Peer Engagement Coordinator

Position: Peer Engagement Coordinator

Location: Toronto

Reports to: Team Supervisor

Term: Full-time, Permanent

Salary Range: $56,351 – $60,000 annual + benefits

Context

The Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy (Oahas) is an Indigenous-led organization committed to promoting and supporting healthy, thriving Indigenous communities through providing culturally grounded education and access to harm reduction to reduce the transmission of HIV and other STBBIs in our communities. Oahas operates based on the principles of Greater Involvement of People living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA), Meaningful Engagement of People living with HIV/AIDS (MEPA), “nothing about us without us”, Indigenous harm reduction, and respect for our cultural knowledges and teachings. These foundational principles guide all aspects of our relationships and work.

Summary

The Peer Engagement Coordinator will lead the delivery of a culturally grounded Indigenous Peer Program to provide meaningful opportunities for peers to engage in activities related to HIV/HCV/STBBI prevention and interventions in Toronto. The position will lead the mentorship of Peers and coordinate the Peer Program including creating education presentations and supporting Peers in community outreach. The Peer Engagement Coordinator leads some aspects of oversight and administration of Peers’ work, with the direct support of their Team Supervisor and the Senior Management Team.

This position is in Toronto and reports to the Toronto Team Supervisor. The areas of responsibility are as follows:  Peer Capacity Building and Leadership; Community Outreach and Education Services; Program Coordination and Delivery; and Administration.

Key Responsibilities

Peer Capacity Building and Leadership Development

• Build a trusting relationship with Peers and community members using a respectful, and non-judgmental approach and model walking in a good way with community.

• Lead the development and implementation of training materials and capacity building tools for the Peer Harm Reduction Outreach Teams.

• Provide 1-1 supports for Peer Program members including warm referrals to external services, connecting them to cultural supports, and performing wellness checks as needed and within the scope of the workplace.

• In collaboration with the Team Supervisor, establish community partnerships and coordinate the development and provision of educational material (i.e. literature, audio visual and promotional), specific to the skills development of Peers.

• Be a resource person in the areas of STBBI prevention to Peers.

• Work with Peers to engage them in other agency activities as appropriate and approved by Senior Management.

• Recognize, recruit and build the capacity of Peers who will further develop the program as Peer leaders and may also build employment skills and opportunities for formal work experience.

Community-based Outreach and Education Services

• Provide stigma-free peer-to-peer support with the intention of improving access to STBBI prevention, testing & treatment.

• Facilitate the distribution of Peer-led HIV/Hep C education materials and supports to increase Peers’ access to preventative tools.

• In collaboration with Community Prevention Workers, engage Peers to provide community-based harm reduction street outreach for those living with or at risk of HIV/HCV transmission.

• Develop methods to promote and encourage new Peers to participate in the program. This includes development of materials distributed via print and/or media/web/social networking.

• Provide on the spot, emergency support, when necessary, and take the lead in responding to crisis or emergencies should they arise (i.e., responding to drug poisoning and administering naloxone).

• Program site and community-based leadership role in safe disposal / handling of used drug equipment as needed.

Program Coordination and Delivery

• Lead the coordination and delivery of opportunities to engage and collect Peer and community feedback and consultation in relation to peer program and Oahas programs and services to best meet the needs of community (examples include managing administrative support and payment logistics for the Oahas Community Advisory Committee, and/or community and partner consultation sessions regarding Peer programming and Oahas harm reduction outreach services, etc.).

• Schedule Peer Outreach shifts, regular meetings and debriefs including preparing agendas and presentations, taking minutes/notes, and responding to issues or concerns as they arise.

• Lead kit-making inventory management and procurement of required harm reduction supplies using approved Oahas procedures.

• Maintain outreach PPE and gear for Outreach (e.g. ensuring gear is cleaned, well-maintained and stored in the office to be available for outreach).

• Participate in networking, committee and partnership activities in relation to the role (depending on location, examples include NAPP, sector trainings and sessions on peer program best practices and capacity building, Toronto Indigenous Harm Reduction Circle).

• Contribute to the design and implementation of Peer Program evaluation strategies.

• Observe, document and communicate themes and opportunities for program enhancement using solutions-focused approaches with Peer program colleagues and Management.

• Implement recommendations for program enhancement including developing and applying tools / processes as approved by Management.

• Work closely with other Oahas staff and community partners to monitor and report on program results.

• Coordinate and deliver opportunities for community feedback and consultation in relation to the Peer Program and other Oahas programs and services to best meet the needs of community.

• Develop, implement and facilitate educational presentations & workshops on issues associated to HIV/HCV/STBBI prevention, Indigenous harm reduction, Peers’ health and importance of Peer engagement within the community, with an objective to advance new/improved Peer Program models within other community-based organizations.

Administration

• Ongoing program reporting, data collection, file maintenance and records management.

• Processing Peer payments for approval by Senior Management on a regularly scheduled basis.

• Ongoing compliance with Oahas policies and procedures is a requirement for this job.

Additional Expectations

• Flexibility with schedule and ability to work evenings and weekends on occasion

• May be required to assist with projects and other agency initiatives

• Share in the responsibility and care for Oahas traditional medicines and bundle items as per protocol

• Work as part of a team by attending team and staff meetings, trainings, committee meetings, and regular supervision meetings
• Act as a critical back-up for drop-in coverage and other programs and services being offered at the program site
• Support the delivery of special events being organized by the program site team

Qualifications

• Ability to build trust, strengthen communication, establish partnerships in the community
• Ability to exercise tact, diplomacy and respect when communicating with Indigenous communities, stakeholders and other agencies and external contacts
• Competency and good understanding of Indigenous Culture, Ways, Teachings and History
• Non-judgmental and willing to learn, adaptable
• Lived or living experience an asset
• Ability to maintain strong personal and professional boundaries
• Experience in community development and program development, including facilitating workshops, meetings and groups
• Experience with coaching and/or mentoring people and teams
• Familiarity with the different neighbourhoods which community members frequent and drug-using networks
• Drug user positive and sex-positive attitude with anti-racist, harm reduction outlook
• Works well independently as well as in a team
• To provide harm reduction outreach in community, Outreach Support Workers must have the ability and willingness to walk 7 km and to lift up to 10 kg in a variety of weather conditions for two consecutive hours
• Travel throughout the region and occasionally to other areas of the province will be required, which may include flexibility to work some evenings and weekends and to work away from home for up to a week (i.e. weeklong annual Oahas All Staff Gathering)

Skills

• Ability to accept feedback, and take initiative
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and strong listening skills
• Basic record keeping, ability to use Microsoft Suite, Outlook/email, web-based applications
• Attention to detail
• Strong planning, organizational and team skills
• Trust-building and collaboration
• Conflict management skills
• Critical thinking, analytical and organizational skills
• Experience with developing and delivering educational materials
• Ability to speak an Indigenous language is an asset
• Valid Driver’s License is an asset