Aggression toward Family/Caregivers in Childhood & Adolescence (AFCCA) Practice Lead 

We’re hiring for a full-time Aggression toward Family/Caregivers in Childhood & Adolescence (AFCCA) Practice Lead

Position

  • Location: Remote (Work virtually anywhere in Ontario)

  • Salary: $30.22/hour

  • Hours: 30-35 hours/week

  • Reports to: AFCCA Family Supports Program Director 

Who We Are

Interwoven Connections is an Ontario-based not-for-profit organization that supports families and relationships formed through adoption, kinship, and customary care. Our work is rooted in lived experience, advocacy, and community. We believe that all families have a right to advocacy, support and guidance. We prioritize empowering marginalized communities, particularly racialized, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQIA+ children, youth, and families.

Purpose of role

The AFCCA Practice Lead is responsible for managing and enhancing the AFCCA program, supporting a team, and collaborating with various departments to raise awareness, create educational content, and drive impact. The role focuses on expanding the program's capacity across the province.

The ideal candidate will have experience in social service management, a strong understanding of AFCCA, and a passion for family support. Fluency in French is an asset. Priority will be given to candidates with and connections to marginalized communities, particularly those involved in child welfare and those with complex health needs. This role is particularly well-suited for individuals with direct lived experience in AFCCA, adoption, kinship, customary care, and/or fostering.

Job Duties and Key Responsibilities

Professional Network

  • Lead outreach initiatives to raise awareness of AFCCA and its services within the community and partner organizations.

  • Build and maintain relationships with organizations that serve families of children with complex needs (e.g., Health Nexus, Surrey Place, PLEO, CHEO) to facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual referrals.

  • Foster connections between Ministry-funded service providers and regional service planning tables to strengthen community support and maximize program impact.

Community Engagement

  • Develops scalable processes and approaches to ensure the program maximizes reach and support by providing ‘low touch’ community wide engagement, education, and support.  

  • Works closely with marketing in planning AFCCA specific awareness and information campaigns, including recommending topics, curating content for social media posting, and sourcing guest speakers, etc.   

  • Develops and implements strategies to increase community awareness and decrease the stigma of AFCCA on social media.   

  • Responds to AFCCA related queries received from the Interwoven Connections website, public Facebook page and other areas. 

Education (team/community/professionals)

  • Plans and coordinates a variety of education for the community, including to build awareness of and destigmatize AFCCA.     

  • Work closely with AFCCA Clinical Leads to develop and deliver training programs for professionals who work with families experiencing AFCCA, including first responders, mental health professionals, and child welfare workers.

  • Represents Interwoven Connections’ AFCCA Family Supports program at provincial and national events, including conferences and symposia.  

  • Works with the P2P Team to organize/facilitate local educational events for the adoption community, including running workshops and doing speaking and training engagements related to AFCCA.  

  • Lead the development and provision of AFCCA-focused training for Interwoven Connections staff, with a focus on evidence-based strategies, relationship-building, and overcoming barriers to support.

Practice Development

  • Responsible for facilitating and growing an active provincial AFCCA Community of Practice.  

  • Develops best practices in research, education, and parent resources to support the provincial AFCCA community with input from the Clinical Leads.  

  • Engages in ongoing professional development to ensure a strong understanding of issues/strategies/resources related to AFCCA including its relationship to trauma, attachment, mental health, ADHD, FASD, stigma and PTSD among family members.  

  • Lead AFCCA Family Peer Support Groups and monitor community engagement in private AFCCA online groups, organizing live webinars and interactive events to deepen understanding of AFCCA.

Strategic Direction and Administration

  • As an AFCCA subject matter expert, collaborate with the AFCCA Family Supports Program Director to ensure the program evolves to meet the needs of families.

  • Contribute to grant writing, budgeting, and reporting processes to ensure the program's continued growth and funding.

  • Ensure compliance with funding contracts, including accurate and timely reporting on program outcomes and insights.

  • Represent AFCCA at key provincial and national events to highlight the program's work and share knowledge with broader audiences.

Qualifications and skills

  • In-depth knowledge of the public adoption system, including kinship and customary care, as well as the unique needs of these families. Familiarity with CAS adoption processes and local resources for children and youth.

  • Strong understanding of AFCCA, including safety planning, therapeutic practices, and their impact on families.

  • Post-secondary education in social sciences, social work, psychology, education, business, marketing, or communications, with at least 3 years of management experience in a social service organization or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

  • Previous experience in designing, developing, and growing family-centered social service programs, as well as leading staff training, community education, and program expansion efforts.

  • Lived experience related to adoption, fostering, kinship, or customary caregiving is an asset.

  • Experience working programmatically and collaboratively with clinicians. 

  • Cultural sensitivity and competency in working with equity-seeking groups and developing anti-racist/anti-oppressive practices.  

  • Proficient in Microsoft O365, CRM databases, and using spreadsheets for tracking and outcome reporting.

  • Demonstrated ability to build relationships with government, funders, service providers, and organizational leaders, and to effectively manage competing priorities and time-sensitive program requirements.

  • Experience with grant writing, funder compliance, budget management, and reporting on targeted outcomes.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with bilingualism considered an asset.

  • Commitment to ongoing professional development, including mandatory training, and a passion for making a difference in the lives of families experiencing AFCCA.

Benefits

  • Paid vacation, personal time off, statutory holidays,

  • Group benefits for employees working more than 20 hours/week including Healthcare, Dental Care Disability and Life Insurance after 90 days of employment 

How to apply

In order to be considered for this position, you must include a cover letter and current resume. We encourage all applicants to identify their strengths and experiences supporting diverse communities and using anti-racist/anti-oppressive practice in their cover letter.  

Submit your application online via afcca_jobs@interwovenconnections.ca

Our values

We hold ourselves to a high standard in performing our mission. Our values reflect our identity and aspirations and guide our beliefs, principles, behaviours, and decisions.

Interwoven Connections’ values define who we are, what we stand for and how we hold ourselves and others accountable. These are our values.

Connection: We foster and support meaningful and authentic relationships.

Collaboration: We build connections with individuals and communities to learn and grow together.

Community: Our shared experiences unite us while our unique perspective strengthens us.

Integrity: We act with unwavering commitment to one another.

Empowerment: We amplify the unique voices of our community through our shared belief in each other

Notes

Interwoven Connections is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates from equity seeking groups are strongly encouraged to apply. We prioritize hires from the communities we serve, balanced with a critical need for a diversity of marginalized experiences.  

We are committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive and barrier free.  Accommodation will be provided at all stages of the hiring process if requested.  

We thank all applicants for applying, however, only qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.