Program Engagement Co-Facilitator - Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario

Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO, www.youthhubs.ca) is an Integrated Youth Services (IYS) initiative designed to address the service gaps in the youth mental health and substance use sectors in Ontario. YWHO supports local service providers to work together in a new way, providing young people in Ontario aged 12 to 25 with access to a full range of integrated services that support their individual needs, including mental health and substance use supports, primary care, education, employment, housing and other social services in one youth-friendly space.

Outcomes are rigorously evaluated within and across hubs focusing on positive outcomes in areas of wellness important to youth and their families. This initiative engages youth, family/caregivers and other partners through a co-creation process, ensuring services are designed and delivered according to their needs. YWHO's IYS model is designed to improve experiences and outcomes for youth by:

• Increasing access to rapid, low-barrier services;

• Reducing transitions by providing care in one location; and,

• Providing tailored, high-quality programs co-developed with youth to meet their needs.
  

YWHO is currently comprised of 32 local hubs (or YWHO Networks) that provide services to youth and families in over 40 communities, as well as a Provincial Office (PO) situated within the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) that provides support to all of these YWHO Networks across the following key areas: implementation, operations, data and evaluation, youth and family engagement, equity, knowledge mobilization, communications, and more.

Job Summary

YWHO is currently seeking one (1) part-time, contract (12 months) Program Engagement Co-Facilitator (Youth Engagement Specialist) to work at the YWHO Provincial Office in Toronto. The successful candidate will report to the Manager of Equity and Engagement at the YWHO Provincial Office and will work closely with the Community, Health and Education (CH&E) Coordinator, Engagement and as part of the YWHO Equity and Engagement team.

The Program Engagement Co‑Facilitator uses their lived or living experience with mental health, substance use, or related challenges to support system and service planning, education, and research activities. They help ensure that the perspectives of individuals with lived experience are meaningfully incorporated into programming by co‑facilitating discussions, co‑developing educational resources, and supporting engagement activities.

The Co-Facilitator will work alongside service providers, education and research staff to ensure that YWHO projects and provincial-level engagement processes, staffing, activities and outcomes are more relevant and better reflect the needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth, families and partners. As part of their role, the Co-Facilitator will support the YWHO Provincial Indigenous Youth and Family Advisory Circle, among other ad-hoc councils or groups of youth advisors supporting YWHO initiatives.

• Co‑facilitate group discussions, meetings, learning sessions, or peer‑support activities.

• Represent lived or living experience to inform planning, education, and research activities.

• Provide feedback on surveys, tools, resources, or content to ensure relevance to lived‑experience communities.

• Encourage inclusive participation and support engagement processes that elevate diverse perspectives.

• Co‑develop educational resources such as webinars, infographics, videos, written materials, or course content.

• Contribute to knowledge‑translation efforts through presentations, newsletters, social‑media activity, and resource sharing.

• Participate in program evaluation activities, including focus groups, data collection, and feedback analysis.

• Support recruitment, onboarding, and coordination of participants, advisors, or contributors.

• Carry out administrative tasks such as scheduling, documentation, communication, and event support.

• Collaborate with staff, educators, researchers, community partners, and other stakeholders.

• Promote respectful, safe, and inclusive engagement practices based on shared decision‑making.

• Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and adherence to policy, safety, and ethical standards.

The Program Engagement Co-Facilitator will have at least one (1) year experience supporting/connecting with people with lived/living experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges. This position requires the incumbent to be a First Nations, Inuit or Métis youth/young adult with lived/living experience as a recipient of mental health and/or substance use services (patient, consumer, survivor, service user).

Requirements

• Lived or living experience with mental health, substance use, or related challenges applied meaningfully in engagement and facilitation

• Experience in facilitation, peer support, education, or similar lived‑experience‑based roles.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in diverse team environments.

• Strong organizational and time‑management skills.

• Ability to work respectfully with individuals from diverse cultural and socio‑economic backgrounds.

• Comfort participating in discussions related to mental health, substance use, and sensitive experiential topics.

• Basic proficiency with digital tools such as email, office software, and online communication platforms.

• Experience with co‑creation or co‑design models involving shared decision‑making is considered an asset.

• Experience with participatory action research or lived‑experience advisory groups is considered an asset.

• Experience developing or facilitating online learning content or using digital engagement platforms is considered an asset.

• Ability to contribute to social‑media‑based communication or outreach. is considered an asset.

• Bilingualism (French/English) or proficiency in another language.

All applicants offered and accepting employment must complete either a Broad Record Check or Vulnerable Sector Police Record Check. The offer of employment will be conditional upon receipt of a satisfactory records check.

Salary Range: $25.59-$31.58/hour

CAMH is a fully affiliated teaching hospital and research institute of the University of Toronto. As a CAMH employee, you will contribute to our mission by supporting teaching, research, and clinical care across the hospital.

CAMH is dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our commitment is to foster a workplace, teaching, and learning environment that is inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination or harassment.

CAMH strongly encourages applications from candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples; Black and other racialized communities; LGBTQ2S+ communities; women; and people with disabilities, including those with lived experience of mental health and substance use challenges.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Thank you to all who apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If you require accommodations during the application or recruitment process, please let us know.