Job Posting (internal-external)

Community Advocacy Coordinator

Contract: 6-Months Full-Time Contract
Pay Rate: $26.22/hr

Bargaining Unit position: Band 5

ABOUT THE STOP:

The Stop Community Food Centres mission is to increase access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds community, and challenges inequality. From its origins 40+ years ago as one of Canada's first food banks, The Stop has since grown into a vibrant community centre that uses food as a gateway to addressing many issues, including poverty, the environment, social isolation, and health in one of Torontos lowest-income neighbourhoods. The Stop is accredited by Imagine Canada for excellence in non-profit accountability, transparency, and governance.

THE OPPORTUNITY:
The Community Advocacy Coordinator (CAC) is a member of the Community Advocacy Team (CAP), and provides information, referrals, advocacy and limited case management to community members accessing The Stops Community Services at our Drop-ins - 1884 Davenport Rd., and at Wychwood Open Door (WOD). We are looking for someone with a unique mixture of case management and community organising experience, as well as an in-depth knowledge of social services, community programs, neighbourhood resources. The ideal candidate is optimistic, energetic, creative, resourceful, knowledgeable and patient, as well as a passionate advocate for social justice and food security with an unwavering belief that change is possible.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides brief case management within a Drop In setting, by assessing needs, developing plan and coordinating access to relevant services and supports. Provides crisis intervention when necessary.
• Assist clients with completing necessary government forms such as Housing, CPP, Disability, Immigration etc.
• Works with and provides referrals to external partners and organization to ensure access and co-ordination of services.
• Conducts community outreach to support additional programming and activities within the Community Advocacy Program (CAP).
• Assist in the development, and coordination of the yearly Be Your Own Advocate (BYOA) for community members wishing to develop leadership and advocacy skills.
• Tracking services (e.g., info and referrals), and timely documentation of case notes, and data collection and statistics, and contribute to funding reports and proposals
• Any other duties as assigned
  QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:
  
• Degree in Social Work, or a combination of post-secondary education and relevant paid program experience, providing case management or social work support
• Minimum 3 years experience with program coordination in a social service setting
• Excellent knowledge of systems with which low-income people interact, including Ontario Works, ODSP, subsidized housing, Legal Aid, and health care
• Demonstrated experience working with marginalized people and people of diverse cultures and abilities in a community-based setting
• Solid experience in effective individual advocacy and community organising
• Excellent group facilitation skills
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to speak a language relevant to the neighbourhood is also an asset

GENERAL:

• Participate in necessary meetings
• Ensure Community Advocacy service delivery reflect The Stops policies and procedures (e.g. Anti-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression, Health and Safety)
• Support occasional organization-wide events, such as our annual Good Food For All Festival, Annual General Meeting (AGM), all-staff meetings, etc.
• Work closely with other program coordinators, and staff from our community partners (e.g. Davenport Perth Community Health Centre)