Program Overview
Students are provided with the skills and knowledge necessary to build therapeutic relationships and facilitate change with children, youth, and families experiencing a wide range of often complex social, emotional, behavioural, and mental health challenges. Child and Youth Care practitioners are specialists in facilitating change in children and youth and are expected to work with various professionals including educators, medical and social work professionals, correctional officers and family organizations dedicated to implementing a range of intervention, prevention and treatment strategies for children and their families. Child and Youth Care practitioners are a valuable resource as they are committed to understanding and interacting in therapeutic relationships that foster positive change.
Program Highlights
- Implement and evaluate a range of prevention, intervention and treatment strategies for children, youth and their families including crisis intervention, conflict management, problem-solving, counselling, activity programming and group work.
- Develop clinical observation and reporting skills.
- Understand and develop therapeutic relationships.
- Work with client challenges including difficult home situations, substance abuse, behavioural problems, mental health challenges, homelessness, self-harm, suicidal ideation and conflicts with the law.
- Extensive field placement experience in each year of study.
- Graduates of the Child & Youth Care program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 may be eligible to block transfer into Year 3 of Degrees in Disability Studies, Psychology and Social Work at the University of Windsor.
Career Opportunities
Occupational areas where graduates can expect to find employment may include residential and day treatment agencies, child and family service agencies, child and youth treatment agencies, young offenders’ facilities, children’s aid societies, educational environments, community agencies, group homes, respite services etc.
Degree Completions
Graduates of the Child & Youth Care program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 may be eligible to block transfer into Year 3 of Degrees in Disability Studies, Psychology and Social Work at the University of Windsor. Graduates may also be admitted into the third year of the Bachelor of Justice Studies Degree at Royal Roads University.
Admission Requirements
OSSD with the majority of courses at the College(C), University (U), University/College (M) or Open (O) level plus:
- Grade 12 English - ENG4U, ENG4C, EAE4C or EAE4U.
Mature students - See Admission Procedures for details.
Important Information
This is a HIGH-INTEREST program and has the potential to become oversubscribed. Applicants are advised to apply before February 1st. See Admission Procedures for details.
Field/Clinical Placements
Employers who provide our field placement settings require a CLEAR POLICE RECORD CHECK for criminal offences with vulnerable sector screening before accepting a student into the field placement setting. The record check MUST be obtained by the student at the student's expense. Detailed information on dates to apply for police clearance will be given throughout the semester. Some agencies may require a driver's license, additional liability insurance and a clean driving abstract.
NOTE:
- CPR and First Aid Certification must be obtained PRIOR to Field Placements.
- Students must successfully complete each semester before advancing to the next.
You must be available to perform your placement or internship duties on off hours, which may include evenings and weekends. Placements may begin in the fall and continue throughout the school year.
Health Requirements
Accepted applicants must supply proof of a satisfactory medical examination and immunization prior to program entry.
Please be advised that lack of documented immunizations may result in the restriction of clinical placement and therefore may delay and/or prevent completion of the prescribed program.
Courses
The curriculum below is for incoming students:
Semester 3
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
CYW100
|
Field Experience I |
16
|
Semester 6
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
CYW200
|
Field Experience II |
32
|
Semester 9
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
CYW300
|
Field Experience III |
32
|
Past Cohorts:
Semester 1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CYW251 | Activities With Children I | 3 |
| CYW154 | Psychology Of Adjustment, (Psychology Of Behaviour And Adjustment) | 3 |
| CYW155 | The Child And Youth Worker As A Professional | 3 |
| COM200 | Communications | 3 |
| SSC160 | Basic Psychology | 3 |
| ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
Semester 2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CYW150 | Child Care Techniques I | 3 |
| CYW152 | Introduction To Treatment | 3 |
| SSC159 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| SSC121G | Celebrating Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| SSC240 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
Semester 3
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CYW100 | Field Experience I | 16 |
Semester 4
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
| CYW156 | Observation Skills And Reporting | 3 |
| CYW250 | Child Care Techniques II | 3 |
| CYW256 | Family Dynamics | 3 |
| CYW357 | Young Offenders & Social Deviancy | 3 |
Semester 5
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CYW257 | Counselling Process, Progress & Evaluation | 3 |
| CYW258 | Personality Psychology | 3 |
| CYW351 | Activities With Children II | 3 |
| CYW352 | Ethics And Practice In Crisis Intervention | 3 |
| CYW149 | Health And Wellness For Child And Youth Care | 3 |
Semester 6
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CYW200 | Field Experience II | 32 |
Semester 7
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELEC1030 | Choose 1 Elective Course | 3 |
| CYW303 | Family Based Intervention | 4 |
| CYW333 | Children & Youth With Exceptionalities | 3 |
| CYW340 | Adolescent Issues & Intervention | 3 |
| CYW268 | Clinical Developmental Psychopathology | 3 |
Semester 8
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CYW254 | Individual Growth And The Group Process | 3 |
| CYW350 | Child Care Techniques III | 3 |
| CYW358 | Learning Theory And Behavioural Change | 3 |
| PRM125 | Pharmacology | 3 |
Semester 9
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CYW300 | Field Experience III | 32 |
Program Physical Demands Analysis
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Child and Youth Care (Ontario Advanced College Diploma) (MTCU Code 60701)
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Develop and maintain relationships with children, youth and their families applying principles of relational practice and respecting their unique life space, cultural and human diversity.
- Assess and respond to the strengths and needs of children and youth, including complex responses impacted by developmental, environmental, physical, emotional, social and mental health challenges in order to promote positive change.
- Analyze and evaluate the impact of the inter-relationship among family, social service, justice and community systems on children, youth and their families and use this information in the planning of holistic care and in the reduction of systemic barriers.
- Plan, implement and evaluate interventions using evidence informed practices in the areas of therapeutic milieu and programming, and group work to promote resiliency and to enhance development in children, youth and their families.
- Advocate for the rights of children, youth and their families and maintain an anti-oppression perspective and cultural competence in diverse cultural contexts.
- Apply communication, teamwork and organizational skills within the inter-professional team and with community partners to enhance the quality of service in child and youth care practice.
- Develop and implement self-care strategies using self-inquiry and reflection processes to promote self-awareness and to enhance practice as a child and youth care practitioner.
- Use evidence-based research, professional development resources and supervision models to support professional growth and lifelong learning.