Indigenous Supports-Care Coordinator Job Description

Indigenous Supports-Care Coordinator
Autism Ontario is a charitable organization with a history of over 50 years representing the thousands of people on the autism spectrum and their families across Ontario. Autism Ontario is the province’s leading source of information and referral on autism, and one of the largest collective voices representing the autism community. Our mission is to create a supportive and inclusive Ontario for autism, and we value collaboration, respect, accountability and being evidence informed.

Job Summary:
Title: Indigenous Supports Care Coordinator-Service Navigation
Location: Onsite-United Native Friendship Centre (Fort Frances)
Hours: 37.5 hrs per week with the ability to regularly work evenings and weekends when needed
Annual Salary: $63,000-$64,500
Vacancy: Existing Role

Position Overview:
During a time of transition and significant program changes, parents/caregivers will require support to understand their options in the new Ontario Autism Program (OAP), including the new supports, pathways, and programs available to them. The Indigenous Supports Care Coordinators (ISCCs) are creative, solution-focused autism professionals scattered throughout the province, including based in Indigenous Friendship Centres, to reach as many families as possible. They maintain a dedicated roster of families to provide ongoing support and navigation and build a trusting relationship with the families they serve. ISCCs provide information about the Ontario Autism Program and help connect Indigenous families to service providers and resources available in their local communities. This will include programs, services, and resources that families can access in the Friendship Centre, as well as other services and supports available locally.

ISCCs also plan, coordinate, and implement events and workshops for autistic children and youth, their families, and professionals in the field of autism.

The ISCC is being hired by Autism Ontario in partnership with the United Native Friendship Centre (UNFC) to support the needs of Indigenous children, youth, and families, and will be based in the Friendship Centre.

Key Responsibilities:
A) Family Support:

Educate families on all relevant details about the Ontario Autism Program and ensure that they have a complete understanding of the options and services available to them
Communicate with families in person or on the phone to educate them about the OAP, to review funding options and guidelines, to provide information about other services and supports
Ensure that applicant information in the database is current and accurate
Remain knowledgeable and informed on the Foundational Family Service program offerings with community partners within your region
Support families to locate qualified, experienced and trained local service providers and refer families to the OAP Provider List to aid in their provider selection as required
Strengthen the capacities of applicants and communities to value and support Autistic Children and Youth by respecting their strengths, competencies, expertise, resilience, and capacities as well as by fostering their inclusion, self-development, and participation within communities
Provide access to culture-based programming to support wholistic individual and family well-being

B) Service Navigation:
Be the main point of contact for an assigned case load of families who have been through the determination of needs process
Communicate the results of the determination of needs process to families and support families to make informed choices about next steps for core clinical services.
Answer questions and provide evidence-informed, family-centred support, ensuring that families understand eligible expenses within Core Clinical Services
Assist families by using knowledge of all relevant services in Ontario to access the supports and services they require to achieve their goals as defined by the need’s determination process
Assist families with financial reconciliation and completing required forms as needed
Participate in the ongoing evaluation process to inform the refinement of the program
Support families to access other services as appropriate
Work with the regional event & outreach specialist and other Friendship Centre programs to plan and implement events that support families in relation to ASD such as social learning opportunities and workshops for families and professionals
Develop collaborative relationships and network with related service providers to strengthen internal and external partnerships to help inform families and connect them to programs, services, and resources available in their local communities, including other Friendship Centre programs
Host opportunities for Indigenous families to connect in person and virtually through educational events and support groups
Ensure that services are culturally responsive, accessible, and respectful of families’ values and needs
Engage in outreach initiatives within the region to develop relationships with service providers and educate other stakeholders in the sector

C) Needs Determination Support:
Learn the determination of needs tool and, when needed, support the Determination of Needs team with walking families through the process using the standardized, clinically informed approach to determine the child or youth’s support needs and resulting OAP funding amount for core clinical services
Participate in required training on the determination of needs process and tool, data collection tools and associated business processes

Qualifications and Skills:
Post-secondary education with a minimum of 3 years of experience working in a human service, social service or a clinically related discipline including providing support to families of children with ASD and/or developmental disabilities. An equivalent combination of education and similar experience will be considered
A family-centered, person-directed, culturally responsive approach to support
Experience working with Indigenous individuals and families
Flexible in engaging with families and comfortable navigating challenging conversations with compassion and empathy
Demonstrated excellent relationship building, collaboration and conflict resolution skills within a system-wide environment
Critical thinking skills
Must demonstrate sound professional judgment and problem-solving skills, as well as be able to effectively manage multiple priorities, work independently and show flexibility
Must be proficient with various computer programs including data base management, email, Microsoft Office applications and have familiarity with social media and other technology tools and approaches
Detail oriented — able to accomplish administrative tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines
Demonstrated commitment to principles of social justice, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency
Up-to-date police reference check
The role requires the ability to regularly work evenings and weekends. Must be flexible to work out of multiple locations within the assigned region and able to travel regularly within the region and occasionally to other parts of the province.
A valid driver’s license is required.
Autism Ontario offers a great work-life balance, a competitive benefits package and RRSP contributions. Some of the perks of joining our team include:
Flex Hours
Hybrid working model
Semi-casual dress code
3 weeks vacation, plus years of service days
10 paid personal days
Competitive Benefits Package (including Health, Dental, Vision and more)
RRSP Contributions
Professional development opportunities
A workplace culture that promotes both a collaborative and independent work environment
You’ll be joining a team of passionate individuals who are looking to make a difference.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to recruitment@autismontario.com by March 1st, 2025. We thank everyone for their interest in this position; however, only those candidates invited to interview with us will be contacted.

Autism Ontario and the UNFC are equal opportunity employers committed to diversity and inclusion. We are pleased to consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veterans’ status or any other legally protected factors. However, First Nations, Inuit or Métis (Indigenous) candidates who demonstrate a strong connection to an Indigenous community and/or cultural practices will be given priority.

Autism Ontario and the UNFC are committed to providing a barrier-free work environment in concert with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code. As such, Autism Ontario will make accommodations available to applicants with disabilities upon request during the hiring process.