Employment Listing

 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

MMIWG Wellness and Community Support Liaison

Full-Time Position | Thompson, Manitoba

Under the supervision of the MMIWG Liaison Unit Director, the MMIWG Wellness and Community Support Liaison will design and deliver culturally responsive and dignified trauma informed health and wellness supports for individuals who have been impacted by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people (MMIWG2S+) in Manitoba, including all First Nations, Inuit, Metis, Non-Status and non-Indigenous individuals residing in Manitoba.

The incumbent understands the historical context of Indigenous peoples in Canada and how it contributes to the widespread impact of trauma, recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma, understands considerations needed to contribute to wellness, integrates knowledge about trauma into communications and settings, and understands how to implement into daily practice.

Roles and Responsibilities

·         Provide and/or arrange the provision of short-term safe and culturally appropriate mental wellness supports while respecting individual and family beliefs, traditions, customs, and spirituality;

·         Develop and implement a strategy to support community outreach, record keeping, and client information management;

·         Plan, coordinate, and deliver healing, wellness, and other related programming;

·         Develop healing and wellness tools, workshops, and strategies;

·         Must be willing to assist in Indigenous cultural practices and protocols related to land-based healing and wellness activities;

·         Initiate, facilitate, and maintain contact with family members and survivors;

·         Coordinate intake procedures and work collaboratively with the team;

·         Responsible for new client intake assessments and developing intervention, support strategies, and care plans with the ability to match resources and services to the client’s unique circumstances;

·         Provide general counselling utilizing a strength based, dignified and trauma informed, client centered and barrier-free approach;

·         Assist individuals or families in developing wellness and safety plans, including setting wellness goals to cope with negative emotions;

·         Refer families and survivors to Elders, Traditional Healers, and Knowledge Keepers as requested and provide ongoing follow up;

·         Plan, coordinate, and facilitate in-person meetings with families and community agencies to ensure families receive comprehensive wraparound supports;

·         Attend community events and gatherings in support of family members;

·         Support families as work with Victim Services’ Family Liaison Contact and Winnipeg Police Service’s (WPS) Family Liaison Contact;

·         Provide support to families and survivors of gender-based violence during court hearings.

·         Maintain appropriate documentation;

·         Create and maintain positive working relationships with agency professionals;

·         Partner with community agencies to providing healing opportunities and wellness supports;

·         Attend inter-agency meetings and community events/training as required;

·         Travel to isolated/remote communities, usually on very short notice;

·         Perform various office administration duties as required.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is preferred, but not necessary;
• Minimum of 3 years of working in counselling and program delivery;
• Experience working within a harm reduction and dignified trauma informed care; 
• Demonstrated decision-making, interviewing, and assessment skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, self-motivation, and the ability to work independently;
• Strong analytical skills including the ability to perform research, and interpret, assess, and synthesize information in a logical manner and use in practice;
• Experience in program evaluation involving a variety of data collection and evaluation methods;
• Advanced organizational and time management skills including the ability to manage multiple priorities while working in a fast-paced environment;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships and work with a variety of people, groups, and organizations;
• Understanding of, or commitment to learning, First Nations traditional healing practices and models of wellness;
• Excellent written communication skills for the purposes of developing background information, presentations, workshops and training materials, report writing, and other related materials;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software and Internet research tools;
• Must posses a valid driver’s license and be willing to travel;
• Must be able to obtain a satisfactory Criminal Record Check (including Vulnerable Sector Search), a satisfactory Child Abuse Registry Check and a satisfactory Adult Abuse Registry Check upon hiring.

Salary is dependant upon qualifications and experience

Interested applicants are invited to submit their cover letter identifying the position applying for and resume, along with 3 professional reference listings (include a most recent employer reference) by 4:00 p.m. on May 1, 2024 to:

Elaine Paisley at employment@mkonorth.com

We thank all who apply and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. Preference will be given to qualified First Nations applicants; applicants are encouraged to self-declare in their resume or cover letter.  No phone calls will be accepted.

Incorporated in 1981 as the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO). MKO is a non-profit, political advocacy organization that provides a collective voice on issues of inherent, Treaty, Indigenous, and human rights for citizens of the 26 sovereign First Nations we represent. The MKO First Nations are signatory to Treaties 4, 5, 6, and 10.

Please visit our website at mkonation.com