Family and Natural Supports Counsellor (Youth Reconnect)

Family and Natural Supports Counsellor (Youth Reconnect)

Onsite, Toronto (Travel Within City)

Full Time, Permanent 

Level 8

Requisition Number: YWR-2025-003

Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada’s largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of services to hundreds of young people every day. 

More than a place to stay, we provide life-changing care with unconditional love and respect. We meet youth’s immediate needs and then we work together to achieve their future goals. We offer 24/7 crisis shelter transitional housing options on-site and, in the community, health and well-being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community.        

For over 40 years, Covenant House has been dedicated to its mission of serving youth on the street and to protect and safeguard all youth with absolute respect and unconditional love. Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 100,000 young people.

Overview:

Reporting to the Supervisor, Prevention Initiatives Youth Reconnect is an ‘upstream’ homelessness prevention initiative. The goal is to help young people stay engaged in school by helping to stabilize their living situation, either by addressing issues at home that are producing the risk of homelessness, such as family conflict, or through helping youth who can no longer stay at home find housing and support options in their community. Youth Reconnect serves young people 14-18 years old, who are engaged in school, currently housed, at-risk of homelessness, and focuses on meeting the needs of youth that identify as Black and/or 2SLGBTQ. 

As part of the Youth Reconnect program team, the Family and Natural Supports Counsellor provides family and individual counselling, coaching, and skills building to youth and their identified family members. The goal of this position is to help young people mitigate the risk of homelessness by supporting the strengthening of relationships with youths’ immediate, extended and chosen family. 

We are currently hiring for 1 Family and Natural Supports Counsellor. This is a new role with the expansion of the program.

Responsibilities: 

• Engagement with 14-18 year old youth who are or at-risk of homelessness, and their families/natural supports, who are referred by schools, child welfare agencies, and other community agencies,
• Develop trusting, helping and therapeutic relationships with youth and their identified family members and chosen supports to address identified goals 
• Provide family and individual counselling, coaching and skill building, to support youth and their families/natural supports improve relationships, mitigate risk factors, and resolve conflict
• Provide services in locations convenient to youth and their family members/ chosen supports (such as schools, family homes, and other community settings)
• In collaboration with Youth Reconnect Workers link youth and families to specialized services (e.g., financial support, housing programs, mental health, addictions) as required
• Facilitate group based activities, workshops and presentations as required
• Work with stakeholders and partners to develop and promote this new specialized youth service
• Contribute to analysis and evaluation of the program
• Maintain all required documentation (including client files, case notes, and assessments and evaluation tools to support the research and evaluation of the program)
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• BSW or MSW, or degree in a counseling related field, or equivalent in education and experience.
• Registered, or eligible for registration, with the College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO) or The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
• 3 years’ experience working with youth and/or families, in a counselling role
• Sound understanding of family systems theory, family dynamics, adolescent development and attachment theories and an ability to apply them is required.
• Demonstrated ability in working with a trauma informed, harm reduction approach and from an anti-oppression and culturally competent perspective/framework is essential
• Understanding of issues related to youth homelessness, Anti-Black Racism, LGBTQ2S identities, mental health and substance use problems and disorders, and developmental and learning disabilities 
• Excellent communication (both oral and written) and organizational skills and ability to work independently
• Knowledge of community resources and systems relevant to youth at-risk of experiencing homelessness
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evening hours is required
• A valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle is an asset

Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet all qualifications. If you are excited about the role but your resume doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the description, apply anyway. You may still be the right candidate for this or other roles.

What we Offer:

• Meaningful work.
• Competitive compensation. 
• Employee perks which include discounts on gym membership, city bike rentals, auto & home insurance and more.

Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter in one document no later than August 11, 2025. Only candidates selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be contacted. No agencies for phone calls please. 

Use of AI and Technology in the Hiring Process

Covenant House Toronto does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to make or inform hiring decisions. However, we do use an external applicant tracking system (ATS) to help manage applications efficiently.

While our ATS may apply automated filters or sorting functions, all applications are reviewed and evaluated by human recruiters. No hiring decisions are made by AI.

Commitment to Equitable Recruitment

At Covenant House Toronto we believe in a workplace culture of inclusion that is welcoming, respectful and safe for all staff. It is critical to Covenant House Toronto success to eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups. Equity groups have been, and continue to be, underrepresented and marginalized in the workforce, leadership roles, and in some specific occupations. Equity groups include but may not be limited to Indigenous persons, racialized people, gender diverse people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Covenant House Policy on Accommodation, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the Covenant House recruitment process.

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.