CHILD AND YOUTH WORKER
Program Outline
Major: CYWK
Length: 3 Years
Delivery: 6 Semesters
Credential: Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Effective: 2011-2012
Location: Orillia
Start: Fall + Winter
Description
This comprehensive program will prepare graduates for employment in most settings working with children and youth who are experiencing social, emotional and behavioural challenges. The program implements a variety of prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies that are based on foundational understanding of human behaviour and development, family systems, cultural diversity and exceptionalities.
The philosophy of the program is based on the ecological model and enhancing resilience and strength in children and youth. Its goal is ensuring that the CYW graduate is a strong, self-aware, knowledgeable, ethical and skilled professional.
A unique component of the program is the interactive labs where students will have the opportunity to enhance and practice counselling, assessment, referral and intervention skills in a safe, supportive environment before commencing field placements.
Career Opportunities
A variety of career opportunities are available to graduates. The primary careers categories include:
* Boards of Education -specialized educational programs
* Educational Assistant positions
* Residential treatment centers / group homes
* Before and after school programs
* Street and community outreach workers
* Shelters for abused women and children, homeless, street youth
* Therapeutic foster care environments
* Charitable institutions
* Recreational programs/facilities
* Programs serving children and youth under the Youth Criminal Justice Act and Child and Family Services Act
* Prevention programs
* Day treatment centers
* Drug and alcohol addiction centers
* Social service agencies
* Community based programs
* Community development
* Mental health agencies
* Psychiatric hospitals/general hospitals
* Private Practitioner
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- develop and maintain therapeutic relationships;
- foster and utilize therapeutic environments of a residential and non-residential nature which respect culture and which promote well-being and facilitate positive change for children youth and their families;
- design and implement strategies which promote client advocacy and community education to enhance psycho-social development in children youth and their families;
- employ effective intervention strategies in the areas of therapeutic programming, individual counseling, and group work which comply with the treatment aims for the client;
- collaborate with other service providers and form professional relationships in order to enhance the quality of service of children youth and their families;
- perform ongoing self-assessment and utilize self-care strategies to enhance professional competence;
- identify and use professional development resources and activities, which promote professional growth;
- communicate effectively in oral written and nonverbal and electronic forms to enhance the quality of service.
- employ environmentally sustainable practices within the profession
- identify and connect program specific curriculum and learning outcomes with active engagement and service in the community
Program Progression
Fall Intake
Sem 1 - Fall 2011
Sem 2 - Winter 2012
Sem 3 - Fall 2012
Sem 4 - Winter 2013
Sem 5 - Fall 2013
Sem 6 - Winter 2014
Winter Intake
Sem 1 - Winter 2012
Sem 2 - Summer 2012
Sem 3 - Fall 2012
Sem 4 - Winter 2013
Sem 5 - Fall 2013
Sem 6 - Winter 2014
Note: To confirm Winter (January) start, contact the Office of the Registrar.
Articulation Agreements
A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program coordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option. Additional information can also be found on our website at www.georgianc.on.ca/academics/articulations/.
External Recognition
The components of the Child and Youth Worker Program have been endorsed by the program Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee has representation from: Simcoe County Children's Aid Society, OPP, Simcoe County District School Board, Youth Haven, Green Haven Shelter for Women, Kinark Child and Family Services, Wenonah House, Orillia Youth Resource and Drop in Centre, Morton House and Ontario Association of Child and Youth Counsellors.
Admission Requirements
Applicants following the OSS curriculum must have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD -30 credits) or equivalent. OSS applicants also require Grade 12 English (C) or (U) (ENG4C, ENG4U).
Keyboarding ability, basic computer literacy and word processing skills are also recommended.
Applicants who are 19 years of age or over by the first day of classes, and who lack the academic entrance qualifications, may be considered for entrance to an appropriate post-secondary diploma or certificate program as mature applicants. Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis and acceptance will be determined by counselling, Communication Placement Assessment (CPA), previous post-secondary education and evaluation of experience. Some programs also have specific prerequisite requirements that must be met prior to admission. Mature applicants must meet all program specific prerequisites. Those applying as mature students and having no documentation of Grade 12 education must supply, if required, proof of age, such as a copy of an official birth certificate or driver's licence. Refer to Sections 2.5 and 2.6 of the Academic Calendar for further details.
Criminal Reference Check
Field placement agencies require an up-to-date criminal reference check as a condition of acceptance for placement. Students should obtain their criminal reference check no sooner than one month before placement begins. Check conducted earlier may not be considered current. NOTE: A record of criminal offences may prevent the student from acquiring a placement and therefore may not meet graduation requirements.
Graduation Requirements
27 Mandatory Courses
2 Communications Courses
5 General Education Courses
4 Field Placements
Graduation Eligibility
To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, from year to year and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester.
Mandatory
CYWK1001 Child Development
CYWK1002 The Art of Counselling Children and Youth
CYWK1003 Counselling Children and Youth: Theories and Interventions
CYWK1005 Adolescent Development
CYWK1007 Introduction to Child and Youth Work
CYWK1008 Interactive Lab I
CYWK1009 Therapeutic Programming and Activities
CYWK2000 Group Counselling
CYWK2001 Ethics and Professionalism in CYW
CYWK2002 Social Welfare, Community and Social Services
CYWK2003 Case Management
CYWK2004 Diversity and Multiculturalism
CYWK2006 Family Systems and Interventions
CYWK2009 Sex, Drugs and Youth Culture
CYWK2010 Mental Health Issues and Interventions
CYWK2011 Field Placement Seminar 1
CYWK2013 Interactive Lab 2
CYWK2014 Field Placement Seminar 2
CYWK3001 Community Development
CYWK3010 Interactive Lab 3
CYWK3011 Mental Health and Medications in CYW
CYWK3013 Trauma and Abuse: Identification, Intervention and Treatment
CYWK3014 Holistic Health and Wellness
CYWK3015 Interactive Lab 4 (Trauma and Abuse)
CYWK3016 Interactive Lab 5 (Holistic CYW)
CYWK3017 Field Placement Seminar 3
CYWK3018 Field Placement Seminar 4
The descriptions that follow provide brief outlines of the courses. Please note that some courses have prerequisite and/or corequisite requirements not shown here, that need to be met in order to enroll in the course. You will be advised of any requisite requirements during the registration process, or you can contact the academic area for further details.
Communications
COMM1001 Communications at Work
Plus one addition communications to be selected from College list
(Note: this is in addition to any mandatory communications listed for the program)
General Education Courses
To be selected from College list
Field Placements
CYWK2012 Field Placement: Educational Setting 1
CYWK2015 Field Placement: Educational Setting 2
CYWK3012 Field Placement: Agency/Residential/Unique 1
CYWK3019 Field Placement: Agency/Residential/Unique2
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
COMM1001 Communications at Work 42.0 Hours
Students develop their communication skills for the workplace. Using available technology, they research, write and edit work-related correspondence and short reports, individually and collaboratively. With audio-visual support, they prepare and deliver professional presentations that have vocational emphasis. In addition, students complete other communication tasks specific to their vocational areas.
CYWK1001 Child Development 42.0 Hours
This course provides students with a theoretical knowledge of developmental principles from conception to 10 years of age. It will examine the variations and challenges associated with environmental and biological factors that affect typical development as it relates to the child and youth worker field.
CYWK1002 The Art of Counselling Children and Youth 42.0 Hours
This course is designed to introduce students to the core skills of helping, promoting understanding and cooperation to support therapeutic relationships and environments when working with children and youth . It introduces students to the fundamental stages of therapeutic relationships, use of self and development of self-awareness. It will offer a hands-on practical approach, in preparation for the first interactive lab, using the evaluation tools designed to teach and learn counselling skills.
CYWK1003 Counselling Children and Youth: Theories and Interventions 42.0 Hours
Students are taught to understand significance of the therapeutic relationship, using a client-centered approach that is strength and resiliency based, emphasizing collaboration, competence, and ethics. Application of therapeutic principles and theories specific to child and youth work to various situations, and creating a therapeutic environment is the goal. The course will identify the spectrum of counseling approaches in the field and encourage development of individual conceptual frameworks, and adapt techniques and philosophies to the student's particular style.
CYWK1005 Adolescent Development 42.0 Hours
This course provides students with a theoretical knowledge of developmental principles during the adolescent years from ages 11-21. Students will identify unique and complex characteristics specific to adolescent development. Problems occurring at this stage of life will be discussed such as emotional difficulties, substance abuse, depression, suicide and eating disorders. Developmental disorders and their association with high-risk behaviours will be examined.
CYWK1007 Introduction to Child and Youth Work 42.0 Hours
Students will learn about the history of the child and youth worker field and be introduced to concepts that are threaded through the program including risk and resilience, the ecological model and system theory, therapeutic relationships, milieu and interventions, and the role of the child and youth worker in various environments including the school, agencies, community and the larger society.
CYWK1008 Interactive Lab I 28.0 Hours
Through role-playing students will have an opportunity to actively demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication and counselling skills by participating in simulated situations that will allow them to gain confidence in their ability to use their skills as a counselor, develop critical self-appraisal, and debrief and assessment themselves and their peers in a safe supportive environment. Students will review and critique video recordings of their interaction in the simulated case studies.
