Description
The Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN) is a community-centred primary health care facility. With a vision rooted in providing comprehensive primary care services, delivered by an interdisciplinary team of professionals to promote healthy communities, we offer a range of community-based services.
The CHCN has an opening for a Summer Program Assistant.
We are seeking a motivated and creative Summer Program Assistant to support our summer programs. The Program Assistant supports the Program Coordinator in the development, implementation, and evaluation of community outreach programs for children, youth, and seniors. The role focuses on fostering safe, inclusive, and engaging environments for participants, many of whom come from marginalized or isolated populations. Program areas include children’s education, senior wellness, community garden programming, and outdoor activities in subsidized housing complexes.
This position offers opportunities to develop skills in health promotion, community engagement, program facilitation, and the creation of marketing materials for summer programs.
Key Tasks & Responsibilities
Program Delivery & Support
- Assist the Program Coordinator with planning, implementing, and evaluating educational and recreational outreach programs for at-risk and diverse populations including individuals from marginalized, isolated populations including seniors, children and youth.
- Support community-based programming such as Community Garden activities, Affordable Community Food Market, outreach programming in low-income residential units through outdoor physical and educational programs, senior wellness initiatives, and healthy living programs.
- Help create warm, welcoming, safe, and judgment-free environments for all participants.
- Promote positive, healthy social interactions among participants.
Children’s Programs
Assist in planning and facilitating:
- Plants to Plates: A hands-on food education program for children pairing garden activities with kitchen skill-building, making connections between how food is grown and how to prepare nutritious, tasty meals
- Home Alone: A free safety and independence program for youth learning to stay home alone responsibly and what to do in case of an emergency.
- Kids Club: A free outdoor program offered at three subsidized housing units, providing games, crafts, activities, and nutritious snacks for children from low-income families.
Seniors’ Programming
- Assist in delivering Social Hour, a free program designed to reduce senior isolation including games, crafts, activities, guest speakers and snacks.
- Support chair-based exercise classes by preparing program spaces, taking attendance, and admitting participants to virtual Zoom classes.
- Contribute to the planning and preparation of community events, including a community barbeque
Program Operations & Administration
- Ensure all program registrations and attendance records are accurate and up to date.
- Call participants to introduce yourself, provide program reminders, and answer basic questions.
- Supervise children during program activities to ensure safety and positive engagement.
- Assist with setting up, cleaning, and preparing program spaces for upcoming activities.
- Work collaboratively with the Program Coordinator and Community Staff to address any program, facility, or participant concerns.
- Maintain accurate records including attendance sheets, incident reports, and program notes; notify the Community Health Worker immediately of any concerns.
Training, Meetings & Professional Development
- Attend mandatory workplace training, including job-specific safety training and current First Aid/CPR certification.
- Participate in regular debriefing sessions with the Community Health Worker and Program Coordinator.
- Attend staff and community team meetings as scheduled.
- Participate in daily check-ins with the supervisor.
- Engage in weekly mentorship meetings with assigned mentors (Program Coordinator and Community Health Worker) to discuss goals, training opportunities, and program development.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Understanding of the social determinants of health, equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse populations, including children, youth, and isolated seniors.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to create supportive, inclusive, and judgment-free environments.
- Responsible, organized, and able to maintain accurate documentation.
- Comfortable working in outdoor and community settings.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Commitment to fostering positive social engagement and healthy community relationships.
Experience
Qualifications:
- Must be between the ages of 15-30 years old
- Experience with social media management and digital content creation.
- Current enrollment in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Health Promotion, or related program considered an asset
- Strong writing and editing skills with attention to detail.
- Familiarity with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar design tools considered an asset.
- Interest in public health, community engagement, or non-profit work.
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
- Demonstrated organizational and time management skills.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Updated Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector (within the last 6 months)
Youth who have not completed high school and youth who have not previously been employed are strongly encouraged to apply.
Apply
Salary: $17.60 per hour
Contract/Hours: 8 weeks, 35 hours per week
Anticipated start date: June 22, 2026
Positions are based upon the receipt of Canada Summer Jobs Funding therefore number of positions, weeks and hours of work may differ from posting.
Interested candidates should send their resumes to crutherford@chcnorthumberland.ca citing “Communications Coordinator”. No phone calls please. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Closing date is Tuesday May 12, 2026 at 4:00 pm.
As part of our ongoing commitment to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Community Health Centres of Northumberland will provide assistance to applicants who request accommodation throughout the recruitment process.
At the CHCN, we value diversity – in backgrounds and in experiences. Healthcare is a universal concern and we invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions to help build the future of healthcare and our communities.
Note that the CHCN is a scent free work environment and we ask that you refrain from wearing fragrances and other scented personal care products (i.e. perfumes, deodorants, lotions, hairspray, etc.) while at the Centre.
