2023/2024 Yorktown Family Services Staff Award of Excellence: Ahmed Jama

Ahmed Jama, this year’s Staff Award of Excellence recipient, was first connected with Yorktown Family Services over 11 years ago.

As a Youth Outreach Worker (YOW) at the Rexdale Community Health Centre, Ahmed attended monthly meetings led by Yorktown for the West Toronto YOW Network. Ahmed was consistently drawn to the culture and the dedicated Yorktown staff with which he interacted. He admired the holistic approach Yorktown takes in addressing not only the immediate needs of clients but the underlying challenges they face.

In 2020 Yorktown launched the new specialized Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA Program), a rapid response, integrated care, and interdisciplinary approach to support youth, young adults, and adults away from hate and extremist-based violence. The ETA program was recruiting for an Engagement and Intervention Worker and though Ahmed recognized that this was a challenging role he was compelled to pursue the opportunity.

The ETA program employs a biopsychosocial approach using evidence-informed and evidence-based practices. Although this was a new area of work for Ahmed his previous experience assisting clients in similar situations prepared him to take on this challenging and emotionally demanding role.

“My career at Yorktown has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding,” says Ahmed. He started as an ETA Engagement and Intervention Worker as the COVID lockdowns began. As the program grew, his role transitioned to ETA Ontario Program Coordinator, where he would contribute to the design and implementation of serving clients throughout Ontario.

Ahmed believes “Shaping the Future” is central to everything we do at Yorktown. By inspiring children and youth we help clients build lasting solutions for their lives. Clients are connected to basic needs and beyond. They are supported in building skills that empower them to take agency over their future. At Yorktown, shaping the future means continuous innovation of services and responding to the evolving needs of the communities we serve.

Ahmed contributes to shaping a positive and inclusive culture at Yorktown as a member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Council implemented in 2022/23. He is also on the Joint Health and Safety Committee to be proactive, prevent harm, and improve health and wellness for staff and colleagues. On an international level, Ahmed represents Canada as a core member of a G7 working group focused on “Protecting the Protectors”. Ahmed’s objectives are to prepare the next generation of frontline practitioners of the harms/risks that they may face and informing them of Evidence-based best practices to mitigate those harms. Knowledge transfer is key in shaping our future; which is why in the Fall of 2024 Ahmed will be presenting his “Protecting the Protectors” approach at the Eradicate Hate Global Summit held in Pittsburgh.

For Ahmed, “Excellence” is bringing integrity, empathy and his authentic genuine self each and every day. “I ensure that every client I interact with receives the best version of myself each day. In the ETA program, trust and competency are crucial; I strive to make clients feel valued, supported, and heard. By going the extra mile—whether it’s meeting clients in their communities, visiting them in correctional facilities, or testifying in court on their behalf—I aim to be more than just a service provider; I want to be a true partner in their journey of moving away from violence and hate.”

Ahmed shares that he feels awesome, humbled and honored to be recognized for his often behind the scenes contributions. “It truly means a lot to me to see that my efforts are valued. However, I recognize that none of this would be possible without the incredible support of the ETA Team—thank you! Our ability to persevere through the challenges we face speaks volumes about the remarkable staff at Yorktown. Together, WE are all Excellence!”

Tributes from Ahmed’s Colleagues:

Ahmed is an exceptional engagement worker. He is adept at overcoming barriers to build effective relationships with clients, particularly those who have historically not been successful with social services. From long drives, unplanned text conversations, or even online game forums, Ahmed models excellence in his engagement style. — Andrew McKenzie, Manager of ETA and Clinical Development

Ahmed shows up with a smile and a positive attitude while always speaking up and suggesting new strategies to better the work we do at Yorktown. He is a terrific colleague and incredibly hard worker. He pushes himself to excellence and supports his co-workers in the work they do. — Zohra Tasci, Senior Trauma Therapist

Overall, Ahmed, as a staff member and human is inspiring. He goes above and beyond to ensure what’s best for the agency and clients. He is approachable, considerate, strong, and kind. He genuinely cares about his team, the agency, and of course, the clients. His passion is infectious. He is always smiling and positive which inspires the rest of us. — Sara Francavilla, ETA Engagement & Intervention Support Worker

Like most programs at Yorktown, the ETA team works with situations that have elevated complexity and require a specialized care intervention. This requires staff to engage in creative ways, be therapeutically consistent, and see the people we work with as a priority. Ahmed exemplifies this position. Ahmed is a leader in his field not only locally but nationally. The threat of targeted violence is real for our communities and Ahmed is committed to helping people disengage. — David O’Brien,Director of Mental Health

Ahmed’s ability to engage with clients, partners, and program staff goes beyond the ordinary. His passion, creativity, and unwavering commitment to everything he does makes him a very special and valued member of the ETA Team. — Abokar Mohamed, Manager of Client and Community Engagement