CYWK1009 Therapeutic Programming and Activities 42.0 Hours
Developing therapeutic relationships and therapeutic programming can enhance development, build self-esteem and enhance resiliency in at-risk children and youth This course will identify best practices for designing and delivering therapeutic programming for children and youth up to 18 years. Students will review several therapeutic approaches, and acquire the skills to assist in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of therapeutic programs in a variety of settings
CYWK2000 Group Counselling 42.0 Hours
This course analyses the more complex aspects of working with groups in a therapeutic environment. It explores the many evidence-based approaches to working with children and youth, using a biopsychosocial lens (ecological). It introduces students to group work, both clinical (micro) and community (macro) based. Students will become more familiar with various evaluation models, in anticipation of involvement in the more challenging scenarios in the Interactive Lab 2.
CYWK2001 Ethics and Professionalism in CYW 42.0 Hours
This course will promote self-awareness through discovery and analysis of CYW's values, beliefs, biases and fears. The ecological perspective will be incorporated emphasizing the student's connection to self, community and the larger society. Topics covered will include setting and maintaining boundaries and understanding transference/counter-transference. Finding strength and resiliency in one's self will be explored. Professional CYW practices will be examined in regard to cultural, ethical, legal and gender issues that relate to CYW field.
CYWK2002 Social Welfare, Community and Social Services 42.0 Hours
This course will examine the macro issues of the structure and administration of community organizations and social services that operate within Canadian Society. The student will be required to analyze the criminal justice system, children's protection system, social welfare system, education, the health system and relevant ministries that have an impact on children, youth and their families.
CYWK2003 Case Management 42.0 Hours
Fundamentals of case management from a community based, client-focused perspective will be examined. The course covers interpersonal skills and client support from an ecological (systems) perspective by explaining interagency relationships, assessment, establishing treatment goals and referral, circles of support, conflict resolution and legal and ethical concerns. Communication skills required by case managers to interact effectively with their clients are emphasized, including communicating with clients with special needs as well as professional writing and case documentation skills.
CYWK2004 Diversity and Multiculturalism 42.0 Hours
Students will be provided with a detailed perspective of the social issues facing children and youth from diverse families and minority groups with a concentration on Canada's First Nations, Métis and Inuit population. Human rights violations, discrimination and prejudice will be examined. Incorporating the ecological model, students will consider the micro and macro issues affecting families on a social, emotional and psychological level. Students will develop culturally sensitive strategies to support children, youth and families.
CYWK2006 Family Systems and Interventions 42.0 Hours
Looking at issues facing children, youth and families at-risk, this course will emphasize resiliency and family strengths, not deficits. Family development, family function and dysfunction will be assessed with a focus on child, youth, parent and marital issues, using different approaches to working with families including systems therapy, psychoanalytic and intergenerational approaches. Students will further their skills in planning and intervention, setting goals, evaluating and measuring outcomes.
CYWK2009 Sex, Drugs and Youth Culture 42.0 Hours
Students will examine the sociology of youth culture and subcultures with emphasis on Canadian society and issues that affect young people and in particular children and youth at-risk. How individuals transition from childhood to adolescence and young adulthood will be examined in relationship to emerging behaviours including experimenting/ using/abusing substances and risky sexual behaviour. The impact of emerging sexuality, and formation of identity will also be examined.
CYWK2010 Mental Health Issues and Interventions 42.0 Hours
Students will examine the various issues and contexts that relate to mental health and interventions in the child and youth worker field. Students will examine various disorders and psychological illnesses including anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Students will develop both formal (service plan) and informal (life-space interventions) to promote positive change and healthy development.
CYWK2011 Field Placement Seminar 1 84.0 Hours
Students will be introduced to the role of a child and youth worker in a school setting. Policies, procedures, professional behaviours, and competencies for this placement will be discussed. Students will be able to bring real-life examples and scenarios to the seminar for insight and feedback on how to deal with issues occurring on placement. Appropriate therapeutic interventions and working with children and youth at risk in the education system will be emphasized.
CYWK2012 Field Placement: Educational Setting 1 224.0 hours
The student is placed in a school based setting. The student will have some contact with children and/or youth who have emotional/behavioural challenges. Under the close supervision of college monitors, the student will plan and implement a variety of competencies that will assist the student in the practical skills discussed in the first year.
CYWK2013 Interactive Lab 2 42.0 Hours
Students will be focusing on group dynamics. Basic skills of managing groups will be practiced such as setting tone, drawing out and cutting off, behaviour management techniques and diffusion. Students will develop critical and reflective self and peer appraisal and awareness skills, through review and critique of video recordings, using various feedback and evaluation models.
CYWK2014 Field Placement Seminar 2 84.0 Hours
Students are provided with coaching, and opportunities for discussion and exploration of issues, counselling strategies, and interventions to be used with children and youth in a school environment. With guidance from faculty, placement monitors and supervisors, students examine scenarios from placement and participate in role plays to help develop the skills required to work in educational settings.
