Who we are 

For over 20 years, FamilySmart has been working in B.C. and Alberta to enhance the quality and experiences of services, support and information families receive when seeking help for their child, youth or young adult with mental health challenges.  We help children and young people by helping their family and other caring adults. We know children and young people do better when the adults who care about them are supported.

Help for the Hard Times Online Workshop 

Help for the Hard Times is an online workshop for parents and caregivers whose child/youth is or has been a patient in a psychiatric unit or had an ER visit due to their mental health.  The workshop series provides a framework for parents/caregivers to consider as they support their child after a crisis.  Each workshop series includes 4 sessions and offers practical strategies, tips and tools that support caring, connected relationships. The workshop was created by parents with lived experience, working in a clinical setting on the multidisciplinary team at Surrey Memorial Hospital’s Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Stabilization Unit (CAPSU).

Position Summary

The Workshop Facilitator is a parent and/or caring adult living in Edmonton who has their own lived experience parenting a child/youth with a mental health challenge.  As well as, skill and experience facilitating online groups and/or workshops.  The Facilitator position includes: promotion, pre-screening participants, registration, facilitating, 1-1 meetings with participants and fidelity to the workshop content and program.  In the first few months after being hired, the facilitator will also help to develop the tools and content for Session 4: Finding the Resources You Need, as there will be community/region specific information that will need to be incorporated as the workshop expands into Edmonton and surrounding communities.

Things we’ll love about you: Knowledge, skills, abilities

• You are willing to learn to facilitate our existing workshop materials and methods to retain the fidelity of the workshop
• You have excellent communication skills including the ability to use conversational, plain language skills and to train, facilitate, and influence others 
• You are an active listener 
• You are comfortable and capable using the Zoom platform to assist people in learning with and from each other  
• You have the ability to apply appropriate boundaries   
• You have strong relationship-building skills   
• You are organized and have a strong work ethic   
• You are able to raise concerns or suggestions in a way that enables greater outcomes
• You are empathetic and compassionate towards others   
• You can work independently and show initiative
• You have the ability to work with diverse populations and perspectives to recognize and respond appropriately to the needs of adolescents, families and service providers  
• You are a demonstrated team player with exceptional ability to give, receive and incorporate feedback. 

Other Requirements:

• Minimum 2 years of Adult Learning or a related discipline plus related experience coaching, mentoring, or training.
• This job is performed from a home office and requires a computer with a working camera and microphone, as well as stable high-speed internet to host the workshop on Zoom.  
• Successful candidates must pass a Criminal Records Check.

Compensation and Hours

Hourly rate: $27/hour 

Hours: Part-time approximately an average of 28 Hours per month 

FamilySmart provides excellent support, supervision and training and will help you learn and develop the skills that we have discovered to help families and service providers work well together. 

We invite you to apply, and to learn more about this unique role. Please send a cover letter and resume to Robin Brown, Director, HR at  

Subject line: Workshop Facilitator Edmonton

Please note that the assessment of applicants will be made on an ongoing basis and continue until a hire is made.

We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. FamilySmart is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Personnel are chosen on the basis of ability without regard to age, ancestry, colour, family status, marital status, physical or mental disability, place of origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and criminal conviction unrelated to employment.