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.
Think 2wice (T2) is a non-profit organization that provides trauma-informed, culturally relevant initiatives and programming to incarcerated individuals as well as youth and communities who are impacted by incarceration, trauma, loss, grief, gun and gang violence. In working with victims and perpetrators of violence, trauma, and grief, Think 2wice provides therapeutic support through case management, workshops, participatory programming, music, theatre, film, story sharing, mentorship, and spirituality.
At Think 2wice (T2), we are dedicated to creating positive change and addressing the complex challenges faced by vulnerable populations. Our mission is to build positive role models and empower individuals and communities to heal, grow, and thrive. By offering a wide range of initiatives and programs, we strive to foster resilience, promote social inclusion, and reduce the cycle of violence and incarceration.
The T2 Kings to Kings (K2K) project- is a prevention, intervention and interruption initiative that addresses all aspects of the gun culture with those who are incarcerated and in the community. This project addresses grief, loss, incarceration, gun and gang violence through the arts, story sharing, mentorship, training and grief/trauma support.
This unique Critical Intervention Worker position will be a part of the T2-Kings 2 Kings team, specifically supporting intervention, healing, mentorship and leadership training to incarcerated individuals in 3 Federal Institutions as well as prevention workshops and events for youth at risk in the community.
Job Overview:
We are seeking a strong, compassionate and dedicated Critical Intervention Worker to join our T2 K2K team. In this role, you will provide a continuum of culturally appropriate intervention, grief and trauma support and training to federally incarcerated individuals.
You will work closely with the T2 team, therapists and other professionals to support incarcerated individuals during their leadership, mentorship and story-sharing training.
The program consists of the following key components:
· Gun/gang Prevention, Intervention & Interruption Workshops/Activities
· Social Emotional Learning; Restorative, Rehabilitation Practices; Mental Health (grief, loss, trauma) and Well-being; spiritual, social and cultural supports as in line with (BOSH)
· Mentorship building through training, coaching, and trauma supports
· Develop clients to become positive leaders and ambassadors to prevention initiatives geared to youth in the community
The successful candidates will support the intervention, healing and successful rehabilitation of incarcerated clients while providing prevention workshops to youth in the community
Key Job Responsibilities:
Incarceration / Intervention/Interruption / Rehabilitation:
- Conduct outreach and engagement initiatives geared to incarcerated individuals through the existing Think 2wice prison group
- Seek out and engage with ‘young adults in transition’ incarcerated young people ages 18-29
- Provide intake, assessment and vetting for possible participants to become K2K participants and mentors in training
- Develop and execute programming and workshops
- Provide ongoing mentorship to participants
- Coordinate mentorship, story sharing, and mental health workshops for federally incarcerated individuals
- Deliver trauma-informed care and culturally responsive services and mentoring to incarcerated clients.
- Assist clients in challenging negative mindsets through group workshops.
- Address unresolved trauma, loss, and grief with incarcerated participants
- Connect incarcerated individuals to therapists, professional support and mentors
· Provide story-sharing techniques, mentorship/leadership training, grief and trauma supports
· Seek out and coordinate guest speakers and professionals
· Provide ongoing mentorship and training to incarcerated participants: Mentors in Training
· Provide violence interruption, focusing on de-escalation and conflict mediation techniques for gang-involved youth
· Work with incarcerated individuals to inform prevention and intervention initiatives geared to at-risk youth in the community
- Coordinate gun prevention and intervention events in federal institutions
- Provide support to participants with Lawyers, Parole Officers, Parole Board, Institutional Staff and Social Workers
- Identify risk factors and pivotal points of interruption to prevent escalation and reduce the impact of violence within penal institutions.
- Support rival inmates in working together through the Kings to Kings project
- Provide one-on-one and group support to incarcerated participants
- Work with incarcerated individuals to inform prevention initiatives and strategies for youth in the community
- Attend team meetings for coordination and collaboration purposes
· Provide support to family members
· Coordinate and facilitate prison events
Intervention/Prevention youth in the community:
· Outreach to youth in the community: Engaging participants by working with TDSB, TCDSB, Rexdale Community Health Centre and other service providers within the Elms-Old Rexdale, Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, Kingsview Village – The Westway communities
· Outreach the K2K project to existing groups, and service providers, Develop partnerships
· Attend community meetings
· Collaborate and secure partnerships with schools and programs
· Intake, assessment and vetting of possible youth participants
- Provide culturally appropriate prevention, intervention, and interruption services to at-risk youth in community.
