt.
Much of -her confidence, she
said, comes from the project
winning two awards during the
past year.
Healthkick Huron won a
physician recruitment award at
the Ontario Economic
Development Conference in
February and an award in the
innovations in health human
resources awards category at
the Celebrating Innovations in
Health Care Expo 2007 in May.
T t ree-year six -pronged
Is for Healthcare Attraction
and Retention Pilot (SHARP)
project, whose proposal was co -
written by Gwen Devereaux and
Paul Nichol, of the Huron
Business Development
Corporation, was renamed
Healthkick Huron.
It received $300,000 in provin-
cial funding as well as a contri-
bution of $150,000 from the
Seaforth Community
Development Trust.
Overholt said the project,
which originally planned to
encourage high school students
to •consider a healthcare career,
provide experience for youth at
local health facilities, provide
nursing training for the local
workforce, create temporary
work placements for 'recent
health graduates, make the area
attractive to international med-
ical grads and create community
ambassador teams to promote
the area, had a "huge scope."
But, while it did not end up
tackling the issue of recruiting
international medical grads to
local family health teams,
Overholt said Healthkick
Huron's three strengths have
been connecting with youth, pro-
moting skill development and
recruiting and retaining medical
personnel.
"Sharng our learning is what
we want to do. When we were
provided with the awards, we
were told the project has the
ability to be adopted by other
communities," she said.