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Home » mental health

Associate Director, Housing & Homelessness Services

April 6, 2021 By Jessica Samuels Leave a Comment

The Associate Director of Housing & Homelessness Services (ADH&HS) is an integral part of the CMHA Kelowna leadership team helping us to realize our vision of a mentally healthy community by building homes, building lives and building community. We are an innovative, fast moving, pragmatic, compassionate organization, and a leader in the social services sector. Being a part of our team means: you are driven, creative and organized, passionate, and experienced.

The ADH&HS provides overall coordination and leadership to the CMHA Kelowna Housing & Homelessness Services staff and ensures that our programs are person-centered, recovery focused, and that staff are supported to succeed and excel. The Associate Director provides leadership in the development, planning, coordination, operation, and evaluation of all programs and services within the Housing & Homelessness Services portfolio. This includes more than 200 units of supportive housing in 5 sites, 1 affordable housing apartment building, and approximately 100 units of affordable housing throughout the community plus an amazing team of individuals who work hard at the front line to make life better for our residents and clients.

We have had a big year of growth and we need a seasoned professional to help make sure the little things are not missed, while keeping a keen on the broader vision to take us to the next level.  Are you a master of time management? Can you efficiently assess and address competing priorities? Do you find yourself constantly trying to make things even better? Are you interested in taking something from good to great?  Fantastic, we want to hear from you.

The portfolio currently includes:

  • Supportive Housing – Willowbridge, Heath House, Gordon Place, Ellis Place (complex care), McCurdy Place (recovery orientation)
  • Scattered-Site Housing
  • Housing First, Rapid Re-Housing, Homelessness Prevention & Diversion
  • Homeless Outreach
  • Housing First for Youth (HF4Y) and Benvoulin Youth Housing Project
  • Rent Bank 

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Leadership – in the planning, organization, and direction of the CMHA Kelowna Housing & Homelessness Services;
  • Human Resources/Personnel relations – contribute to the professional development of new and experienced team leaders and staff. Ensure program staff are valued and supported to reach their potential and serve the organizational mission and values;
  • Vision – support and promote a dynamic team of staff who provide first class, positive and recovery oriented services and supports where respect, diversity, responsibility and creativity are promoted;
  • Evaluation – all program/services and personnel receive regular and consistent evaluation and feedback;
  • Community Development – represent the organization and promote community awareness of the services delivered through Housing & Homelessness Services by maintaining positive contact with other groups, services and agencies in the community and province. 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:     

  1. Human Resource Leadership:
  • Ensure Operational Policy and Procedure Manuals are up to date and implemented;
  • Supervision – ensure regular, documented performance/progress reviews;
  • Foster and maintain effective communications, collaboration and support within CMHA Kelowna staff and programs;
  • Provide leadership and promote the values of the Association through effective planning, implementation and evaluation of priorities within their area of responsibility;
  1. Program Management:
  • Ensure contracted programs adhere to and exceed the funder’s contracted goals and objectives and report on these as required;
  • Evaluation – regular review of program direction, goals and objectives through satisfaction surveys with staff, program participants, family/friends, service providers in the community, funders; file reviews, process reviews;
  • Information Management – provide leadership in ensuring consistent processes for collection of information for staff, participant/resident files, information measuring outcomes and expectations;
  1. Program Development and Coordination:
  • In conjunction with the Director of Service Delivery & Program Innovation, develop funding proposals for new programs and services within their area of responsibility consistent with the organizations mission, vision and strategic directions.
  • Financial and Budget leadership – support program staff to be aware of program budget, spending and reporting.
  • Lead the coordination and integration of services within their respective area of responsibility. 
  1. Community Development:
  • Build and expand upon relationships with community agencies, funders, business and the general community to further the work of CMHA Kelowna;
  • Create opportunities for collaboration within the community;
  • Participate on key committees and working groups as required;
  • Establish opportunities for relevant community based research initiatives. 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (social/human services, management, leadership);
  • Minimum 5 years of experience in a management role, including 3+ years in senior leadership role;
  • Direct experience in the housing and homelessness sector, with a well-rounded understanding of current best practices and the evidence base in serving individuals experiencing, or at-risk of, homelessness;
  • Experience in non-profit sector an asset;
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with proven ability to communicate effectively with general public, program participants, family members, funders, volunteers and other community partners;
  • Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills;
  • Demonstrated collaborative leadership style;
  • Ability to develop and manage budgets within operational parameters;
  • This is a management position, overtime may be required;
  • Ability to work flexible hours – some evening and weekends may be required;
  • Must have own vehicle;
  • Some travel required.

