Closing on: Jul 20, 2026

Position Description:

Reporting to the Youth Wellness Hub Manager, the Youth Outreach Worker (YOW) will provide services to youth aged 12-25 who are considered “at-risk/high-risk” and who may struggle to connect with conventional services. The YOW will utilize relational techniques and a stages of change framework to support youth. This work will be done through a peer support lens in a way that is empowering, strengths-based, and promotes access to Anishinaabe culture and ceremony when needed.

The Kenora Youth Wellness Hub is committed to hiring individuals who represent the diversity of the populations we serve. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals including applicants from all cultures, Indigenous, Black and racialized communities, applicants with diverse sexual and gender identities, applicants with disabilities, and applicants with lived experience of mental health and substance use challenges.

Position Title: Youth Outreach Worker

Department: Health Promotion and Wellness Services Department

Term: Permanent (Full-time)

Starting Salary: 60,000

Location: 120 Main Street, Kenora, Ontario

Reports to: Manager – Youth Wellness Hub

Duties and Responsibilities:

Youth & Family Engagement

Provide information, education, and guidance to youth and their families about mental health and substance use, adaptive coping mechanisms, trauma, personal safety, human trafficking, housing, and other wellness related aspects of life through a peer support approach;
Provide information, intervention options, and support to parents/guardians on assisting their youth in managing mental health and wellness challenges;
Seek out and engage youth where they are comfortable being seen (e.g. schools, the Kenora Youth Wellness Hub, recreational and land-based programs, community spaces, shelters, Morning Star Detox Centre etc.)
Be prepared to assist and respond to crisis situations if they arise (training provided).

Outreach and Referrals

Increase youth connection and reduce barriers to accessing care by facilitating referrals and offering service navigation to supportive providers (e.g. housing, education, employment, etc)
Act as advocate and liaison between service providers and youth considered to be “at-risk/high-risk;” help youth maintain positive connections with the right supports;
Support youth and families to connect with, and access Traditional Healing when appropriate, in partnership with cultural coordination staff at KCA, in community, and at other organizations;
Participate in inter-disciplinary case conferences as required;

Community Engagement

Network, and develop partnerships with community resources both in KCA member First Nations, and local urban centers such as Kenora;
Coordinate with Youth Mobile Crisis Workers, Crisis Workers, KYWH staff, and any other staff working directly with youth across service sectors to ensure that youth are receiving the support they need;
Facilitate individual and group programs and activities through the KYWH drop-in program;
Ensure youth voices are embedded in the development and operations of the KYWH;
Support community events;

Monitoring and Reporting

Keep accurate, timely client contact records in accordance with program requirements. All data entry should be completed regularly, within 24-hours for crisis interventions;
Track significant interactions, and follow-up with individual youth and their families;
Maintain data entry into databases as required by KCA, MCCSS, and KYWH program standards;
Contribute to the evaluation of service with respect to its effectiveness in meeting the community needs and achieving our mandate.
Participate in supervision to ensure scope of practice is being maintained;

Qualifications

University Degree or College Diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution (Psychology, Social Work/Social Service Worker, Child and Youth Worker), or, the equivalent combination of lived and/or proven work experience;
Eligible for membership in your professional organization, if applicable.
Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use issues, navigating the social service systems, or overcoming adversity. Willingness to share experiences is a requirement;
Excellent rapport and ability to work with youth;
Experience working with, coaching, engaging, and/or supporting youth, with an emphasis on a strengths-based approach;
Experience facilitating activities and programs, specifically culturally rooted programming, is an asset;
Ability to respond to crisis and post-crisis situations;
Ability to demonstrate and work through a lens of sensitivity to diversity related to race, religion, culture, cognitive functioning, poverty, sexual orientation, and gender identity;
Willingness to engage in trainings related to mental health and substance;
Excellent skills in the following areas: interpersonal, computer, organizational, networking, presentation, and communication (written & oral);
Knowledge historical and ongoing impacts of colonization and intergenerational trauma is required;
Knowledge of the Anishinaabe culture and language is an asset.
Experience in working in First Nation communities will be considered an asset.