CYWK2015 Field Placement: Educational Setting 2 224.0 Hours
Students will be in an educational setting and will build on the skills developed in Field Placement 1. Students will work as part of a team and independently to plan and implement a variety of competencies that will assist the student in the mastery of skills discussed in the first and second year of the program.
CYWK3001 Community Development 42.0 hours
Incorporating the ecological (systems) model, the course focuses on how to systematically build empowered and competent communities, by promoting initiatives that contribute to healthy children and youth. It will introduce students to the fundamentals of change on a macro level and explore a systems approach to developing coalitions, dealing with diversity, action and advocacy, , community assessment, long term planning and developing action plans for community coalitions. Students will incorporate evidence based practice and research in the preparation of a community project/program proposal.
CYWK3010 Interactive Lab 3 42.0 hours
Students will consolidate basic and advanced skills of behaviour management change, counselling, assessment, observation, recording and documentation in conjunction with the Case Management course CYWK2003. Utilizing fieldwork experiences, the student will identify and refine responses to particular case scenarios they find challenging, Students will focus on child and youth assessment, treatment and intervention, and the child and youth worker as case manager working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
CYWK3011 Mental Health and Medications in CYW 42.0 Hours
Building on the knowledge acquired in first and second year courses, students will familiarize themselves with various psychological assessments, evaluations and treatment while considering scope of practice for child and youth workers. Students will gain knowledge of basic medication preparation and administration with an emphasis on medications commonly encountered by the Child and Youth Worker.
CYWK3012 Field Placement: Agency/Residential/Unique 1 224.0 hours
The student is placed in an agency/residential setting. The student will have direct contact with children and/or youth who have emotional/behavioural challenges. Under the supervision of college monitors, the student will plan and implement a variety of competencies that will assist the student in the mastery of theoretical, interpersonal and counseling skills.
CYWK3013 Trauma and Abuse: Identification, Intervention and Treatment 42.0 Hours
Using an ecological framework, students will critically analyze the broad developmental impact of physical, psychological, emotional or sexual abuse. Students will learn to recognize signs of chronic versus acute kinds of trauma, direct trauma (torture, sexual abuse, incest, effects of war), the traumatized family (domestic violence), and social trauma (bullying), assessment for trauma and effective crisis intervention techniques. Best practices for treatment of trauma and abuse on individual, family and community levels will be examined.
CYWK3014 Holistic Health and Wellness 42.0 Hours
Students will focus on self-assessment, self-awareness and use of self in the counselling process. How to establish realistic and attainable professional goals while creating balance in one's life will be emphasized. Building on a philosophy of connectedness (ecological/systems model) the CYW will view Self (and clients), from a physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional and spiritual perspective and will learn how to integrate self-care strategies into their lives. Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue will also be examined.
CYWK3015 Interactive Lab 4 (Trauma and Abuse) 42.0 Hours
Students will consolidate basic and advanced skills of counselling with individuals and families, to address specific issues relating to trauma and abuse. Students will practice and demonstrate the skills of observation, referral, developing treatment goals and life-space counselling interventions as well as practice advanced empathy and crisis diffusion within a therapeutic, strengths-based framework.
CYWK 3016 Interactive Lab 5 (Holistic CYW) 42.0 Hours
Students will be learning and demonstrating the practical skills of self-care, problem solving, use of supervision, solving ethical dilemmas, transference and counter transference and professionalism in conjunction with the Holistic CYW course (CYWK3014).
CYWK3017 Field Placement Seminar 3 42.0 Hours
Students will be provided with discussion, coaching, and opportunities for exploration of issues, counselling strategies, and interventions to be used with children, youth and families as part of their Field Placement 4. Under the supervision of faculty, placement monitors and supervisors, students will be assessing client needs, and developing specific interventions tailored to Field Placement: Agency/Residential/Unique Setting 1.
CYWK3018 Field Placement Seminar 4 42.0 hours
Students will be provided with discussion, coaching, and opportunities to enhance employability skills, including mock interviews, resume and portfolio development, networking opportunities, career counselling and planning.
CYWK3019 Field Placement: Agency/Residential/Unique 2 224.0 Hours
The student will assist with the planning of the unique placement and the placement opportunity could be used to aid with long-term employment. The student will have direct contact with children and/or youth who have emotional/behavioural challenges. Under the supervision of college monitors, the student will plan and implement a variety of competencies that will assist the student in the mastery of theoretical, interpersonal and counselling skills.
Adults with significant life and work experience may receive credits toward a college certificate or diploma program through an assessment process.
More information about Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
NOTE: Information contained in College documents respecting programs is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. The college reserves the right to add or delete programs, options, courses, timetables or campus locations subject to sufficient enrolment, and the availability of courses.
Last Update: March 08, 2012.