Parent Ally - Home Fire Preservation Program

About The Link: Youth and Family Supports
For more than 90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope, and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children, youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering a sense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link has a community of caring staff that work together to provide support through a 24-hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisis teams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness supports, and Skills4Life. With a strong foundation within the community and a focus on connection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link for youth and families in the province of Manitoba.

Position Summary

The Parent Ally is a front-line family-centred role within Home Fire, a Family Preservation program designed through a First Nations lens to strengthen families and support children to remain safely at home whenever possible. Reporting to the Family Preservation Manager, the Parent Ally works as part of the Home Fire Family Support Team to provide practical, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and strengths-based support to caregivers and families.

The Parent Ally is responsible for implementing key aspects of the day-to-day functioning of the program and providing ongoing, culturally responsive support while adhering to organizational policies and procedures. A primary focus of this role is providing culturally safe, in-home guidance and practical support to caregivers impacted by mental health challenges, the effects of trauma, or circumstances that place children at risk of entering Child and Family Services care.

Parent Allies provide empowering, family-centred support that helps strengthen family relationships, increase wellness, promote family autonomy, and keep children safely within their family homes.

Reporting Relationships and Program Context

The Parent Ally reports directly to the Family Preservation Manager and works collaboratively with Home Fire family support team, caregivers, , cultural supports, community agencies, and other service providers involved with the child, youth, or family.

The position contributes to the overall goals of family preservation by helping caregivers strengthen parenting confidence, promote healing and resilience, and enhance family wellbeing through guidance that is grounded in connection, culture, and self-determination. The Parent Ally works with caregivers to develop goals that align with cultural identity, safety, stability, and long-term well-being.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Family Support and Coaching

· Provide in-home and community-based support to parents and caregivers participating in the Home Fire program, offering coaching and mentoring related to parenting strategies and family relationships.

· Assist parents and caregivers in establishing specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for their parenting journey.

· Work collaboratively with Home Fire team members to implement individual and family support plans focused on improving family functioning, developing healthy coping strategies, and achieving desired outcomes.

· Develop activity plans that align with family interests, strengths, and identified goals.

· Build supportive and trusting relationships with caregivers and maintain effective communication regarding scheduling, progress, activities, and family goals.

· Provide timely and accurate documentation and reporting, including activities, interventions, goals, and outcomes.

· Provide de-escalation, conflict resolution, and first aid interventions as required.

· Participate in team meetings, case discussions, and other program-related activities.

· Adhere to established documentation, confidentiality, and program standards.

· Participate in training, professional development opportunities, and compliance requirements as defined by organizational policy.

· Perform other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

Culture Responsiveness

· Demonstrates respect for First Nations ways of knowing, family systems, community relationships, and culturally grounded approaches to healing, wellness, and support.

Trauma-Informed Practice

· Understands the impacts of trauma, grief, loss, displacement, colonization, and systemic barriers on caregivers, children, youth, and family functioning.

Practical Coaching and Capacity Building

· Practical coaching and capacity building: Supports caregivers to develop sustainable parenting practices and strategies that strengthen daily family life.

Relationship-based practice

· Builds trust with families and service providers through consistency, respect, confidentiality, collaboration, and follow-through.

Communication and collaboration

· Communicates clearly and professionally in writing and verbally, and contributes effectively to family-centred and multidisciplinary planning.

Organization and accountability

· Manages competing priorities, maintains accurate records, follows timelines, and demonstrates initiative in supporting families to achieve practical goals.

Experience

· Knowledge and understanding of the impacts of historical and ongoing trauma on Indigenous peoples in Canada.

· Ability to work with families, children, and youth using a strength-based and trauma-informed approach.

· Experience supporting individuals facing barriers such as financial hardship, addictions, abuse, mental health concerns, and family conflict.

· Ability to work effectively with families from diverse cultural and social backgrounds and demonstrate awareness of cultural values and differences.

· Previous experience with Parent Coaching, Motivational Interviewing, Two-Eyed Seeing Framework, and First Nations parenting values, kinship systems, cultural child-rearing practices and teachings from Elders are considered assets.

· Demonstrated self-awareness and reflective practice, including the ability to recognize how personal experiences, values, and biases may influence professional interactions and decision-making.

· Strong relationship-building, engagement, and de-escalation skills.

· Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

· Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

· Strong organizational and time-management skills.

· Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate documentation and case records.

· Knowledge of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and community resources is considered an asset.

· Commitment to creating positive and meaningful experiences for families receiving services.

Education (Degree/Diploma/Certificate)

· Post-secondary education in Social Work, Inner-City Studies, Counselling, or a related discipline.

· An equivalent combination of education, relevant employment experience, and/or lived experience will be considered.

· Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C certification required.

· ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Crisis De-escalation Training, or willingness to obtain required certifications is an asset.

Conditions of Employment

· Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search, a clear Child Abuse Registry check with acceptable Prior Contact checks, and a clear Adult Abuse Registry check, all completed within the last three months.

· Travel throughout Winnipeg and Southern Manitoba is required.

· Valid Manitoba Class 5F Driver's Licence and access to a personal vehicle are preferred.

· Alternate transportation methods will be considered.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities upon request. If you are contacted by The Link regarding a job opportunity, please know that you are welcome to request accommodation at any point in the process. All information received regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.

Position status: Full-Time – 80 hours biweekly

Hours of work: Varied hours, including days, evenings, and weekends. Schedule flexibility is required based on the needs of families and the program.

Union: No

Posting End Date: Open until filled
Site: The Link: Youth and Family Supports
Work Location: 175 Mayfair Avenue; in community
Salary Range: $54,080 - $62,400

To apply to this opportunity, please visit https://thelinkmb.easyapply.co/

The Link is an equal opportunity employer, Indigenous people, women, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The Link is committed to developing and retaining a diverse workforce. We thank all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

To apply to this opportunity, please visit https://thelinkmb.easyapply.co/