Child and Youth Care

School of Community Studies
Program Code: B992
Status: Open
Windsor Campus
Apply Online:
Domestic International
Three Year - Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Starts: September
Contact:
Ann Glover
519-972-2727 ext. 5617

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Program Overview

Graduates of the Child and Youth Care program engage with children, youth, and their families in their everyday lives, use a relational approach to developing therapeutic relationships and build on their strengths and capacities to promote optimal development and facilitate positive changes. Many of the children and youth receiving care, and their families, experience complex needs and challenges associated with multiple factors such as socioeconomic factors, systemic factors, mental health, trauma, cognition, learning, and/or developmental exceptionalities and/or involvement in the justice system.

Child and Youth Care graduates demonstrate an understanding of and ability to adhere to values and guiding principles in their practice. These include but are not limited to:

  • A belief in child and youth-centred, holistic, developmental, and ecological perspectives
  • A commitment to anti-oppressive practice, anti-racist practice, cultural safety, and cultural humility
  • Knowledge of evidence-based, evidence-informed, trauma-informed and strength-based interventions
  • A focus on self-awareness and self-advocacy and the promotion of resiliency

Child and Youth Care practitioners adhere to professional codes of ethics, and all relevant legislation governing the systems and services in which child and youth care practitioners are employed.

Practitioners are committed to evidence-based research, and evidence-informed practice and engage in continuing professional education to support ongoing professional growth and competence in Child and Youth Care practice; including the use of proactive supervision seeking from both those assigned to them as well as ascribed mentorships.

Program Highlights

  • Learn to Implement and evaluate a range of prevention, intervention and treatment strategies for children, youth and their families with difficult home situations, substance abuse, behavioural problems, mental health challenges, homelessness, self-harm, suicidal ideation and conflicts with the law, Interventions include crisis intervention, conflict management, problem solving, counselling, activity programming and group work.
  • Interactive classroom work
  • Develop clinical observation and reporting skills.
  • Understand and develop therapeutic relationships
  • Extensive full-time field placement experience in each year of study whereby theory is integrated with practice. First Year: 240 hours; Second Year: 480 hours; Third Year: 480 hours.
  • Student membership in the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care, with access to the Relational Child and Youth Care Journal, e-books, and discounts for conferences and workshops.
  • All faculty are experienced Child and Youth Care practitioners
  • All faculty hold Child and Youth Care credentials and are members of the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care

Career Opportunities

Child and Youth Care graduates are valuable members of inter-professional teams and can expect to work with children, youth and their families across a variety of settings, including community-based child and youth development programs, parent education and family support, school-based programs, community mental health, group care, live-in treatment centres, day and live-in treatment programs, early intervention, home-based care and treatment, private practice, clinical facilities, child and youth mental health and psychiatric centres, rehabilitation programs, paediatric health care, child protection and youth justice.

Degree Completions

Graduates of the Child & Youth Care program with a minimum GPA of 3.0 may be eligible to block transfer into Year 3 of Degrees in Disability Studies, Psychology and Social Work at the University of Windsor. Graduates may also be admitted into the third year of the Bachelor of Justice Studies Degree at Royal Roads University, the Bachelor of Child and Youth Care at Toronto Metropolitan University, and the Bachelor of Child and Youth Care at Humber College.

Professional Accreditation and Affiliations

Admission Requirements

OSSD with the majority of courses at the College(C), University (U), University/College (M) or Open (O) level plus:

  • Grade 12 English - ENG4U, ENG4C, EAE4C or EAE4U.

Mature students - See Admission Procedures for details.

Important Information

This is a HIGH-INTEREST program and has the potential to become oversubscribed. Applicants are advised to apply before February 1st. See Admission Procedures for details.

Courses

The curriculum below is for incoming students:

Semester 1
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030
 		Choose 1 Elective Course
3
SSC240
 		Developmental Psychology
3
CYW155
 		The Child And Youth Worker As A Professional
3
CYW251
 		Activities With Children I
3
CYW204
 		Reflective Child And Youth Care Practice
3
SSC160
 		Basic Psychology
3
Semester 2
Code Title Credits
CYW150
 		Child Care Techniques I
3
CYW152
 		Introduction To Treatment
3
CYW159
 		Diversity In CYC Practice
3
SSC159
 		Abnormal Psychology
3
CYW201
 		Relational And Developmental Practice
3
Semester 3
Code Title Credits
CYW100
 		Field Experience I
16
Semester 4
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030
 		Choose 1 Elective Course
3
CYW250
 		Child Care Techniques II
3
CYW256
 		Family Dynamics
3
CYW217
 		Youth Justice
3
CYW156
 		Observation Skills And Reporting
3
Semester 5
Code Title Credits
CYW257
 		Counselling Process, Progress & Evaluation
3
CYW258
 		Personality Psychology
3
CYW351
 		Activities With Children II
3
CYW352
 		Ethics And Practice In Crisis Intervention
3
CYW149
 		Health And Wellness For Child And Youth Care
3
Semester 6
Code Title Credits
CYW200
 		Field Experience II
32
Semester 7
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030
 		Choose 1 Elective Course
3
CYW303
 		Family Based Intervention
4
CYW333
 		Children & Youth With Exceptionalities
3
CYW340
 		Adolescent Issues & Intervention
3
CYW317
 		Child And Adolescent Mental Health And Intervention
3
Semester 8
Code Title Credits
CYW254
 		Individual Growth And The Group Process
3
CYW350
 		Child Care Techniques III
3
CYW358
 		Learning Theory And Behavioural Change
3
PRM125
 		Pharmacology
3
Semester 9
Code Title Credits
CYW300
 		Field Experience III
32

View Pre/Co-Requisites for Child and Youth Care

Every effort has been made to align the pre/co-requisite document with the information on the course outline. However, if there are any discrepancies identified, the information on the course outline takes precedence.