- Provide prevention workshops to youth at risk
- Provide mentorship pairing
- Ensure safety
- Collaborate with teachers, principals, youth workers, social workers, probation offers and families to best support youth at risk through the prevention and intervention process
- Assist clients in challenging negative mindsets through group workshops, mentorship and initiatives
- Address unresolved trauma, loss, and grief with youth in the community
- Assist clients in challenging negative mindsets through group workshops.
- Address unresolved trauma, loss, and grief with youth in the community
· Support Manager in coordinating a series of community events showcasing Think 2wice tools of engagement
· Work alongside all Think 2wice projects, including film, Kings 2 Kings and To Wards Peace teams
Administrative duties:
· Maintain accurate documentation, including case notes and other administrative tasks.
· Represent Think 2wice in high-level meetings.
· Attend and update all partner meetings at Jane Finch Centre, Rexdale Community Health Centre and any partnering agencies that are identified through this grant
· Assist the Manager in coordinating photography and videography efforts.
· Collaborate with partnering agencies to organize prison events for at-risk youth.
· Innovate and develop alternative initiatives to extend outreach to the broader community.
· Establish partnerships with various institutions to enhance program effectiveness.
· Facilitate debrief meetings with the team, both in the community and with incarcerated participants.
· Provide support in creating flyers, graphics, and promotional materials.
· Contribute to program development tailored to federally incarcerated individuals and youth in the community.
· Monitor progress and evaluate project outcomes through ongoing feedback mechanisms.
Required Qualifications:
· Post-graduate degree in Social Work, Child and Youth Care, Law and Justice, or other Social Service fields, or a combination of at least three years of related work experience and relevant education.
· Three to five years of work experience in social service positions, working in culturally and racially diverse communities.
· An understanding of neighbourhood and gang connections in the community and in Federal Institutions
· Knowledge and understanding of STG (Security Threat Groups) and the connection to the community and jails/prisons
· Proven experience in facilitating various activities and workshops.
· Demonstrated ability to provide effective mentorship.
· Successful track record in coordinating events and programs.
· Extensive experience in offering support to incarcerated individuals.
· Extensive experience in the gun culture
· Experience in the gang culture in Toronto
· Direct program delivery experience in the social services sector, with a demonstrated working knowledge of community-based programs.
· Familiarity with working with at-risk Rexdale communities.
· Proficient in working with incarcerated young people of African descent.
· Deep commitment to anti-Black racism, Afrocentric values, and principles, with lived experience.
· Knowledgeable about community resources for African Canadian and Caribbean youth and families involved in gun/gang activities and reintegration.
· In-depth understanding of the unique challenges faced by African Canadian and Caribbean young people (ages 18-29) in the Criminal Justice and Penal System transition.
· Awareness of the inequalities faced by Black incarcerated individuals.
· Effective communication skills to engage with institutional staff and incarcerated individuals.
· Experience working with individuals who have undergone trauma, grief, or loss.
· Familiarity with trauma-informed practices and interventions.
· Ability to provide support and guidance to individuals navigating trauma-related challenges.
· Strong empathy and compassion for individuals in distress.
· Excellent verbal and written communication skills to connect with and understand the needs of those experiencing trauma, grief, or loss.
· Capacity to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information professionally and discreetly.
· Strong interpersonal skills to build trust with incarcerated and gang-involved individuals, creating a safe and supportive environment.
· Flexibility and adaptability to respond to varying needs and situations while working with institutional staff.
· Intuition, insight, and discernment when working with individuals who have experienced trauma, grief, or loss.
· Computer literacy combined with strong communication skills.
· Ability to negotiate, communicate, and maintain supportive relationships with clients.
· Experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation.
· Ability to form relationships with gang-involved individuals while maintaining healthy boundaries.
· Caseload management skills, including action plan development, client progress monitoring, and record maintenance.
· Effective collaboration within diverse and multidisciplinary teams.
· Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict management skills.
· Demonstrated flexibility, organizational skills, and time management in high-pressure environments.
· Availability to work evenings and occasional weekends.
· Possession of a valid driver's license.
· Ability to provide a vulnerable sector security clearance.
Duration: Six-month contract with the possibility of an extension
Salary: $35.19 - $38.07 per hour (based on experience)
Reports to: K2K Critical Safety Manager
Starting date: ASAP
Application Due Date: January 6, 2025
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 6 months
Pay: $35.19-$38.07 per hour
Expected hours: 35 per week
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Work Location: In person
