Community Youth Worker

**Requisition ID**:42706

**Organization**

Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

**Main Purpose and Function**
The Community Youth Worker (CYW) is responsible for planning, developing, coordinating, promoting and implementing a community-based youth services program in partnership with site programming staff and community members. CYWs focus on two main activities in youth work: Youth Development (direct work with children, preteens and youth ages 5-18 and their families), and Community Outreach/Development (working with the community, community programs and services on preteen and youth issues and interests). The CYW carries considerable responsibility in ensuring that these programs and the youth spaces in their community centre run effectively, safely, and successfully. In addition, CYWs have site supervisory and administrative functions, and citywide leadership and program development responsibilities. A CYW exercises independent judgement on coordination and implementation of approved preteen and youth activities and the provision of guidance and resource referral services. Difficult or unusual problems are discussed with a supervisor or the Coordinator, Community Youth Development. The development of new programs by the CYW occurs in consultation with the community and programming staff as needed, and with the final approval by the Centre Supervisor and the Coordinator, Community Youth Development.

**Specific Duties and Responsibilities**
- Aligns programs with the needs and interests of preteens and youth. Facilitates development and implementation of programs to meet emerging preteen and youth needs and interests. Aligns program development, cultural needs, and VanPlay, the Park BoardMaster Plan.
- Ensures basic needs of youth are met by one-to-one, outreach, advocacy, problem and crisis intervention, food, shelter, safety, and conflict resolution with individual youth and often their family.
- Supports individual preteens and youth to be integrated in the community centre, community programs and school. Works with community programs, services and schools to transform programs to support the development of individual youth and to support family members where appropriate.
- Provides focused support to youth in community centre programs, encouraging participation to build relationships between youth. Assists in social development and improve group dynamics. Identifiessystemic barriers to participation and works with colleagues to address concerns.
- Develops and implements programs that develop health, fitness, sports, arts, culture, social skills, and relationships. This may include day camps and/or playground leader programs, and other large projects or programs involving multiple departments and/or stakeholders.
- Places youth in volunteer positions in the Centre and in community, supports youth as they build their individual capacity as leaders. Creates opportunities for youth leadership of programs.
- Supports youth to recommend and initiate program changes and to engage with the Centre and Park Board in program and policy development.
- Focuses on systemic planning and strategies that connect youth to the community centre and the broader community.
- Works cooperatively with community agencies and services to identify equity denied, marginalized, vulnerable, or unconnected youth; includes youth in community centre programs and advocate for services and the transformation of services on their behalf.
- Meets youth where they are at in the community to connect and build relationships with vulnerable youth connect them back to their community centre and their community.
- Works collaboratively with community agencies, schools, and services to examine systemic youth issues that need to be addressed. Advocates and plans systemically to ensure all Vancouver youth have their basic needs met. Advocacy may require challenging existing practices and procedures of agencies, schools, or government.
- Builds partnerships with service providers and Indigenous service providers. Initiates, participates,and provides leadership in the youth service hubs.
- Finds strategic ways to connect youth to decision-making infrastructures that affect their lives. Works with the Park Board, Community Centre Associations, schools, and community agencies in su