by mary-anne | Sep 17, 2021 | Uncategorized
Job Posting: Program Manager
Position Type: Full-Time Contract position until March 31, 2023, with the possibility of renewal
Reports to: Senior Program Manager
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Salary: $60,000-$70,000
Start date: October 2021
Number of Hours Per Week: 40
About The New Mentality
The New Mentality (TNM) is a provincial network that engages and connects youth ages 13-25 who identify as having experience with mental illness. We co-create, support, and facilitate structures for youth-led change in the mental health system and work on a provincial scale to improve the practice of youth engagement. We believe youth can contribute to creating a better mental health system. Working in partnership with youth, adult allies, and child and youth mental health centres, we amplify youth voice and produce recommendations to the mental health system. The New Mentality is a program of Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO). CMHO is the association representing Ontario’s publicly-funded Child and Youth Mental Health Centres.
About the Role
The New Mentality Program Manager oversees all elements of The New Mentality program, including the planning and delivery of TNM Groups, Disable the Label, and the Youth Action Committee. The Program Manager is a key member of the CMHO team focused on youth voice and has an important role in policy, advocacy and member service delivery. The Program Manager works with the Senior Program Manager and other key stakeholders, including TNM youth, adult allies, consultants, advisory members, to develop high-level objectives and oversee the strategic direction of The New Mentality. The Program Manager is responsible for the financial management of the program, which includes identifying and pursuing funding opportunities, developing and monitoring project budgets, and other day-to-day project management. The Program Manager supervises and supports the Network Coordinator.
The Ideal Candidate
The Program Manager is a visionary who looks ahead with clarity. As a result, they seize opportunities and leverage points to amplify youth voice and drive change in the child and youth mental health system. They have a passion for working with young people and creating inclusive spaces for all youth to thrive and contribute. They have a deep understanding and experience leading conversations on racism and other equity challenges. They are skilled in budget management and have experience supervising staff. We emphasize the need to welcome into our community a strong leader who is committed to co-creating spaces centred on meaningful relationships and shared leadership using anti-oppressive and anti-racism frameworks. The successful candidate is looking to lead a dynamic team of individuals who are passionate about creating real change.
Key Accountabilities
- Build and execute The New Mentality program operational plan, including Network Engagement, Disable the Label, and the Youth Action Committee.
- Work with the Senior Program Manager to develop a program sustainability model.
- Develop and monitor program budget and provide quarterly reports to the Senior Program Manager; ensure TNM projects stay within budget and deliver as obligated.
- Oversee delivery of annual Disable the Label conference, including the hiring of the facilitation team, safety and crisis management, managing on-site incidents, and post-event reporting and evaluating
- Oversee delivery of the Youth Action Committee, including supervising and supporting adult allies, safety and crisis management, managing on-site incidents, and ensuring project deliverables are met.
- Oversee implementation of TNM Groups, including building relationships with TNM group partner agencies and identifying and developing new partnerships with CMHO agencies.
- Identify funding opportunities from foundations and government; lead the proposal development and submission processes.
Key Qualifications
- Five years of experience working in the child and youth mental health sector or related social services field.
- Three years of experience in program management and staff supervision in a not-for-profit social service organization.
- Experience leading and hosting conversations on racism using integrative anti-racism and anti-oppressive practices.
- Demonstrated experience working with diverse staff and stakeholders, including youth from marginalized communities.
- Excellent communication, organization, time management, conflict management and interpersonal skills.
- An ability to work independently and as part of a team in a diverse environment.
- French/English bilingualism is a strong asset; a second language other than English and French is an asset.
- Related post-secondary education or equivalent.
Compensation
In addition to the Program Manager’s salary, the Program Manager will receive a competitive benefits package and be eligible for Children’s Mental Health Ontario’s RRSP matching program.
To Apply
To apply, submit your cover letter and resume to Mary-Anne Leahy as one document (titled with your first and last name), in PDF format, to resumes@cmho.org by October 3, 2021 with the subject heading “Program Manager, TNM.” Resumes not submitted in this format will not be accepted.
The New Mentality is committed to equity in our policies, practices, and programs. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from people who identify as Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, living with a disability, or a religious minority.
If you require accommodations at any stage of the hiring process, contact Mary-Anne Leahy at the email above. Please note in the subject line: “Program Manager Application: Accommodation Needed.”
We thank everyone for their expression of interest. We are truly appreciative of the time individuals put into applying, however, with the limitations of time, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
by mary-anne | Sep 16, 2021 | Uncategorized
Hello to our incredible network!
I hope everyone had a great summer and is settling back into old routines and new routines for some of our youth as you enter high school, post-secondary, and new jobs!
