Child and Youth Care Worker

  • Program TitleChild and Youth Care Worker
    Delivery: Online
    Credential: Diploma
    Program Length: 52-Weeks
    Program Availability: Full-time
    Offered: This program is available starting every Monday.

    Program Description


    Graduate from Native Education and Training College’s Child and Youth Care diploma program in one-year or less. Our advanced program offers a condensed delivery format that allows you to graduate faster while providing you with all the knowledge and placement experiences you need to launch your career.

    In the Child and Youth Care program, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills to engage with children, youth, and their families to promote optimal development and to facilitate positive changes. As a graduate of the program, you’ll be ready to apply team dynamics, leadership, and organizational skills to support the delivery of quality child, youth, and family care in a wide variety of settings.

    Your Career


    Child and youth care practitioners work collaboratively with children, youth and their families from child and youth-centred, developmental and ecological perspectives which emphasize and value the interaction between individuals and their physical, cultural and social environments including family, community and social services, as well as the educational and justice systems. Child and youth care practitioners assess and respond to the strengths and needs of children, youth and their families considering their interaction within and between these inter-related systems. Child and youth care practitioners maintain an anti-oppression perspective in their work and demonstrate cultural competence in diverse cultural contexts. Child and youth care practitioners form relationships with children, youth and families within
    their life space using in-the-moment, daily life events as opportunities to promote and facilitate positive change. Practitioners plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based* and strength based interventions in the areas of therapeutic milieu and programming, group work and advocacy, with the aim to capture the learning opportunities in the daily life of children, youth and their families. Additionally, practitioners seek out and connect children, youth and their families with relevant, culturally specific and appropriate community resources that support development, self-advocacy and promote resiliency.

    As valuable members of the interprofessional team, child and youth care practitioners apply team dynamics, leadership and organizational skills to support the delivery of quality child, youth and family care in a wide variety of settings.

    Learning Outcomes


    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Advocate for the rights of children, youth and their families and maintain an anti-oppression perspective and cultural competence in diverse cultural contexts.
    6. Apply communication, teamwork and organizational skills within the interprofessional team and with community partners to enhance the quality of service in child and youth care practice.
    7. 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.
    8. Use evidence-based research, professional development resources and supervision models to support professional growth and lifelong learning.

  • Admission Requirements


    General admission requirements
    Applicants may be admitted as full-time students if they have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (Grade 12) with senior-level credits achieved at C, U, M or O designation (or equivalent), including one Grade 12 English (ENG4C or ENG4U) and additional required courses.

    Applicants outside of Ontario
    Native Education and Training College recognizes the GED (General Educational Development Certificate) and all Grade 12 diplomas from other Canadian provinces and territories (except Quebec) as equivalent to the Ontario high school diploma. Sheridan recognizes the Quebec High School Leaving Certificate (Secondary V) as equivalent to the Ontario high school diploma.

    Mature Students
    You can apply to Native Education and Training College’s certificate, diploma and advanced diploma programs as a “mature student” if you:

    • Are at least 19 years old, and
    • Do not have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (or equivalent)

    Application Process
    Program intake – Apply to this program by visiting our Registration page. Call the Admissions Office at 1 (800) 267-2577 for more details. Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading.

  • Courses


    • Introduction to Child and Youth Care
    • Child and Adolescent Development
    • Introduction to Mental Health for Child and Youth Care
    • Mental Health Literacy for Child and Youth Care
    • Fundamentals of Case Management
    • Issues, Ethics & Inclusivity in Child and Youth Care
    • Record Keeping and Documentation
    • Crisis Intervention Strategies
    • At Risk Youth and Youth Justice
    • Trauma-Informed Practices with Children and Adolescents
    • Interviewing Skills
    • Counselling Children and Adolescents
    • Child and Youth Care Practice with Families
    • Interventions with Children and Youth
    • Advocacy and Welfare of Children and Adolescents
    • CYC Practitioner Health Promotion Strategies
    • Child & Youth Care Virtual Project

    Every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy of information provided on our website. The College reserves the right to modify any course, program, curriculum, fee, timetable, or campus location at any time.

    Register for this course.

  • Course Descriptions


    Introduction to Child & Youth Care
    In this subject, students will learn a range of professional competencies required by the beginning Child and Youth Care professional.  The subject offers an entry-level knowledge of child and youth protection and the law in Canada including the Duty to Report, the Child, Youth and Family Services Act and the Youth Criminal Justice Act. This subject will also examine the role of the Child & Youth Care worker in various milieus and environments.

    Child and Adolescent Development
    In this subject, students will learn a comprehensive study of human development from birth to adolescence and will examine the developmental processes and milestones with an emphasis on behavioural, cognitive, and social and emotional domains. Students will learn specific skills that they can apply to their profession when working with children, families, and other services providers.

    Introduction to Mental Health for Child and Youth Care
    In this subject, students will learn the most common mental health disorders of childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood as part of a continuum of development. It will explore societal perspectives of abnormal behaviour and the ethical use of mental health terms and labels.

