Young Parents Support Worker

We are proud and honoured to offer services on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh), Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓ əm) First Nations.

**Opportunity**:
Westcoast Family Centres Society (Westcoast) is looking for a **Permanent Part-Time (17.5 hrs/week) Young Parents Support Worker**to join our Team in Ridge Meadows. This position will report to the Manager of Programs and Services of North Fraser.

The Young Parents Support Worker will be responsible for providing parenting education, guidance, and support to young parents facing unique challenges. This role will focus on empowering young parents to enhance their parenting skills, access educational opportunities, and connect with community resources. This role works closely with community partners, educational institutions, and social service organizations to ensure comprehensive support for young parents and their children.

This position will serve the Ridge Meadows communities and will provide service to pregnant and parenting youth and young adults 25 years of age and under with a focus on supporting them in the early years of their children’s development.

Young Parents Support Workers will travel to families’ homes and within their community to provide a variety of parenting education and supportive interventions that promote healthier family functioning, reduce risk factors, and increase well-being.

**Responsibilities**:

- Engage with pregnant, and parenting youth and young adults on an outreach basis, visiting them in their family homes, local schools, and other community resources.
- Assist pregnant or parenting youth and young adults in setting and achieving their goals.
- Provide support to pregnant or parenting youth and young adults assisting them in addressing social, financial, and emotional issues, such as budgeting, nutrition, stress, and child-rearing throughout their involvement in an educational program.
- Assist young parents to access appropriate resources in the community.
- Act as an advocate for pregnant and parenting youth and young adults.
- Facilitate support and educational groups and plan and implement special events in collaboration with the Early Years team.
- Offer guidance and resources to help young parents develop effective parenting skills and create a nurturing environment for their children, consistent with accepted practice in the field (i.e., redirection, positive reinforcement, modeling problem solving behavior).
- Provide referrals and linkage to additional services for children and/or their parents with other professionals (i.e., behavioural therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, etc.).
- Develop and maintain partnerships with educational institutions, community organizations, and social service agencies to ensure a comprehensive network of support for young parents.
- Engage in consultation and case planning with relevant service providers as appropriate.
- Assist with the transition planning of young parents entering and exiting the Young Parent Program, including follow-up support.
- Provide case management activities including goal and service plan development in collaboration with service participants; case monitoring, review, and reporting, while respecting confidentiality.
- Works in collaboration with early years team.
- Participates in quarterly program planning with Family Navigation team and supervisor.
- Attends monthly supervisions with supervisor.
- Performs other duties as required.

**Qualifications**:

- Bachelor’s degree or diploma in the social sciences/child and youth care.
- (1) one-year experience working youth, young adults and/or young parents.
- Current Standard First Aid with CPR & AED Level C certificate, and Food Safe Certification
- Current MANDT certification
- Proficient knowledge of Computer operating systems (MS Word, Excel, Office, Customer Management Systems)
- Indigenous cultural safety training is an asset.

**Skills You Bring**:

- Demonstrated proficiency in group facilitation with youth and young adult parents.
- Demonstrated proficiency in collaborative activities such as program planning and implementation.
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to build and nurture strong working relationships with colleagues and collaterals.
- Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position (i.e., carrying babies)
- Strong writing and editing skills for reports and documents with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a satisfactory Criminal Record Check

**Requirements**:
The Young Parents Support Worker will primarily work in an office or community-based setting. Some evening or weekend work might be required to accommodate the availability of service participants. The position may involve travel within the community to meet clients or attend meetings with partner organizations. Class 5 Driver’s license and access to a r