Rexdale Community Health Centre (RCHC) is a non-profit, multi-service, community-based organization that serves communities in Rexdale and North-West Etobicoke. Operating out of three locations, RCHC offers core services that include primary health care, health promotion, community development programs, Pathways to Education and Diabetes Education Centre.
Website: https://rexdalechc.com
Founded in 2006, Think 2wice International is a non-profit organization that provides culturally relevant initiatives and programming to individuals who are incarcerated and reintegrating back into the community. To date, Think 2wice has provided support in several Federal Institutions as well as various communities that are impacted by incarceration, gun or gang violence. Through trauma informed, non-traditional initiatives, Think 2wice aims to reduce gun violence while assisting individuals to think twice and challenge their mindsets.
Website: https://www.think2.org/
TO Wards Peace Project (TWP) is a risk-driven, community-centric interruption model that takes a public health approach to interrupting and intervening in community violence. This model leverages the lived experience of affected communities to develop and implement effective community engagement approaches, innovative communication tools, social media strategies and focused investment geared at violence prevention and interruption. The integrated approach will combine community-based, social media and hospital-based violence interventions. RCHC in partnership with Think 2wice, the City of Toronto and other partners will oversee the development and implementation of the pilot in Rexdale.
We are looking for individuals who demonstrate a commitment to making positive change to the youth they serve and the community. This role specifically supports gun/gang involved, impacted, or affiliated young people between the ages of 12-29 who are disengaged from education or incarcerated in a youth justice detention facility, provincial or federal institution and reintegrating back into the community.
Key Responsibilities:
· Develop and manage partnerships with educational institutions (TDSB/TCDSB), youth justice facilities, and correctional institutions to support youth affected by gun/gang involvement.
· Facilitate group outreach and engagement workshops and programming geared to gang/gun-involved, impacted or affiliated youth who are incarcerated or connected to TDSB/TCDSB
· Lead engaging group programs and workshops for at-risk youth within educational settings and detention centers, focusing on prevention, intervention, and violence interruption.
· Offer a comprehensive range of services, including educational support, housing assistance, mental health care, and risk mitigation for youth transitioning back into the community or facing system disengagement.
· Formulate and execute a partnership strategy to foster relationships that complement the organization's mission and goals, involving collaboration with governmental bodies and educational boards.
· Collaborate with a range of partners to design and implement programs that meet the complex needs of both incarcerated and community-based disengaged youth.
· Coordinate continuity of care for incarcerated youth pre- and post-release, facilitating a smooth transition back into the community and educational environments.
· Engage and support Black youth who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), connecting them to educational and vocational opportunities.
· Work with Caring and Safe Schools (TDSB/TCDSB), probation and parole officers, and social workers to create effective rehabilitation and reintegration plans.
· Advocate for the specific needs of disenfranchised youth, promoting a multi-agency approach to tackle systemic issues.
· Maintain detailed records of activities, monitor program effectiveness, and generate reports to assess the impact on community safety and youth development.
· Deliver one-on-one case management, trauma-informed care, and mentorship to foster resilience and stability in young individuals and their families.
· Contribute to the development and facilitation of restorative justice practices that support the clients' reintegration and personal growth.
· Identify and engage with hard-to-reach youth populations, utilizing targeted outreach strategies to mitigate the risk of violence and re-offending.
· Develop intake protocols to accurately assess youth involvement or affiliation with gangs and tailor intervention strategies accordingly.
· Work with incarcerated young people connected to Rexdale and Jane & Finch.
· Offer pre-release support, planning, and coordination to clients in youth justice detention facilities, provincial jails, and/or federal institutions
· Connect incarcerated individuals to TWP supports (VDWs), therapists, and additional reintegration support upon release
· Provide one-to-one case management for critical/emergency situations
· Deliver trauma-informed care and culturally responsive services and mentoring to incarcerated youth
· Provide access to the Community Safety staff (VDW and TWP stakeholders) to support principals, administrators, liaisons, educators, etc, mitigate issues of violence in schools
· Prepare structured community re-entry plans for clients in custody
· Support incarcerated clients in self-advocacy and empowerment
· Attend meetings, engage in networking activities, and serve as a representative for the Think 2wice organization.
Qualifications and Assets
· A degree or diploma in Social Work, Child and Youth Care, Law and Justice, or a related field, complemented by 3-5 years of relevant experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are also acceptable.
· Proficient understanding of the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the intricacies of the criminal justice and education systems, particularly as they pertain to youth.
· Adept in applying culturally responsive practices and possessing a deep knowledge base of community resources tailored for youth rehabilitation and reintegration.
· Experience in crafting and executing community-based programs and initiatives, with a proven knack for developing partnerships and engaging community members.
· A communicative collaborator with the ability to operate within a diverse team setting, showcasing leadership and networking skills.
· Ability to navigate complex projects with a strategic mindset, identifying collaborative opportunities that align with youth developmental needs.
· Capacity to gather, analyze, and report on data to showcase partnership impacts on community and individual levels.
· A passionate advocate for the well-being and advancement of youth, especially those at risk of or involved in serious violence and crime.
· Sensitivity and understanding of the challenges and systemic barriers encountered by racialized communities, backed by experience in anti-oppression and anti-black racism frameworks.
· Strong connections to the Rexdale or Jane and Finch communities and a track record of effective community involvement or leadership within these areas.
· Competence in managing sensitive information with discretion and upholding confidentiality standards.
· A history of establishing trust and maintaining professional boundaries in relationships.
· Advanced documentation, communication, and organizational abilities, with experience in positive youth development practices.
· Must be able to provide a vulnerable sector security clearance
· Available to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends
Salary Range: $64,046 - $69,293, plus benefits
Hours per week: 35h
Duration: 1-year with the possibility of extension
Reports to: TheCommunity Safety Manager
Starting date: ASAP
Application Due Date: January 6, 2025
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months
Pay: $64,046.00-$69,293.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience leading engaging group programs and workshops for at-risk youth focusing on prevention, intervention, and violence interruption?
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 2025-01-06
