Child and Family Advocate
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 and homeless programs, Pathways to Education, infant and child development programs, parenting programs, youth outreach and employment services.
Position Summary:
The Child and Family Advocate (CFA) works directly with families and children 0-6 years old, within the EarlyON model of primary prevention and early intervention, and provides high quality services and programming that contributes to healthy child development.
The CFA works to provide effective support and intervention though outreach, making connections with community partners, needs assessment, short term case management, filling out forms, internal and external referrals and follow-up. This position provides individual and systemic advocacy, working closely with an inter-disciplinary team, to support families with complex needs to address barriers and improve child development outcomes. The CFA links with other Regent Park CHC staff and community partners in advocacy work.
This is a Full Time Permanent Position, 35 hours per week
Hourly Range: $27.91 to $ 33.62, plus Benefits including HOOPP Pension
This is a bargaining unit position within OPSEU Local 5115.
Salary
Hours
Application Deadline
Responsibilities and Tasks Include:
- Works within a multi-disciplinary team to support families with children 0-6years old
- Advocates with and on behalf of families to navigate and improve access to systems that affect their lives such as housing, special needs, immigration, child care, etc.
- Facilitates connections with specialized community services, access to funding for families with children with special needs, coordinated service planning with public health, education, and child care and child welfare, as appropriate.
- Ensure EarlyON staff have relationships with community partners and in depth knowledge of community resources to allow simple transitions to other services.
- Disseminate information about programs and services available for the whole family beyond early years
- Offers short-term case management support to assess needs, identify and access resources for families by providing:
- Referrals
- Accompaniment when appropriate
- Support in filling out forms or making telephone calls
- Attends relevant community meetings to provide information about EarlyON programs and to maintain knowledge of current resources
- Takes a leadership role in supporting EarlyON participation at community events, forums and workshops
- Takes a leadership role to support Regent Park CHC and EarlyON staff regarding child and family advocacy
- Actively participates in joint programming with other Regent Park CHC staff as directed
- Engage with community outreach
- Maintains appropriate files, reports and documents
- Ensures timely collection of information and statistics for program evaluation and reporting
Organizational:
- Attend and contribute to organizational events and meetings as required;
- Participate in and contribute to the effective functioning of team and committee meetings
- Participate in relevant professional development, as assigned, to enhance skills.
- Continue to improve professional knowledge and remain up to date concerning current trends in areas of specialization.
- Participates in regularly scheduled employee supervision meetings and performance reviews
- Observe and ensure compliance with RPCHC policy and procedures,
- Work to promote health equity and social justice within the scope of the role.
- Be knowledgeable about and comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Ontario Human Rights Code and other relevant legislation.
- Keep Director informed and up to date on relevant issues.
- Perform other related duties as required and assigned by the Director.
Qualifications and Skills required:
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in community development
- Experience and skills in intake, community support, crisis intervention, community health, systems navigation or a similar position
- Post–secondary education in Child Development or other relevant human services field
- Experience working with families and children 0-6, particularly for children with special needs or developmental disabilities.
- Up to date knowledge of relevant resources
- Demonstrated skills and experience in individual and systemic advocacy
- Strong communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated experience working in collaboration and with partnerships
- Ability to work effectively with people of various cultural, age and economic backgrounds
- Commitment to anti-discrimination / anti-oppression principles, practices and service delivery
- Ability to work collaboratively within and across teams
- Knowledge of the Regent Park neighbourhood and issues affecting families living within the Regent and Moss Park communities
- Must have up to date COVID vaccine for the protection of clients and staff
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.
To protect the health and well-being of our clients and employees, Regent Park Community Health Centre has adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy that requires that new employees have an up to date, Health Canada approved, COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals with valid medical or human rights-based exemptions, will be considered for appropriate accommodation within the policy.
Apply For This Position
Please submit your resume and cover letter by
June 11, 2023
No phone calls, please. 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.