YOU ARE:

  • Flexible, adaptable, thrive in a fast paced environment;
  • Hungry for growth and challenge to keep you at the top of your game;
  • A team player who thrives on contributing to team success;
  • Results-driven and self-motivated. 

BENEFITS:

  • Dental Care
  • Extended Health Care
  • Vision Care
  • RRSP matching program
  • 3 weeks of vacation time
  • Generous sick time

To apply for this exciting role, please forward a cover letter and resume to John West, Human Resources Coordinator, at [email protected] by April 14th, 2021.

As an employer, CMHA Kelowna strives to create a workplace that respects and values all individuals, minimizes bias, and promotes the equity, diversity, and inclusion of different perspectives and ideas. At CMHA Kelowna, that means welcoming diversity in mental health, race, ethnicity, and culture. It also means diverse abilities, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, gender identities, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. These values are embedded in the work CMHA Kelowna does every day.

We appreciate and thank all applicants for their interest, however only short-listed candidates and those legally eligible to work in Canada will be contacted.

Filed Under: Careers Tagged With: Associate Director Housing and Homelessness Services, Associate Director jobs, CMHA, CMHA jobs, CMHA Kelowna, CMHA Kelowna jobs, Director jobs non-profit, mental health, mental health jobs, supportive housing jobs

Move for your Mood

March 18, 2021 By Jessica Samuels Leave a Comment

Move to improve your mental health

Before we talk about how to improve your mental health, let’s make sure we agree on what we’re talking about. At the Canadian Mental Health Association, we notice that people use the terms “mental health” and “mental illness” interchangeably, but really, they mean different things.

Mental illnesses are disturbances in thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that are severe enough to affect day-to-day functioning.[i] Some examples are anxiety disorders or major depression, and by age 40, about half of people in Canada will have or have had a mental illness.

Mental health, however, is a state of well-being, and we all have it. Some signs of good mental health are enjoying life, having a sense of purpose, and being able to manage life’s highs and lows.

One in five people in Canada will experience a mental health problem or illness in any given year.[ii] But five in five of us have mental health that needs to be protected and promoted.

The good news is, there are things we can all do to promote and protect our mental health, and they can be as simple as putting one foot in front of the other.

Move to feel well

You don’t need to run to get a runner’s high. Any aerobic activity, such as powerwalking to the grocery store, climbing a toboggan hill or doing jumping jacks in your basement pumps up endorphins and floods your brain with feel-good chemicals.

If you’re feeling tense or trapped by your always-on monkey brain, movement can be a form of meditation, too. Ever notice how you’ve forgotten the stresses of your day after a long walk?

People who exercise report feeling less stressed or nervous, and regular heart-pumping movement can reduce tension, fatigue and anger, and improve your mood, your self-esteem and your body image. For even greater benefits, get moving outdoors! Recent studies have found people report a higher level of vitality, enthusiasm and pleasure after they have walked outside.

Move to manage illness

In people with a diagnosed mental illness, such as depression, regular physical activity can even help treat your symptoms.[iii] In the short term, vigorous exercise that really gets your heart pumping can boost your mood after just 10 or 15 minutes.

And, if you get moving regularly, this trains your brain over time to help regulate your mood and can even relieve depression.

Ride the ups and downs of life

Remember: even if you don’t have a mental illness, that doesn’t mean you’ll feel great all the time. You might experience stress, a difficult life event, or burnout. Just like anyone can catch a cold or flu, everyone experiences the ups and downs of life.

So, there’s not just the one in five of us who have mental illnesses, and “the rest of us” who don’t. There is no rest of us. There is just us—all five in five. And regular physical activity can help all of us feel better, mentally and physically.

