Meeting the health needs of the province’s child and youth population is both a priority and a challenge for the government of Saskatchewan.

Strengthening Health Services for Children and Youth – A Plan for Acute and Rehabilitative Services for Saskatchewan will support better integration and delivery of acute and rehabilitative care to children and youth.

A Steering Committee that includes representation from health regions, the College of Medicine and Saskatchewan Health is leading the project, with support from a consulting firm. 

The plan, announced in June 2006, will provide:

• A provincial vision for acute and rehabilitative health services for children and youth;
• Recommendations for service delivery infrastructure; and
• A clinical directional plan for child/youth acute and rehabilitative care programs to be provided in Saskatchewan.

The plan will also take into consideration other government initiatives such as the Cognitive Disabilities Strategy, the Premier’s Project Hope, and Saskatchewan's Plan for Child and Youth Mental Health Services.

Phase 1:
Background information has been collected, an environmental scan and key interviews have been conducted. Focus groups involving families, physicians and service providers were held in September.

Phase 2:
Working groups will develop recommendations on a Clinical Directional Plan and Service Delivery Framework.

These processes were initiated in the spring of 2006 and are expected to be complete by the end of the 2006-07 fiscal year.

The Plan will complement related initiatives such as:
- development of a children’s “hospital within a hospital” in Saskatoon;
- development of the Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care at Regina General Hospital;
- renovations to the neonatal intensive care unit at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.