Child and Youth Care

• The Child and Youth Care program may be taken full or part time, and if you are currently working in the field, through a government-funded apprenticeship program.
• The program curriculum is reviewed on an annual basis to ensure courses are up-to-date and based on current research and best practices.
• Program faculty are all trained in child and youth care and have extensive knowledge, expertise and field experience.
• Three specialized field practicums will be provided and include a variety of settings. The first-year field practicum will be in a school board setting and will occur two days per week in Semester 2. The second-year field practicum will be in a residential setting in either Semester 3 or 4 and will occur four days per week (shift work could include day and/or evening hours). The final practicum, three days per week during Semester 5 and 6, will be in a specialized setting. All three field practicums will provide a valuable opportunity for integrating classroom learning and hand-on practice.
• All graduates will receive certification in SafeTALK (Suicide Prevention), ASIST (Suicide Intervention) and Positive Space training.
• The Child and Youth Care program has a specially-designed communications lab that will be used extensively for interactive learning activities, counselling simulations, and small group observation and feedback.
• You'll have the opportunity to engage in intra-professional collaboration with other programs within the College community (e.g., Police Foundations).
• Global Citizenship and Equit (GC&E) Portfolio: You'll develop a portfolio documenting your engagement with the College's signature GC&E competencies.

• Child and youth care practitioner
• Youth outreach
• Child life specialist
• Youth advocate
• Community justice
• Family support
• Youth employment
• Educator
• Counsellor
• Specialized community support

Some Toronto and Greater Toronto Area agencies that have hired Child and Youth Care program graduates include:

• Aisling Discoveries Child & Family Services
• Children's Aid Societies
• East Metro Youth Services
• Frontenac Youth Services
• Kennedy House Youth Services
• Ontario Shores Mental Health Sciences
• Turning Point Youth Services
• Toronto
• York Region and Durham School Boards
• Youthdale Treatment Centre
• Hincks-Dellcrest Treatment Centre
• Kinark Child & Family Services

Areas of Employment:

• Children's mental health
• Youth at risk programs
• Shelters
• Residential programs
• Child welfare agencies
• Youth criminal justice programs
• Youth outreach
• Hostels
• Crisis centres
• Hospitals
• Community-based programs
• Education
• Day-treatment programs