Indigenous Wellness Specialist - Remote

Is This You?
 Are you motivated by the opportunity to positively impact mental health for young people in Canada? Are you passionate about helping youth navigate the complexities of growing up in today's technology-driven world? If so, Kids Help Phone is looking for dynamic individuals like you to join our team.

At Kids Help Phone, we’re on a transformational journey to change the landscape of youth mental health in Canada. This is an opportunity to be a part of something truly meaningful and to make a real difference in the lives of young people. It will take courage, resilience, and a commitment to helping fuel this transformative journey.

The Opportunity:
 As the Indigenous Wellness Specialist (IWS), you will engage virtually and via phone with Indigenous youth from across Canada through Brighter Days: An Indigenous Wellness Program supported by Sun Life. Through this program, the IWS will encourage help-seeking behaviors and help young people develop the skills, tools and resources to support their well- being on a range of topics including healthy relationships, human trafficking, substance use and more.  

The Indigenous Wellness Specialist (IWS) will also engage with social services institutions and organizations in a variety of ways that support student development and increase access and awareness of KHP programs and services among Indigenous youth.  

The IWS will review and develop materials and content, often in partnership with Indigenous organizations. As needed, the IWS supports workshops and training opportunities to ensure all clinical staff have a solid foundation of clinical knowledge and skill. This position is part of the Indigenous Initiatives and Equity Programs team and works in partnership with the Training and Education team as well as cross-departmentally at Kids Help Phone.  

The Indigenous Wellness Specialist will work directly with Indigenous youth and add more Indigenous perspectives to Kids Help Phone programs and services therefore only First Nations, Inuit and Métis applicants with lived experience of Indigenous worldviews, cultures, and values will be considered. 

What You’ll Do:

Brighter Days Facilitation  

• Engage virtually or via phone with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit youth from across Canada during the facilitation of Brighter Days sessions  
• Develop and facilitate engaging activities and exercises that will help Indigenous youth access resources and develop skills to support their well-being. These activities will employ culturally safe approaches that incorporate traditional teaches while adhering to program curriculum.  
• Contribute to the development of Brighter Days curriculum on topics including grief, life promotion, substance use and more  
• Engage virtually or via phone with community helpers such as teachers for pre-session conversations to customize Brighter Days sessions to the unique needs of each participating group.  

Community Engagement  

• Community engagement with social services training institutions and organizations to build awareness of KHP programs and services; listen to knowledge shared that will continuously enhance KHP programs and services; and share information about KHP volunteer opportunities that may provide experience to students in the social services field.  

Training, Education and Mentorship  

• Support Indigenous post-secondary social services students enrolled in the upcoming KHP Indigenous mentorship Program  
• Oversee and/or support in the development of Indigenous-focused clinical training materials for counsellors and crisis responders  
• Review internal and external facing content through a lens attuned to the current realities of Indigenous young people, often in partnership with Indigenous organizations.  
• Support special projects and program development  

Other  

• Provide information and support to other departments as required, to support fundraising, reports to funders, media events etc.  
• Partnership work, including facilitating training for external organizations and partners.  
• Provide training leadership and expertise to non-service teams.  
• Assume other duties as assigned  
• This position requires some flexibility to attend or facilitate occasional evening or weekend activities or trainings   

Our Ideal Candidate:

• Indigenous Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis, & Inuit) and Indigenous ways of knowing 
• Experience working with Indigenous communities, youth and Elders and allies. 
• Post-secondary education related to clinical counselling, i.e. Social Work, Counselling Psychology, etc. 
• Counselling accreditations such as ASIST training preferred, SBT, Narrative therapy trainings, etc. 
• Experience offering counselling to children and youth individually or in groups with preference for those with experience in brief-solution focused therapy, trauma-informed counselling, client centered counselling, crisis intervention and narrative therapy 
• Experience in and knowledge of e-counselling and support best practices 
• Demonstrated excellence in academic writing 
• Experience working in Knowledge Translation is an asset 
• Reliable broadband internet connection to enable remote work and video facilitation
• Demonstrates high level of critical thinking with the ability to connect the donor to the organization in an impactful, meaningful way
• Ability to be flexible, adjusting to new tactics and strategies as they emerge

Must have skills: 

• Group facilitation/presentation skills 
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills 
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment 
• Ability to problem-solve minor software and hardware issues 
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team and independently 
• Ability to work remotely 
• Must be able to travel across Canada occasionally to facilitate presentations to Indigenous social services institutions and organizations, attend in-person team meetings, etc.  
• Ability to support a culture that fosters high standards of ethics 
• Openness to new organizations structures, procedures and technology  

About Kids Help Phone:
 Kids Help Phone is a Canadian leader and world innovator in youth mental health. As Canada's only 24/7 professional counselling and information service for young people, we support youth through various channels including phone, live chat, and text. Since 1989, we’ve been offering anonymous, confidential support to kids, teens, and young adults, helping them overcome challenges and improve their mental health.

We are pioneers in virtual care, and our team is dedicated to providing a critical lifeline to youth across the country, available in both English and French, and over 100 other languages via interpretation. We have built a trusted reputation for delivering innovative services, and we’re looking for like-minded individuals to join us in making history.

Does this sound like a journey you want to be a part of?
 Join us and make a difference in the lives of young people across Canada!

How to Apply:
Please attach a single file with your resume and cover letter, titled: lastname_firstname_Indigenous Wellness Specialist.

For more information about Kids Help Phone, please visit our website.
The position will be posted until February 14^th, 2025

Kids Help Phone is an Equal Opportunity Employer
 We value diversity and inclusion and encourage applications from all qualified individuals. We are committed to providing barrier-free accommodations in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If contacted for an employment opportunity, please let us know if you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (I.D.E.A.):
 We are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion, empowering all employees and service users. We strive to ensure that our services and environment are reflective of the communities we serve. We embrace differences in race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability, and we are dedicated to promoting understanding and appreciation of these differences.

Benefits include:

Accidental Death Insurance, Hybrid Work Model, Life Insurance, Wellness Programs, Flex Time, Employee & Family Assistance Program, Health Care, Dental Care, Vision Care, CAAT Pension Plan, Emergency Travel Assistance, and more!

Message to Agencies:
 We do not accept unsolicited telephone calls, referrals, or resumes from agencies. Any unsolicited submissions will be considered gratuitous, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral or other fees.