T.A.P. Practitioner

Government of Alberta; Calgary; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Government of Alberta, Children and Family Services, is hiring a Transition to Adulthood Practitioner (TAP) in Calgary, Edmonton or Red Deer. This full‑time position supports youth aged 18–24 transitioning from government care with case management, life skills, housing, employment, and education funding through AF.

The TAP role focuses on active transition planning, building strong networks, and collaboration with internal/external partners to ensure youth connected to essential supports, while

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Social Work and 2 years related experience required.
• Equivalencies will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate onboarding and transition planning for young adults entering TAP
• Conduct critical file reviews and client assessments
• Build and maintain trusting relationships with clients and their support networks
• Coordinate and monitor individualized pathways aligned with client goals
• Advocate for clients within the ministry and community
• Collaborate with internal and external partners including Advancing Futures (AF), PDD, AISH, OPGT, Alberta Health Services, Indigenous organizations
• Support clients in acquiring life skills, accessing funding, and preparing for adulthood.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation including CYFEA and the Mental Health Act.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Cultural humility

Trauma‑informed

Anti‑oppressive practice

Education

Bachelor of Social Work

Job description

Job Information

• Job Title: T.A.P. Practitioner
• Job Requisition ID: 88191
• Ministry: Children and Family Services
• Location: Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer
• Full or Part-Time: Full Time
• Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
• Permanent/Temporary/Wage: Temporary and Permanent
• Scope: Open
• Closing Date: October 13, 2026
• Classification: Human Services Worker 5 (065HSA)
• Salary: $2,872.21 to $3,7712.88 bi-weekly ($74,964 to $96,906 / year) The Alberta Public Service works to build a stronger province for current and future generations. We make a difference in the lives of Albertans through rewarding and diverse career opportunities.

The Transition to Adulthood Program (TAP) supports young adults aged 18 to 24 who were formerly in government care as they transition to adulthood. The program combines practical supports, including case management, life skills development, housing, employment, and connections to community resources, with educational supports through Advancing Futures (AF).

Advancing Futures (AF) provides eligible young adults with funding and social-emotional support while they pursue post-secondary education, academic upgrading, trades training, certifications, licences, diplomas, or degrees, helping them develop the skills and credentials needed for long-term independence and success.

Are you driven to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young adults transitioning from care? You can be part of helping us make a difference!

The Transition to Adulthood Practitioner (TAP) is a key professional role within the TAP program, providing engaged, relational, and interactive case management to young adults from care, and their support networks. TAP Practitioners are instrumental in active transition planning with young adults from care, to ensure they are robustly connected to all areas of their life as they emerge into adulthood.

TAP Practitioners have the essential role of engaging a young adult’s supportive network, as well as fostering connection with a client's self identified family, to ensure a robust natural support network is established and maintained, that will meet the client's needs.

TAP is a voluntary adult program, and TAP Practitioners will require excellent relationship building skills that will nurture trust and understanding with clients as they navigate the program's pathways, funding structure, and soft supports. TAP Practitioners have individualized mandates with each of their clients based on their Transition to Independence Plan goals, and connections. It is the responsibility of the TAP Practitioner to actively support clients in achieving their self-selected transition plan objectives before they are no longer eligible to receive support from Children's Services, as per the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA), and its associated policies and regulations.

To effectively support young adults in achieving their transition goals, TAP Practitioners collaborate with a broad network of internal and external partners. This includes Children's Services programs such as Advancing Futures (AF), the Registered Education Savings Plan Program (RESP), Youth Employment Connections Program (YECP), Youth Apprenticeship Connection Program (YACP) and Records Registry and Connects (RRC), as well as Government of Alberta (GOA) partners including Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD), Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Alberta Supports, Alberta Health Services, Mental Health and Addiction supports, the Office of the Public Guardian, Justice and Solicitor General, and the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate.

Practitioners also develop strong working relationships with employment and career services, mentoring programs, post-secondary institutions, contracted service providers, and community organizations that provide life skills, housing, mental health, addiction, and other supports for young adults transitioning from care.

TAP Practitioners will be supporting Indigenous young adults from care, and are required to have an active understanding of colonialism, intergenerational trauma, the 60's Scoop, the residential school system and its ongoing traumatic effect on Indigenous communities and adults from care, as well as a working knowledge of Indigenous communities in Alberta and the importance of connecting Indigenous clients to their community, culture, teachings and heritage, active engagement in ceremony and connection to Elders and the land.

To best serve young adults from care, TAP Practitioners will need an active understanding of young adult developmental stages, practice with a trauma informed lens (including intergenerational trauma and the long term effects of trauma experienced while in care), Anti-oppressive practice, an understanding of common mental health considerations, awareness and understanding of sexual and gender diversity, Attachment Theory, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, substance use/ addiction issues, Harm Reduction, an awareness of the effects of institutionalization on individuals, and Emerging Adulthood Theory.

This is a dynamic and impactful opportunity for professionals who bring strong interpersonal skills, cultural humility, and a commitment to anti-oppressive practice. If you are passionate about supporting youth in building meaningful futures, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate onboarding and transition planning for young adults entering TAP
• Conduct critical file reviews and client assessments
• Build and maintain trusting relationships with clients and their support networks
• Coordinate and monitor individualized pathways aligned with client goals
• Advocate for clients within the ministry and community
• Collaborate with internal and external partners including Advancing Futures (AF), Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD), Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT), Alberta Health Services, and Indigenous organizations
• Support clients in acquiring life skills, accessing funding, and preparing for adulthood.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, including Child, Youth, and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA) and the Mental Health Act.

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

Qualifications

Required: A Bachelor of Social Work and 2 years related experience (eg experience working with Youth, Youth Transition to Adulthood, or working with young adults).

Equivalencies will be considered

• Master of Social Work (no experience required); OR
• A related university degree (eg in Humanities, Psychology or sociology) and 2 years related experience; OR
• Related diploma and 3 years related experience; OR
• Related certificate and 4 years related experience.

Assets

• Experience applying and utilizing provincial legislation, policies, and procedures related to child intervention.
• Experience providing day-to-day support to young adults currently in or previously involved with Children and Family Services.
• Experience working with community stakeholders, youth or young adults, with addiction and mental health concerns.
• Experience working with indigenous youth or young adults, and/or working with electronic databases.
• Edmonton - 1 full-time temporary position for approximately 6 months
• Calgary - 1 full-time temporary position for approximately 6 months
• Red Deer - 1 full-time permanent position available

Hours of work: Monday to Friday – 36.25 hours per week.

Travel and Vehicle Requirements

Travel will be required in the role. Employees must have a valid Class 5 Driver’s License and access to a vehicle that is suitable to the requirements of this position. The Youth in Transitions Branch provides services across Alberta and operates without geographic boundaries. As a result, practitioners are expected to travel extensively to meet with young adults, including occasional overnight travel based on caseload and operational needs. Travel will be required approximately 50-60% of the time, depending on office location.

Final candidates

• Will undergo an academic check and will be asked for required security checks such as a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector and an Intervention Record Check
• Candidates who have a social work education (Diploma, BSW, MSW) are required to be a member in good standing with current Alberta College of Social Work (ACSW) registration. Proof of registration prior to an offer will be required.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what we have to offer

• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance