JESSICA AMÈRICA-SIMMS

203 Garden Avenue jessicaamericasimms@gmail.com

Toronto, ON M6R 1H9 647 – 868 – 1163

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

- Young professional with 4 years of volunteer experience working with high-needs youth and low-income
communities, with a strong interest in pursuing child and youth advocacy professionally.
- Excellent interpersonal skills. Patient, confident and enjoys working with children and youth.
- Demonstrated ability to work well both independently and in a team.
- Adapts quickly when sudden changes are presented using creative and independent problem solving.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Technical Skills and Knowledge

- Demonstrated knowledge of career counseling concepts and approaches, local labour market, employment
standards, job search techniques and best practices, acquired through three years of program administration
and coordination with a major career management and human resources consulting firm. Applied knowledge
to coordinate and facilitate the firm’s student practicum program. (Client Services Administrator, Optimum Talent)
- Actively built on knowledge of available education resources to young people who are incarcerated. ( Student
Placement, Amadeusz)
- Exhibited knowledge of relevant theories and practices within the Child and Youth Care field when working
with students who have concurrent disorders (Substance Abuse Day Treatment Program, The Hospital for Sick Kids)
- Strong knowledge of and extensive experience in using Microsoft Office Suite applications, Salesforce and
other customer relationship management systems.
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Communication
- Communicated with senior staff to identify and develop student practicum opportunities. Developed marketing
strategies and materials to facilitate outreach to universities and colleges to ensure practicum student
numbers and targets were met. (Client Services Administrator, Optimum Talent)
- Applied strong oral and interpersonal skills to manage client expectations by communicating guidelines and
expectations for Amadeusz’s education programs and Albion Neighborhood Services’ After School Program.
- Maintained open two-way communication with supervisors and senior staff, including 5 VPs and 5 career
consultants, to discuss program details, statistics, targets, flag client issues where appropriate, identify key
priorities and confirm timelines. (Client Services Administrator, Optimum Talent)
- Provided information on the local labour market, careers and occupations (including self-employment),
employment preparation, job search and interview techniques through written materials and individual
discussion. (Client Services Administrator, Optimum Talent)
- Facilitated training on interview techniques with clients by conducting mock interviews to strengthen client oral
communication skills. (Client Services Administrator, Optimum Talent)
- Experienced in preparing written reports outlining client progress, program updates and other issues as
needed. Implemented marketing strategies and communication activities on behalf of the marketing
department to promote scope of services to potential business clients. (Client Services Administrator, Optimum Talent)
- Able to build strong therapeutic alliances with youth who presented with varying learning and behavioural
challenges, including concurrent disorders linked to ADHD, depression, Oppositional Defiance Disorder and
Generalized Anxiety Disorder. (Substance Abuse Day Treatment Program, The Hospital for Sick Kids)
- Able to present clear and concise information regarding student progress and/or challenges when speaking to
outpatient service providers, and caregivers, as exhibited in team rounds, individual intakes and direct
communication with family members. (Substance Abuse Day Treatment Program, The Hospital for Sick Kids)
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Group Facilitation
- Facilitated discussion with high school girls, aged 14-18, on issues affecting economically and disadvantaged
youth, including food and nutrition security issues, lived experiences as low-income youth within Toronto, life
skills and body image. (Food Leadership Program, The Stop)
- Led support group on issues relating to self-esteem, bullying and body image for 4 high-risk female youth
struggling with social and economic challenges negatively impacting their learning outcomes. (Peer Mentor,
Alexander Muir/Gladstone Public School)
- Led and facilitated life skills-building sessions, including cooking, budgeting and emotional regulation with
high school students aged 13-18, through Albion Neighborhood Services’ After School program. (Student
Placement, Albion Neighborhood Services)
- Designed and facilitated therapeutic treatment groups youth, aged 14-17, on issues pertaining to identity and
healthy communication. (Substance Abuse Day Treatment Program, The Hospital for Sick Kids)
- Co-facilitated pre-existing treatment groups, including music group, and Chill Skills, with various clinicians
including the music therapist. (Substance Abuse Day Treatment Program, The Hospital for Sick Kids)

Interpersonal
- Proven ability to communicate with economically and socially disadvantaged youth, aged 15-18, through
provision of program support for The Stop Community Food Centre’s Food Leadership for Youth program, a
cooking and wellness program for high school-aged girls from socially and economically disadvantaged
communities. Worked closely with the youth participants to help complete program activities and goals. (Food
Leadership Program, The Stop)
- Provided individualized teaching support to students with learning disabilities, aged 11-13, who also face
complex social and economic disadvantages. Leads learning seminars of small student groups to help
strengthen comprehension of curriculum and achieve individual learning program goals. Monitors student
progress and tailors teaching support to student’s needs. (Teaching Assistant, Alexander Muir/Gladstone Public School)
- Extensive experience working in a multicultural workplace acquired through all professional and volunteer
positions held to date. Familiarity with and experience working within anti-oppression and anti-racism
frameworks.
- Delivered individual support to student living within foster care by collaboratively working with teachers in a
Section 23 classroom by designing individual financial literacy program. (Substance Abuse Day Treatment Program,
The Hospital for Sick Kids)

Coordination
- Coordinated and facilitated job placement program for practicum students. Matched practicum students with
job placements within the company, to their learning and career development goals. Monitored student’s
progress and performance on job activities and learning goals. (Client Services Administrator, Optimum Talent)
- Served as first-point of contact for new participants in person who are currently incarcerated, providing
discrete and professional consultations to assess participant’s requests, educate participants about our
unique programs and coordinate participant with appropriate staff for entry into appropriate program. (Student
Placement, Amadeusz)
- Ensured individual client needs were assessed and recorded in a clear, concise way to facilitate information
sharing amongst internal staff. (Student Placement, Amadeusz)
- Ensured documents, vendor invoices and reports were accurately completed and submitted on time. For
example, developed resume templates for clients within a 24 hour timeline, at Optimum Talent.
- Ensured individual students documentation was completed daily to using a strength based approach that
clearly reported their affect and activities throughout the day (The Hospital for Sick Kids)

WORK EXPERIENCE

FOR THE GIRLS 2017

Sales Associate

OPTIMUM TALENT 2011 – 2015

Client Services Administrator
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VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK KIDS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM ` 2018
Student Placement (February - April)

AMADUESZ AND ALBION NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES 2017

Intake Worker and Youth Worker
Student Placement (September – December)

LETTERS FOR THE INSIDE 2017

Volunteer Researcher

ST. PUIS X CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2016

Student Placement (September – December)

ALEXANDER MUIR/GLADSTONE PUBLIC SCHOOL 2014 – 2015

Teaching Assistant and Peer Mentor

THE STOP COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRE 2014 – 2015

Food Leadership Program (FLY) Volunteer

EDUCATION

Child and Youth Worker Diploma, Humber College, 2018

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS

Understanding and Managing Aggressive Behaviour, 2017

Standard First Aid with CPR C + AED, St. Johns Ambulance, 2017
safeTALK , 2016
Worker Health and Safe Awareness Certificate, 2015