Are you looking for mental health services or supports in your own community? Visit www.cmha.ca to find your local CMHA. If you are thinking of suicide, please visit www.crisisservicescanada.ca or call 1-833-456-4566; in QC, call 1-866-APPELLE.

[i] Quick Facts: Mental Illness & Addiction in Canada. Mood Disorders Society of Canada

[ii] https://cmha.ca/fast-facts-about-mental-illness

[iii] https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-is-an-all-natural-treatment-to-fight-depression

This article was written for ParticipACTION’s Move for your Mood campaign and originally appeared on the CMHA National website

Filed Under: News Tagged With: CMHA, CMHA Kelowna, depression, exercise for depression, Kelowna, mental health, move for your mood

Beneath the surface: Self-care myths & facts

March 12, 2021 By Jessica Samuels Leave a Comment

Over the years, we’ve seen a steady increase in mental health awareness. More and more, we’re hearing and talking about wellness, mindfulness, therapy, stress management and self-care.

While it’s exciting to see increased interest in mental health, the popularization of wellness can sometimes lead to misinformation and the desire to profit from it—sometimes even called “wellness washing.”

While taking luxurious baths can feel great, self-care goes far beyond that. True wellness requires more than skincare serums, kitchen gadgets and scented candles—and you don’t always need to spend money to feel good.

Self-care is quite literally taking care of yourself. Your whole self.

Listen to our podcast and learn more about the difference between self-care and self-soothe.

To help you better understand what self-care is and isn’t, we’ve laid out some popular myths and facts:

Myth: Self-care is all about pampering yourself
Fact: Like we said, self-care is simply the act of caring for yourself. Sometimes that looks like sipping tea with a face mask on, but it can also include creating boundaries, getting your heartrate up or paying bills.

Myth: Self-care is only for people with poor mental health
Fact: Self-care is for everyone. In fact, you’re already doing it. Even the most basic functions of life count as self-care. If you’re brushing your teeth, you’re practicing self-care. If you’ve gone to bed early to get a good night’s sleep, that’s self-care. If you’ve sung in the shower lately, that can even be self-care. The reason self-care is more well-known to those struggling with their mental health is because life’s curveballs can sometimes make the most basic acts of self-care difficult.

Myth: You need to spend money to practice self-care
Fact: Nope! If you feel you need to pay yourself a little more attention, self-care can be as simple as going for a walk or calling a friend. Buying that expensive pressed juice or downloading that fancy app might feel great, but it’s not the only way to care for your health and wellbeing.

Myth: Self-care is just about things that make you feel good
Fact: Sometimes self-care is doing things that feel awful in the moment but are good for you in the long run. Like cleaning your bathroom or having a difficult conversation. These types of things can benefit you in the future, even if they don’t feel great in the present.

Myth: Self-care is only about taking care of your mental health
Fact: We are complex beings and there are many things that make up the self. Think of all the things that make you you. Self-care is caring for your mental and emotional needs, physical needs, social needs, spiritual needs, practical needs and intellectual needs. If you neglect one or more of these buckets, it can be difficult to feel balanced and well.

Myth: Self-care is indulgent and selfish
Fact: You need to care for yourself to be able to care for others. It’s not selfish to fulfill your needs. Blocking off time in your calendar for “me time” is essential to avoid burnout, professionally or otherwise. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Myth: If you practice self-care regularly, you will always have good mental health
Fact: Having good mental health is not an individual responsibility (see social determinants of health). Yes, practicing self-care can boost your mood and help you feel well, but it is not a magical cure for mental health problems and illnesses.

Fresh air is not a cure-all. Someone who is grieving a loss cannot shrug off their sorrow with scented candles and steamed vegetables. And baking banana bread cannot erase the uncertainty and anxiety we have faced with this pandemic.

There are many factors that play a role in well-being, and self-care is something that we can control and act on. Sometimes that’s enough to soften the blow of a bad day.

To help you carve out time for self-care, and to help you make yourself a priority, we’ve developed a printable guide. Download it here.

This article originally appeared on the CMHA National website.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: CMHA Kelowna mental health, CMHA Kelowna podcast, CMHA Kelowna self care, CMHA Kelowna what really works, CMHA self care, mental health, self care, self care podcast, self care tips, what is self care, What really works podcast

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