The New Mentality is growing at a rapid pace. Since 2007, we have done amazing work through our incredible network and staff leadership from Cath Dyer, Caralyn Quan, many others, and our current staff Fizza. As a result, we have grown our small pilot project to a robust community of youth and adult allies, creating real change in the mental health system.
I am so proud of all the work that has been accomplished in this beautiful and inspiring community of youth mental health advocates and adult allies!
It is now time to focus on growing and finding opportunities to provide more substantial support to our network to deepen our impact and expand our reach.
Beginning immediately, I will move into a new role at Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) as a Senior Program Manager, and we will be posting for the Program Manager position. This is a new role for me within CMHO. My new role at TNM will focus entirely on developing a sustainability model to deepen our impact, expand our reach, and provide growth opportunities in the network. The goal here is to expand our TNM staff team enough that we can maintain our day-to-day activities while focusing on building a sustainability model for the network. We want to see more support for our TNM Groups, and we are so excited for what that will look like and all the incredible opportunities that will bring to network members. My role will focus on supporting the success of the new Program Manager, and I will no longer be a part of the day-to-day activities of TNM. As part of my new role, in addition to providing leadership with TNM, I will be leading a new program of CMHO focusing on developing a provincial autism training program and will also provide support to the Family Partnership program.
This news is bittersweet for me! I love our network; being on the youth action committee as a 19-year-old changed my life. I have felt the impact of my adult ally really believing in me and giving me opportunities to grow and learn and stretch and really see what I’m capable of. As a youth in the network, TNM gave me so much confidence and this amazing community to be a part of. And then, I became a staff member in 2014. I was fresh out of university and looking for something that I was passionate about. I couldn’t have dreamed of the experiences that I’ve had as a staff member. I’ve absolutely loved being an adult ally in the network. It has brought so much fulfillment, and I’ve seen so many youth do such incredible and amazing things. I am so grateful for this network. And I look forward to my new role to provide a strong foundation as the network continues to evolve and do incredible work.
I’d love to hear from you all, so if you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me! You can reach me at mary-anne@thenewmentality.ca or 416-921-2109 ext 133, I’m happy to set up a time to chat. I know change can be hard, but I really believe this change will help The New Mentality grow. Remember I’m not leaving, I’ll just be a little bit more behind the curtain 🙂
Much love,
Mary-Anne
by mary-anne | Aug 3, 2021 | Uncategorized
We are proud to announce that we will be launching our Rainbow Connections 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Leadership program this fall for youth in our network! Whether you are out and proud, not out yet, or don’t quite feel like labels are your thing, your voice holds a lot of power, and we want to hear from you. This program will be held by the founder of The New Mentality Cath Dyer, and TNM Youth Advocate Rachel Sparling.
We are looking for 10 youth who identify under the 2SLGBTQ+ umbrella (2-spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual ++) to join our newest 8-week leadership program where you will have the chance to share your stories, connect with other 2SLGBTQ+ youth in the network, and have fun, all while supporting The New Mentality Network. Over the course of 8-weeks, you will explore how your identity relates to your mental health, and what you think is most important for the network to understand about 2SLGBTQ+ youth mental health advocacy. One of the goals of the program is for participants to have developed and lead a training for Adult Allies and other TNM Youth to help them better understand how they can be advocates for 2SLGBTQ+ youth mental health
Pride is all about loving ourselves, creating change, and building spaces where everyone can exist as they are. That’s why this program is all about giving 2SLGBTQ+ youth a place to connect, build community, and make waves in The New Mentality Network! It’s our hope that over the course of the 8 weeks you’ll have together that you’ll feel supported to share your voice, stories, and knowledge with each other and with the Network in ways that feel empowering to you.
We know your voices hold power. We know that you have so much insight to share. That’s why we’re excited to build space for you to help your Adult Allies and other TNM youth learn about ways they can help be advocates for 2SLGBTQ+ youth mental health.
Qualifications:
- Identify as a youth (13- 25 years old)
- Identify as 2SLGBTQ+
- Have experience with The New Mentality
- Have lived experience of mental health challenges or substance misuse.
Commitments:
- 8-week volunteer role from September 15 to November 3, 2021.
- 2-hour meetings on Wednesdays at 5PM.
- Providing feedback and encouraging open and safe communication that accommodates every member’s needs.
- Prioritize their self‐care.
- Listen actively, respect different ideas and express an opinion without judgement.
- Identify the challenges and suggest potential alternatives and/or solutions to the Adult Ally.
If you are interested in this opportunity please reach out to your adult ally to apply! Applications close Monday, August 9th, 2021. If you have any questions or require any accommodations in the application process, please email Mary-Anne Leahy, Program Manager at mary-anne@thenewmentality.ca
