The Career
Employment for graduate Child and Youth Workers may be in the following settings: residential treatment centres, mental health clinics, community centres, child welfare services, open and closed custody facilities, schools, group homes etc. Many of the employment positions require the graduate to work shifts and weekends.
The Child and Youth Worker's education includes relationship building skills and techniques, which enable the worker to provide experiences planned to meet the children’s and adolescents needs. Through the development of meaningful relationships the CYW assists the client in dealing with personal problems, and in developing life skills essential to their daily living.
The development of self-awareness and emotional maturity along with the ability to understand the degree of one's own involvement with people are of prime importance in the practice of Child and Youth Work.
This career calls for a person mature enough to be able to focus on the interests and needs of others and free from any personality difficulties that would interfere with his/her ability to relate to other people.
The individual considering the Child and Youth Worker program should carefully evaluate his/her reasons for being interested in this field. The prospective student would find it helpful to talk to others working in the field in order to assess his/her own suitability or interest in the Child and Youth Worker Program.
Current Police Clearances are required prior to proceeding to placement.
Skills that are needed to be an effective Child and Youth Worker:
- Emotional Maturity
- Self Awareness
- Reading and Writing Skills (Comprehension and Report Writing with out the use of a computer)
- Physically Fit and Capable
- Open Mind
- Patience
