ROLE SUMMARY

Working within Tillicum Lelum policies, protocols, cultural teachings, and the ICY Team framework, the Youth Wellness Navigator supports youth, families, and community by recognizing the ongoing impacts of colonization, Indigenous-specific racism, intergenerational trauma, social determinants of health, and systemic barriers. The Navigator promotes relationships that are culturally safe, trauma-informed, strength-based, youth-centred, family-centred, and grounded in respect, dignity, hope, and compassion.

The Navigator provides day-to-day support, advocacy, navigation, and relationship-based follow-up. The position promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, information sharing with consent, warm referrals, cultural connection, and continuity of care so children, youth, and families can access services when and where they need them.

ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Engagement and relationship building: Build trusting, respectful, and culturally safe relationships with youth, families, caregivers, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, ICY Team members, schools, health providers, and community partners.

2. Assessment and wellness planning: Complete strengths-based intake, screening, and needs/risk reviews within role scope. Work with youth and families to identify goals, strengths, cultural supports, safety needs, referral needs, and practical next steps.

3. Navigation and advocacy: Assist youth and families to understand, access, and move between services, including Tillicum Lelum programs, ICY Team supports, CYMH, youth substance use services, primary care, schools, Foundry, Island Health, MCFD/Delegated Aboriginal Agencies, housing, income, food, and community supports.

4. Warm referrals and follow-up: Provide warm hand-offs, appointment support, reminders, follow-up contacts, and transition support to reduce barriers and promote continuity of care.

5. Mental health and substance-use supports: Provide early intervention, brief supportive conversations, harm-reduction education, relapse-prevention support, wellness planning, and referral/follow-up for youth with substance-use challenges, with or without concurrent mental health concerns. Activities must remain within the Navigator's training, credential, and role scope.

6. Family and caregiver support: Provide education, practical support, referrals, and navigation to parents, guardians, caregivers, and other family members affected by youth mental health or substance-use related concerns.

7. Outreach and intensive case coordination: Provide outreach and coordinated case-management support for youth identified as at risk of harmful substance-use involvement, dependence, disconnection from school, family instability, unsafe housing, or other wellness barriers.

8. Cultural wellness and Indigenous health perspectives: Support youth and families to connect with Indigenous cultural supports, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, language, traditional wellness, ceremony, land-based or community-based healing opportunities, and Indigenous perspectives on mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health, as directed by youth/family choice and local protocols.

9. ICY Team collaboration: Participate in ICY Team meetings, care conferences, school-based coordination, case consultation, and planning processes. Share relevant information with consent and in accordance with privacy, confidentiality, and documentation requirements.

10. Education and consultation: Provide consultation, education,



and liaison support to allied youth service providers to strengthen culturally safe engagement, youth-centred practice, Indigenous-informed harm reduction, and smooth service transitions.

11. School connection: Collaborate with Child and Youth Mental Health, FamilySmart, Island Health, the School District, and other partners to support the retention, re-engagement, and wellness of at-risk or marginalized youth within school, alternative education, or community learning pathways.

12. Documentation and reporting: Maintain accurate records, referral tracking, service statistics, workload data, incident documentation, and monthly/quarterly reporting in accordance with Tillicum Lelum and funder/ICY requirements.

13. Safety, duty to report, and crisis response: Follow all organizational procedures related to confidentiality, consent, child protection duty to report, suicide/self-harm risk, overdose response, critical incidents, workplace safety, and lone-worker/outreach safety.

14. Other related duties: Carry out other related duties consistent with the role, program requirements, and direction from the supervisor.

KEY DELIVERABLES

· Individualized, strengths-based wellness/navigation plans developed with youth and families, including goals, supports, referrals, cultural connections, risk/safety planning, and follow-up steps.

· Assessment, supportive counselling/coaching within scope, referral, and follow-up services to youth with substance-use and/or mental health concerns.

· Education, supportive counselling/coaching within scope, referral, and support to youth affected by someone else's substance use.

