REGENT PARK COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE

A very busy community-based, non-profit organization, serving a diverse community,

and an equal-opportunity employer.

Community Development/Resiliency Worker

Full-time (35 hours per week – flexible, weekends, evenings)

Contract to March 31, 2013

Salary – $44,903 per annum plus benefits

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

Regent Park Community Health Centre (RPCHC) is a community-based organization dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Regent Park area residents and the community as a whole by providing high quality, integrated primary health care services, health promotion and education, and community capacity building.  Our priority is on reducing the health inequities experienced by low-income, immigrant and refugee, non-status, and marginally-housed and homeless populations.

We seek a seasoned professional to bring expertise to a new youth gang prevention and intervention project funded by the National Crime Prevention Centre of Canada. The ‘MY (Mobilizing, Mentoring Youth) Regent Park’ project represents a collaboration between six local agencies which include RPCHC, Dixon Hall, The Toronto Christian Resource Centre, The Salvation Army, Regent Park Focus Youth Media Arts Centre and Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Clubs.

The organizing framework for this project is the Spergel Model used by the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).  We chose this model because of its holistic community-based approach which supports the strong foundation of a collaborative action that Regent Park agencies and institutions already model.

JOB SUMMARY:

Significant change, loss and transition have been identified as key risk factors for youth gang involvement. 

Regent Park and local residents are impacted to various degrees by redevelopment, immigration, violence, and other changes, losses and transitions at the individual and community level. 

Working with gang-involved and at-risk youth, families, and the community as a whole, you will support and partner with these groups in

§       understanding the impact of change/loss and its relationship to gang activity

§       identifying and articulating the ways in which they deal with and move forward from loss, grief and transition

§       developing and implementing strategies to strengthen resiliency 

You will have dual accountability to the RPCHC Director of Community Health and the MY Regent Park Project Director.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

§       Conduct initial and ongoing community and individual needs/asset assessment vis-à-vis impact of change/loss/transition and building resiliency

§       Engage youth, families, local agencies and the community at large in understanding, designing and participating in the program

§       Coordinate program planning and evaluation

§       Deliver, and collaborate in the delivery of, services and activities designed in response to engagement assessment and planning processes

§       Develop avenues to appropriate services and supports including facilitating referrals

·       Work collaboratively with the MY Regent Park intervention team and partner agencies in ensuring the sound implementation and continued evolution of the project as a whole

·       Maintain records and files and provide information in accordance with MY Regent Park policies and local information sharing protocols

·       Identify community members who could take part in the project’s decision-making process and identify key leadership opportunities within the project

·       Attend workshops, meetings and conferences and participate in relevant training opportunities as required

·       Assist the Project Director in liaising with local agencies for the purpose of raising public awareness, education and information sharing

·       Undertake any other duties which are commensurate with the grade and responsibility of the post as agreed with the Project Director

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

§       Relevant post-secondary education or equivalent experience 

·       3 years’ experience as a community development worker with diverse marginalized communities

·       Knowledge and experience working with trauma, loss and grief

·       Understanding of the social determinants of health

·       Commitment to social justice and anti-oppression principles and practices

·       Knowledge of programs and services currently available to youth, parents and the broader community in Regent Park

·       Team-player and a proven ability to work effectively within a highly collaborative and constantly changing environment

·       Proven interpersonal and conflict resolution skills

·       Experience with basic administration and report writing

·       Familiarity with the Spergel/OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model an asset

·       Valid First Aid and CPR certification 

·       Police Reference Check will be required prior to offering of employment

Please send a resume, cover letter and references by 4:00 p.m., Friday, February 19, 2010, to:

MY Regent Park

Attention:  Sue Underhill

465 Dundas Street East 

Toronto, ON  M5A 2B2 

Email: sueu@regentparkchc.org

While we thank you for your interest,

only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.