Family Peer Support Coordinator

**Employer:** Community CARES Youth Outreach
**Application Deadline:** November 10th at 4:00 PM, or until the position is filled.
**Start Date:** ASAP
**Shift/Schedule/Hours per week:** 37.5 hours per week
**Wage/Salary:** Starting at $28.00 per hour, negotiable based on qualifications and experience.

The Family Peer Support initiative is not program-based. The vision is an asset-based, community mobilization movement that will build capacity in Sydney Mines to offer children, youth, and family’s greater safety, inclusion and connection. Children, youth, and families, including those with complex needs, have greater access to concrete supports, services, and activities where they live. Informal
support networks around families (neighbors, community groups, and peers) are strong, connected, and reliable.

The Family Peer Support Coordinator brings to the role, a deep dedication to fostering relationships, and including everyone in community building. The Coordinator offers families/caregivers assistance with service navigation, education and resource information while coordinating peer-based practical, emotional and social support.

The FPS Coordinator promotes holistic family health/wellbeing, and belonging, while fostering the development of respectful, collaborative relationships with family members/caregivers, service providers, peers, and their community.

**Accountabilities:**

● Assess the needs, strengths, resources, relationships, and other assets of the community and families that CCYO engages and identify areas for growth and development.
● Develop and implement comprehensive community engagement strategies and detailed action plans designed to promote measurable positive change at the community level.
● Provide support, guidance and mentorship, in the areas of information, navigation, education, resources and skill development to support and engage families as expert partners.
● Under the direction of the Executive Director, engage a working group on community mobilization and family peer support network development that will include the following areas of activity as defined by the five activity areas: Listening and relationship building; Information sharing; Outreach and engagement; Personal and lifestyle skill development; and Community engagement.
● Support monitoring and evaluation of the impact of capacity-building programs and make evidence/experience-based quality improvements as necessary.
● Develop and implement a communications plan, including a newsletter and other communications to families and the community.
● Facilitate safe, inclusive dialogues around challenging issues such as harm reduction and abstinence, ensuring the voices of impacted families are heard.
● Facilitate peer support and educational groups to promote skill development and engagement, as well as foster peer-peer connection and networking opportunities.
● Work collaboratively as an advocate and liaison between family member/caregiver, young people, Hub staff and community partners.
● Collaborate with Youth Worker at the Hub to optimize the youth, young adult and caregiver/family experience as it relates to service navigation and community engagement.
● Facilitate meaningful engagement and participation of families in focus groups, visioning/planning activities, and other opportunities related to peer support to further build capacity and leadership.
● Support sharing of learning about the Sydney Mines Community – Family Peer Support Network with others engaged in similar activities while respecting privacy and confidentiality of community members.
● Participate as a Hub team member, attending meetings, planning sessions, round tables, and other organizational activities.
● Complete and maintain related records and documentation including statistics, progress reports, and referrals and other duties as assigned.

**Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:**

● Deliver services with high degree of self-awareness, demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, and work within personal and role specific limits and boundaries.
● Extensive experience as a “Community Connector”, demonstrated ability to find/bring people and resources to a community mobilization initiative. Experience leading/facilitating community sessions.
● Ability to understand and follow a strength-based approach for sharing challenges and co-creating solutions.
● Broad knowledge of community resources and support systems for diverse families’/caregivers’ strong relationship and rapport building skills.
● Recent experience in bringing in voices of those who have been historically excluded. Create opportunities to participate in community, and community building.
● Model hope and resilience. Handle situations with sensitivity.
● Provide a safe, welcoming and supportive culture for families and caregivers receiving services at the community level.
● Assertive communication skills with ability to respect others’ perspective. Experience in organizing/leading community-based dialogues, meetings.
● Empathic, caring approach, with strong active listening skills.
● Knowledge and respect of the diversity of the Northside CB population.
● Demonstrated time management skills, accountability and reliability.
● Strong written and verbal communication.
● Self-starter with a positive attitude and willingness to work flexible hours.
● Basic computer skills; experience with Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint.

**Education, Training & Experience:**

Training in social work, family studies, community psychology, public health or related discipline; and 3 plus years of progressively responsible experience in community development and mutual support network development. An equivalent of recent experience plus undergraduate training may be considered to meet this requirement.

● Demonstrated experience with community development, social policy, and advocacy strategy development.
● Demonstrated understanding and commitment to address the social determinants of health inequities.
● Demonstrated commitment to strength-based approaches to community mobilization.
● Strong conceptual and practical abilities to design and implement a working and adaptable Family Peer Support Network and build local community capacity to support it.
● Recent experience in group facilitation and community engagement that values lived experience. Cultural humility and demonstrated ability to engage equity seeking community groups.
● Ability to work outside of regular business hours as needed (i.e. some evenings and weekends).
● Ability to travel and represent CCYO at provincial meetings and conferences.
● Driver’s license and access to a motor vehicle would be an asset.
● Working knowledge of personal computer applications in a community setting, such as word processing, email, spreadsheets, and databases.