Intake Coordinator, Worries Strong Spirit Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Big Worries Strong Spirit is a free early intervention program designed to support Indigenous families with children aged 3-12 who are experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, referred to as “big worries.” The program is delivered virtually throughout British Columbia. Big Worries Strong Spirit was created in partnership with an Indigenous Advisory Group called Caring in All Direction and the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division.

Today, the program is run, refined, and enhanced by an all-Indigenous staff consisting of a Resident Elder, Registered Clinician, Parent/Caregiver Support Coaches, Program Manager, Program Leader, and an Intake Coordinator, with collaboration with contracted Indigenous organizations when needed.

Big Worries Strong Spirit is an Indigenous support, coach-facilitated program for parents and caregivers that provides practical, Indigenous-informed, evidenced-based tools and strategies to help children navigate and manage anxiety in everyday life. The program centers parents and caregivers as the primary agents of change within their families, recognizing and strengthening their existing knowledge, skills, and resilience. By building confidence and enhancing practical tools, the program empowers parents and caregivers to support their children in managing anxiety in ways that are consistent, culturally respectful, and supportive.

To learn more about the program please visit:

Reporting to the Big Worries Strong Spirit Manager and working closely with the program’s Clinician, the Intake Coordinator position acts as the first official contact for referred parents/caregivers, assesses program eligibility based on an adapted screening tool and an over-the-phone culturally respectful interview process, and helps parents/caregivers find additional supports and resources where needed. The Intake Coordinator also works closely with the Big Worries Strong Spirit Parent/Caregiver Support Coaches through executing biweekly intake updates and case formulations, assigning and scheduling program eligible families to Coaches, and registering families on the program’s activity and video portal.

This integral position also contributes to program monitoring, support, and development, including and not limited to data collection and entry related to referrals, family feedback surveys, and participating in collaborative discussions about how the program can continuously adapt to meet the needs of the families that we serve.

Finally, where necessary, the Intake Coordinator liaises with referral agents which include Counsellors, School Counsellors, Elders, Family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Indigenous Child and Youth Mental Health Clinicians, Early Childhood Educators, Family/Youth Support Workers, or other service providers as needed.

• Cultural safety and respect; centering the strengths and wellness practices of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people, families and communities.
• Cognitive behavioral therapeutic approaches for managing big worries/anxiety.
• Upholding collaborative, solution-focused, and relationally accountable ways of interacting with team members, clients, and inter and intra-organizationally.

• Respects the knowledge sovereignty and diversity of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures.
• Centers Indigenous families and their own approaches to and practices of wellness
• Utilizes cognitive behavioral therapeutic approaches through a lens of Indigenous cultural humility and safety.
• Commitment to working with families where dignity and strengths are upheld.
• Ability to practice from a supportive, decolonial, inclusive, and flexible foundation.
• Understanding the significance of using a colonially aware social justice lens when working with Indigenous families who are experiencing challenging circumstances.
• Ongoing collaboration within a team environment

• Assesses referral eligibility while working in consultation with the staff Registered Clinician.
• Ensures that parents/caregivers and referral agents are served in a timely manner according to the program protocols and policies.
• Executes parent/caregiver coach…