Job Specification

Purpose :

To provide program expertise, strategic leadership and advisory services with respect to a range of Indigenous programs and initiatives, including the families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls, including
information gathering and exchange, assistance to navigate the justice system, support and/or referrals.

To promote the Family Information Liaison Unit (FILU) and contribute to awareness of the issues and reality of the lived experience of family members of MMIWG, as well as survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Indigenous Program Planning and Implementation:
- Contributes to the development of an operational plan and annual strategic plans for implementing the program and identifies/develops implementation mechanisms and monitors and reports on performance
- Contribute to the development of environmental scans in order to identify program business needs and overall government priorities, identifies resource requirements for implementation of Indigenous policy/program initiatives and operation procedures
- Provides leadership in the development of project plans, Indigenous training programs, etc.
- Provides supports to the implementation, e.g. fosters positive working relationships and provides advice on issues related to MMIWG

2. Program-Related Support:
- Identifies gaps in services/procedures for families of MMIWG, and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls
- Provides input, suggestions and ideas on improvements to protocol, procedures and processes in support of the operation and administration of the program
- Ensures results are tracked as identified in the FILU Evaluation Framework
- Coordinates day to day expenditures and accounts payable functions, and submits financial reports to the Senior Project Manager

3. Policy Support:
- Prepare preliminary analysis of policy, program and ministry actions based on comprehensive feedback report
- Identifies strategies and policy options on emerging issues related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and violence against Indigenous women and girls

4. Awareness and Outreach:
- Develops and implements local strategies to increase awareness of the issues and the reality of the lived experience of survivors of MMIWG, and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and children
- Explains the operations of the justice system to families of MMIWG in order to provide family members with a holistic understanding of the history of the case they are inquiring about
- Participates in public speaking engagements regarding the role of FILU, and partners with community agencies to provide trauma informed services and support for survivors of MMIWG, and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls

5. Case Management:
- Prepares, updates and maintains confidential case files and detailed case notes; prepares a range of correspondence, reports, and intake and assessment forms related to participant services
- Coordinates with Ontario's Joint Inquiry Team to respond to referrals from the MMIWG Commissioners of the National Inquiry, and requests from families of MMIWG for case-specific information
- Maintains a liaison between families and community agency personnel, government organizations, and police to advocate for the needs/interests of the families of MMIWG
- Liaises with Federal, Provincial and Territorial FILUs where there are cross-jurisdictional issues, as directed by the Manager, Programs

6. National Inquiry and Referrals:
- Provides comprehensive and up to date information for families throughout the mandate of the National Inquiry of MMIWG, including assessing and evaluating a family member's needs of MMIWG, as well as survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls, preparing a plan and providing
appropriate services and/or referrals
- Provides culturally responsive, trauma-informed and holistic information services to families of MMIWG
- Ensures cultural appropriateness and respects and honors the diverse cultural, linguistic and spiritual traditions of Indigenous Peoples; demonstrates an understanding the impacts of colonization, Indian Residential Schools, the Indian Act and the child welfare system, including the 60's scoop, on
Indigenous Peoples and contributing factors leading to the high levels of violence against Indigenous women and girls
- Prepares families for the MMIWG National Inquiry process by ensuring information gathering on behalf of the team to share with family members
about their case files, and explaining possible reasons for gaps in case information
- Makes referrals when beyond the mandate of the FILU, to police services, regulatory bodies, trauma and counseling supports, and provides linkages to other community supports to the families of MMIWG, and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls
- Seeks advice from Indigenous Justice Unit's Elders Advisory Council as well as local Elders

7. Stakeholder Relations/Partnerships:
- Establishes a community-based FILU Circle of Support that includes building and maintaining strong ties with community organizations in the provision of culturally sensitive and trauma informed services for Indigenous women and their families
- Develops protocols with local service delivery agencies including Victim Services as appropriate to best serve the needs of the families
- Represents FILUs at meetings of community groups, services, agencies, and local police services regarding issues of MMIWG, and violence against Indigenous women and girls

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- Knowledge of issues pertaining to violence against Indigenous women and girls and families of MMIWG, specifically domestic violence, sexual violence and child abuse, exploitation, victimization, homicide, missing persons, death related cases, etc.
- Working knowledge of Ontario's Long Term Strategy to End Violence Against Indigenous Women and Ontario's Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples; the Canadian and Ontario's Victims Bill of Rights; and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Personal Privacy Act to provide non-confidential verbal and written information in response to verbal or written inquiries from participants, justice sector and service providers
- Knowledge of policies and processes followed by government bodies in cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls; and an understanding of the criminal justice system, criminal code and other related legislation impacting program delivery to provide advocacy, advice and
assistance to Indigenous individuals and families of MMIWG, and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls
- Knowledge of needs of Indigenous individuals and families of MMIWG including crisis and violence intervention and case management; culturally relevant gender based analysis; and culturally relevant resource services
- An understanding of the impacts of colonization, Indian Residential Schools, the Indian Act and the child welfare system, and the 60's scoop on Indigenous Peoples as contributing factors to high levels of violence against Indigenous women and girls
- Knowledge of the delivery of trauma-informed services, crisis response and intervention, and an understanding of the effects of trauma, grief and loss relating to victims of violence of Indigenous women and girls, and for families of MMIWG; intervention and crisis response skills to respond to clients in crisis, who may be traumatized
- Knowledge of risk assessment and safety planning, to assist participants to identify safety concerns and develop plans to access services including unique context of remote Indigenous communities
- Knowledge of services provided by community agencies to arrange appropriate referrals for individuals and families, to foster co-operation in service provision, and to build partnerships and educational networks
- Oral and written communication skills to provide front-line services and case information to the families of MMIWG; and to prepare case file information, correspondence, reports and forms related to services

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Interpersonal skills to deal with the families of MMIWG, and victims of violence against Indigenous women and girls
- Sensitivity and empathy to facilitate a trusting environment
- Conflict resolution skills and tact to defuse potentially volatile situations
- Influential skills to partner with community agencies to create opportunities for support and referrals to trauma informed services for families of MMIWG, and victims of violence against Indigenous women and girls
- Presentation skills to participate in public speaking engagements regarding the FILU

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analyzing and problem-solving skills to:
- Initiate discussion with families of MMIWG, and victims of violence against Indigenous woman and girls, and to conduct needs assessment and information gathering
- Assess individual and families' individual needs; provide relevant guidance and information; select and initiate contact with appropriate community
agencies, government organizations and services for referral purposes
- Determine appropriate action in delivering FILU services that deal with highly contentious and sensitive issues
- Determine when to seek advice from Indigenous Justice Unit's Elders Advisory Council as well as local Elders
- Identify issues requiring immediate referral to the Senior Project Manager or community services
- Identify gaps in services/procedures and policy for families of MMIWG, and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Independent decision-making to function in the absence of regular on-site direction
- Making spontaneous decisions in the event of a critical, unexpected or contentious issue; and initiating action in unusual circumstances for individuals who may be in crisis or at high risk to personal safety
- Assisting families to navigate the justice system, and providing front-line assistance, specialized advisory services, emotional support and/or referrals for families
- Providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed and holistic information services to families of MMIWG
- Explaining the justice system process to families, and assisting in preparation for the MMIWG National Inquiry
- Determining cases or emerging contentious issues to bring to the attention of the Director, Programs
- Establishing a community-based FILU Circle of Support, and building and maintaining strong ties with community organizations
- Representing FILUs at meetings of community groups, agencies and services and local police services regarding issues of MMIWG, and violence against Indigenous women and girls
- Making assessments which can positively impact on the well-being of the families
- Participating in public speaking engagements regarding the FILU, and partners with community agencies
-Has latitude to develop and implement local strategies to increase awareness of the issues and the reality of the lived experience of survivors of MMIWG, and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls; and to make referrals to families when it is beyond the mandate of the FILU
such as to police services, regulatory bodies, trauma and counseling supports, and community organizations
-Decisions are guided by: existing legislative and Indigenous policy frameworks, government directives and procedures; the Canadian and Ontario's Victims Bill of Rights; the Freedom of Information and Protection of Personal Privacy Act; and Ontario's Long Term Strategy to End Violence Against
Indigenous Women and Ontario's Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Manager, Programs (at another geographic location) to seek guidance, and to discuss and convey contentious issues
- Families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls, to provide emotional support and/or referrals; and to conduct needs assessment, information gathering and provide assistance to navigate the justice system
- Social service agencies, women's shelters, Victim Services, police, Indigenous and non-Indigenous mental health supports and relevant stakeholders to build trusting, working partnerships; and to advocate for the needs/interests of the families of MMIWG
- The Joint Inquiry Team for the MMIWG Inquiry for collaboration in response to referrals from the MMIWG Commissioners of the National Inquiry and requests from families of MMIWG for case-specific information
- Federal, Provincial and Territorial FILUs to discuss cross-jurisdictional issues requiring liaison and coordination when directed by the Manager, Programs

Guidance / Supervision :

Provides guidance and explains cultural protocol to stakeholders to facilitate contact with a diversity of Indigenous communities, to engage in meaningful relationships, and to service families of MMIWG, and survivors of violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Position has limited direct access to the Manager, Programs located at another geographical location
- Position is required to deal with spontaneous or changing priorities beyond the position's control

Mental / Sensory :

- Listening to, reflecting on and experiencing empathy for families and survivors of MMIWG and violence against Indigenous women and girls
- Repeated exposure to unsettling and/or explicit case details recounting trauma

Conditions / Environment :

- Work is performed in a field office environment
- Work requires frequent travel within Ontario to work directly with families of MMIWG, including travel to remote First Nation communities