Youth Worker – Tweeny Stars - The Studio

LOCATION: Toronto, ON 

POSITION TYPE: Part-time, Fixed Term ends February 2026, 2 days per week 

POSTING CLOSING DATE: April 8, 2025

Lumenus Community Services is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  We value a recruitment and selection process that is inclusive and barrier-free and we encourage applications from all individuals including, but not limited to, all cultures, religions, racialized communities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions.  

Lumenus is looking for a dynamic Youth Worker to join our Counselling and Community Services Team in The Studio Youth Drop-in Program. The Studio, under the Central Toronto Youth Wellness Hub, is a 2SLGBTQ+ positive drop-in created by and for young people ages 12 to 25. Youth can come hang out, play video games, watch movies and socialize, and check out (and even run) some workshops or youth-led groups. Tweeny STARS is a specialized program for 2SLGBTQ+ youth ages 10-14 that operates once a week within our Studio drop-in.

At The Studio, youth and staff work together to create fun and interesting activities and workshops – art making, dance, gender expression/drag performance, sexual health workshops, discussion groups, field trips, and more. The Studio staff also provide one-on-one support in housing, physical & mental health, education, employment, and referrals. The Studio celebrates the diverse experiences of all youth and strives to create a community where young people can get engaged in building allyship across difference. Youth who come to The Studio have real decision-making power and are invited to help create the space, and build community in collaboration with staff.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Weekly creation of programming and facilitation of the Tweeny STARS Program
• Supporting the development, coordinate and facilitation of special events
• Establish and promote an open, safe(r) space which prioritizes BIPOC and/or 2SLGBTQ+ youth
• Work with all youth who come to The Studio to support them in their journey with community allyship
• Proactively address anti-oppressive language/behaviour challenges (i.e. transphobia, racism, ableism, etc.) with a focus on education
• Support youth to develop skills in managing peer and adult relationships, health, sexuality, and substance use from a harm reduction framework
• Support youth who have varying lived experiences with mental health challenges, challenges with food security, are underhoused or homeless, etc.
• Engage participants in providing regular feedback
• Support youth to develop leadership skills through workshop creation/co-facilitation, leading activities, and participating in discussions
• Mentor youth, provide informal confidential support and referrals as needed
• Engage with supports and caregivers where possible
• Align work with Lumenus’ mission, vision and values, emphasizing learning and active support
• Maintain records, documentation and data base(s), collecting participant and evaluation data to ensure the success of The Studio programs
• Perform other related duties as assigned

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Ability to demonstrate and work through a lens of sensitivity to diversity related to race, religion, culture, varied abilities, poverty, sexual orientation and gender identity, etc.
• Knowledge of Anti-black racism, Anti-oppressive and Harm Reduction theories and ability to implement them in work with children, youth and families
• Experience working with youth with behavioural, mental health and lived experience of substance use
• Exceptional interpersonal skills in order to effectively build relations with diverse youth and liaise with a variety of agency staff and external partners
• Ability to multi-task and engage youth in all aspects of The Studio
• Enthusiastic and dynamic with a strong drive to provide high quality services
• Experience with youth engagement and harm reduction practices is an asset
• Experience with youth leadership and mentoring programs such as youth lead community organizing, peer mentoring and/or volunteering is an asset
• Knowledge of age appropriate community resources and agency programs is an asset
• Ability to work with and integrate knowledge from interdisciplinary team, i.e. case navigators, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, etc.
• Work collaboratively with multiple teams within Lumenus to support the needs of youth in the program including the counselling, day treatment, residential and harm reduction teams
• Exceptional interpersonal skills; ability to exercise professional judgement in conflictual and stressful situations
• Ability to identify clinical learning needs and seek consultation and support through supervision
• Excellent organizational and administrative skills with a strong record in completing documentation in a timely manner
• Proficiency with computer skills, including Microsoft Office, client data-base (Treat) and social media literacy
• Participation in quality assurance, evaluation and research activities, as required

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Child & Youth Worker diploma, Social Service Worker diploma or a degree/diploma in a related field or equivalent experience of at least 2 years
• Satisfactory clearance under the Vulnerable Sector Screening program
• Sound knowledge of adolescent development and demonstrated experience working with youth from diverse ethno-cultural and socio-economic backgrounds including street-involved youth and racialized communities
• Knowledge and/or lived experience with working alongside 2SLGBTQ+ youth
• Experience working in a fast-paced drop in setting
• Experience working with youth who have challenges related to mental health
• Excellent computer literacy skills, including social media
• Exceptional communication and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to work both in a team and independently
• Ability to take initiative and possessing leadership and advocacy skills 
• First Aid/CPR, CPI, and Food Handlers Certificate is an asset 

We are committed to staffing a service provider team representative of the communities we serve. Given the population this position services we will be giving priority to applicants from 2SLGBTQ+ and/or BIPOC communities.

TO APPLY: Internal applicants are invited to submit their cover letter and resume and fill out the application form on or before April 8, 2025.

We ask applicants to make any accommodation requests for the interview or selection process known in advance by contacting Human Resources. Human Resources will work together with the hiring committee to arrange reasonable and appropriate accommodation for the selection process which will enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner.