Child & Youth Engagement Ally - Home Fire Preservation Program

Job summary

Provide practical, culturally responsive, trauma-informed support to children, youth, and caregivers in home and community settings, including engaging youth in meaningful activities and helping families meet their goals. Implement individualized support plans, assist with household routines, respond to safety concerns, collaborate with the Home Fire team, and maintain accurate documentation.

Job details

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 Child & Youth Engagement 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 help children remain safely at home rather than entering Child and Family Services care. This position provides practical, relational, culturally responsive, trauma-informed support to children, youth, and caregivers in home and community settings. Working as part of the Home Fire team and reporting to the Family Preservation Manager, the Child & Youth Engagement Ally supports the day-to-day functioning of the program by implementing individualized child, youth, and family support plans; facilitating meaningful activities; promoting safety and wellness; and documenting service delivery in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, and confidentiality standards. Reporting Relationships and Program Context The Child & Youth Engagement Ally reports to the Family Preservation Manager and works collaboratively with Home Fire team members, caregivers, children, youth, and relevant community supports. The position contributes to case planning, service coordination, information sharing, and team-based decision-making while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality. Essential Duties And Responsibilities Child, Youth, and Family Support Provide in-home and community-based one-on-one care, supervision, engagement, and support to children and youth participating in the Home Fire program. Build safe, trusting, respectful, and supportive relationships with children, youth, and caregivers using a strength-based, family-centred, and trauma-informed approach. Support children and youth who may be impacted by mental health challenges, trauma, family stress, conflict, poverty, addictions, abuse, or other circumstances that increase family vulnerability. Encourage child and youth participation in activities that promote emotional regulation, self-confidence, healthy relationships, cultural connection, skill development, and positive identity. Provide practical support to caregivers and families in ways that promote family stability, wellness, autonomy, child safety, and the achievement of family-defined goals. Program and Case Plan Implementation Work collaboratively with Home Fire team members to implement individual and family support plans developed through intake, assessment, and ongoing case planning processes. Deliver services that align with identified family goals, program expectations, safety planning, and the needs and strengths of each child, youth, and caregiver. Support family routines and household functioning through practical assistance such as meal planning, grocery shopping, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation planning, and other supports as appropriate. Communicate regularly and professionally with caregivers and team members regarding scheduling, progress, emerging needs, risks, barriers, and planned activities. Participate in team meetings, case discussions, service planning, training sessions, and other program-related activities as required. Safety, Crisis Response, and Professional Practice Provide de-escalation, conflict resolution, emotional support, and basic first aid interventions when required, within the scope of training and organizational policy. Recognize and respond to immediate safety concerns involving children, youth, caregivers, or the home environment, and follow internal reporting and escalation procedures. Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, cultural humility, and ethical conduct in all interactions with children, youth, families, colleagues, and community partners. Ensure services are provided in a manner that is respectful of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and diverse cultural identities, family systems, lived experiences, and community contexts. Complete assigned duties in alignment with organizational policies, program standards, documentation requirements, and applicable legislation. Documentation and Communication Maintain timely, objective, accurate, and complete documentation of activities, interventions, observations, goals, outcomes, incidents, and follow-up actions. Prepare and submit required reports, case notes, updates, and program documentation according to established timelines and quality standards. Share relevant information with the Family Preservation Manager and team members to support coordinated service delivery, risk management, and responsive planning. Communicate with families in a respectful, clear, accessible, and professional manner that supports engagement and reduces barriers to participation. Experience Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, residential schools, child welfare involvement, systemic barriers, and trauma on Indigenous peoples, families, and communities in Canada. Experience working with children, youth, caregivers, and families using strength-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and relationship-based approaches. Experience supporting people who may be navigating poverty, housing instability, family conflict, grief and loss, mental health concerns, addictions, abuse, intergenerational trauma, or involvement with social service systems. Ability to engage children and youth through developmentally appropriate activities that reflect their interests, strengths, culture, goals, and support needs. Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to document clearly and interact respectfully with families and colleagues. Ability to work independently in home and community settings while also contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team environment. Strong organizational skills, sound judgement, reliability, flexibility, time-management skills, and the ability to adapt to changing family and program needs. Knowledge of Indigenous cultures, traditions, community resources, family systems, and local service networks is considered an asset. Demonstrated self-awareness and reflective practice, including the ability to recognize how personal experiences, values, and biases may influence professional interactions and decision-making. Commitment to creating safe, positive, meaningful, and empowering experiences for children, youth, caregivers, and families receiving services. Education (Degree/Diploma/Certificate) Post-secondary education in a human services, child and youth care, social work, education, psychology, Indigenous studies, community development, or related field is preferred. An equivalent combination of education, relevant employment experience, volunteer experience, community involvement, and/or lived experience will be considered. Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C certification are required. ASIST, crisis de-escalation training, non-violent crisis intervention, mental health first aid, or willingness to obtain relevant certifications is considered an asset. Core Competencies Cultural responsiveness and humility Demonstrates respect for Indigenous worldviews, family systems, community knowledge, and culturally grounded approaches to wellness and safety. Relationship-based practice Builds trust through consistency, compassion, respectful communication, and appropriate professional boundaries. Trauma-informed support Understands the impact of trauma and responds in ways that promote safety, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and dignity. Child and youth engagement Creates meaningful opportunities for children and youth to participate, express themselves, develop skills, and experience positive connection. Team collaboration Shares information appropriately, follows direction, contributes to case planning, and supports coordinated family preservation services. Accountability and documentation Maintains accurate records, follows procedures, meets deadlines, and communicates concerns promptly and professionally. Conditions of Employment Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search, clear Child Abuse Registry check with acceptable Prior Contact checks, and clear Adult Abuse Registry check, all completed within the last three months. Ability and willingness to travel throughout Winnipeg and Southern Manitoba as required by program and family needs. Valid Manitoba Class 5F Driver’s Licence and access to a personal vehicle are preferred; alternate transportation methods may be considered. Ability to work varied hours, including days, evenings, and weekends, based on the needs of children, youth, families, and the program. Compliance with all organizational policies, procedures, training, confidentiality requirements, and professional standards. 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: This position requires a flexible schedule that may include daytime, evening, and weekend hours. Work hours may vary based on family availability, child and youth needs, program needs, and scheduled activities. Union: No Posting End Date: Open until filled Site: The Link: Youth and Family Supports Work Location: 175 Mayfair Avenue; in community Salary Range: $37,050.00 - $49,2000.00 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/ Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.

