Part Time Indigenous Youth Connections Worker

**Position Title: Indigenous Youth Connections Worker**

**Reports to: Youth Services Program Manager**

**Classification: Part Time
- 17.5 Hours Per Week**

**Location: Surrey and Circle 5 Region**

**Schedule: Fixed, day/afternoon/evening schedule.**

**Rate: $25.69/hour**

The Fraser Valley Aboriginal Friendship Center Association is a non-profit organization that provides a diverse range of culturally safe and supportive services to Aboriginal people in Surrey and the Fraser Valley including youth in care, youth at risk, and Indigenous youth generally. The Friendship Center works from a decolonizing perspective, and as such, works to strengthen family bonds, between generations and within the family; strengthen identity and understanding about interpersonal impacts of colonialism; and develop leadership within the youth we serve.

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**The Indigenous Youth Connections Worker** is responsible for coordinating, developing, and planning delivery of the INDIGENOUS YOUTH Connections Leadership program. The program aims to assist Urban Indigenous Youth between the ages of 15-24 to explore their full potential and develop strategies for their personal growth, and success, which enhances their ability to successfully integrate education, the work-world, and community. As this is a newly funded initiative, the person is responsible for developing the program, and in collaboration with our funder, establish program targets and reporting outcomes. It is expected that over the course of one year, a minimum of 18 Aboriginal youth will receive support to increase their skills, abilities and understanding of themselves and larger community. Finally, the incumbent is a strong starter, with demonstrated passion for the work and has a proven track record of supporting youth to achieve stability and independence.

**PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

The highly skilled individual performs a wide range of duties, including the following:
**Program Coordination**:

- Develop an intake and tracking system that is accreditation compliant in consultation with the MCFD appointed Liaison team.
- Ensure that the program is well developed, including youth targets, program goals, and program outputs.
- Market program and engage youth through youth appropriate means.
- Develop and implement strong collaborative relationships with ANYSH, FRAFCA programs, and other Surrey Youth Serving resources.
- Keep excellent records -documenting program outcomes, reporting monthly and quarterly to the Executive Director, the Program Manager, and our funder.
- Track client participation, respecting all provincial and federal privacy laws.
- Attends partnership meetings on behalf of the program in collaboration with the ANYSH manager.

**Youth Drop IN Coordination**
- Youth engagement - connect with youth through partners, other youth, and by outreach to promote the program, center, and activities.
- Develop a weekly youth drop in program and provide weekly activities directly or indirectly by engaging elders and facilitators;
- Develop monthly outings that are engaging and educational;
- In collaboration with other youth serving programs, develop leadership and mentorship opportunities that support youth to learn about their history, culture, identity, and strengths.
- Engage Elders, and other facilitators to provide culturally appropriate workshops and sessions.

**Youth Advocacy and Support**:

- Where requested, advocate for individual youth to access other supports that will lead to improved health, social, educational, or financial outcomes.
- Connect youth through referral, and at times, attending appointments with youth.
- Connect youth to urgent needs services including MCFD high risk youth team.

**Life skills/Leadership Development Program**.
- Arrange for life-skills programming 1x per week, in collaboration with Surrey Indigenous Youth Advisory Committee - identify resources, create workshop materials, and facilitate workshops aimed at increasing youth’s knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Engage external providers and organize workshops for youth.
- In collaboration with other FRAFCA program coordinate access to culture and land-based activities.
- IN collaboration with MCFD, recruit youth for the program and manage waitlists.
- Support will be provided to complete this portion of the program.

**QUALIFICATIONS**

**_Education and Experience: _**
- 2-year diploma plus 4000 hours experience with youth
- A minimum of 2 years (4000 hours) of experience in working with Indigenous youth.
- Demonstrated experience in Program development, community connections and coordination (1 year)
- 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 marketing, and program promotional strategies.
- Knowledge of the diversity of Indigenous cultures, identities, and lived hi