Youth Outreach Worker

**ABOUT US**

**ABOUT THE ROLE**

The **Afghan Youth Outreach Worker** will provide range of outreach and early intervention services to youth, families, and youth groups to enhance and maintain a youth’s development within his or her respective community. The Afghan Youth Outreach Worker specializes work with Afghan community in seven underserved neighbourhoods

**_ Salary range: _**_$54,926 to $63,962 per annum_

**_ Benefits: _**_Competitive Group Health Benefits, Retirement Savings Plan._

**_ Other: _**_This role is a part of the OPSEU Local 567 bargaining unit._

**WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?**
- We provide opportunities for growth and professional development.
- We have a diverse and inclusive work environment with staff who speak multiple languages and dialects.
- We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment where our team members and clients can thrive.
- We set high standards for performance, client outcomes, and implement best practices, which are demonstrated through our accreditation with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.

**WHAT YOU WILL DO**
- Use the Stages of Change model supported by Motivational Interviewing techniques to initiate and maintain professional working relationships with youth who are disconnected from their families and/or community-based services including youth with disabilities, newcomer youth, aboriginal youth, and youth from diverse communities (racial, cultural, sexual orientation, etc.), and youth who have experienced violence in their communities and or relationships in east Toronto in activities that promote assets, competencies and resiliency.
- Initiate, develop, and implement community outreach activities with underserved Afghan communities in East Toronto
- Frame interactions with Afghan youth from an opportunities-youth lens, focused on building on the strengths of youth, in themselves, in their relationships, and in their communities.
- Engage and connect with youth who use our onsite/satellite programs (e.g., East Qrew, Youth Drop-in, Youth Wellness Hub), and formulate short-term, target-specific group programming based on needs.
- Work collaboratively with youth, families, youth service providers, schools, City staff and police etc., to develop effective goal-oriented service delivery plans and referrals that ensure that youth have access to programs, services and opportunities needed for healthy development.
- Facilitate holistic mental health services through the social determinants of health lens for socialization, recreation, housing, employment, education, health, and other service linkages.
- Create safety and other service plans with youth and their environments, to establish sustainable supports in the absence of YOW support or post-termination of service.
- Organize and participate in public education seminars, workshops, groups and training for youth, families, and service providers.
- Achieve required service interaction targets and maintain timely and accurate service statistics and records.
- Provide culturally sensitive services using an anti-oppressive framework.
- Engage youth and the community in discussion and activities about gender-based violence and healthy relationship building strategies.
- Reflect demonstrated interest and strategies in engaging parents, and tapping into existing parent groups, faith communities, etc., and provide education and information on issues related to parenting, etc.
- Youth from other communities may be assigned for support as appropriate.

**THE “MUST HAVES”**

The following education, professional memberships and knowledge are a requirement for this role:

- Must be fluent in English and Dari, Farsi and/or Pashto.
- Child & Youth Worker diploma/degree or related community college diploma or bachelor’s degree.
- 2 years of directly related experience.
- Demonstrated strong assessment, analytical skills, and aspects of case management skills to establish appropriate service responses for youth and families.
- Demonstrated skills in delivering group programs and workshops.
- Demonstrated understanding of the intersection of mental health, high risk youth and the impact of community-based violence and other trauma incidents on youth development.
- Demonstrated ability to work co-operatively and negotiate effectively within a multi-disciplinary team of service providers internally and externally
- Awareness of the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and within the community being served by the position.
- An understanding of Anti-Black Racism, anti-oppressive/anti-racism perspective in the context of the social determinants of health when working with clients and their families.
- Ability to recognize and identify situations where incidents of and imbalance of power and privilege may occur and can result in possible negative impacts for the client.

**THE ‘NICE TO HAVES’**
- Familiarity with the specialized needs of transitional-aged youth and the Adult Menta