About The Link: Youth and Family Supports For more than90 years, The Link has helped youth and families on a journey to healing, hope,and better lives. The organization is dedicated to walking alongside children,youth, and families as an inclusive community, strengthening and empowering asense of being, pride, and purpose. With over 15 diverse programs, The Link hasa community of caring staff that work together to provide support through a24-hour crisis line, youth resource centers, emergency shelters, mobile crisisteams, specialized foster care, healing homes, job readiness supports, andSkills4Life. With a solid foundation within the community and a focus onconnection, unity, and compassion, the organization provides a vital link foryouth and families in the province of Manitoba.

Position Summary

The Parent Ally is a front-line family-centred role within Home Fire, aFamily Preservation program designed through a First Nations lens to strengthenfamilies and support children to remain safely at home whenever possible.Reporting to the Family Preservation Manager, the Parent Ally works as part ofthe Home Fire Family Support Team to provide practical, culturally responsive,trauma-informed, and strengths-based support to caregivers and families.

The Parent Ally is responsible for implementing key aspects of theday-to-day functioning of the program and providing ongoing, culturallyresponsive support while adhering to organizational policies and procedures. Aprimary focus of this role is providing culturally safe, in-home guidance andpractical support to caregivers impacted by mental health challenges, theeffects of trauma, or circumstances that place children at risk of enteringChild and Family Services care.

Parent Allies provide empowering, family-centred support that helpsstrengthen family relationships, increase wellness, promote family autonomy,and keep children safely within their family homes.

Reporting Relationships and Program Context

The Parent Ally reports directly to the Family Preservation Manager andworks collaboratively with Home Fire family support team, caregivers, ,cultural supports, community agencies, and other service providers involvedwith the child, youth, or family.

The position contributes to the overall goals of family preservation byhelping caregivers strengthen parenting confidence, promote healing andresilience, and enhance family wellbeing through guidance that is grounded inconnection, culture, and self-determination. The Parent Ally works withcaregivers to develop goals that align with cultural identity, safety,stability, and long-term well-being.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

- Provide in-home and community-based support to parentsand caregivers participating in the Home Fire program, offering coaching andmentoring related to parenting strategies and family relationships.
- Assist parents and caregivers in establishingspecific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART)



goals fortheir parenting journey.
- Work collaboratively with Home Fire team members toimplement individual and family support plans focused on improving familyfunctioning, developing healthy coping strategies, and achieving desiredoutcomes.
- Develop activity plans that align with familyinterests, strengths, and identified goals.
- Build supportive and trusting relationships withcaregivers and maintain effective communication regarding scheduling, progress,activities, and family goals.
- Provide timely and accurate documentation andreporting, including activities, interventions, goals, and outcomes.
- Provide de-escalation, conflict resolution, and firstaid interventions as required.
- Participate in team meetings, case discussions, andother program-related activities.
- Adhere to established documentation, confidentiality,and program standards.
- Participate in training, professional developmentopportunities, and compliance requirements as defined by organizational policy.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

Culture Responsiveness

- Demonstrates respect for FirstNations ways of knowing, family systems, community relationships, andculturally grounded approaches to healing, wellness, and support.

Trauma-Informed Practice

- Understands the impacts of trauma,grief, loss, displacement, colonization, and systemic barriers on caregivers,children, youth, and family functioning.

Practical Coaching and Capacity Building

- Practicalcoaching and capacity building: Supports caregivers to develop sustainableparenting practices and strategies that strengthen daily family life.

Relationship-based practice

- Buildstrust with families and service providers through consistency, respect,confidentiality, collaboration, and follow-through.

Communication and collaboration

- Communicatesclearly and professionally in writing and verbally, and contributes effectivelyto family-centred and multidisciplinary planning.

Organization and accountability

- Managescompeting priorities, maintains accurate records, follows timelines, anddemonstrates initiative in supporting families to achieve practical goals.

Experience

- Knowledge and understanding of the impacts ofhistorical and ongoing trauma on Indigenous peoples in Canada.
- Ability to work with families, children, and youthusing a strength-based and trauma-informed approach.
- Experience supporting individuals facing barrierssuch as financial hardship, addictions, abuse, mental health concerns, andfamily conflict.




- Ability to work effectively with families fromdiverse cultural and social backgrounds and demonstrate awareness of culturalvalues and differences.
- Previous experience with Parent Coaching,Motivational Interviewing, Two-Eyed Seeing Framework, and First Nationsparenting values, kinship systems, cultural child-rearing practices andteachings from Elders are considered assets.
- Demonstrated self-awareness and reflective practice,including the ability to recognize how personal experiences, values, and biasesmay influence professional interactions and decision-making.
- Strong relationship-building, engagement, andde-escalation skills.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and writtencommunication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of amultidisciplinary team.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to maintain accuratedocumentation and case records.
- Knowledge of Indigenous cultures, traditions, andcommunity resources is considered an asset.
- Commitment to creating positive and meaningfulexperiences for families receiving services.

Education (Degree/Diploma/Certificate)

- Post-secondary education in Social Work, Inner-CityStudies, Counselling, or a related discipline.
- An equivalent combination of education, relevantemployment experience, and/or lived experience will be considered.
- Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C certificationrequired.
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training),Crisis De-escalation Training, or willingness to obtain required certificationsis an asset.

Conditions ofEmployment

- Satisfactory Criminal Record Check with VulnerableSector Search, a clear Child Abuse Registry check with acceptable Prior Contactchecks, and a clear Adult Abuse Registry check, all completed within the lastthree months.
- Travel throughout Winnipeg and Southern Manitoba isrequired.
- Valid Manitoba Class 5F Driver's Licence and access toa personal vehicle are preferred.
- Alternate transportation methods will be considered.

Accommodationsare available for applicants with disabilities upon request. If you arecontacted by The Link regarding a job opportunity, please know that you arewelcome to request accommodation at any point in the process. All informationreceived regarding accommodations will be kept confidential.

Positionstatus: Full-Time – 80 hours biweekly

Hours of work: Varied hours, includingdays, evenings, and weekends. Schedule flexibility is required based on theneeds of families and the program.

Union: No

PostingEnd Date: Openuntil filled

Site: The Link: Youth and FamilySupports

Work Location: 175 Mayfair Avenue;in community

Salary Range: $54,080 - $62,400

TheLink is an equal opportunity employer, Indigenous people, women, visibleminorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The Link iscommitted to developing and retaining a diverse workforce. We thank allapplicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will becontacted.

📌 Parent Ally - Home Fire Preservation Program (Winnipeg)
🏢 The Link: Youth and Family Supports
📍 Winnipeg