REGENT PARK COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE
We are a dynamic community-based health centre promoting social justice and health equity in the Regent Park neighbourhood and Downtown East area of Toronto. We operate out of several locations and provide a wide variety of services including: primary health care, chiropody, physiotherapy, health promotion, social work, community health, immigrant and refugee services, harm reduction programs, addiction and recovery services, Pathways to Education, infant and child development programs, parenting programs, and youth employment services. We currently have the following opening:
Community Health Worker
Part Time Contract position – 21 hours per week, until December 31, 2027
Hourly Range: $32.10 to $38.67, plus benefits and HOOPP Pension
Position Summary
The Community Health Worker – Red Umbrella Program is part of the Harm Reduction team and supports women and gender-diverse people who engage in sex work by providing harm reduction information, supplies, outreach, referrals, and health promotion in a low-barrier, non-judgmental environment. This role coordinates drop-in programming, supports peer workers, facilitates community engagement activities, and connects participants to health and social services using trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and harm reduction approaches.
The Community Health Worker is expected to work respectfully and inclusively with participants, staff, peer workers, volunteers, and community partners, while upholding the mission and values of Regent Park Community Health Centre. This role requires flexibility to work a mix of regular and extended hours, including occasional evenings and community-based outreach and events.
Responsibilities Include:
Community Outreach & Harm Reduction
- Conduct outreach to women and gender-diverse people engaged in sex work throughout Toronto's Downtown East.
- Distribute harm reduction supplies and safer sex supplies during outreach and drop-in programming.
- Provide education regarding safer substance use, overdose prevention, HIV and Hepatitis C prevention, sexual health, and safer work practices.
- Train community members in overdose recognition and naloxone administration and distribute take-home naloxone kits.
Assess client strengths, needs, and goals, and provide information, supportive counselling, system navigation, advocacy, and referrals to health, housing, legal, income, and community services.
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Program Development & Community Engagement
- Coordinate and facilitate weekly low-barrier drop-in programming for women and gender-diverse people engaged in sex work.
- Organize community events that promote awareness of available supports and strengthen connections among participants.
Collaborate with sex workers to support the planning and delivery of educational workshops for health and social service providers.
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Peer Support & Leadership
- Recruit, orient, train, support, and provide day-to-day guidance to peer workers.
- Foster meaningful peer leadership opportunities and ensure peer engagement aligns with harm reduction and trauma-informed principles.
- Assist peer workers with outreach, drop-in programming, and community events.
Support peer worker wellness through regular check-ins and reflective practice
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Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Degree/diploma in a related field or relevant work/lived experience
- 2 – 5 years’ experience providing community-based harm reduction, outreach, or health promotion services.
- Experience working alongside women and gender-diverse people who engage in sex work is strongly preferred.
- Experience supporting individuals affected by substance use, homelessness, gender-based violence, trauma, or mental health concerns.
- Experience coordinating community-based programming and facilitating groups.
- Experience supporting, mentoring, or supervising peer workers is considered an asset.
- Excellent understanding and commitment to harm reduction practices and principles
- Demonstrated experience with overdose prevention and response
- Previous outreach experience is an asset
- Awareness of and sensitivity to the health issues of a diverse community and experience working with disenfranchised populations
- Understanding of Anti-oppression principles and ability to work effectively with people of various cultural, age and economic backgrounds
- Knowledge of the Regent Park area and issues affecting the community
- Commitment to valuing diversity, equity, partnerships and advocacy in keeping with Regent Park Community Health Centre’s Strategic Direction.
Must be fully vaccinated for COVID 19 for the protection of clients and staff
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Regent Park CHC is committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. Applications are encouraged from qualified individuals who are Indigenous people, members of racialized communities, individuals of diverse sexual orientation and gender identification, persons with disabilities and others protected under the Human Rights Code as well as individuals with lived experience in the Regent Park community. This is a bargaining unit position within OPSEU Local 5115.
Please submit your application on or before July 2, 2026:
We thank all applicants for their interest in this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. RPCHC is committed to developing an inclusive, selection process and work environment. If contacted, please advise the hiring manager if you require any accommodation during the interview process.
