Village Finding Coordinator

**PROGRAM** AREA: Family Support**

**EMPLOYMENT STATUS: 15 months (with possibility for extension)**

**HOURS/WEEK: 24 per week**

**Our Vision**

A community without barriers to health and wellbeing.

**Our Mission**

We reduce health inequities by providing interprofessional primary health services and community programs, focused on the populations we prioritize, in collaboration with community partners.

**Our Values**

Innovation, Accountability, Person-Centred, Health Promotion, Excellence, Sustainability, Accessibility

**Guelph Community Health Centre prioritizes people who face barriers to health and accessing services, and people who identify as**:

- Homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Living on low income
- Newcomers to Canada with language barriers
- Having moderate to severe mental health and/or addiction issues
- Having moderate to severe disabilities
- Indigenous First Nations, Inuit and Métis
- Black, mixed race and racialized populations
- Experiencing intersectional oppression
- 2SLGBTQIA+
- Vulnerable children and their families experiencing conflict, isolation or attachment struggles

The **Village Finding Coordinator** plays a crucial role in preventing and mitigating the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among children and youth living with caregivers who require supportive social network. By connecting families in Guelph and Wellington County with volunteers who provide essential support, this position aims to strengthen familial and community relationships, enhance caregiver capabilities, and improve overall child well-being. Using a strength-based approach the overall objective of this position is to provide early help to children and families whose problems, if left without help, may grow and have irreparable impact on child outcomes.

**PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES**

**Client Assessment and Referral**:

- Conduct interviews and assessments with families
- Determine eligibility and suitability for program placement.
- Liaise with schools and other relevant agencies for input as necessary.

**Volunteer Management**:

- Conduct program-specific training for Community-Based 1-1 mentors.

**Matching and Supervision**:

- Participate in the selection and matching process of Mentors and Children.
- Coordinate pre-match meetings between Mentors and families
- Monitor matches through ongoing meetings and communication
- Provide necessary intervention and support to volunteers and families

**Other Related Duties**:

- Contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and agency guidelines relative to service delivery.
- Stay informed about federal and provincial legislation and agency privacy policies and practices.
- Outreach to families (eg. Sharing information, assisting with formal and informal referrals and access to community programs
- Build relationships with community health and social service providers
- Help parents navigate extensive community agency and community support networks and ensure responsiveness.
- Information sharing about and connections with specialized community services, Public Health, child care, Family and Children’s services
- Provide leadership in program-related problem solving and decision making

**REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS**:

- University degree or College diploma in related field or a combination of education and lived experience.
- 3-5 years outreach and counselling experience with vulnerable populations
- Demonstrated project management ability
- Effective Presentation Skills: Proven ability to deliver engaging and tailored presentations to diverse audiences, including stakeholders, community groups, and professional teams.
- Strong Community Connections: Established communication, connections, and relationships with community resources, supports, and services in Guelph and Wellington County.
- Knowledge of the Social Determinants of Health and Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Knowledge/ skills working on computers programs and software and social media platforms.
- Familiarity with trauma-informed care principles and practices to effectively support individuals who have experienced trauma.
- Understanding of volunteer management principles, including recruitment, training, supervision, and retention strategies.
- Sensitivity to cultural diversity and the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Ability to work from an intersectional lens.
- Strong interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships and effectively collaborate with team members and external partners.

We thank, in advance, those who apply, but will contact only those who qualify for interviews.

If at any stage in the selection process you require accommodation, please let us know the nature of the required accommodation.

We require that all finalist applicants undergo a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Screen through their local Police Services Branch prior to start date.