Child and Youth Connector in Edmonton

The Family Centre is looking for a Child and Youth Connector who provides in-home and community-based support to youth (under 18) receiving services under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act. Operating with trauma-informed practice and cultural humility, the CYC builds therapeutic relationships with vulnerable youth and families facing complex crises (such as housing instability, addiction, and sexual exploitation) and systemic inequity (including colonization, intergenerational trauma, and poverty). The focus is on stabilizing immediate crises, supporting pregnant/parenting youth, and building the networks and skills needed for independence and community integration.

We are focused on Trauma-Informed Care for both our communities and staff teams, and provide services based on research and evidence-based practices. We encourage employees to bring their authentic self to work in our diverse and inclusive environment. The organization is committed to Indigenous ceremony and practice and welcomes knowledge of ceremony and lived experience. Our culture is focused on providing a safe and supportive workplace including paid training, excellent benefits, a wellness program, and much more.

What you will be doing:

• Build respectful, trusting, and therapeutic relationships with youth using trauma-informed care, soft counselling skills, and strengths-based engagement;
• Help youth strengthen problem-solving, safety planning, emotional regulation, communication, conflict resolution, life skills, decision-making, and confidence;
• Identify, reconnect, and mobilize external and internal resources, including coordinating professional services and leveraging natural supports such as family, kin, friends, cultural networks, and community resources;
• Assess ongoing risk and safety for youth and young adults in alignment with the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, Signs of Safety, agency expectations, and consultation processes, while supporting them to identify practical strategies that increase stability, reduce risk, and respond to urgent needs;
• Support youth to transition successfully out of Children and Family Services involvement by helping implement goals outlined in their Transition to Independence Plan;
• Expand each youth's circle of support by identifying, pursuing, reconnecting, and strengthening family, kin, cultural supports, community connections, and other lifelong relationships;
• Support pregnant and parenting youth to strengthen parenting capacity, understand child development, and build healthy parent-child attachment;
• Complete reports, case documentation, and any required paperwork accurately and within program timelines.

What you bring to the role:

• Diploma or degree in Human Services, Social Work, Child and Youth Care, Psychology, Sociology, Education, Human Ecology, or a related field, with relevant experience;
• Experience working with Children and Family Services, family support, reunification, or related service systems is an asset;
• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office, Google products, client management systems, and related documentation tools.

Attributes that will help you be successful in this role:

• Relationship-centered, practice-oriented, trauma-informed, culturally humble and equity-oriented, strengths-based, collaborative, adaptable and grounded, self-directed, reflective and resilient, and professional and values-aligned.

Background Check Process & Requirements:

• Satisfactory Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Check, renewed every three years;
• Satisfactory Alberta Child Intervention Record Check, renewed every three years;
• Current suicide intervention certification, such as ASIST or an agency-approved equivalent (Our Child Are Sacred);
• Current Standard First Aid with CPR Level C/AED;
• Valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle for regular work use;
• Proof of automobile insurance with a minimum of $2 million third-party liability coverage, verified annually;
• Proof of an insurance inspection by a certified mechanic for the automobile being used for work purposes if 12 years of age, and every 5 years following;
• Satisfactory five-year driver's abstract, renewed every three years;
• Registration with the applicable professional regulatory body is required where eligible for profession.

Position Availability:

• Work within a flexible full-time schedule, including regular evening and weekend work, based on family and program needs;
• Provide rotational 24/7 on-call support to families, as required by program expectations;
• Travel to communities of families served, including frequent urban and rural travel within Alberta, and occasional interprovincial travel.

What you can expect:

• Training – comprehensive onboarding/orientation process which includes service specific, leading-edge training, and agency-wide core training;
• Feedback – a strong reflective supervision model that provides regular formal and informal opportunities for feedback;
• Performance Coaching – formal and informal coaching regarding the development of personal and professional growth and development;
• Reasonable Accommodation – The Family Centre will provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee;
• Compensation – Our comprehensive compensation package offered to employees reflects a strong commitment to employee wellbeing and is competitive within the marketplace;
• Starting salary range of $54,660 to $58,164 per annum, commensurate with level of education and experience;
• On-call compensation;
• 36.5-hour work week;
• Fully paid Group Benefit Plan;
• Flexible Health Spending Account;
• 3 weeks' vacation;
• RRSP matching after 1 year of employment;
• Ongoing paid training;
• Mileage compensation;
• Paid sick time (up to 8 days per calendar year);
• Agency-wide social events;
• Employee Resource Groups.

The Family Centre acknowledges that our work takes place on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting ground, gathering place, and traveling route for the nehiyaw (Cree), Anishinaabe (Ojibway/Saulteaux), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, Dene, and Nakota (Stoney). Through our support of an Indigenous way of being and seeking towards being wichitasowak (people who are helping), the Family Centre acknowledges all the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps continue to enrich these lands. The Family Centre thanks all applicants in advance. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.