2slgbtqia+ Youth Program Worker - Toronto, Canada - Friends of Ruby

Friends of Ruby

Verified Company

Toronto, Canada

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Friends of Ruby (FoR) is dedicated to the journey and well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, aged 16-29 through mental health services, social services, and housing. FoR offers Youth Mental Health services, a Youth Drop-In Centre, and a Transitional Home. The Centre provides access to barrier-free counselling and therapeutic groups, case management and a drop-in space with hot meals, community, and comprehensive programming. The Home provides transitional and emergency housing, as well as mental health and life-skills to support youth moving towards independent living.

FoR recognizes that a diverse work force is critical to accomplishing our mission.

Our goal is to attract and develop highly talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives.

We strongly encourage applicants from the 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities, and diverse backgrounds that meet the requirements of the role.

We welcome applicants to introduce themselves, their stories and lived experiences in their cover letter to the degree they are comfortable with.

Why Work at Friends of Ruby?

A safe space to show up authentically through our workplace culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Gain professional and personal development through an engaging and supportive work environment.
Create positive impact while serving and working alongside the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Establish meaningful connections and expand your network in the nonprofit sector.
Produce projects and outcomes that motivate, inspire, and drive you.

Position Summary

We are looking for a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to be our next Youth Program Worker and support the Organization's efforts towards providing progressive support to 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in our Youth Services Centre in Downtown Toronto.

Applicants are required to work in person with youth and be available to work at a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the Drop In, including working evenings.

The Youth Program Worker will provide support in our drop-in by interacting and facilitating respectful communication among the participants and responding to escalating situations when needed.

The Youth Program Worker develops, implements, and coordinates service delivery through engagement activities for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, both individually through service plans and within a group setting.

They will also support and help with our daily food program, perform reception duties, set up the space before groups, clean up after groups, do purchasing when required, complete outreach and community engagement, and ensure COVID-19 protocols are in place and being followed to ensure the drop-in space runs in a safe and organized way.

The Youth Program Workers have combined lived experience, active listening, and engagement skills to offer youth-centered and trauma-informed supportive counselling, co-facilitating groups, and short-terM/Follow-up case management where applicable.

Tasks and Responsibilities
Utilizing strengths-based, trauma-informed, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, harm reduction approaches, the Youth Program Worker will:

Assess participant needs, research resources and options for participants, follow up informally with participants working on short-term goal plans
Welcome and orient youth to Friends of Ruby in an approachable, nonjudgmental way, and maintain a safe, welcoming, organized, and calming space
Plan and facilitate individual and group programs and activities that support holistic wellness and are culturally relevant; implementing a harmreduction approach to all services offered
Coordinate and increase access to basic needs including food, hygiene, clothing, etc.
Support youth directly with needs including housing, employment, education, food security and cultural connections
Provide crisis intervention when necessary and follow up with youth
Develop, plan, and execute programs/services that meet the needs of youth both in person and online
Network, complete outreach, and work alongside community partners to meet the needs of youth
Ensure youth voices are embedded in the development and operations of our programs
Organize and participate in public education seminars, workshops, groups and training for youth, parents and service providers based on relevant and current research
Support volunteers and students in providing direct, positive, affirming, and inclusive support that can help to increase participant selfesteem, confidence, and social connections
Support the Service Coordinator with tasks at the front desk such as signing participants in, registering new participants, answering the phone, etc.
Other duties as required

Qualifications and Experiences

3+ years of experience working with youth and/or in mental health and addictions services.
Postsecondary school education in social services, social sciences, or humanities and/or comparable work exper