Care Forward represents a growing pan-Canadian movement of healthcare improvement teams who are committed to improving access to quality and safe healthcare. If you want to help accelerate the path to better healthcare, there’s still time for you to join.
Across the country, people are stepping forward with ideas to ease pressure on emergency departments, improve care experiences, prioritize safety, and build stronger connections across the system.
A growing pan-Canadian movement
Thousands of improvers, from every province and territory in urban, northern, rural and remote settings, have engaged with Care Forward, eager to discover how the opportunity can support their teams. In fact, they're not just exploring; they’re leading change.
Most common? Healthcare providers and administrators. But participants also include First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders, researchers, community leaders, policy-makers, people with lived experience, and more. They work in hospitals, housing nonprofits, health authorities, homecare services, family health teams, long-term care homes, allied health, recreational programs – just to name a few.
If you're wondering if your role or setting is eligible, you should know that the people already involved are as diverse as the solutions they’re exploring.
One goal, four ways to get involved
Each offering supports efforts to expand access to care and ease pressure on emergency departments. All provide funding opportunities, resources and opportunities for learning and connection. Participating teams will also build foundational skills in equity, patient safety, cultural safety, patient engagement and quality improvement, including developing partnerships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
- Want something flexible that fits most settings? Bring your best ideas to improve access to care and ease pressures on emergency departments—reducing the need for people to travel outside their community—to the Right Care Challenge. Register by October 31.
- Ready to strengthen team-based primary care models, including virtual care, to provide more coordinated, patient-centred care? Enroll in Enhancing Integrated Care by June 27.
- Want to explore ways to create efficiencies and optimize team functioning so patients get timely access to care? Register for Primary Care Access Improvement by June 27.
- Keen to connect clients with community support through your paramedic service? Participate in Paramedics and Social Prescribing to help link people to local services that improve their health and well-being. Apply by June 27.
Who’s getting involved
Eligible organizations span the full spectrum of health and social care. These include:
- Hospitals
- Primary care clinics and family health teams
- Long-term care and nursing homes
- Home and community care services
- Mental health and addictions services
- Paramedic teams and services
- Community health centres and rehabilitation services
- Palliative care providers
- Housing and social service nonprofits
- Healthcare associations and sector-support organizations
- Health regions and regional health authorities
- Provincial and territorial governments
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations
- Municipal governments involved in local health or social care
- Charities and networks supporting system-wide improvements
If you're helping people get care in your community, you could be eligible.
Your next step matters
You don’t have to lead a system to lead change. What you do next: whether it’s exploring these offerings, applying with your team, or simply reaching out with an idea—can move care forward.
Take the first step today:
- Learn more and register/apply to the offerings:
- Find details, including eligibility criteria, in the Call for Applications.
- Explore the Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about whether more than one team can apply, who can be a team lead and more.
- Review the reporting and evaluation requirements for details on measurement and reporting expectations.
Have questions? Email us at application-demande@hec-esc.ca
