Child and Youth Worker

Program Description

The three-year Child and Youth Worker advanced diploma program is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge required to work with children, adolescents, and families experiencing a wide range of emotional, social, behavioural and/or mental health needs. Child and youth workers are specialists in facilitating change in children and youth and work alongside other 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. As a child and youth worker, you will be a valuable resource committed to understanding and interacting in therapeutic relationships that foster positive change.

Child and youth workers adhere to a professional code of conduct while engaging in a full range of prevention, intervention and treatment strategies. To succeed in both the CYW program and the workplace, you’ll need to be mature, outgoing, sensitive, actionoriented and possess the ability to handle stressful situations. Your studies will include various treatment, counselling and therapeutic theories based on a foundational understanding of human behaviour and development. Along with a minimum of 1200 hours of field placement, you will study areas including adolescent development, violence, abuse, diversity, crisis prevention, child and youth management, therapeutic activities, counselling theory and practice, child exceptionalities, health, sexuality, group and family work and much more.

Occupational areas where you may find employment include educational environments (schools, school boards, special education classes, etc.), government agencies, community agencies including children and family agencies, residential and day treatment centres, group homes, hospitals, young offenders' programs, children's aid societies, etc.

Program Learning Outcomes

This Seneca College program meets the system-wide standards for all Ontario College Credential programs as set by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate the following:

• 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, youths, and their families.
• design and implement strategies which promote client advocacy and community education to enhance psycho-social development in children, youths, 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 for children, youths, 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, nonverbal, and electronic forms to enhance the quality of service.

Essential Employability Skills

• Essential Employability Skills (link to information on Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities website)

Admission Requirements

Program Eligibility:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma with a majority of senior credits at the College Preparation (C), University Preparation (U) or University/College Preparation (M) level or Mature Student Status (age 19 or older)
• Grade 12 English: ENG4(C) or ENG4(U)

Note:

• To be in compliance with our student placement partners all students in this program must complete:
  • a vulnerable sector police screening by the end of first year
• It is recommended that students complete a Ministry approved certificate in crisis intervention and prevention (CPI, TCI, UMAB) prior to graduation.

The Importance of Learning Skills:

Student success in college requires well developed learning skills (such as being able to work independently, participate in a team, be well-organized, develop good work habits, and show initiative). These skills are as important as prior academic achievement. While it is expected that applicants would have developed these skills through previous education and life experiences, Seneca offers support to assist students with further development of these important skills.

Your Career

Make a difference in the lives of children, adolescents and their families through your career as a child and youth worker. Our six-semester advanced diploma program prepares you for career opportunities in government agencies serving troubled children, youth and families, residential and day treatment centres, group homes, hospitals, young offenders' programs, children's aid societies, community-based programs, schools, working with children and youth in special education classes.

Diploma to Degree... and Beyond

Through transfer agreements and institution partnerships, graduates of this Seneca College program may be eligible for credit at the following post-secondary institution(s):

Toronto

Ontario

Canada

International

Curriculum

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