Family Navigator - Family Navigation Project - Temporary full-time 2025-13973

Job Summary:

Family Navigation Project (FNP) at Sunnybrook is a non-profit program providing expert navigation of the mental health and addiction service system for youth and their families residing in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). FNP offers free services through phone and email, combining clinical and lived experience to guide youth and their families on their care pathway.

We are committed to equitable hiring practices and building a team reflective of the full spectrum of diverse communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, persons with disabilities, and others who live at the intersection of equity-deserving communities.

We are currently seeking a Temporary, Full-Time, Family Navigator to join our equity-deserving communities (EDC) initiative, made possible through the Slaight Family Foundation. This initiative aims to reduce barriers and improve access to mental health care for youth from equity-deserving communities. Reporting to the FNP Program Manager, the Navigator will be based at FNP and spend part of their time working directly in the community, including regular in-person presence at two to three partnering community agencies across the GTA. They will provide personalized, culturally-responsive navigation support to youth and families seeking mental health, addictions, and related services, while remaining fully integrated with, and supported by, the FNP team.

The Family Navigator will serve as the primary point of contact for youth (ages 11 – 29) and their families, service providers, and community workers seeking support for complex mental health and/or addiction challenges. Collaborating with both FNP staff and community partners, the Navigator will play a vital role in bridging service gaps and advancing equitable access to care.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Navigation:

• Collaborate with community partners to identify youth and families from equity-deserving communities in need of navigation support, facilitating smoother transitions across services.
• Provide flexible, navigation support, including both in-person and virtual options, at 2–3 community partner sites serving equity-deserving populations, based on project priorities and client needs.
• Reduce barriers to service access and advocate for timely transitions across mental health, addictions, housing, legal, and social systems.
• Build trust and rapport through strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally-responsive engagement.
• Conduct comprehensive needs assessments to understand client strengths, challenges, service needs, and goals, and reassess over time based on changing needs and readiness.
• Provide psychoeducation on mental health and addictions.

Community Partnership & Engagement:

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with community partner’s staff to co-develop responsive service strategies.
• Strengthen referral pathways between community partners and FNP, enhancing coordination and access to care.
• Promote navigation services and build trust with youth, families, and community stakeholders through outreach, education, and a visible presence at community events, partner sites, and sector meetings.

Collaborative Planning & Knowledge Sharing:

• Participate in regular case consultations and knowledge-sharing sessions with the FNP team to align service planning with client needs.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of mental health and addiction (MHA) system resources by contributing to a shared database of services and insights, ensuring they are appropriate, accessible, and aligned with the needs of equity-deserving communities.
• Share service updates to support collective learning and coordinated care and help develop tools, guides, and training materials for community partners.

Other duties may include those needed for the ongoing growth, development and execution of FNP.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Post-secondary education in Social Work, Psychology, Community Health, or a related human services field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience, with a strong foundation in mental health and/or addictions (Master’s degree or additional certification in mental health and/or addictions preferred).
• Demonstrated experience working meaningfully with equity-deserving communities, including Black, Indigenous, and other racialized groups, 2SLGBTQIA+, communities living in poverty, persons with disabilities, newcomers, and those at various intersections of these and other identities.
• Fluency in a second language relevant to the diverse communities across the GTA is preferred.
• Strong understanding of systemic barriers and demonstrated cultural competency and sensitivity.
• Proven ability to build trusting, respectful relationships across diverse populations and service sectors.
• Skilled in interdisciplinary collaboration, navigating complex service systems, and maintaining PHIPA-compliant documentation.
• Highly organized, self-directed, and adaptable, with the ability to work flexibly and collaboratively across multiple community-based settings (GTA travel required).