Family and Natutral Support Worker

Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada’s largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of 24-7 services to about 350 young people each day. 

 

As a national leader, we educate and advocate for long-term change to improve the lives of vulnerable youth. This includes influencing public policy, leading awareness and prevention programs and continually building and sharing our knowledge. As a learning organization, we strive for excellence and programs with impact.

 

More than a place to stay, we provide life-changing care with unconditional love and respect. We meet youth’s immediate needs and then we work together to achieve their future goals. We offer housing options, health and well-being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community.

 

Thanks to our donors, who contribute almost 80 per cent of our $33 million annual operating budget, we are able to deliver these comprehensive programs and services.

 

Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 100,000 young people.

 

View Our Culture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFlhDTljow0&feature=youtu.be

 

Overview:
The Family and Natural Supports (FNS) Program is looking for a highly skilled individual who is interested in supporting youth experiencing homelessness to strengthen relationships and connections with their identified family and chosen supports. The FNS Program is a demonstration project of Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab and provides a specialized service to address the problem of youth homelessness. In partnership with the Youth Shelter Interagency Network (YSIN), the FNS Program works across the city’s youth shelter system.

The FNS Program recognises the unique role of family relationships and networks in promoting well-being and providing long term supports that may prevent and end youths’ homelessness experience. FNS Workers advocate for, and support youth and their family members/chosen supports, to create and maintain a sense of belonging, stability, and healthy, lifelong, reliable relationships. Recognising the over representation of BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ identified youth within the homelessness population, FNS Workers demonstrate an ability to provide services that are able to meet the needs of diverse family backgrounds and cultures.

FNS Workers work collaboratively with youth and their identified family members/chosen supports to create and implement individualized service plans. Service provision can include family and individual counseling, coaching and skill building, and system navigation support.


Responsibilities:

  • Outreach to, and engagement of, youth in the city’s youth shelter system and related services
  • Work collaboratively with youth to identify and engage family and chosen supports
  • Develop trusting, helping and therapeutic relationships with youth and their identified family members and chosen supports to address identified goals
  • Use a Collaborative, Family System and Ecological assessment approach to support the determination of goals and individualized service plans
  • Provide family and individual counselling to support youth and their families and chosen supports improve relationships, mitigate risk factors, and resolve conflict
  • Provide navigation supports (referrals, accompaniment, and liaison and coordination support) to ensure youth and their family members/chosen supports can access appropriate community resources.
  • Provide services in locations convenient to youth and their family members and chosen supports (such as in shelters, in family homes and other community settings).
  • Facilitate group based activities, workshops and presentations as required.
  • Work collaboratively within the Toronto Family and Natural Supports Program team, the Covenant House Toronto team, the youth shelter system and broader community.
  • Work with stakeholders and partners to develop and promote this new specialized youth service.
  • Maintain client files and complete all required documentation (including assessment and evaluation tools and measures to support the research and evaluation of the program’s work)

 

Qualification, Experience:

  • BSW or MSW, or degree in a counseling related field, or equivalent in education and experience.
  • Registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO) or The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
  • 3 years’ experience working with youth and/or families
  • Sound understanding of family systems theory, family dynamics, adolescent development and attachment theories and an ability to apply them is required.
  • Demonstrated ability in working with a trauma informed, harm reduction approach and from an anti-oppression and culturally competent perspective/framework is essential
  • Ability to work a flexible schedule including evening hours is required
  • Excellent communication (both oral and written) and organizational skills and ability to work independently
  • Understanding of issues related to youth homelessness, 2SLGBTQ identities, mental health and substance use problems and disorders, and developmental and learning disabilities are assets.
  • Knowledge of community resources and systems relevant to youth homelessness is preferred
  • A valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle is an asset

Interested candidates should submit their resume along with a cover letter (please include cover letter in same document as resume) . 

We thank all applicants however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

*At Covenant House Toronto we believe in a workplace culture of inclusion that is welcoming, respectful and safe for all staff. It is critical to Covenant House Toronto success to eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups. Equity groups have been, and continue to be, underrepresented and marginalized in the workforce, leadership roles, and in some specific occupations. Equity groups include but may not be limited to Indigenous persons, racialized people, gender diverse people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Covenant House Policy on Accommodation, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the Covenant House recruitment process.