A Day in the Life of a CYC

Child and Youth Care students are invited to attend an online discussion related to the CYC field hosted by Teresa Gagnon (current CYC instructor) and colleagues within the CYC field. This event is open to all Full-time and CE students currently in the Child and Youth Care diploma program at Mohawk College. 

Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm EST

Location: online Zoom session

RSVP Today!

Event Panelists

Comacho Francis

Comacho Francis
Pronouns: He/Him

Read Bio

Coordinated Service Planner, Lynwood Charlton Centre
I have been working in the field since 2008. I have also been a consultant with Bartimaeus Inc. since 2011.  

Comacho began working at Lynwood Charlton Centre in 2008. I worked primarily with children between the ages of 6-13 that often displayed externalizing behaviours. These children often had diagnoses of but not limited to ADD/ ADHD, ODD, Anxiety Disorder, and/ or FASD. In 2013 I transitioned into working with families in their homes in the Children with Complex Needs Partnership (now known as the Guiding Partnerships and Solutions- Complex Needs Program).

Heather Lewis

Heather Lewis
Pronouns: She/Her

Read Bio

Heather has had the pleasure of working for the Halton District School Board, for the last 30 years, as an Educational Assistant and currently as a Child & Youth Counsellor. Her CYC training journey has included: Itinerant role in a Self-Contained Behaviour Resource Classroom, member on the board’s Multi-Disciplinary Team, Collaborative Problem Solving training, Roots of Empathy Program facilitator and is now a current member on the CYC Mental Health Team. Outside of school, Heather can be found doing her second passion of choreography and teaching dance for a variety of theatre and dance projects, and being a proud mom to her beautiful daughter. She would say whether in her CYC role or as a dance teacher/choreographer that her greatest joy is working alongside kids, empowering them to be their best selves! In all of her work, Heather is on the journey of enhancing her posture of practice with her unlearning and new learning in Equity, Anti-Oppressive and Anti-Racism training. Heather feels honoured to be a member of this panel and looks forward to a wonderful evening of discussion and new learning!

Devin Misener

Devin Misener
Pronouns: She/Her

Read Bio

Devin works as a Child and Youth Counsellor with the HCDSB. She has gone on to become a Registered Psychotherapist and is the Lead clinician with Child and Family Pathways.

She also has 12 years experience in Community outreach and residential treatment , serving the Hamilton / Burlington area.

Judith Oldfield

 

Judith Oldfield
Pronouns: She/Her

Read Bio

Judith currently works at ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids) in the Intensive Program.  This program works with children, youth and families for 6 – 18 years old.  She work mainly in home but also works closely with schools and community partners as well.  She helps families develop strategies to better manage daily life and to help them better understand what the young person is struggling with.  Most of their clients have a mental illness impacting their daily life.

She has been in the field for over 20 years and has worked in a number of different settings, including Live In programs, hospitals, secure treatment, homeless youth, and crisis.

Jodie Sawyers

Jodie Sawyers
Pronouns: She/Her

Read Bio

Jodie identifies as a Canadian with Jamaican Heritage. Growing up in Canada as a Bi racial person in the 70s helped to inspire her decision to enter the field of Child and Youth Work. She has worked in the field of child and youth work for over 28 years, in our institutions, communities and in family settings across many cultures. Currently, she is a Child and Youth Counsellor at the Halton District School Board.

 

Reah (Hyun Ju) Shin
Pronouns: They/Them

Read Bio

Reah currently works as a Child and Youth Counsellor with the Halton District School Board.

They have been part of research projects on: CYC post-secondary education and curriculum; child rights in relation to international contexts; authentic child and youth participation in business; and intergenerational partnerships. They have also worked alongside Autistic young people, and young people/adults in the shelter system, as well as work in the gender-based violence and program evaluation field.