· Education, navigation, and support to parents, guardians, caregivers, and family members of youth experiencing substance-use or mental-health-related concerns.

· Outreach and coordinated case-management support for youth at risk of harmful substance use, dependence, school disconnection, homelessness, family stress, or service barriers.

· Early intervention services to youth who may be at risk of developing problematic substance use, dependency, or escalating mental-health concerns.

· Regular consultation, education, and liaison with allied youth service providers and ICY Team members.

· Documented collaboration with Child and Youth Mental Health, FamilySmart, Island Health, School District partners, Foundry, Indigenous-led organizations, and other community partners.

· Monthly service report including de-identified numbers served, referral sources, referral outcomes, outreach contacts, group/education activities, barriers/gaps, cultural-support connections, and emerging needs.

· Quarterly/annual summary of outcomes, service gaps, partnership development, and recommendations for program improvement.

QUALIFICATIONSEDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE

· Diploma or degree in Child and Youth Care, Social Work, Human Services, Indigenous Studies, counselling, health care, education, or a related discipline; or an equivalent combination of education, training, cultural knowledge,



and lived/living experience relevant to the role.

· Minimum two to three years of recent related experience supporting Indigenous youth, families, and/or communities in areas such as mental health, substance use, family support, crisis response, advocacy, navigation, outreach, or community wellness.

· Demonstrated knowledge of urban Indigenous services, First Nations, Metis and Inuit community resources, child/youth mental health and substance-use services, schools, health-care systems, and community-based supports in the Nanaimo/Central Island region.

· Indigenous ancestry, cultural knowledge, and/or lived experience with Indigenous communities is a strong asset. Preference may be given to applicants of Indigenous ancestry in accordance with Tillicum Lelum policy and applicable human-rights legislation.

· Valid BC Driver's Licence and access to reliable transportation are required where outreach/travel is part of the assignment.

· Clear Criminal Record Check / Vulnerable Sector Check as required for work with children and youth.

· Training in trauma-informed practice, Indigenous cultural safety, harm reduction, suicide-risk response, overdose response/Naloxone, first aid, and privacy/confidentiality is preferred or must be completed within the onboarding period.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

· Deep understanding of Canada's relationship with Indigenous Peoples, including the ongoing impacts of colonization, residential schools, child welfare disruption, systemic racism, and social determinants of health on youth and family wellness.

· Ability to incorporate trauma-informed practice, Indigenous-informed harm reduction, strengths-based practice, and culturally safe relational approaches.

· Ability to support respectful advocacy between youth/families and service providers while maintaining professional boundaries and youth/family choice.

· Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment while also managing outreach duties independently.

· Strong facilitation, conflict-resolution, problem-solving, de-escalation, and communication skills.

· Ability to support youth and families across physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of wellness.

· Ability to maintain confidentiality, obtain consent, document accurately, manage data, and use word-processing, spreadsheet, database, and communication tools.

· Ability to prioritize, manage multiple needs, respond to crises within policy, and seek supervision/debriefing appropriately.

· Openness to ongoing anti-racism learning, cultural humility, reflective practice, and feedback.

· Physical, emotional, and mental ability to perform the duties of the position, including outreach and community-based work.

WORKING CONDITIONS

· Work may occur at Tillicum Lelum sites, schools, ICY Team spaces, youth/family homes, health-care/community settings, and outreach locations.

· Travel within the assigned catchment may be required. A personal vehicle may be required depending on the service assignment.

· Flexible hours, including occasional evenings or community events, may be required to meet youth and family needs.

· The position may involve exposure to crisis, grief/loss, trauma, substance use, overdose risk, and family stress. Regular supervision, debriefing, cultural support, and workload review are expected.

Pay: From $35.00 per hour

Perks:

- Casual dress
- On-site parking

Work Location: In person

📌 Youth Wellness Coordinator (Canada)
🏢 Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Society
📍 Canada