Program is under revision and will be updates soon
Child and Youth Worker
Ontario College Diploma Program
Read the program calendar description
The Career
Faculty Contacts
FAQs
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
CYW Apprenticeship
Continuing Education
Course Descriptions
Brantford Odeon Location
Field Placement
As Field Placement applies to several audiences, choose the audience that applies to you in order to review the appropriate information:
Child and Youth Workers are specialists in facilitating change in children and youth who are experiencing a range of social, emotional, family, or behavioural challenges in their lives. Children and youth respond to the impact of change, stress, loss, poverty, violence, abuse and neglect with a range of emotions and behaviours including confusion, anger, withdrawal, aggression, hopelessness, violence and suicide.
Many of the children or youth experience multiple challenges or have been diagnosed as having multiple problems. Additionally, increasing numbers of these youth are in conflict with the law and may be receiving some therapeutic intervention. Understanding the individual and unique nature of a youth’s response to traumatic events is an important first task. Child and Youth Workers (CYW's) are a valuable resource to children, youth, and their families in this process. They specifically commit themselves to understanding and interacting in therapeutic relationships with these children, youth, and their families.
The contexts for Child and Youth Work are also diverse, including family homes, schools and community-based services, and residential settings. As populations change and services evolve, Child and Youth Workers will continue to provide direct care, participate as team members, and also form partnerships with other service providers, family members, and the community. Child and Youth Workers advocate for and guide children and youth through their daily lives, teach social and life skills, support efforts to manage behaviour, and engage in counselling to facilitate better understanding and change. CYW’s work with parents in supporting them with raising their children and youth who may be experiencing social, behavioural, emotional or mental health concerns.
Child and Youth Workers adhere to a professional code of ethics and implement a range of prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies that are based on a foundational understanding of human behaviour and development, family systems, cultural diversity, and exceptionalities. These strategies may include crisis intervention, conflict management and problem solving, counselling, activity program development and delivery, and group work.
(Adapted from Vocational Standards for Child and Youth Worker Programs)
