Child and Youth Care Practitioner, Day Treatment

Position Type – FT Contract, starting in September 2026 until March 31, 2027

Hours of Work per week – 35

Salary Range

$33.81 to $39.37 per hour

Benefits

• We offer generous group employee benefits which includes:
• Generous paid time off (Vacation and Sick days)
• Access to employee perks and discounts

Union Position - This position is represented by OPSEU local 567.

ABOUT US

Strides Toronto Support Services (“Strides Toronto”) Strides Toronto is a multi-service agency supporting infants, children, youth and young adults from birth to age 29, and their families, primarily across east Toronto. We offer community-based, residential and treatment programs—including mental health counselling, autism services, early intervention, day treatment, education, outreach and community support—using a client-centered, evidence-informed approach. Since 2015, Strides Toronto has served as Toronto’s Lead Agency for Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health, partnering with 21 core service providers to provide system leadership, citywide planning, coordinated service delivery and program alignment. Strides Toronto also leads initiatives with broader reach, including Help Ahead [https://helpahead.ca/] and the HOPE Strategy [https://www.hope-strategy.com/] across Toronto and One Stop Talk [https://onestoptalk.ca/]/Parlons Maintenant [https://onestoptalk.ca/fr/] and the Provincial Youth Outreach Worker Program [https://www.ontario.ca/document/2024-2025-mccss-service-objectives-child-welfare-and-protection/2024-2025-services-41] across Ontario.

About the Role

This is an existing vacancy for two (2) full-time contract Child and Youth Care Practitioner, Day Treatment (CYCP, DT) positions. The CYCP, DT provides therapeutic support in a classroom environment to address behavioral and mental health issues as they arise; and redirect inappropriate behavior by modelling the appropriate behavior and teaching skills to manage emotional dysregulation for the purpose of reintegrating the youth into a mainstream classroom, community program or employment program.

The CYCP, DT supports the classroom teacher in helping clients to engage in the academic and therapeutic components of the program.

• What you will do
• Organize and schedule primary sessions with clients.
• Discuss the purpose of entering the program, goal-setting, and identify needs of the client.
• Facilitate daily treatment / life skills groups.
• Provide treatment based skills coaching from a DBT framework.
• Document daily expectations (i.e. Attendance taking (daily), Behaviour tracking sheets, Daily Logs, Diary cards, Attendance/ behaviour contracts).
• Create and document Safety plans (sometimes as part of a multi-disciplinary team) to help keep client safe in a crisis.
• Provide a wide range of therapeutic interventions from supporting clients to engage in academics (reminders, redirections), to managing defiance and mental health / emotional crises.
• Be a main point of contact for parents/families, treatment team and community partners.
• Occasionally organize community outings, support clients in the community/homes, and accompany to appointments/hospital.
• Collaborate with colleagues/community partners to access other services to meet client needs.
• Provide training and supervision to college students (usually 3rd year) in the Child and Youth care program, to allow them to attain field training in the classroom environment and gain hands on experience to allow them to enter the workforce.

The “must haves”

• The following education, professional memberships and knowledge are a requirement for this role:
• College diploma in Child and Youth work (CYW) or Child and Youth Care (CYC).
• Minimum 2 years’ experience.
• Knowledge of behaviour management principles and crisis management skills.
• Knowledge in mental health group facilitation.
• Awareness of the role of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in the workplace and within the community being served by the position.
• An understanding of anti-black racism, anti-oppressive/anti-racism perspective in the context of the social determinants of health.
• Ability to recognize and identify situations where incidents of imbalance of power and privilege may occur and can result in possible negative impacts.

The ‘nice to haves’

While not required, preference will be given to candidates with the following

• Dialectical Behvaiour Therapy skills
• Functional computer and client information system knowledge.
• Fluency in another language(s), including sign language.

Before starting with us

• As our work puts us in direct contact with youth and vulnerable persons in our community, with health and safety as a priority, the successful candidate must complete or obtain the following before commencement of their employment:
• A Vulnerable Sector police check
• A positive police check does not automatically disqualify an applicant for a position with Strides Toronto. The Police Check will be reviewed and evaluated for the purpose of making a decision on suitability for employment in relation to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position being filled.

• Why join our team?
• We provide opportunities for growth and professional development.
• We are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment where our diverse team members and clients can thrive.
• We have a collaborative and supportive Senior Management Team.
• We set high standards for performance, client outcomes, and implement best practices, which are demonstrated through our accreditation with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.

How To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume outlining your demonstrated education, certification (if applicable), working and related volunteer experience and how you meet specific requirements for this position, and any additional considerations you deem appropriate. The application deadline is June 25, 2026.

Strides Toronto is an equal opportunity employer. We benefit from diversity of lived experiences in the workplace and encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Strides Toronto is a participant in the Government of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge, a program which challenges organizations to improve access for women and/or non-binary people and other equity-deserving groups, including those identifying as: racialized, Black, and/or people of colour, people with disabilities (including invisible and episodic disabilities), 2SLGBTQ+ and/or gender and sexually diverse individuals, and Aboriginal and/or Indigenous Peoples to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Strides Toronto’s own policies, requests for accommodation will be considered throughout the hiring process.

We thank all applicants however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.