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Rural Capacity Investment Fund (RCIF)

Supporting Rural Health Professionals Across Alberta

2024 - 2028

What is the RCIF?

The Rural Capacity Investment Fund (RCIF) is a collaborative initiative established through the Collective Agreement between Alberta Health Services and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA). With $54 million in funding through the term of the Collective Agreement, the RCIF is dedicated to strengthening rural healthcare by supporting recruitment and retention initiatives for health professionals in rural Alberta.

Who is Eligible?

The RCIF primarily serves "difficult to recruit to" sites in Alberta's North, Central, and South Zones. ​​These are locations facing challenges such as: ​​

​     âœ“  High vacancy rates​​​

     âœ“  Vacancies unfilled for longer than 90 days ​​

     âœ“  High turnover rates ​​

     âœ“  Other recruitment and retention challenges identified by local teams ​

The RCIF Committee may approve initiatives for difficult-to-recruit rural sites in the Edmonton and Calgary Zones. 

How does RCIF work?

Evidence-Based Decision Making

The RCIF Committee actively works to understand trends, challenges, and opportunities in rural areas across Alberta. The Committee makes strategic decisions about how to disperse funding based on identified needs and evidence of what will create meaningful impact.

What RCIF can support:

  • Recruitment and retention incentives tied to return-for-service agreements

  • Rural education and professional development

  • Site or program-specific initiatives

  • Demonstration projects and pilots addressing broader workforce challenges

  • Initiatives targeting new employees and sustainable workforce development

  • Other innovative strategies that demonstrate potential for meaningful impact on rural recruitment and retention

The RCIF Committee

A joint committee of 7 Employer and 8 Union representatives, representing North, Central, and South Zones, oversees the Fund. With the assistance of a neutral facilitator, the Committee uses consensus-based decision-making to:​

​

✓ Allocate annual funding across priority areas 

✓ Review and approve local initiatives 

✓ Scale successful programs

✓ Respond to emerging recruitment challenges 

When is RCIF Available? 

Funding opportunities will be available beginning in early 2026 and will continue through the term of the collective agreement. The Committee reviews funding allocations and initiatives on an ongoing basis, allowing the program to remain responsive to changing needs throughout this period. 

2025

Collective Agreement Ratified

Early 2026

Program Launch

Ongoing

Rolling Reviews

Mar 30, 2028

Program Ends

What's Different This Time? 

Building on Success
This new RCIF initiative builds on successful rural recruitment and retention strategies implemented across Alberta's healthcare system. These investments have provided valuable learning about what works in supporting rural allied health professionals.
The 2024 - 2028 Focus
The RCIF represents a significant commitment to addressing current and emerging challenges facing rural healthcare.

Learning from past initiatives and scaling what works

The Committee is committed to...

Responding to evolving rural workforce needs and trends

Making strategic investments that create lasting stability

Supporting the unique challenges facing rural teams today

Using evidence and input from members to guide funding decisions

Your Voice Matters

We want to hear from you! Whether you're a HSAA member working in rural Alberta, a healthcare leader managing rural operations your insights are valuable. 

Share Your Input

Help the RCIF Committee make informed decisions about how to invest $54 million in rural allied health capacity. We're seeking input on: â€‹

​​​

  • Current recruitment and retention challenges in your area ​​

  • Barriers that make it difficult to attract or keep health professionals in rural communities ​

  • Successful strategies or initiatives you've seen work locally ​

  • Ideas for new approaches the Committee should consider ​

  • What would make the biggest difference in your rural worksite 

 

Your feedback will directly inform funding decisions and help ensure RCIF investments address

the real challenges facing rural health professionals across Alberta.

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