Indigenous Child Advocate – UNITY Team

Niagara Regional Native Centre (NRNC)

Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Employment Type: Full-time
Annual Salary: $45,000–$50,000
Benefits: NRNC Employee Benefits Package
Schedule: Monday to Friday, with occasional evenings and weekends as required
Reports To: Programs Manager (proposed; subject to confirmation)
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

About Niagara Regional Native Centre

Niagara Regional Native Centre (NRNC) is an Indigenous community-based organization dedicated to supporting the well-being of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals and families throughout the Niagara Region.

Through culturally grounded programming, advocacy, education, and community partnerships, NRNC promotes Indigenous identity, cultural continuity, self-determination, and wholistic wellness.

Our work recognizes the interconnectedness of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We are committed to providing culturally safe, inclusive, and supportive services that strengthen Indigenous families, protect children's rights, and promote community connections.

About the UNITY Team

The UNITY Team provides collaborative, culturally grounded advocacy and support to Indigenous children, youth, and families navigating child and family services and other systems that affect their well-being.

The team's approach emphasizes the importance of family connections, cultural identity, community relationships, and the rights of Indigenous children.

Through advocacy, coordinated service navigation, family engagement, and partnerships with Indigenous and mainstream organizations, the UNITY Team works to reduce systemic barriers, strengthen family relationships, and promote equitable outcomes for Indigenous children.

Position Summary

Niagara Regional Native Centre is seeking a compassionate, knowledgeable, and highly organized Indigenous Child Advocate to join its UNITY Team.

The successful candidate will provide culturally safe, trauma-informed advocacy, individualized support, and service coordination for Indigenous children, youth, and families navigating child welfare, education, health care, housing, and other community service systems.

The Indigenous Child Advocate will work collaboratively with families, caregivers, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Indigenous service providers, child welfare organizations, and community partners to promote the rights, safety, cultural identity, and wholistic well-being of Indigenous children.

The position requires a strong understanding of Indigenous rights, child welfare systems, family preservation principles, and the historical and contemporary impacts of colonialism on Indigenous children and families.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate empathy, cultural humility, professional integrity, strong advocacy skills, and the ability to navigate complex situations while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

Key ResponsibilitiesChild and Family Advocacy

- Provide individualized, culturally grounded advocacy to Indigenous children, youth, and families accessing child and family services.
- Support children and families in understanding their rights, available services, and options when navigating child welfare and other service systems.
- Advocate for culturally safe, equitable, and respectful treatment of Indigenous children and families.
- Assist families in preparing for and participating in meetings with child welfare agencies, schools, health care providers, and other service organizations.
- Accompany children, parents, caregivers, and families to meetings or appointments when appropriate.
- Support family preservation, reunification, and the maintenance of meaningful cultural and community connections.
- Promote the inclusion of children's voices, perspectives, and wishes in decisions affecting their lives, consistent with their age, maturity, and applicable law.
- Identify systemic barriers affecting Indigenous children and families and work collaboratively to address them.
- Facilitate referrals to appropriate legal, cultural, educational, housing, health, and social services.
- Recognize the limits of the Advocate's role and refer matters requiring legal representation or regulated professional services to qualified providers.

Case Coordination and Family Support

- Conduct appropriate intake assessments to identify immediate needs, service priorities, and family strengths.
- Develop individualized service and advocacy plans in collaboration with children, families, and relevant service providers.
- Coordinate referrals and follow-up supports to help families access necessary resources.
- Participate in case conferences and collaborative service planning when appropriate and authorized.
- Maintain regular communication with children, families, and community partners regarding service coordination.
- Support families experiencing complex challenges, including housing insecurity, poverty, barriers to education, family separation, and limited access to culturally appropriate services.
- Promote family strengths, positive relationships, resilience,



and self-determination.
- Assist with navigating available services and funding pathways, including Jordan's Principle when eligibility and program requirements apply.
- Monitor progress toward identified goals and adjust support plans in collaboration with families.

Indigenous Child Rights and Cultural Advocacy

- Promote awareness and understanding of Indigenous children's rights, cultural identity, family connections, and community belonging.
- Apply relevant principles of the Ontario Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, and the federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, within the scope of the position.
- Support culturally appropriate practices that recognize the importance of Indigenous identity and connections to family, community, language, and culture.
- Work collaboratively with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and cultural resource persons to identify appropriate cultural supports.
- Advocate for culturally responsive service planning and the consideration of Indigenous traditions, values, and community relationships.
- Support access to cultural teachings, ceremonies, land-based activities, and community programming where appropriate.
- Recognize and respect the distinct rights, traditions, identities, and circumstances of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.
- Promote approaches that address the impacts of historical and ongoing colonial policies on Indigenous children and families.

Community Partnerships and Systems Navigation

- Establish and maintain professional relationships with Indigenous organizations, child welfare agencies, schools, health care providers, and community service organizations.
- Collaborate with other NRNC programs to provide coordinated and wholistic supports.
- Participate in appropriate interagency meetings, case conferences, and community initiatives.
- Support the development of referral pathways that improve access to culturally appropriate services.
- Build relationships with service providers to strengthen understanding of Indigenous child and family needs.
- Identify recurring service gaps, systemic barriers, and opportunities to improve coordination.
- Represent NRNC professionally in community meetings, consultations, and relevant service networks.
- Support outreach activities that increase awareness of available advocacy services.

