Aftercare Worker - (FT Contract until April 30, 2027)

Ontario Native Women's Association; Thunder Bay; On-site; CAD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA) seeks an Aftercare Worker to provide holistic counselling and aftercare services for Indigenous women and their families. The role includes crisis intervention, advocacy, referrals, and case coordination within a trauma-informed, gender-based framework.

Reporting to the Branch Manager, you will deliver culturally safe supports, follow up with clients, and collaborate with healthcare providers and community organizations to promote well-being.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in a related field.
• Minimum two-year Social Work Diploma or equivalent experience required.
• Experience advocating for Indigenous women and families.
• Ability to provide evidence-based counselling and crisis support.
• Experience with case coordination, referrals, and follow-up.

Responsibilities

• Provide holistic counselling and aftercare support for Indigenous women and families.
• Offer crisis intervention, advocacy, and referrals when needed.
• Coordinate cases and follow-up services with community partners.
• Maintain documentation and necessary program records.

Education

Bachelor's degree (preferred)

Social Work Diploma (min 2 years)

Tools

MS Office

Databases

Job description

Why make ONWA your career choice?

Make a difference in the lives of Indigenous peoples by supporting and advocating for positive change.ONWA prides itself on providing all employees with a total rewards package that is generous and supports our workforce and their family members:

• Competitive salaries
• Paid time off at Christmas
• Additional paid stat and civic holidays
• 35 hour work week
• Paid cultural/personal wellness days
• Flexible scheduling to support work-life balance
• Ongoing professional development.

VISION

At the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA), we celebrate and honour the safety and healing of Indigenous Women and Girls as they take up their leadership roles in the family, community, provincially, nationally and internationally for generations to come.

SCOPE

Reporting to the Branch Manager, the Aftercare Worker provides wholistic services that meet the needs of Indigenous women and their families through a range of supports focused on mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being through a cultural, trauma-informed, gender-based, and family-centred approach. The Aftercare Worker provides counselling, consultation, aftercare services, follow-up support, advocacy, crisis intervention, referrals, and case coordination for Community Members who have previously received mental health supports, completed substance dependency treatment programs, attended healing lodges, or are participating in harm reduction programs.

QUALIFICATIONS

SKILLS

• A Bachelor’s degree is preferred; however, a minimum two-year Social Work Diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience advocating for and supporting Indigenous women and/or Indigenous families.
• Experience working with Indigenous populations experiencing mental health and substance use concerns.
• Ability to provide evidence-based counselling support services.
• Experience providing case coordination, aftercare services, referrals, advocacy, and follow-up support.
• Strong crisis intervention, risk assessment, safety planning, and emergency response skills.
• Experience completing assessments, case notes, reports, and other program documentation.
• Experience facilitating presentations, wellness education, and community-based workshops.
• Excellent organizational, administrative, time-management, and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with Community Members, healthcare providers, treatment centres, community agencies, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Traditional People.
• Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, internet-based systems, databases, and office technology.

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of Indigenous culture, traditions, teachings, ceremonies, and community-based healing approaches.
• Knowledge of mental health, substance use, addictions recovery, and wellness support services.
• Thorough knowledge and experience working from a gender-based lens and Indigenous women centred perspective.
• Strong understanding of behavioural, emotional, psychological, social, and mental health challenges experienced by Indigenous women and their families, including children and youth.
• In-depth understanding of psychological, social, emotional, and cognitive development.
• Awareness and understanding of historical, intergenerational, and ongoing trauma experienced by Indigenous women and families, including psychological, neurological, physiological, social, and spiritual impacts.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care, cultural safety, wise practices, and strength-based service delivery.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention, case management, care coordination, and community support services.
• Knowledge of community resources, referral pathways, treatment centres, healing lodges, harm reduction programs, and healthcare systems.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act.
• Knowledge of not-for-profit organizations and community-based service delivery models.
• Understanding of ONWA’s vision, mandate, strategic priorities, and Indigenous women-centred approaches.
• Ability to speak an Indigenous language is considered an asset.

Please know, this is an existing role we are looking to fill.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.