Youth Wellness Advocate

Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society (KAFS)was established in 1972 and is a non-profit organization with a status free open-door policy. KAFS is dedicated to empowering the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities of Kamloops and surrounding areas. KAFS provides culturally appropriate programs and inclusive services that meet the needs of urban Indigenous people to become healthier, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Reporting to the Family Violence Prevention Manager, the Youth Wellness Advocate provides culturally grounded, relationship-based support to Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth aged 12–19 who are experiencing or at risk of violence, exploitation, grief and loss, substance use, homelessness, justice involvement, and other barriers to wellness.

Working as part of the Family Violence Prevention team, the role provides one-to-one support, systems navigation, advocacy, outreach, crisis intervention, and youth wellness programming, prioritizing trust, consistency, cultural connection, belonging, resilience, and hope. Recognizing that violence prevention extends beyond immediate crisis, the Youth Wellness Advocate supports the social, emotional, cultural, and community connections that strengthen protective factors and contribute to long-term wellness and healthy transitions into adulthood.

• Build trusting, consistent relationships with youth through mentorship, advocacy, outreach, and one-to-one support, meeting youth where they are in schools, homes where appropriate, community spaces, healthcare and treatment settings, cultural events, and justice settings.
• Complete strengths-based intakes and work alongside youth to develop individualized safety and wellness plans that reflect their needs, priorities, and goals.
• Provide emotional support, crisis intervention, safety planning, and violence prevention support related to family, dating, gender-based and sexual violence, emotional and psychological abuse, coercive control, exploitation, and other forms of violence.
• Support youth impacted by grief and loss, substance use, mental health concerns, housing instability and homelessness, family conflict, poverty and food insecurity, social isolation, cultural disconnection, barriers to education, identity and life transitions, and transitions from government care.
• Support youth experiencing or at risk of human trafficking, sexual or online exploitation and luring, gang or criminal exploitation, and missing or high-risk youth concerns.
• Advocate alongside youth across education, healthcare, housing, child welfare, social service, and justice systems, including support at appointments, meetings, and court proceedings and connection to appropriate community resources.
• Support youth involved in the justice system, diversion and restorative justice initiatives, as well as youth who are victims or witnesses of crime or violence.
• Support healthy transitions into adulthood through mentorship, goal planning, family engagement, advocacy, and connection to services and community.
• Support youth in connecting or reconnecting with culture, community, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, cultural mentorship, and cultural activities where appropriate and desired, approaching each relationship with cultural humility and respect for the youth’s identity and lived experience.
• Build relationships with schools, youth-serving agencies, Indigenous organizations, healthcare providers, justice partners, and other community organizations, and participate in outreach, youth wellness programming, and violence prevention initiatives.
• Work closely with the Family Violence Prevention team, other KAFS programs, families, and community partners through team meetings, case planning, and collaborative service delivery while respecting youth confidentiality.
• Maintain accurate case notes, client records, monthly statistics, and required program and outcome reporting.
• Remain adaptable to the changing needs of youth, the Family Violence Prevention program, and the broader community.

• Diploma or degree in Child and Youth Care, Social Work, Human Services, Criminology, Psychology, Indigenous Studies, Justice Studies, or a related discipline; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working alongside youth experiencing violence, trauma, grief and loss, substance use, justice involvement, homelessness,…