Crisis Support, Safety, and Professional Practice

- Respond to sensitive and complex family situations using trauma-informed, culturally safe, and strengths-based approaches.
- Recognize potential risks to child safety and follow applicable legal reporting obligations and organizational safeguarding procedures.
- Maintain clear professional boundaries and use approved procedures for documenting and escalating concerns.
- Support families experiencing distress by connecting them with appropriate crisis, counselling, health, or emergency services.
- Exercise sound judgment in situations involving competing interests, confidentiality, and child protection concerns.
- Maintain a respectful and non-judgmental approach while recognizing the importance of child safety and family well-being.
- Avoid providing legal advice or undertaking functions reserved for regulated professionals.

Administration, Documentation, and Reporting

- Maintain accurate, confidential, and timely records of advocacy activities, referrals, service plans, and client interactions.
- Complete program statistics, case documentation, and reports in accordance with NRNC policies and applicable funding requirements.
- Prepare regular summaries of program activities, service outcomes, emerging needs, and identified systemic barriers.
- Submit reports and administrative documentation within established deadlines.
- Maintain confidentiality and comply with applicable privacy legislation and organizational information-management requirements.
- Participate in program evaluations, service planning, and continuous quality improvement.
- Attend staff meetings, training sessions, and professional development opportunities.
- Perform other duties reasonably related to the position as assigned by the designated supervisor.

Qualifications and ExperienceEducation

- A college diploma or university degree in Social Work, Social Service Work, Child and Youth Care, Indigenous Studies, Community Development, Human Services, or a related discipline is preferred.
- An equivalent combination of relevant education, lived experience, cultural knowledge, and demonstrated professional experience may be considered.

Experience and Knowledge

- Demonstrated experience supporting or advocating for Indigenous children, youth, and families.
- Strong understanding of Indigenous histories, cultures, rights,



and contemporary issues.
- Knowledge of Ontario's child welfare system, family support services, and relevant legislative frameworks.
- Familiarity with the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 and federal Indigenous child and family services legislation.
- Understanding of the historical and ongoing impacts of residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, colonial child welfare policies, and systemic discrimination.
- Experience with case coordination, service navigation, advocacy, family engagement, or community-based support.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed, strengths-based, culturally safe, and family-centred service approaches.
- Experience working with child welfare agencies, schools, Indigenous service providers, and community organizations is an asset.
- Knowledge of Jordan's Principle and Indigenous-specific support services is considered an asset.
- Familiarity with the Friendship Centre movement and Indigenous urban service delivery is an asset.

Skills and Competencies

- Strong advocacy, communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to establish trusting and respectful relationships with children, families, and community partners.
- Excellent organizational, time-management, documentation, and case coordination abilities.
- Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
- Strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to navigate complex service systems and collaborate across organizations.
- Excellent written communication and professional report-writing skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a multidisciplinary team.
- Sound professional judgment and commitment to ethical, culturally safe service delivery.
- Ability to remain calm, supportive, and professional during challenging situations.

Additional Employment Requirements

- Valid Ontario Class G driver's licence and access to reliable transportation for work-related travel.
- Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check as a condition of employment.
- Willingness to complete relevant training in child safeguarding, trauma-informed practice, crisis intervention, and career development.
- Ability to travel throughout the Niagara Region for meetings, advocacy appointments, and community activities.
- Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends as program needs require.
- Commitment to NRNC policies, privacy requirements, professional boundaries, and workplace health and safety standards.

Compensation and Benefits

Annual Salary: $45,000–$50,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Niagara Regional Native Centre offers:

- NRNC employee benefits package.
- Professional development and training opportunities.
- A supportive, inclusive, and culturally grounded workplace.
- Opportunities for collaboration with Indigenous community leaders, Elders, and service providers.
- A team environment committed to child and family wellness.
- Meaningful opportunities to advance equitable and culturally appropriate outcomes for Indigenous children and families.

Indigenous Hiring Preference and Equal Opportunity Employment

Niagara Regional Native Centre is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

As an Indigenous-led organization serving Indigenous communities, NRNC recognizes the importance of Indigenous representation, lived experience, cultural knowledge, and community connections.

In accordance with applicable provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code, including sections 14 and 24 where applicable, preference may be given to qualified First Nations, Métis, and Inuit applicants.

NRNC welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and is committed to maintaining an inclusive, accessible, and barrier-free recruitment process.

Reasonable accommodation is available throughout the recruitment and selection process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit:

- A current résumé outlining relevant education, qualifications, and professional experience.
- A cover letter describing their interest in the Indigenous Child Advocate position and relevant experience supporting Indigenous children and families.
- Contact information for two professional references.

Please submit applications to:

Daniel Harrison
Programs Manager
Niagara Regional Native Centre
Email: [email protected]

Email Subject: Application – Indigenous Child Advocate (UNITY Team)

Application Deadline: OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Applications will be reviewed as received. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Niagara Regional Native Centre thanks all applicants for their interest in contributing to the rights, cultural identity, safety, and wholistic well-being of Indigenous children and families throughout the Niagara Region.

Pay: $44,400.00-$50,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person

📌 Indigenous Child Advocate – UNITY Team (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
🏢 Niagara Regional Native Centre
📍 Niagara-on-the-Lake