Horizon Childcare Pilot Program to Launch in Support of Health Care Worker Retention

(SAINT JOHN and FREDERICTON) – Horizon Health Network, in partnership with the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation and the Chalmers Foundation, is excited to launch a new childcare pilot program for Horizon staff and physicians, in response to the increased need for childcare access. Among the first of its kind to launch in New Brunswick, this pilot supports health care worker retention and helps enable staff and physicians to provide much-needed services to patients in the regional health care hubs of Saint John and Fredericton.

In each community, the pilot program will offer 51 net new, dedicated childcare spaces for permanent full-time and part-time Horizon employees and physicians. In response to the needs of Horizon employees, childcare will be available for infants to five-year-olds (prior to starting elementary school) with 12 flex-time spaces available in each community between 6:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. These dedicated childcare spaces will be offered in newly renovated centres near the Saint John Regional Hospital and Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital by local childcare operators, Origins Natural Learning Childcare in Saint John and Go-Go Group Inc. in Fredericton.

“Horizon employees and physicians have told us that the need for increased, reliable access to childcare is crucial to their work experience,” said Margaret Melanson, President and CEO of Horizon Health Network. “As an employer, Horizon has a commitment to support staff and physicians who are going above and beyond every day to care for our patients – given this pervasive need and its link to our critical action priority of retention and recruitment, we’re excited to introduce this pilot as a new way of supporting our valued health care workforce.”

Childcare funding normally subsidized by the government will be covered by a Horizon Endowment Fund administered by the hospital Foundations in Saint John and Fredericton, with $2 million allocated to each community. Horizon employee parents will pay the remaining applicable fees for the spaces, comparable to other designated childcare spaces, and cover additional fees for flex-time options.

Shannon Hunter, Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation President & CEO said, “Thanks to Horizon’s generous Endowment Fund to support health care worker retention, we’re excited to partner with the Chalmers Foundation and local childcare operators, specifically Origins in Saint John, to bring the program to life. While we know the demand is high for childcare, these net new spaces are a step in the right direction.”

Charles A. Diab, CEO of the Chalmers Foundation, added, “This pilot program is a progressive example of how we can apply innovative and practical ways to support our health care workers, who do so much to take care of New Brunswickers every day. We appreciate the collaborative efforts between Horizon, our Foundations and the childcare operators, particularly Go-Go in Fredericton, to make this pilot a reality given that high-quality childcare is a key social determinant of health.” 

Permanent full-time and part-time Horizon employees will be able to apply for spaces through their local childcare operators starting on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, with childcare services beginning in fall 2024 in Saint John and winter 2025 in Fredericton, pending the opening of newly renovated centres by Origins and Go-Go. Horizon will continue to explore childcare partnership opportunities in other areas.

Additional Quotes & Quick Facts:

“Providing high-quality childcare to those who need it most is of the utmost importance to us. We’re proud to offer these dedicated spaces to Horizon employees, in collaboration with Horizon and the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation. Our latest campus, known as “The Park,” will provide a serene, nature-based environment for children to grow and thrive – it’s gratifying to support local health care workers who give so much of themselves to our community.” – Erin Schryer, President & CEO, Origins Natural Learning Childcare in Saint John

“Meeting the growing demand for accessible, high-standard childcare in our community is a top priority for me. The need in Fredericton has never been more urgent, and it’s inspiring to see new partners like Horizon and the Chalmers Foundation stepping up with this innovative pilot project. My team and I are proud to support our health care workforce and look forward to welcoming a new group of bright, young minds.” – Kara Angus, President, Go-Go Group Inc. in Fredericton

• The childcare pilot program is supported by a Horizon Retention and Recruitment Endowment Fund, which has allocated approximately $2 million to each community to subsidize the childcare fees over a period of approximately three years, or until the Endowment Fund is expended.
  • The hospital Foundations in Saint John and Fredericton are administering the Endowment Fund and are facilitating the pilot program development and launch on Horizon’s behalf, in partnership with the childcare operators.
• As of June 2024, the estimated childcare waitlist from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development was more than 4,400 children province-wide.
  • The Fredericton and Saint John areas are estimated to have among the largest waitlists in the province for infant spaces – approximately 191 and 246 children are waiting for infant spaces, respectively.
• Of 612 Horizon staff and physicians surveyed in Saint John and Fredericton in 2024, 78.5% of respondents said they would use a new childcare program near a Horizon facility.
  • Approximately 35.7% of respondents said they were looking for childcare until 8 p.m., to accommodate the needs of their shiftwork.

About Horizon Health Network

Horizon has a plan to improve health care in New Brunswick. Our plan is focused on retention and recruitment efforts and improving the overall patient experience by addressing patient flow and access to services. Further details about Horizon’s four priority areas are available at HorizonNB.ca. This initiative also supports the Government of New Brunswick’s provincial health plan, Stabilizing Health Care: An Urgent Call to Action.

About the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation

Since 1984, the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation has been dedicated to inspiring donor generosity, enabling and recognizing community support in advancing patient care. Our community has helped raise over $154 million, funding new cutting-edge technologies, capital projects, innovation, medical research and professional education in all health care areas, improving the health of New Brunswickers. For more information, visit: thegive.ca

About the Chalmers Foundation

Established in 1983, the Chalmers Foundation is committed to transforming health care. Its vision is an engaged community that nurtures wellness and quality care. The funds raised are allocated to innovative and effective programs and initiatives at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital and in western and central New Brunswick. Through the support of our generous donors, we are changing lives and saving lives every day. For more information, visit: chalmersfoundation.com

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