    Mental Health Literacy for Child and Youth Care
    In this subject, students will learn to examine specific mental health disorders of childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood as part of a continuum of development. Students will be provided with diagnoses, symptoms, treatments, and behavioural strategies as they relate to each mental health disorder and to the work of a CYC practitioner.

    Fundamentals of Case Management 
    In this subject, students will learn a step-by-step guide through the case management process specific to Children and Youth, from intake and assessment to referrals and termination.  Students will also explore current practice trends and considerations, current legal issues, ethics, and ethical issues.  Students will also focus on the importance of maintaining accurate client information and collaborating with other service providers.

    Issues, Ethics & Inclusivity in Child, and Youth Care
    In this subject, students will learn the basis for discovering their own guidelines for helping within the broad limits of professional codes of ethics and divergent theoretical positions.  Students will develop their critical thinking skills when dealing with ethics issues and will include an anti-oppressive lens to their practice.

    Record Keeping and Documentation
    In this subject, students will learn the art of creating and maintaining accurate, up-to-date comprehensive, professional documentation and client records that meet legal scrutiny.  Students will have the opportunity to develop their professional writing skills and understand it’s impact when working with members of their teams and clients.

    Crisis Intervention Strategies
    In this subject, students will learn the task model to provide a systematic way of dealing with people in crisis: Defining the Problem, Ensuring Client Safety, Providing Support, Examining Alternatives, Making Plans, and Obtaining Commitment.

    At Risk Youth and Youth Justice
    In this subject, students will learn about the problem of youth crime within social contexts, and to recognize the facts that lead youth to enter conflict with the law. It will introduce such topics as how police handle young persons, while focusing on new and updated legislation, such as the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, the Child, Youth and Family Services Act and the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

    Trauma-Informed Practices with Children and Adolescents
    In this subject, students will learn how traumatized children understand the world around them, how they interact with others, how their issues manifest in their behaviour, and other ongoing challenges they face with anxiety, trauma triggers, mental health issues, and relationships.

    Interviewing Skills
    In this subject, students will learn interviewing skills within the helping professions. Students will be exposed to basic theory and skills necessary for effective interviewing including useful clarification and attitudes in relation to cultural competence and boundaries, and effective communication skills, including identifying responses, listening, and responding, asking questions, and dealing with difficult issues.

    Counselling Children and Adolescents
    In this subject, students will learn the fundamental elements of counselling and the development of intra/interpersonal communication skills. Emphasis will be placed on the theory and practical skills necessary to therapeutically respond to children and youth people in a supportive, constructive, and culturally sensitive manner.

    Child and Youth Care Practice with Families
    In this subject students will address the shift from client-focused Child and Youth Care to integrating the needs of the client’s family. They will focus on strategies used with the child and their family within the context of his or her home as well as emphasize the broader social, economic, cultural, and community environments. Interventions/strategies will be looked at from a strength-based approach. Students will be introduced to a variety of topics in this subject including: the role of the Child & Youth Care worker in relation to family work; understanding the child/youth in the context of their family; personal beliefs, preferences, and facts about families; evidenced based family interventions; foundations for family assessment and intervention; and working collaboratively with families in their home and in the community as a way to promote change.

    Interventions with Children and Youth
    In this subject, students will learn how to develop the diverse skills required to practice effective helping relationships when working with at-risk children and youth. Students will learn, among other things, how to utilize a strength-based approach, developmentally appropriate practice, understanding play and behaviours and attachment theory.

    Advocacy and Welfare of Children and Adolescents
    In this subject, students will learn about such topics as: advocacy, current protective legislation; youth justice; children’s rights; the rights of children in care; laws that govern Children’s Mental Health; laws that govern the Education Act; and other current issues that govern the CYC profession.

    Child & Youth Care Practitioner Health Promotion Strategies
    In this subject, students will learn about self care tools to assist with potential burnout, compassion fatigue and/or vicarious trauma. Tools, exercises, and strategies will be explored and discussed.

    Child and Youth Care Virtual Project
    In this subject, students will be provided with the opportunity to transfer their learning to a virtual case study that will take them throughout the CYC process. Students will be introduced to a “client” and her history and will use information provided to create a strength based, client centered case formulation. Students will be given the opportunity to “virtually” engage in therapeutic activities with young people, to promote growth and development. This subject affords students the opportunity to design, implement and evaluate individual and group therapeutic activities, suggest and create effective intervention strategies which meet the needs and goals of young people. This subject also offers students the opportunity to identify the dynamics of client behaviour and of worker-client interaction.  Students will be able to record observations and demonstrate awareness of their own functioning through self-evaluation and reflection.

  • Fees & Expenses


    Domestic Students

    • Tuition Fee: $5,695.00
    • Textbooks: $2,000.00
    • Registration Fee: 100.00
    • Shipping Fee: 61.00

    Total Tuition & Fees: $7,856.00

    International Students

    • Tuition Fee: $15,712.00

    Total Tuition & Fees: $15,712.00

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