Child and Youth Care Worker
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A TROUBLED YOUTH
| Placement Rate | |
| 2009 | 100% |
| 2008 | 96% |
| 2007 | 95% |
| 2006 | 95% |
| 2005 | 94% |
| 2004 | 93% |
| 2003 | 92% |
| 2002 | - |
| 2001 | - |
| Hourly Rate $10.00-$15.00 |
|
| Average Starting Salary $20,800-$31,200 |
|
Child and Youth Care Workers try to improve the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of children and adolescents in troubled situations. Many of the children or youths experience multiple challenges or have been diagnosed as having multiple problems. Oulton Child and Youth Care Work program is designed to assist students to develop the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies to attain entry-level employment opportunities within the Child and Youth Care field.
Employment possibilities are endless in this field— teacher’s assistants, youth correctional facilities, group homes, halfway houses, detox centers, and community-based programs. Professional Child and Youth Care focuses on infants, children and adolescents, including those with special needs, within the context of the family and the community.
Certifications attained during program
Course Content
YCW – 100 THE PROFESSION OF YOUTH CARE IN CANADA
This course provides an overview of the history, and present day practices of the
profession in Canada. The profession will be examined from a theoretical perspective – psychoeducational, behavioral, systemic, disability, etc. – and from a practice perspective – residential, juvenile justice, school-based, community based, recreation, and parent
education and support. Protocols, regulations, ethical considerations, teamwork concepts
and human rights will also be discussed.
YCW – 101 INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
This course will introduce students to the principals and practices of effective human relations. Students will have opportunity to integrate theory and skills development as they begin to recognize the process of human interaction. Giving and receiving feedback, assertiveness, and conflict resolution are among the special topics covered.
YCW – 102 SELF CARE IN THE YOUTH CARE PROFESSION
Students will have the opportunity to explore and examine areas of personal stress and their maintaining variables in this course. Traditional and holistic methods of self-care will be examined in this applied course.
BUS – 233 COMPUTERS FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKPLACE
This course is designed to provide students with the level of computer literacy needed
to function in today’s workplace. Utilizing a hands-on approach, general computer
concepts, the concepts of microcomputer operating systems, Internet, and word
processing applications will be introduced. A personal email account will be introduced and used throughout the course to facilitate communication between students and
instructors. Microsoft Office 2007 Suite: Word and PowerPoint will be covered.
BUS – 665 SELF-DIRECTED STUDIES
This module is used by the student who may want to obtain one-on-one instruction with an instructor. This optional module is completed on Friday mornings during the entire duration of the program. The student does not receive a mark for this module as it is optional.
COM – 300 EMPLOYMENT READINESS
The purpose of this course is to assist students to develop employment readiness skills. Among skills explored are: professional resume development, cover and thank you letters, interviewing skills, mock interview, and specific topics associated with professional behavior in the workplace
YCW – 200 FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS IN INTERVIEWING
This course emphasizes the necessary skills to begin any helping relationship. Basic helping skills will be examined and practiced – active listening, reflecting, leading, challenging, paraphrasing, summarizing, etc. – through lectures, class discussions, and role play demonstrations.
YCW – 201 CHILD ABUSE
This course takes an in-depth approach to educating students with regards to the different forms of abuse inflicted on children by adults. Emotional, physical, sexual abuse and neglect are defined and fully discussed, and symptoms and effects are identified. Special emphasis will be placed on describing the populations of children who are at-risk of abuse and why adults choose to be abusive to children. Interviewing skills for child victims of abuse will also be identified and practiced.
YCW – 202 THE FAMILY – SYSTEMS, ISSUES, HELPING
This course will examine the family system; it’s communication patterns, rules, and life cycle. Students will have the opportunity to review historical and current practices through an extensive literature review and instructor led lectures. Students will also
be introduced to the process of assessment, engagement, empowerment, and discharge as it relates to working with at-risk families.
PSY – 2000 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
This course will explore life span development (birth to death) with a primary focus on childhood and adolescence. Focus will be placed on developing an understanding of social, emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual and psychological growth through exploring widely accepted theories.
PSY – 2300 BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
The purpose of this applied course is to introduce the student to a wide variety of applied behavioral techniques used to modify behavior. The course will assist the student in observing behavior in an objective and analytical manner. Classical and operant conditioning theories and procedures will be emphasized in a practical manner. In addition, observational learning and cognitive-behavioral procedures will be explored.
