JOB SUMMARY

The Indigenous Youth Peer Support (IYPS) Worker participates as a member of the Foundry centre team. IYPS workers have their own lived experience with mental health and/or substance use challenges, have accessed services through their own journey, and identify as Indigenous. IYPS workers use this personal experience to support youth and young adults in service navigation, improving their health and wellness, connecting with Indigenous culture, and connecting with Foundry and/or community resources. The IYPS worker offers peer-based mentoring and emotional support and works collaboratively with youth, their families and members of the care team. Using their own diverse, personal lived experiences, IYPS workers demonstrate the ability to support neurodiverse, gender and sexually diverse, Indigenous, racialized, rural and remote, or youth and young adults with physical disabilities. This position assists with the delivery of walk-in services and outreach activities, offering support both on a one-on-one basis and in a group setting. The IYPS worker acts as an advocate and role model, helping young people and their families recognize that with hope, recovery is possible.

Archway’s Indigenous Youth Peer Support Worker with the Foundry Abbotsford contributes by:

• Provides cultural support and guidance to Indigenous youth accessing peer support and groups.
• Provides support, guidance and mentorship for youth and their families and assists in sharing information on resources and lived experience system navigation.
• Establishes purposeful relationships with young people and supports their engagement and participation in centre services and meets youth in an outreach capacity.
• Supports youth with personal management skills such as time management, organization and interpersonal
• Coordinates, participates in, or assists with planning recreation and social activities.
• Works with community Elders and Knowledge Keepers to Indigenize programs and spaces.
• Works collaboratively with team members to meet pre-established goals and objectives, facilitates recovery-based peer support meetings and activities.
• Plays a key role in ensuring that the centre offers a safe, welcoming, inclusive and youth-friendly environment.

This position is a great fit for someone who is able to establish rapport and maintain therapeutic relationships with indigenous youth and their families.