CHOOSE LIFE WORKER
The Choose Life Worker is responsible for supporting the health, wellness, resilience, and cultural connection of youth through the Choose Life initiative. The Choose Life Worker works directly with youth, families, schools, community programs, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and service providers to deliver culturally sensitive, strengths-based, trauma-informed, and youth-centred programming. The Choose Life Worker also assists in creating safe, supportive, and non-judgmental spaces that promote life skills, belonging, cultural identity, and healthy coping strategies.
Duties and Responsibilities
· Build positive, trusting, and respectful relationships with youth in a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental manner.
· Provide encouragement, mentorship, practical support, and advocacy for youth participation, wellness, and connection.
· Support youth in identifying strengths, goals, interests, challenges, and available supports.
· Promote healthy relationships, emotional wellness, cultural identity, and positive coping strategies.
· Identify concerns related to safety, crisis, or well-being and report or refer matters in accordance with policy, training, and duty to report requirements.
· Plan, organize, and deliver youth activities, workshops, recreational events, life-skills sessions, cultural activities, and wellness programming.
· Support events and activities that strengthen connections to culture, traditions, family, community, and the land.
· Assist with land-based, cultural, recreational, and prevention programming in collaboration with program staff and community partners.
· Coordinate supplies, space, transportation, attendance, consent forms, and logistics for program activities as required.
· Partner with community programs, schools, health services, and organizations to support accessible programming for youth.
· Work with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and cultural supports to incorporate traditional practices, language, teachings, and cultural activities into programming.
· Raise awareness of the Choose Life Program, youth wellness, mental health supports, and suicide prevention resources through community events and outreach.
· Maintain accurate and confidential records of youth engagement, program activities, attendance, feedback, and relevant observations.
· Prepare activity summaries, statistics, reports, and recommendations to help track program impact and improve services.
· Ensure a healthy and safe working environment for all staff, program participants, vendors, and visitors.
Accountability
The Choose Life Worker is accountable to, and is under the day-to-day supervision of, the Choose Life Program Manager.
Education and Skill Requirements
· Diploma or degree in Social Work, Child and Youth Work, Psychology, Indigenous Studies, Recreation, Health, Social Services, or a related field; equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered.
· 2+ years related experience working with Indigenous youth, First Nation communities, mental health, social services, recreation, wellness, or community programming.
· Understanding of First Nations culture, language, traditions, community values, and the unique challenges facing Indigenous youth.
· Training or experience in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, youth mentorship, or mental health support is considered an asset.
· Experience working in a First Nation organization, remote community, or northern community setting is an asset.
· Must have a valid Ontario driver's license and reliable access to a vehicle, or the ability to travel as required.
· Current First Aid/CPR certification, or willingness to obtain.
· Clear Vulnerable Sector Check required.
· Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills to foster respectful and effective working relationships with youth, families, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, staff, community members, management, and partners.
· Strong ability to motivate, encourage, and empower youth through programming, mentorship, and supportive relationships.
· Strong communication, listening, facilitation, organizational, time management, and multi-tasking skills.
· Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive matters.
· Ability to take initiative and work independently while also contributing as a member of the program team.
· Knowledge of privacy, confidentiality, duty to report, professional boundaries, cultural safety, and respectful service delivery.
· Ability to plan, coordinate, and facilitate programs, events, workshops, and land-based activities.
· Ability to openly assume additional responsibilities that may arise from the community administration, the Choose Life Program, and/or Chief and Council.
Location: Long Lake #58 First Nation
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: From $35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
