Healing Our Souls Coordinator – Youth Grief & Wellness

Overview

Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society (KAFS) is an Indigenous service delivery agency located in Kamloops, BC. Our team currently has 30 staff offering comprehensive services to the community from infancy to golden age in Kamloops for 50 years. Some of the programs we deliver include but is not limited to:

• Delivering family support services. We provide services in parenting support, nutrition education, pre- and post-natal care, infant programs, child and youth programs, school district support, anti-violence and family violence supports, and mental health crisis response.
• Providing services to our homeless relatives. Among other things, we have created a storage program where homeless people can temporarily store their belongings in a facility that is leased to us from the city of Kamloops. We have approximately 100 homeless clients who we work with, and we also offer harm reduction services, shower, and laundry services.
• Delivering substance abuse support services to people 15 years and older. We advocate for treatment beds and provide follow-up upon completion of treatment. We offer community-based treatment services.

All our programs are embedded in culture. We find that many of our clients are looking for this and appreciate cultural practices such as smudging and drumming that happen on a regular basis. We are governed by a volunteer board and bylaws. Each year we hold annual general meetings and present an audited statement to the membership and our funders.

THE OPPORTUNITY:
The Healing Our Souls program is a culturally grounded bereavement support program designed to provide healing and support to youth (ages 12-24) and their families who have experienced the loss of a loved one due to the toxic drug crisis. This program recognizes the intersection of grief, historical trauma, and cultural disconnection, providing a safe space for youth to navigate their loss through peer support, land-based healing, and culturally relevant approaches.

The Healing Our Souls Coordinator will lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Healing Our Souls program. The Coordinator will work closely with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, mental health professionals, community partners, and youth to create a supportive and culturally safe environment for healing. The role requires a deep understanding of grief, loss, and trauma-informed care, as well as strong facilitation and program coordination skills.

A DAY IN THE LIFE – ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and facilitate an 8-week bereavement support program for youth, including both indoor and land-based components.
• Ensure the program is culturally responsive, integrating traditional healing practices, ceremonies, and Elder involvement.
• Coordinate logistics for group sessions, including scheduling, location arrangements, and resource allocation.
• Provide individual one-on-one support sessions as needed.
• Conduct initial assessments with youth to identify immediate needs such as housing, food security, and mental health support.
• Maintain a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all program participants.
• Work collaboratively with schools, and other community-based organizations to reach underserved youth.
• Engage with Indigenous youth, refugee youth, and youth with disabilities to ensure accessibility and inclusion in programming.
• Build relationships with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community leaders to integrate cultural teachings and healing practices into the program.
• Organize community events, youth engagement activities, and awareness campaigns to promote the program.
• Facilitate training sessions on grief, loss, and trauma-informed care for staff, volunteers, and community members.
• Mentor peer support leaders and youth facilitators, ensuring they receive proper training and guidance.
• Coordinate workshops on trauma and resiliency, grief navigation, and harm reduction strategies.
• Track program participation and impact through participant feedback, surveys, and other evaluation tools.
• Ensure accurate reporting on program activities, budget management, and funding utilization.
• Adapt and refine program activities based on ongoing evaluations and feedback from youth and the community.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS – WHAT YOU BRING TO KAFS:

• Diploma in Social Services or the equivalent from a two-year program and related experience or a minimum of 4 years’ experience in the social services field, preferably with youth.
• Experience in program coordination, social work, counseling, or a related field.
• Knowledge and understanding of grief, loss, bereavement, and trauma, particularly in Indigenous communities.
• Experience working with youth in a community-based or peer-support setting.
• Experience with land-based healing and traditional Indigenous practices is an asset.

OUR “MUST HAVES” THAT MAKE YOU GREAT:

• Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate support programs.
• Strong group facilitation and leadership skills.
• Experience organizing events, workshops, and peer support groups.
• Understanding of grief, loss, and bereavement, particularly in Indigenous communities.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and harm reduction approaches.
• Experience integrating traditional healing practices and cultural teachings.
• Ability to build trust and rapport with youth from diverse backgrounds.
• Skills in providing individual and group support, including crisis intervention.
• Understanding of youth development and peer support models.
• Strong networking skills to engage community and ensure supports from external agencies.
• Ability to create and maintain partnerships with Elders, mental health professionals, and service providers.
• Experience advocating for youth needs within community and organizational settings.
• Experience mentoring peer support leaders and youth facilitators.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• Skills in tracking program impact through participant feedback and surveys.
• Ability to collect and analyze data to inform program improvements.
• Experience in completing reports to funding agencies is an asset.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Empathy, active listening, and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to undergo training and professional development in grief and trauma support.

WORKING SCHEDULE:

• 3-year contract term
• 20 hours per week for first year
• 30 hours per week for years 2 and 3

TOTAL REWARDS:

• $27.00/hour

Preference will be given to applicants of Aboriginal ancestry as per section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code (please self-identity in your cover letter).