Program Coordinator

Choices for Youth Inc. (CFY) is a professional service, youth-focused, non-profit, charitable organization that creates spaces and conversations and operates programs and social enterprises to help vulnerable youth secure stable housing, employment, and education while improving health and family stability. With a focus on prevention, intervention, and support, we help youth and young families break cycles of poverty and homelessness and transition to healthy, stable, and independent lives. We are currently hiring a Program Coordinator to oversee our Soft Landing and Rapid Rehousing Program.

Young people arrive at Choices for Youth (CFY) from all over the province and approximately 50% of the homeless population in St. John’s have arrived in the city within the past 5 years. For youth who are new to the city, arriving alone and without support elevates pre-existing risks while also introducing new ones. Youth who come to St. John’s in seek of services are often running away from challenges, or need specific types of support that they cannot receive in their home communities. Unfortunately, without an adequately resourced and coordinated response from service providers, the first few days of their arrival represent a series of crises as these young people often have nowhere to sleep, no money, no food, and no local networks of support. There is a significant opportunity to embed coordination of rural, remote, and urban services to ensure smoother transitions for the young people we serve.

The Program Coordinator will provide day-to-day leadership, mentoring and support to program staff, ensuring that the team works effectively together and delivers high-quality services to clients. The coordinator will supervise a team consisting of Housing Support workers, and other professionals providing varying levels of services and supports to a diverse client base. Interfacing closely with planning Coordinated Access initiatives and the CFY’s Outreach & Youth Engagement Centre, the Program Coordinator would work towards formalizing critical functions in partnership with the broader community.

This program will be undergoing a full review and relaunch, which could change a variety of the roles and responsibilities expected of the successful candidate. The Program Coordinator will be expected to assist with this process and lead new changes and direction for the Soft Landing team.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Directly supervise staff within the Soft Landing team and ensure they have the support, training and tools they need to be successful in their roles

· Working in collaboration with the Manager of Housing Programs and staff to further the goals and objectives of the program and ensure performance targets are being met.

· Liaise with health authorities to establish a referral and transition protocol specific to housing and post transition support requirements or plans. This may include identifying safe, coordinated, and planned returns to home communities.

· Working with the Manager of Programs to inform the development of policies and procedures relevant to the staff team and delivery of services.

· Lead the centralization and standardization of the intake and referral process. This is inclusive of the receipt of client referrals and conducting assessments for individuals who fit the Program criteria, assigning staff to clients with attention to balancing caseload and client complexity.

· Coordinate services and supports (mental health, employment, family, etc.) beyond accessing shelters and housing.

· Link St. John’s systems coordination efforts with regional, remote, and rural needs. This is inclusive of anticipating the impact of Integrated Service Delivery sites across the province.

· Assisting participants in the search for safe, affordable housing and selection of housing that best meets their individual needs and personal preferences, with no conditions of housing readiness.

· Supporting development of the private landlord market for potential rentals.

· Initiating appropriate community referrals and/or collaborating with others as required for out-referrals for clients who do not meet the Program criteria.

· Overseeing/managing program information systems including submitting program data/information for program evaluation and improvement on an ongoing basis

· Review internal data to detect trends in service delivery and the clients being served.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

· Bachelor’s degree in social work, or other social sciences, or equivalent. Master’s degree in social work or equivalent is considered an asset.

· 3-5 years of program development experience in the areas of youth and/or homelessness

· Extensive knowledge and experience in such areas as housing, mental health and addictions, trauma, conflict resolution, and crisis intervention are an asset.

· Excellent written and oral communication skills

· Familiarity of harm reduction principles and strategies

· Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

· Knowledge and understanding of issues pertaining to homelessness and street involved and at-risk youth.

· Previous experience in a non-profit, housing environment is an asset.

· Able to work both independently and as part of a team.

· Use of own vehicle is required.

· Satisfactory record of Conduct and Vulnerable Sector Check, ASIST training, and current First Aid/CPR are required.

WORK HOURS

Regular hours of work for this position are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday (35 hours per week). Flexibility in work hours may be required to accommodate higher work volumes, and program and organizational requirements, including occasional and emergent need to work evenings and weekends.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your cover letter and resume with SLPC-01-2024 in the subject line explaining how you meet the criteria.

Reference ID: SLPC-01-2024

Choices for Youth (CFY) strives towards a culture of inclusion and empowerment, one where there’s a sense of belonging and safety while prioritizing diversity across the organization, including in its Board of Directors composition, employment practices, staff, policies, programming, and services. CFY values lived and living experience and invites everyone interested to apply for available opportunities. CFY actively seeks applications from Indigenous Peoples; members of Black, racialized, and other equity-seeking and/or religious, cultural, and other communities; members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community; people with disabilities; and people from a variety of social and economic backgrounds. Should you require support or accommodation(s) to better enable your ability to participate in the employment or recruitment process, please let us know at any point. This information will be kept confidential.

To view all current job postings, please visit http://www.choicesforyouth.ca/join-cfy.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $62,517.00-$69,942.60 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• RRSP match
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision care
• Wellness program

Flexible Language Requirement:

• English not required

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree (preferred)

Experience:

• program development: 3 years (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Check (preferred)
• Drivers License and access to a vehicle (preferred)
• First Aid and CPR Training (preferred)
• ASIST Training (preferred)

Work Location: In person