Family and Natural Support Worker

Choices for Youth Inc. (CFY) is a professional service, youth-focused, non-profit, charitable organization that creates spaces and conversations and operates programs and social enterprises to help vulnerable youth secure stable housing, employment, and education while improving health and family stability. With a focus on prevention, intervention, and support, we help youth, and their families break cycles of poverty and homelessness and transition to healthy, stable, and independent lives. The Family and Natural Support Program is seeking **one full-time 9-month contractual Family and Natural Support Worker.**

The Family & Natural Support Program provides support to vulnerable young people and their families or natural supports from a client-centered, prevention-based framework. The program has several components including Momma Moments, RallyForward, our Family & Natural Support team as well as a Family & Youth Therapist. Collectively this team works from a “Family First” approach, providing young people with opportunities to work on relationships with their families despite any other barriers or challenges they are facing in their lives.

The **Family & Natural Support** **Worker’s**primary role is to offer family-based services to youth ages 16-29 and their natural supports from a strengths-based approach that is client-centered and client-directed. This position will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team focused specifically on supporting families. The **Family & Natural Support Worker** will work with current program participants who want to strengthen their relationships with their own family of origin or natural supports. The goal when supporting families is a move toward building a better relationship their family or natural supports. This individual will report to the Program Coordinator and together, will work to ensure effective program delivery.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**
- Assists with general program development.
- Engages with individual youth from a family-centered approach.
- Conducts family assessments and establishes shared goals in a strengths based support plan.
- Works collaboratively with other Family Support staff to support family work
- Respects and works within the cultural context of the family
- Provides families with necessary tools, education and skills for effective relationship building.
- Provides supportive counselling and interventions in the family home, at CFY or in the community as necessary.
- Participates in the development of support plans and transition plans
- Collects related program statistics and data in an efficient manner.
- Advocates and liaises with social services and other agencies on behalf of youth and their families.
- Maintains regular communication and consultation with the Family Support team regarding the needs and interventions of individuals and families on your caseload.
- Ensures the provision of crisis intervention as necessary.
- Facilitate support meetings, to give all involved an opportunity to discuss roles and responsibilities within the family.
- Recognize and celebrate the accomplishments and work completed by the family
- Ensures program and agency policies and procedures are followed.
- Partakes in group and community building activities with all Choices staff.
- Provides ongoing feedback regarding program evaluation and effectiveness.
- Participates in staff meetings, training and professional development opportunities
- Provide advocacy, accompaniment, and referral services to youth and families
- Ensure that services provided reflects the needs of CFY’s youth and their families
- Ensure documentation of relevant client information and that documentation is in accordance with CFY’s policy on the security and maintenance of client information
- Nurture and contribute to the unique culture of the organization
- Commit to helping CFY achieve the goals of its strategic plan

**QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE**
- Degree or diploma in Social Work, Psychology or other related Human Services field
- Minimum 3-years’ experience working with youth and families
- Demonstrated experience in the non-profit sector
- Knowledge of community resources and supports for youth and families
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Familiarity of harm reduction principles and strategies
- Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Knowledge and understanding of issues pertaining to homelessness and street involved and at risk youth
- Experience in supportive family counselling would be an asset
- Able to work both independently and as part of a team
- Use of own vehicle is required
- Satisfactory record of Conduct and Vulnerable Sector Check, ASIST training, and current First Aid/CPR are required.

**WORK HOURS**

The position will work 37.5 hours per week. Flexibility in work hours will be required to accommodate higher work volumes and organizational requirements.Hours worked in excess of regular hours will