Youth in Transition Worker

**Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services (KGCFS)**proclaims that we are an Anishinabek Agency servicing Anishinabek people to ensure services are delivered by honoring the Anishinabek way of life. KGCFS is derived from the overall cultural context of the Anishinaabe people. Other conventional child welfare services or approaches may be used and added to supplement the Anishinaabe cultural core of the agency. KGCFS believes that child welfare services outside the Anishinaabe cultural core are secondary to the primary Anishinaabe cultural core, and that child welfare services that are responsive to the cultural circumstances of the Anishinaabe client population take priority. KGCFS will be culturally grounded in its Anishinaabe foundation, beliefs, and practices and will be culturally responsive in its delivery of service while striving to educate, retain, and protect traditional Anishinaabe practices.

**OVERVIEW**

Under the direction of the Service Supervisor, the Youth in Transition Worker (YITW) is responsible for supporting youth in their successful transition out of the child welfare system into adulthood. The YITW will help youth develop and pursue their goals and will support them with identifying, accessing, and navigating adult service systems relevant to their specific needs. The YITW will also support youth to connect to existing supports and resources within their communities including, housing support, education resources, employment services and training, life skills training (e.g., financial management, household management), health, mental health, and legal services.

**DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Service Responsibilities**
- Under the direction of the Service Supervisor, the Youth in Transition Worker will:_
- Assist eligible youth to develop and achieve the goals they have set for themselves
- through the program.
- Support eligible youth leaving care to identify, access, and navigate adult service systems relevant to their needs, and transition to adulthood.
- Facilitate access for youth leaving care to existing supports and resources in the community, by providing information and referrals for individual youth that address individual needs and support/reinforce strengths. Some of the resources and supports may include:

- Housing Supports.
- Education Resources.
- Income Security (E.G. First Nation Funding Agencies, First Nations Band Administration, Ontario Works, OSAP).
- Employment Services and Training.
- Life Skills Training (E.G. Financial Management, Housing Management).
- Health & Mental Health Services
- Legal Services
- Foster communication and linkages with community agencies and/or organizations to improve access to mitigate barriers to services for youth leaving care.
- Work collaboratively with Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services to create awareness of the role of the YITW among staff to promote timely referrals for youth leaving care.
- Liaise with mental health and child welfare programs to support transitional-aged youth living within the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin.
- Travel to Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services offices to support transitional-aged youth when needed.
- Develop linkages and maintain effective working relationships with other community services/agencies to facilitate contacts and services for youth.
- Flexibility in service provision including location, hours of service, as well as innovation in practices and approaches.
- Organize and participate in public education seminars, workshops, groups, and training for youth, parents, and service providers.
- Ensure that the youth's rights are respected and addressed following legislation and agency policies and procedures.
- Maintain service statistics and a system of documentation and reporting that is consistent with the standards and procedures of the service delivery process, legislation, and practices of Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services.
- Certify all data, forms, reports, and necessary documentation are accurate and submitted within established timelines as identified in the service delivery manual, policies, and procedures manual, and service mandate.
- Make sure that safety and well-being practices are implemented this includes being knowledgeable of universal care precaution practices, emergency systems and procedures in dealing with crises, communicable diseases, the duty to report, etc.
- Identify staff development, training, and mentoring needs and participate as required.
- Exhibit organizational time management skills. accountability, reliability, and punctuality.
- Facilitate connections between youth and their community, promoting awareness and positive connections.
- Assist in ongoing upkeep and maintenance of program facilities and resources.
- Provide services within an understanding of the context of oppression, poverty, and diversity.
- Work collaboratively with all agency staff, the biological parent(s) and caregiver(s), extended family, and the member First