Youth Mentor

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**City of Thunder Bay** provides exceptional quality of life to those who live, work, and play in Thunder Bay - a culturally vibrant, economically diverse community with a metro population of over 120,000. Located on the north shore of Lake Superior, under the protective watch of the Sleeping Giant, Thunder Bay is rich in people and resources, and connects Northwestern Ontario to the world. We value our high quality of life and promote a clean, green, beautiful, and healthy community that provides economic opportunity, respects diversity, and provides affordable and safe neighbourhoods that are accessible to all.

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**Job Description**:
***:Under the general supervision of the Supervisor - Aquatics, Wellness, Children & Youth and the technical direction and guidance of the Youth & Family Systems Collaborator, is responsible for engaging and supporting vulnerable participants in the Division’s Children & Youth programming, particularly those ages 10-13, to reduce their risk of involvement in gang activity.

**MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Builds and maintains trusting relationships with program participants who are vulnerable to gang activity.
- Maintains regular contact with parents/guardians to discuss the participant’s and family’s needs, develop support plans, and refers participant/family to the Youth Navigator - Youth Gang Prevention or other service providers, as appropriate.
- Assists participants to identify their strengths; maintain health, safety and well-being; enjoy and participate in activities to their full potential; supports participants in problem solving; acts as a positive role-model.
- Works in collaboration with Program Coordinators and Leaders to ensure that programs meet the needs of vulnerable and underserved participants and to plan and deliver activities that will engage all participants.
- Attends Division programs to become aware of participants that may need support; attends programming that assigned participants are attending to provide support.
- Develops and maintains relationships with other service providers to ensure awareness of service options and be able to educate participants and families on services available to them.
- Follows appropriate procedures in responding to crisis or other emergency situations; promotes harm reduction strategies and facilitates participant/family access to harm reduction services as required.
- Maintains and creates ongoing records as indicated by the Youth & Family Systems Collaborator.
- Attends all training and staff meetings as scheduled.
- Performs such other related duties as may be assigned.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:
**Education/Experience**
- Diploma (or currently enrolled) in social services, child and youth care, Indigenous Child & Family Services, or other related field along with three years’ directly related experience working with children and youth
- Knowledge of factors that increase vulnerability in children and youth, including adverse childhood experiences, and risk factors that increase likelihood of engagement in gang activity
- Demonstrated involvement in recreational programming for children and youth

**Skills/Abilities**:

- Ability to communicate effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing
- Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
- Self-starter with excellent project/time management, analytical/critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making skills
- Ability to exercise independent judgment when dealing with confidential or sensitive issues
- Ability to act as a positive role model for children & youth
- Ability to work with a diverse population and to identify, understand and meet/exceed internal and external costumer service requirements
- Must be able to deal with the public in a courteous and tactful manner
- Proven innovative and creative thinker, with the ability to find new and/or unique solutions to challenges
- Ability to foster cooperative and collaborative working relationships with cross-functional teams, community partners and community members

**Assets**:

- Knowledge of current situation and prevention approaches to gang activity in Thunder Bay
- Knowledge and understanding of lived experience of communities that are vulnerable to being victimized by gang activity
- Understanding of the principles of healthy child development

**CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT**:

- Will be required to travel to various work locations and provide own transportation
- Must be able to work irregular hours including evening and weekend as required
- Must have completed, or be eligible to complete HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Childhood Development course prior to commencing work
- Must undergo a successful Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC)
- Must have or be eligible to complete standard first aid with CPR C certification prior to commencing work

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