Job Description:

The CRUW Program brings Aboriginal youth in foster care together with non-­-Aboriginal inner city youth to engage in culturally relevant land-­- based practices promoting holistic and sustainable urban wellness. Program objectives include:

1. Honouring Our Diversity, and applying ancestral Aboriginal knowledge and practice to contemporary urban living;
2. Emotional and Cultural Competence towards breaking down stereotypes, bullying and discrimination;
3. Holistic Urban Wellness, emphasizing the prevention and reduction of substance misuse and healthy life transitions; and
4. Mentorship, emphasizing peer mentorship and Aboriginal Elder-­-youth connections.

The CRUW program runs for 16-­-sessions, every second Saturday, at the UBC Farm from March to October. The program accepts 18 Aboriginal and 9 non-­-Aboriginal youth and hires 4 youth mentors annually. Participants are split into 3 groups, and rotate through 3 activity blocks each session: 1 garden block; 1 block related to a program objective; and 1 team-­-building and reflection block.

Each youth group in CRUW is led by a Group Leader who is supported by a youth worker, a youth mentor and a volunteer. CRUW is seeking 2 Group Leaders to work as service contractors between March and October. This position requires attending all 16 Saturday sessions at the UBC farm, participating in the initial staff and volunteer orientation, and being available for 90 minutes between sessions to debrief with their group staff and participate in Group Leader debrief session. Group Leaders are paid $150/session (or training day), and $40 for 2 hours of work between sessions. The 2014 CRUW dates are as follows: March 15 (staff orientation), March 22, April 5, April 19, May 3, May 17, May 31, June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26, August 9, August 23, September 6, September 20, October 4 and October 18. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory. Group Leaders interested in applying are recommended to watch our video for more information and context on the program: vacfss.com/programs/cruw.

Responsibilities (On-­-Site):

• Taking the lead role in supporting their group to engage in garden activities and workshops;
• Effectively organize and facilitate games and activities for youth in their group during un­-structured time on the farm;
• Facilitate reflective debrief sessions for their group;
• Provide supervision and leadership to the youth worker, volunteer and youth mentor supporting their group.

Responsibilities (Between Sessions):

• Schedule and lead a 30-­-minute discussion with their staffing team (either in person or by phone) to debrief the previous session and identify any issues that occurred on-­-site, scheduled based on availability of youth worker and group leader;
• Participate in a one-­-hour Group Leader debrief session (attended by all 3 group leaders, and facilitated by the program coordinator), scheduled by the Program Coordinator based on the availability of all participants;
• Additional duties & responsibilities as assigned by the VACFSS Special Projects Officer and/or Program Coordinator

Qualifications:

• Strong capacities in youth work-­- including the ability to work one-­-to-­-one, and also to facilitate, coordinate, support and engage groups of youth;
• First-hand experience in facilitating goal setting, and debriefs with youth;
• First-hand experience facilitating outdoor/experiential programming for youth, staff and volunteers;
• Strong preference will be given to candidates with an undergraduate or graduate degree in social work, education, recreation, health science, anthropology or related fields;
• Candidates with a diploma in child and youth care or a similar field and 2 years of related working experience will also be considered;
• First-hand experience supervising staff and volunteers
• First-hand experience working with Aboriginal youth;
• Valid First Aid;
• Valid Criminal Record Check (to be provided by VACFSS);
• Valid divers license
• Class 4 drivers license an asset.
• Preference will be given to candidates of Aboriginal ancestry.

To Apply:

Please email a resume and cover letter to Jeff Schiffer, VACFSS Special Projects Officer: jeff_schiffer@vacfss.com. We will be accepting applications until Friday February 28th at 4:30pm.