What you’ll do

Provide practical, culturally responsive, trauma-informed support to children, youth, and caregivers in home and community settings, including engaging youth in meaningful activities and helping families meet their goals. Implement individualized support plans, assist with household routines, respond to safety concerns, collaborate with the Home Fire team, and maintain accurate documentation.

Requirements

Relevant post-secondary education is preferred, though equivalent employment, volunteer, community, or lived experience may be considered; Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C are required. Candidates should have experience supporting children, youth, and families, knowledge of Indigenous and trauma-related contexts, strong communication and documentation skills, and the ability to travel and work flexible hours; a valid Manitoba Class 5F licence and personal vehicle are preferred.

Listed skills

• Time management · Preferred
• First Aid · Preferred
• Documentation · Preferred
• Communication · Preferred
• Team Collaboration · Preferred
• Conflict Resolution · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Cultural Responsiveness
• Relationship-Based Practice
• Trauma-Informed Support
• Child And Youth Engagement
• Family-Centred Support
• Case Plan Implementation
• Crisis De-Escalation
• Conflict Resolution
• First Aid
• Documentation
• Team Collaboration
• Communication
• Safety Planning
• Reflective Practice
• Time Management
• Transportation Planning

Job areas

• Social Services
• Healthcare
• Education
• Security & Safety

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