Youth Reconnect Worker

Youth Reconnect Worker

On Site, Toronto (Travel Within City)

Full Time, Permanent

Level 7

Requisition Number: YWR- & YWR-

Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada’s largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of services to hundreds of young people every day.

More than a place to stay, we provide life-changing care with unconditional love and respect. We meet youth’s immediate needs and then we work together to achieve their future goals. We offer 24/7 crisis shelter transitional housing options on-site and, in the community, health and well‑being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community.

For over 40 years, Covenant House has been dedicated to its mission of serving youth on the street and to protect and safeguard all youth with absolute respect and unconditional love. Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 100,000 young people.

Youth Reconnect is an ‘upstream’ homelessness prevention initiative. The goal is to help young people stay engaged in school by helping to stabilize their living situation, either by addressing issues at home that are producing the risk of homelessness, such as family conflict, or through helping youth who can no longer stay at home find housing and support options in their community.

Youth Reconnect serves young people 12-18 years old, who are engaged in school, currently housed, and at‑risk of homelessness.

As part of the Youth Reconnect program team, the Youth Reconnect Worker provides community based direct support to young people who are at‑risk of homelessness and school disengagement.

This position will report to the Supervisor, Prevention Initiatives

We are currently hiring for 2 Youth Reconnect Workers. These are new roles with the expansion of the program.

• Connect with youth referred by schools, child welfare agencies, and other community agencies
• Provide services in locations convenient to youth and their family members and chosen supports (such as schools, family homes, and other community settings)
• Work collaboratively with young people to assess and identify needs, and set actionable goals to help maintain school engagement and stable housing
• Provide direct support that will help youth maintain/secure stable housing and engagement in school
• Engage family members and chosen supports of youth as resources in achieving youths’ goals
• Link youth to specialized services (e.g., financial support, housing programs, mental health, addictions) as required
• Directly assist youth to develop a social safety net to support them in the future and to help them as they move forward from the program
• Facilitate group based activities, workshops and presentations as required
• Work with stakeholders and partners to develop and promote this new specialized youth service
• Contribute to analysis and evaluation of the program
• Maintain all required documentation (including client files, case notes, and assessments and evaluation tools)
• Other duties as assigned

• BSW or Child and Youth Work Diploma, or equivalent in education and experience.
• 2 years’ experience working with youth at‑risk of and/or experiencing homelessness
• Ability to advocate for, and promote, homelessness prevention
• Excellent ability to engage in collaborative conversations with youth, with a demonstrated ability to generate effective solutions to meet youth’s needs
• Previous experience working in a community‑based mobile capacity is preferred
• Previous experience making referrals and supporting youth access community resources
• Demonstrated ability in working with a trauma informed, harm reduction approach and from an anti‑oppression and culturally sensitive perspective/framework
• Excellent communication (both oral and written) and organizational skills and ability work independently, proactively, and collaboratively
• Understanding of issues related to youth homelessness, Anti‑Black Racism, 2
  
  SLGBTQ identities, mental health and substance use problems and disorders, disabilities and neurodivergence, adolescent development, and family dynamics.
• Knowledge…