About Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada:  

Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada (SMSKPC) is a national registered charity dedicated to nurturing resilience in kids with the use of psychological science so they can manage, learn, and grow from the many challenges in life. We help infants, children, and youth build a solid foundation of mental health before problems or issues may begin. 

We are a small organization with a big impact. Our team is committed to ensuring youth and their families have the tools to build their resilience through our critical psychology-based programs and resources. With leadership from our volunteer Board of Trustees composed of the best in clinical psychology, academia, marketing and communications, and business, we have built Canada’s most networked mental health and resilience-based organization offering primary prevention programs for 50 years! 

Mission  

We nurture resilience in children and youth. 

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity: 

SMSKPC is committed to creating a diverse environment within staff, Board, committees, and volunteers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age. We pride ourselves in ensuring that every child in Canada can thrive, and respect and recognize the developmental and cultural needs of Canadian children and youth and how that plays a role in their mental well-being.  Our goal of promoting diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion helps serve our mission and support the many children in various communities across Canada.  

About Stress Busters:

The Stress Busters program is for students in grades 4-6.  Derived from our evidenced-based Kids Have Stress Too! (KHST!) program for youth-serving professionals, it is one of SMSKPC’s direct-to-youth programs where facilitators get to work directly with youth in their own spaces. In Stress Busters, youth learn through engaging activities to connect with each other learning stress management concepts and strategies as they practice their new skills, nurture resilience, and support each other in a safe space with an SMSKPC facilitator. The program can be completed in 5 sessions (1.5 hours each) or 8 sessions (1 hour each), and may take place in a few key spaces: 1. in-person in the classroom, 2. virtually in the classroom, 3. virtually at home after-school.

Duties and Responsibilities:  

Reporting to the Manager of Programs and Partnerships, and the Stress Busters Lead Facilitator, the Stress Busters Program Facilitator will deliver the Stress Busters Program directly to children ages 9-12, and be responsible for program delivery, adaptation, and partnerships. The Stress Busters Program Facilitator will also facilitate some of our other crucial, evidenced-based stress management programs to youth/teens, parents/caregivers and youth-serving professionals taking a whole-community approach to supporting youth mental wellness.

Stress Busters Program Delivery

• Facilitate Stress Busters Sessions both in-person (where possible) and virtually (over Zoom)
• Lead and work with a co-facilitator through program delivery, as needed
• Educate children on Kids Have Stress Too! stress management strategies
• Manage guided discussions with children
• Communicate regularly with participant’s parents/teachers as needed for sessions both online and in-person
• Manage Zoom for online sessions and set-up for in-person sessions
• Support with distribution of Activity Books and children’s information packages
• Distribute program surveys
• Collect photos and testimonials/feedback from participants, parents and educators

Program Adaptation

• Working with the Lead Facilitator, research and apply best practices for program delivery
• Examine past iterations of program design and develop adaptations based on needs of children
• Working with the Lead Facilitator, update program content and curriculum as necessary
• Update all program materials (this may include Adobe, Canva, etc.) as necessary

Program Partnerships

• Support with partnership discussions and recruitment efforts to bring children into the program
• Lead coordination efforts with existing partners to ensure smooth program delivery
• Support Lead Facilitator and Manager with partnership discussions as needed
• Update and create partnership materials, and participate in partnership meetings

Other Stress Management Program Facilitation

• Working with the Lead Trainer, onboard onto our other crucial, evidenced-based stress management programs which may include, but not limited to: Peer Mentor, KHST!, Stress Lessons, StressLess, etc.
• Working with the Lead Trainer, ensure you have strong stress management program knowledge
• Flexible facilitation strategies is important as you may deliver programs directly to youth, parents/caregivers, and youth-serving professionals
• You must be comfortable facilitating over Zoom, while controlling all Zoom functions during the sessions

Qualifications: 

• At least 1-2 years of experience facilitating programs or working with children aged 9-12; 
• Experience facilitating group programs or working with teens and adults;

• Good understanding of child/youth development; 
• Excellent presentation, communication, and facilitation skills; 
• Highly organized, flexible and adaptable; 
• An ability to be animated and engaged with the children but also be able to gently redirect, when necessary;
• Passion for the organization’s vision and mission; 
• Proficiency in utilizing technology for online facilitation; 
• Understanding of primary prevention and wellness programming and its differences from therapy/intervention;
• Mental Health First Aid an asset;
• Certified Mental Health professional an asset;
• Experience with program evaluation an asset;
• Knowledge of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion an asset;  
• Bilingual an asset;  

Education: 

• University degree in Education, Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, Child & Youth Work, Childhood Development or other related field

Additional Requirements: 

• Ability to work remotely with regular check-ins; 
• Access to personal computer with camera may be required
• Access to high-speed internet bandwidth 1.5 MBPS 
• Proficiency in remote meeting applications (example: ZOOM), and other software (ex. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint) 
• Must have access to a reliable vehicle, hold a valid driver’s license, and appropriate auto insurance and/or access to reliable transportation
• Travel to Schools and School Boards will be required for program facilitation
• Must be willing to complete a Vulnerable Sector check

This full-time, 1 year contract will be working 37.5 hours per week in a remote (work-from-home) capacity with an annual salary of $60,000 to be paid on the 1st and 15th of every month, with an additional $2,500 bonus upon successful completion of the contract. This position will be required to work evenings to facilitate after-school programming, when scheduled. This program is delivered online through Zoom and in-person. 

To apply:

Submit your application to Jaime Luttmann (Jaime.Luttmann@StrongMindsStrongKids.org) by Friday, January 10^th, 2025 at 11:59pm ET.

Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada is a national charitable organization based out of Ontario. While we work in all timezones across Canada, you may be required to accommodate ET/EST working hours as necessary. We welcome applications from qualified individuals anywhere in Canada.

Qualified applicants are invited to submit their resume and cover letter in one document attached to the email above, in confidence. We request all applications be submitted online only. For technical issues only, please contact info@strongmindsstrongkids.org.

We thank all applicants for applying, however, only qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Successful candidacy is contingent upon submission of a clear Vulnerable Sector Screening.