Family Navigator - Community - The Neighbourhood Organization (TNO) - Temporary full-time - 2026-17355

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 combining clinical and lived experience to guide youth and their families on their care pathway.

We are currently seeking a Temporary, Full-Time, Family Navigator to support our partnership with The Neighbourhood Organization (TNO) focused on advancing equitable access to mental health and addictions (MHA) care for youth and families from equity-deserving communities (EDCs). This new role is designed to bridge gaps in the MHA system and better connect youth, families, and communities with the supports they need.

Reporting to the FNP Program Manager, and working closely with TNO, the Navigator will serve as a trusted point of contact for youth (ages 11 – 29) and their families, service providers, and community workers seeking support for youth and families with complex needs. This role will be primarily community-based (Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park neighbourhoods) and will provide personalized, culturally responsive system navigation while also engaging with community partners to build trust, strengthen referral pathways, and promote coordinated care.

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.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Navigation:

• Provide flexible navigation support (in person or virtual as required) to youth aged 11 – 29 and their families with a focus on equity-deserving communities.
• 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.
• Serve as a consistent point of contact at TNO’s Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park offices while collaborating with community partner agencies within the Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park areas.

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.
• Track and report on outreach activities, participation, and emerging community needs to inform continuous improvement.

Collaborative Planning & Knowledge Sharing:

• Participate in regular case consultations, team meetings, and joint planning with FNP and TNO to align services with community needs.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of mental health and addiction (MHA) system and contribute to a shared database of service resources, ensuring supports are appropriate, accessible, and culturally responsive.
• Share insights and feedback from youth, families, and community partners to inform program improvements and collaborative service strategies.
• Support the development of tools, guides, and training materials for community partners and youth-serving organizations to strengthen system navigation and engagement.

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

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 mental health/addictions certification preferred).
• As this position is community-based and embedded within a partner organization, candidates must be able to satisfy the partner site's access requirements, which include a current and clear Vulnerable Sector Check
• 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).