Community Outreach Worker - Strides Toronto

CharityVillage; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 58,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Strides Toronto is hiring a Community Outreach Worker to provide outreach and intervention services to youth at risk of human trafficking. This role involves developing educational workshops on gender-based violence and building community linkages to support vulnerable youth. We're seeking candidates with a Child and Youth Worker diploma and experience in diverse communities, especially ACB backgrounds.

Benefits

Hybrid work model

Opportunities for growth and professional development

Commitment to equitable and inclusive environment

Collaborative and supportive management team

High standards for performance and client outcomes

Qualifications

• Child and Youth Worker diploma or related degree required.
• Minimum 2 years experience working with youth.
• Must understand social determinants of health.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach, prevention, and intervention services for at-risk youth.
• Develop workshops and programs focused on human trafficking and healthy relationships.
• Engage with diverse youth and families in a trauma-informed manner.

Skills

Awareness of IDEA

Understanding of anti-black racism

Trauma-informed care

Education

Child and Youth Worker diploma

Related diploma/degree

Tools

Client information system knowledge

Job description

ABOUT US

Strides Toronto is a multi-service agency providing a wide range of exceptional programs and services that improve the mental, social and physical health of infants, children and youth from the pre-natal stage to age 29, and their families. With a range of community, residential and treatment services, we build strength and resilience through equitable, accessible, client-driven services, system leadership and advocacy. We provide individual, group and family interventions that include mental health counselling, autism services, education, outreach and referral, early intervention, day treatment and community support. In its Lead Agency role, Strides Toronto collaborates with 24 publicly funded infant, child and youth mental health (ICYMH) core service providers to design and implement system-level improvements that promote access, responsive service delivery and experience, and positive mental health outcomes for young people and families across Toronto's diverse communities. To learn more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to visit our website at www.stridestoronto.ca

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Community Outreach Worker (COW) provides a range of outreach, prevention, and intervention services to young adults who are at risk of being involved in human trafficking, or those who have been involved in the sex trade by choice, circumstance, or coercion. The Community Outreach Worker develops and delivers trauma-informed, strength-based and sex positive psychoeducation on topics such as gender-based violence, human trafficking, and healthy relationships for youth, families and service providers.

As part of the Responsive Outreach Community Support (ROCKS) project, the COW will provide outreach and education to African, Black, Caribbean (ABC) and racialized youth and families, as well as develop and deliver human trafficking prevention workshops and groups to boys and young men from these communities.

Salary range:
$58,001.07 to $67,543 per annum (for full-time contract);
$31.87 to $37.11 per hour (for part-time contract)

This position is represented by OPSEU local 567.

There are two positions available, please ensure you are applying to your intended requisition:

Requisition 1761 - full-time contract position (35 hours per week) until March 31, 2027.
Requisition 1762 – part-time contract position (28 hours per week) until March 31, 2026.

To ensure this assignment is effectively supporting theResponsive Outreach Community Support (ROCKS) program,Strides Toronto is seeking candidates who self-identify as amember of ACB (African, Caribbean, and Black) and racialized communities.

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?

• We provide a hybrid work model.
• We provide opportunities for growth and professional development.
• We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment where our diverse team members and clients can thrive.
• We have a collaborative and supportive Senior Management Team.
• We set high standards for performance, client outcomes, and implement best practices, which are demonstrated through our accreditation with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Provide a range of responsive services that enhance and maintain a youth’s individual needs and development within the community.
• Engage in professional development activities and document client information that is reflective of policy, accreditation, and ministry standards, while illustrating the goals, targets, and deliverables of identified services.
• Develop, plan, and implement workshops, programs, and skill development groups internally and within the community.
• Develop and nurture strong community linkages for the purpose of engagement and response to crisis as required.
• Respond and participate in organizational wide initiatives.
• Engage and support program participants from a trauma-informed, strength-based, and sex-positive lens by incorporating specialized knowledge and resources for individuals who have been impacted by sexualized or gender-based violence.

THE “MUST HAVES”
The following education, professional memberships and knowledge are a requirement for this role:

• Child and Youth Worker diploma or related diploma/ degree.
• 2 years of experience working with youth.
• Awareness of the role of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in the workplace and within the community being served by the position.
• An understanding of anti-black racism, anti-oppressive/anti-racism perspective in the context of the social determinants of health.
• Ability to recognize and identify situations where incidents of imbalance of power and privilege may occur and can result in possible negative impacts.

THE ‘NICE TO HAVES’
While not required, preference will be given to candidates with the following:

• Functional computer and client information system knowledge.
• Fluency in another language(s), including sign language.

BEFORE STARTING WITH US
As our work puts us in direct contact with youth and vulnerable persons in our community, with health and safety as a priority, the successful candidate must complete or obtain the following before commencement of their employment:

• A Vulnerable Sector police check.
• A positive police check does not automatically disqualify an applicant for a position with Strides Toronto. The Police Check will be reviewed and evaluated for the purpose of making a decision on suitability for employment in relation to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position being filled.

HOW TO APPLY
Please submit a cover letter and resume outlining your demonstrated education, certification (if applicable), working and related volunteer experience and how you meet specific requirements for this position, and any additional considerations you deem appropriate.The application deadline is June 19, 2025.

Strides Toronto is an equal opportunity employer. We benefit from diversity of lived experiences in the workplace and encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Strides Toronto is a participant in the Government of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge, a program which challenges organizations to improve access for women and/or non-binary people and other equity-deserving groups, including those identifying as: racialized, Black, and/or people of colour, people with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities), 2SLGBTQ+ and/or gender and sexually diverse individuals, and Aboriginal and/or Indigenous Peoples to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Strides Toronto’s own policies, requests for accommodation will be considered throughout the hiring process.
We thank all applicants however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.