Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 7 pm (10-hour shifts). Work schedule, including days and hours, is subject to change.

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Highlights of this opportunity:

As a member of the Indigenous Youth Outreach Team, you will provide street outreach services, harm reduction services, advocacy, and 1-to-1 support to youth in the East Vancouver and Downtown Eastside neighborhoods. This position requires extensive walking in these areas, and candidates must be comfortable supporting community members using UNYA’s philosophy of care, which is grounded in trauma-informed practice, harm reduction, and person-centered care. The Indigenous Youth Outreach Team supports youth in accessing housing, employment, education, training, and life-skills, as well as in addressing alcohol and drug use, mental health, and physical health challenges, or any other areas in which youth seek support. The Indigenous Youth Outreach Team reports directly to the Manager of the Aboriginal Safe House and the Director of Youth Programs. This is a full-time position under an averaging agreement, with shifts scheduled Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 7 pm (10-hour shifts). Work schedule, including days and hours, is subject to change.

Qualifications and Conditions:

• Educational experience required (example: diploma in a relevant field, 2 years of recent related experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience).
• Experience working with the Indigenous community. Must demonstrate a good working knowledge of community resources in Vancouver, particularly youth & Indigenous-specific resources.
• Knowledge and understanding of the family and social issues that Indigenous youth face today, including the generational impacts of the residential school system on families and communities.
• Must demonstrate the ability to identify with mandate, policies and procedures of the organization.
• Must have a criminal record check completed by and satisfactory to UNYA.
• Proof of Covid-19 vaccination will be required.
• Knowledge of the following modalities:
• Culture as Therapy
• Person Centered Approach
• Family Systems Approach
• Trauma Informed Approach
• Demonstrated experience engaging and working effectively with Indigenous youth.
• Demonstrated knowledge of mental health issues, addiction issues, concurrent disorders, and FASD.
• First Aid CPR & AED Level C
• Given the needs of the youth accessing our programs, priority will be given to qualified Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, Inuit candidates as per section 41 of the Human Rights code.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to a team focused on increasing safety, connection, and empowerment for youth.
• Create respectful relationships with youth in the community and connect them to relevant resources and services.
• Support youth with harm reduction strategies, supplies and education.
• Facilitate collaborative care for youth by keeping all professionals up to date, and participating in care planning as needed.
• Prepare and submit accurate and timely statistics and written reports.
• Stay informed of current social and street trends, and all issues that affect street-involved youth.
• Positively and proactively address any concerns, incidents, or crises which affect youth participants, program operation and mandate, UNYA policies, and community relations.
• Perform any other duty deemed necessary by the ASH Manager, Director of Youth Programs or CEO to ensure the safe, healthy, and productive operation of the Indigenous Youth Outreach Program.

What we offer:

• Compensation: $27.96 to $32.56/hourly (based on years of experience)
• 40 hours a week, averaging agreement of 4 days – 10 hour shifts
• Comprehensive Benefits package
• Vacation, Sick, and Wellness days
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which consists of no-cost counselling services to UNYA staff
• Support from UNYA’s Elder in Residence for cultural and spiritual guidance or teachings
• Monthly Staff development

How to Apply:

If you would like to become a part of this tremendous team, send an expression of interest indicating the position you are applying to the attention of the ASH Program Manager at program.manager@unya.bc.ca

***We are an Indigenous youth organization whose mandate is to provide meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth. We encourage qualified Indigenous – First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, applicants to apply. If you identify as Indigenous, please let us know in your application! Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

UNYA acknowledges that we are gathered on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are honoured and grateful to be able to do our work on this land.

Who we are:

UNYA has been supporting the health and wellbeing of Indigenous youth in the Metro Vancouver area for over 30 years. As a respected non-profit, charitable organization, we recognize Indigenous youth as experts in their own lives and strive to provide youth with programs and opportunities that are relevant and meaningful to them.

At Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA) we have developed a Philosophy of Care foundation, drawing from best practices. These philosophies are the grounding framework that shapes all of our decisions and every interaction we have with the youth we serve. Following these philosophies empowers our staff to meet youth where they are at, by giving them the ability to balance flexibility and structure. This allows us to meet our youth’s needs, and ensure that our youth experience a consistent quality of care across all UNYA programs. Our 5 key philosophies are:

• Trauma–Informed Practice
• Two-Eyed Seeing
• Harm Reduction Practice
• Youth/Person Centered Practice
• Culture as Therapy