Youth Advocate with Lived Experience – Permanent Part Time | Posting #1895

Compass; Northeastern Ontario; On-site; CAD 28,000 - 36,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

HOOPP

On-site parking

Job summary

Compass in Sudbury, Ontario seeks a Youth Advocate with Lived Experience (YAL) to support youth in navigating mental health and addiction services within the Family Navigation Project. This peer-support, non-clinical role offers training, mentorship, and a pathway to contribute youth voice to program decisions.

Reporting to the Client Services Manager, you will collaborate with the Family Navigator, engage with youth and families, and help expand outreach while maintaining confidentiality and

Qualifications

• Proficiency in a computerized environment, including Microsoft Office.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English; French is an asset.
• Ability to work independently and with community organizations.
• Strong youth engagement and rapport-building abilities.
• Awareness of diverse, newcomer and low-income communities; Indigenous knowledge is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing peer support to youth within the Family Navigation Project.
• Share information about services and advocate for youth navigating systems.
• Support individual advocacy, self-help, recovery, and wellness.
• Participate in team meetings and coordinate with the Family Navigator.
• Keep client information systems up to date and contribute to outreach materials.
• Represent youth perspective at events and participate in training activities.

Skills

Communication

Organization

English proficiency

French asset

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Permanent Part Time - Unionized

Compass is a non-profit organization based in Sudbury Ontario that provides mental health and developmental services for children, youth, and families. Most programs serve individuals up to age 18, with select services available to older youth and young adults. Supports range from short-term counselling to ongoing therapy, psychological assessment, and diagnostic services. Compass is also the lead agency responsible for providing live-in treatment services for youth who need temporary residential support during significant life transitions.

The Youth Wellness Hub, is another program offered though Compass, you can learn more at www.ywhsudbury.ca.

In partnership with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Compass is launching Family Navigation Project (FNP) in Sudbury-Manitoulin, a navigation service providing expert guidance to youth ages 11 to 29 experiencing mental health and/or substance-use concerns and their families. Learn more about Sunnybrook’s Family Navigation Project here https://www.familynavigationproject.ca/.

Reporting to Client Services Manager, the Youth Advocate with Lived Experience (YAL) plays a vital role within the Family Navigation Project (FNP) by drawing on their own lived experience as a youth (up to age 29) with mental health and/or addictions concerns, along with the values of peer support, to best support youth clients in navigating and accessing services.

This is a peer-support role, not a clinical role. Peer support is a non-clinical, relationship-based role that draws on lived experience to offer emotional support, validation, hope, and practical insight. We will provide training, mentorship, and ongoing support to help you share your lived experience in a way that protects your well-being and supports youth.

In this role, you will use your lived experience in a safe, intentional, and professional way, to help youth feel less alone, and support them in learning how to navigate the system and advocate for themselves. You will also bring youth voice into program decisions and youth-focused projects.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide ongoing peer support to youth in collaboration with the Family Navigator, drawing on lived experience to support, empower, educate, and assist youth in navigating the mental health and addiction system.
• Provide information about FNP, and the nature of services for youth struggling with mental health and addiction concerns.
• Provide information to youth who are engaged in navigation on individual advocacy, self-help, recovery/wellness, and prevention to enhance well-being and resilience.
• Participate in team meetings to provide insight regarding the lived experience of youth accessing mental health and addiction services.
• Maintain regular communication with the Family Navigator to share relevant updates and support coordinated service delivery.
• Keep the client information system up to date, including timely and documentation
• Help develop and distribute community-based outreach materials and activities developed by FNP for youth, families, and service providers.
• Participate in external community meetings and partnership activities, representing the FNP youth perspective and lived-experience voice.
• Represent FNP’s lived experience perspective at mental health and addiction events (i.e. FNP annual virtual conferences, booths, and community events).
• Participate in training programs, workshops, conferences, webinars, and other professional development activities to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Advocate for youth-friendly and youth-focused mental health and/or addictions navigation and service as a lived experience representative.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Proficiency in a computerized environment, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word)
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English is required; also in French is considered an asset.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with community organizations.
• Excellent youth and family engagement and rapport-building skills, with a strong commitment to client-centered care.
• Awareness of the barriers and challenges faced by youth and families in culturally diverse, newcomer, and/or low-income communities is an asset.
• Knowledge of and respect for Indigenous cultural norms, ceremonies, traditions, teachings, protocols and traditional territories is considered an asset.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A combination of directly related education, training, employment, volunteer, community, and/or lived experience may be considered equivalent where it demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
• Relevant lived experience may include navigating systems and services relevant to the population served; peer, family, caregiver, or advocacy support; community engagement; and supporting individuals to access appropriate resources.
• Lived experience is valued. Applicants are not required to disclose diagnoses, personal health information, or detailed personal circumstances during the recruitment process.

Successful applicants will be required to provide:

• Proof of eligibility to work in Canada
• Completed Police Vulnerable Sector Check

Benefits include:

• Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
• On-site parking (paid by employer)

Application Process

Compass is committed to a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and value the dignity and worth of every individual. Compass will provide reasonable accommodation to any applicant who identifies a need to be accommodated. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please advise our Human Resources team prior to your interview. We welcome and encourage applications from Black, Indigenous and people of colour, 2SLGBTQI+ persons, people with disabilities, and those who live at the intersection of equity-deserving communities.

We thank all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.