PSY – 3000 ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY OF CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE
The various psychopathologies related to the intellectual, social, emotional and physical sensory functioning of children and youth will be examined. Each disorder will be explored in respect to symptoms, causes and treatment approaches through instructor led lectures and student led seminars. Discussions regarding the use of psychopharmological treatments will be included.
SOC – 200 YOUTH AND DEVIANCE IN CANADA
This course, facilitated through lectures, class discussions, field trips and guest speakers, will introduce the student to the concepts and theories associated with adolescence, delinquency and youth culture. Topics discussed include, but are not limited to history of delinquency, youth crime statistics, youth as victim, schools and delinquency, female deviance, and the Juvenile Justice Act.
YCW – 301 GROUP DYNAMICS AND THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY PLANNING
This course provides opportunities for the student to utilize the skills and techniques of the group process in social and work situations. The focus is on group behavior in therapy settings and the use of various techniques, methods and approaches within the group process with children, adolescents, and families. Students will apply this theoretical knowledge to a wide array of therapeutic activity planning exercises.
YCW – 301 ADVANCED INTERVIEWING
This course will cover specific interviewing and counseling techniques practiced in the Youth Care Profession. Specific emphasis will be placed on developing theoretical knowledge and practical skills regarding the Life Space Intervention (LSI).
YCW - 302 REPORTING IN CHILD AND YOUTH CARE
This course will focus primarily on reports generated by Youth Care Workers. Students will have the opportunity to develop an Individualized Care Plan, Incident Reports, Weekly Reviews, Care Plan Updates, and Daily Logs through this case-study guided module.
YCW – 303 CRISIS INTERVENTION
This course will provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills for managing crisis situations when in the field. Based on the premise that crisis is opportunity, students will learn intervention methods and safe practices through lectures and certifications. Certifications include, but are not limited to, Non Violent Crisis Intervention, Suicide Intervention and First Aid and CPR.
YCW - 304 INDEPENDENT DIRECTED SEMINAR
This course will assist students to develop their research and oral presentation skills in an area of mutual interest between the student and the instructor. It is intended that this seminar will be added to the student’s professional portfolio.
YCW – 305 CHILD AND YOUTH CARE IN THE SCHOOL SETTING
This specialty course will assist students to further develop their skills for work in the educational setting. Topics discussed include professional practice, integration, special education planning, participating in the IEP process, and supporting children with special needs. Up-to-date coverage will be provided by experts in the field when possible.
YCW - 306 CHILD AND YOUTH CARE IN THE RESIDENTIAL SETTING
This specialty course will assist students in developing and honing their skills for work in the residential setting – group home, foster home, etc. Focus will be placed on guiding the student to develop competency based approaches that will be used to work with children, youth and their families who are experiencing out of home care situations. Up-to-date coverage will be provided by experts in each area.
YCW - 307 CHILD AND YOUTH CARE IN THE CORRECTIONAL SETTING
This specialty course will assist students to further develop their skills for work in a youth correctional setting. Focus will be placed in assisting the student to develop the necessary skills associated with this setting. The course will be facilitated through lecture, group work and specialty certifications that are particular to the correctional setting. This course is presented as a 3 day workshop and will include various applicable field trips.
YCW – 308 YOUTH, DRUGS AND MENTAL HEALTH
This course will provide students with information regarding drug use and abuse in the youth population. Special emphasis will be placed on assisting students to develop an understanding of such topics as risk factors and protective factors for youth drug/use and abuse, models of assisting youth (stages of change model, harm reduction model, abstinence model, motivational interviewing, etc), the links between mental health issues and drug use/abuse, and the core functions of a substance abuse counselor.
YCW – 400 FIELD WORK I
The student who meets all designated requirements will be placed in a field placement for an eight-week period. The purpose of this applied course is to assist the student to integrate theory and practice through a supervised experience with a designated population.
YCW – 401 FIELD WORK II (If not employed)
The student who meets all designated requirements will be placed in a field placement for a twelve-week period. The purpose of this applied course is to assist the student to integrate theory and practice through a supervised experience with a designated population. When possible, this placement will be in a different location than YCW-400, Field Work I.
Students can add French as a Second Language certificate to this program.
Click here for details.
Schedule
| September to April | May to June | July to August | September to November |
| Regular Classes | OJT 1 | Regular Classes | OJT 2 |
DURATION
ADMISSION REQUIRE-
TUITION/
START DATE/
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING