Coordinator, Prison In-Reach Education,Support and Advocacy

About the Program

The Federal Program provides harm reduction, HIV and Hep C education and support to prisoners in Ontario’s federal institutions to ensure access to information, physical, emotional and spiritual support that improves the health and well-being for people who use drugs and those living with HIV/HCV.

Responsibilities

Programs and Services

• Coordinates and implements prison in-reach programming on topics including overdose prevention, safer drug use, safer sex and HIV, Hep C, and STBBI
• Provide case management support and advocacy for prisoners/ex-prisoners living with and at risk for acquiring HIV and Hep C
• Provide reintegration, system navigation support for prisoners/ex-prisoners living with and at risk of acquiring HIV/Hep C prior to and upon their release for prison
• Build relationships with various community organizations to increase access to HIV, Hepatitis C testing, treatment, and harm reduction help
• Develop relevant educational resource materials in collaboration with federally incarcerated people
• Support the development of stigma-free, culturally safe services for prisoners/ex-prisoners through the delivery of capacity-building service provider training
• Collaborate with linkage to care team, health, and community partners to enhance post-release and reintegration linkage to care

Program Delivery

• Develop and maintain strong linkages to care to strengthen referral pathways, while addressing stigma, oppression, and racial discrimination in the community
• Build and maintain partnerships with healthcare providers and other community support organizations (housing, food access, income support, etc.) both within the institution and in the community to facilitate clients’ access to relevant services that address the social determinants of health
• Reach out to Black and Indigenous health and social services to increase client connection to community-led services
• Develop and deliver capacity-building training for service providers as required implementation of relevant evaluation tools to measure the impact of the program
• Support PASAN advocacy efforts related to prisoner health

Job Requirements:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the structural, economic, social, and political contexts that affect both incarcerated people and those who were previously incarcerated in Ontario
• Knowledge and application of cultural safety principles, trauma-informed approaches, and an ability and willingness to work with communities who are over-represented in the carceral system.
• In-depth knowledge and experience working alongside equity-deserving communities and delivering low barriers services and programs
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain reciprocal relationships with healthcare providers and/or community support organizations
• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering educational workshops.
• Strong understanding of the health and social impacts of incarceration and the criminal legal system.
• Experience creating peer-based and harm reduction–informed educational materials.
• Demonstrated understanding of the structural, economic, social, and political contexts that impact prisoners and ex-prisoners
• A strong commitment to advancing justice, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, both within the organization and in the delivery of programs and services.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Effective time management, prioritization, and organizational skills, with the ability to work alone and collaboratively with other Coordinators on the team.
• Proficiency in using basic computer applications (Microsoft Office and emails)

Assets:

• Prior experience working with incarcerated people, including women and gender diverse folks, Black and Indigenous community members, folks affected by HIV or HCV,
• Lived/living experience and/or extensive knowledge of incarceration, HIV/HCV
• Experience in program monitoring and evaluation
• An ability to communicate in languages other than English

Required Qualifications & Critical Commitments

• Drivers License
• Clearance to federal correctional institutions
• Ability to travel for several days at time
• We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons,women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities, and others from equity-deserving communities.

Don’t be too concerned if you don’t tick all of the boxes when it comes to the requirements that we’ve outlined - especially if this role really excites and interests you. We would still love to hear from you.

Please write a cover letter, which should include:

• What connects you and motivates you to join the organization
• The relevant experience and/or skills that you feel you can
  contribute to PASAN
• Your understanding and commitment to advocating for health & justice issues for and with individuals who are incarcerated or were formerly incarcerated