ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

This role reports to Alana Abramson.

SUMMARY

The Community Helpline for Incarcerated People (CHIP) is a new initiative developed in collaboration between Kwantlen Polytechnic University and community partners which offers support to federally incarcerated adults. It is well‐established that incarceration leads to social isolation and that the experience of incarceration is traumatizing for many. Most incarcerated people lack access to regular family and social contact, and for those who have it, geographic distance, intrusive security measures, and the ongoing impact of COVID can create barriers to maintaining relationships and create a need for community support. Incarcerated people in Canada experience disproportionate levels of trauma, oppression, violence, acquired brain injury, substance misuse and mental illness compared to the general population. Indigenous people and other racialized groups experience over incarceration, harsher sentences and racism while in prison. Trans prisoners face safety concerns related to being housed with their sex assigned at birth rather than the gender with which they identify and the homophobic culture that often exists in prison can cause safety concerns for other members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Few prisoners have access to mental health services, and prison programs are formatted as coerced group therapy where prison culture often prevents participants from demonstrating the vulnerability required to benefit from them. While therapy and programming were already limited in Canadian prisons before 2020,
COVID has worsened the situation with less access to external resources and increased anxiety related to the pandemic.

The CHIP will provide non‐stigmatizing, trauma‐informed support and resources over the phone to incarcerated people in BC. This new initiative is now hiring up to 15 student Call Takers for our expected launch of the line in late 2024. Call takers will be expected to be on‐call approximately two shifts per month 3pm ‐ 9pm PST Saturday and/or Sunday after successfully completing the training program. Call Takers will also be expected to attend monthly virtual community of practice meetings, debriefing, and ongoing training as provided. Call Takers must be currently enrolled in university or college, be over the age of 19, and can be located anywhere in BC provided they can travel to Kamloops, BC for an initial weekend training.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Attend the in‐person (Kamloops, BC) CHIP training October 18‐20, 2024
2. Attend online training each Wednesday 6pm‐9pm PST October 30 ‐ November 27, 2024
3. Commit to two weekend shifts per month (Saturday and/or Sunday 3‐9pm PST) on the Helpline and provide availability to the Project Manager
4. Complete pre‐training activities and reading list provided by the hiring team (approx. 15 hours)
5. Provide non‐stigmatizing and trauma‐informed support to the incarcerated people who call the Helpline
6. Commit to debriefing with a team member after each Helpline shift
7. Attend virtual monthly community of practice meetings and any additional training, as needed or
   provided

QUALIFICATIONS

• Current KPU students are given priority for this project and strongly encouraged to apply
• Current student in undergraduate or graduate level criminology, psychology, Indigenous studies, social work, legal studies or similar
• Ability to commit to working as a Call Taker on the CHIP for a minimum of 1 year
• Access to a cell phone and private space for receiving calls routed from the CHIP when on‐call
• Ability to attend an in‐person weekend intensive and 3 hours online training for six weeks via videoconferencing
• Having a base understanding of state violence, prison justice and the complexity of our criminal (in)justice systems
• Deep understanding of and commitment to anti‐oppressive and anti‐racist practices

COMPENSATION

• Successful applicants will receive 34 hours of in‐depth training on issues impacting incarcerated people in Canada, deconstructing systems of power, handling ethical dilemmas, and responding to and de‐escalating callers in crisis. (Please note compensation is not provided for time spent completing the training program.)
• Accommodation, air/ground travel (up to $500 per person), meals related to the in‐person training are covered.
• $25/hour while on call, when debriefing and for monthly community of practice meetings.

*Salary Information

Anticipated hourly pay rate: $25.00

Does this role sound like it was made for you, yet you don’t check every box?

We at KPU understand that experiences and qualifications may look differently for everyone and, if this job description is of interest to you, we encourage you to apply.

Note to Applicants:

Kwantlen Polytechnic University welcomes and encourages applications from equity deserving groups and diverse experiences including, but not limited to, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, and members of the 2S/LGBTQIA+ community.

If there are any barriers that you are experiencing or an accommodation that we can provide to support you through the application process, please reach out to us at humanresources@kpu.ca.

We thank all applicants for their interest in employment with KPU. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University is committed to protecting the safety and welfare of employees, students, and the general public, and upholding the reputation and integrity of the University. For this reason, final applicants will be asked to undergo a background check.