Indigenous Youth Empowerment Worker Frafca

**Job description**:
**Indigenous Youth Outreach and Empowerment Worker**

**About Us**:
The Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA) is a rapidly growing Indigenous community-based organization, serving BC’s largest urban Indigenous population of children, youth, families & Elders. Our Vision is to build **_a community of strong, healthy, successful Indigenous people connected to each other and to their roots _**by fostering their health & well-being through culturally relevant services, support, and advocacy

**Why FRAFCA**:

- Opportunity to work alongside cultural knowledge keepers & Elders;
- Chance to obtain program specific certifications;
- Holistic, culturally safe, approaches to serving our clients and community;
- Freedom to share and observe own cultural practices (i.e. smudging in the office);
- Parking available on-site;
- Extended Health Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Travel) and Employee Assistance Plan after 3-month continuous employment;
- Paid sick/personal leave days;
- Paid vacation days;
- Offices located along main transportation routes; main office by the Skytrain station.

**_Program Management:_**
- Provide information and referrals for youth and their families or caregiver;
- Increase young people’s knowledge about issues impacting their health & safety, and provide youth with tools to protect and maintain their well-being;
- Help youth recognize high risk behaviors, and manage the risks associated with their day to day living;
- Crisis intervention as needed; including attending appointments with youth;
- Advocacy & Referral; including forms completion, securing identification, and accessing provincially mandated, and funded youth services in the Circle 5 region;
- Connect youth to urgent needs services including MCFD high risk youth team. Working in collaboration with the MCFD high risk youth team, ensure client records are kept in accordance with the Working Procedures;
- Track participant statistics and provide monthly and quarterly reporting to MCFD and FRAFCA management;
- Develop and implement strong collaborative relationships with MCFD, ANYSH, FRAFCA programs, and other Surrey Youth Serving resources and participant in ICM meetings when youth are in Care;
- Using a case-management approach, work with individual youth to support their goals including intake, goal setting, and follow-up;
- Advocate for youth to access other supports that will lead to improved health, social, educational, or financial outcomes;

**Qualifications**:
**_Education and Experience:_**
- Education in Child and Youth Care, or other Human Services;
- A minimum of 2 years (4000 hours) of experience in working with Indigenous youth;
- Class 5 Driver’s License, own vehicle, and a clear drivers’ abstract (Class 4 Driver’s license preferred);
**_Key Knowledge Areas:_**
- Knowledge of effective outreach and engagement practices with Youth;
- Knowledge of the diversity of Indigenous cultures, identities, and lived history;
- Harm Reduction approaches with at Risk Youth;
- Extensive knowledge of youth serving resources and supports in Surrey and the Fraser Valley including career, educational, job, food, income, cultural, and recreation.

**_Key Skills and Abilities:_**
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and works well under pressure;
- Highly accountable to program, team, and youth;
- Team Player and able to work with a diverse range of people and personalities;
- Excellent general administration skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office;
- Flexibility in work schedule and location;
- Able to travel and outreach through Surrey.

**_**Pursuant to S. 41 of the BC Human Rights code, preference may be given to Aboriginal Applicants._**

“ In recognition of the critical importance to this role of a lived understanding of Indigenous communities, history, values, legal orders, and cultural competencies, and in accordance with Section 42 of the Human Rights Code, only people of Indigenous heritage (First Nations, Metis, or Inuit) will be considered for this opportunity.”