Past Cohorts:

Semester 1
 
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
CYW154 Psychology Of Adjustment, (Psychology Of Behaviour And Adjustment) 3
CYW155 The Child And Youth Worker As A Professional 3
CYW251 Activities With Children I 3
CYW204 Relational Child and Youth Care Practice 3
SSC160 Basic Psychology 3
Semester 2
 
Code Title Credits
CYW150 Child Care Techniques I 3
CYW152 Introduction To Treatment 3
CYW159 Diversity in CYC Practice 3
SSC159 Abnormal Psychology 3
SSC240 Developmental Psychology 3
Semester 3
 
Code Title Credits
CYW100 Field Experience I 16
Semester 4
 
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
CYW250 Child Care Techniques II 3
CYW256 Family Dynamics 3
CYW217 Youth Justice 3
CYW156 Observation Skills And Reporting 3
Semester 5
 
Code Title Credits
CYW257 Counselling Process, Progress & Evaluation 3
CYW258 Personality Psychology 3
CYW351 Activities With Children II 3
CYW352 Ethics And Practice In Crisis Intervention 3
CYW149 Health And Wellness For Child And Youth Care 3
Semester 6
 
Code Title Credits
CYW200 Field Experience II 32
Semester 7
 
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
CYW303 Family Based Intervention 4
CYW333 Children & Youth With Exceptionalities 3
CYW340 Adolescent Issues & Intervention 3
CYW317 Child And Adolescent Mental Health And Intervention 3
Semester 8
 
Code Title Credits
CYW254 Individual Growth And The Group Process 3
CYW350 Child Care Techniques III 3
CYW358 Learning Theory And Behavioural Change 3
PRM125 Pharmacology 3
Semester 9
 
Code Title Credits
CYW300 Field Experience III 32

View Pre/Co-Requisites for Child and Youth Care

Semester 1
 
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
CYW154 Psychology Of Adjustment, (Psychology Of Behaviour And Adjustment) 3
CYW155 The Child And Youth Worker As A Professional 3
CYW251 Activities With Children I 3
CYW204 Relational Child and Youth Care Practice 3
SSC160 Basic Psychology 3
Semester 2
 
Code Title Credits
CYW150 Child Care Techniques I 3
CYW152 Introduction To Treatment 3
SSC159 Abnormal Psychology 3
SSC121G Celebrating Cultural Diversity 3
SSC240 Developmental Psychology 3
Semester 3
 
Code Title Credits
CYW100 Field Experience I 16
Semester 4
 
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
CYW250 Child Care Techniques II 3
CYW256 Family Dynamics 3
CYW217 Youth Justice 3
CYW156 Observation Skills And Reporting 3
Semester 5
 
Code Title Credits
CYW257 Counselling Process, Progress & Evaluation 3
CYW258 Personality Psychology 3
CYW351 Activities With Children II 3
CYW352 Ethics And Practice In Crisis Intervention 3
CYW149 Health And Wellness For Child And Youth Care 3
Semester 6
 
Code Title Credits
CYW200 Field Experience II 32
Semester 7
 
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
CYW303 Family Based Intervention 4
CYW333 Children & Youth With Exceptionalities 3
CYW340 Adolescent Issues & Intervention 3
CYW317 Child And Adolescent Mental Health And Intervention 3
Semester 8
 
Code Title Credits
CYW254 Individual Growth And The Group Process 3
CYW350 Child Care Techniques III 3
CYW358 Learning Theory And Behavioural Change 3
PRM125 Pharmacology 3
Semester 9
 
Code Title Credits
CYW300 Field Experience III 32
Semester 1
Code Title Credits
CYW251 Activities With Children I 3
CYW154 Psychology Of Adjustment, (Psychology Of Behaviour And Adjustment) 3
CYW155 The Child And Youth Worker As A Professional 3
COM200 Communications 3
SSC160 Basic Psychology 3
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
Semester 2
Code Title Credits
CYW150 Child Care Techniques I 3
CYW152 Introduction To Treatment 3
SSC159 Abnormal Psychology 3
SSC121G Celebrating Cultural Diversity 3
SSC240 Developmental Psychology 3
Semester 3
Code Title Credits
CYW100 Field Experience I 16
Semester 4
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
CYW250 Child Care Techniques II 3
CYW256 Family Dynamics 3
CYW217 Youth Justice 3
CYW156 Observation Skills And Reporting 3
Semester 5
Code Title Credits
CYW257 Counselling Process, Progress & Evaluation 3
CYW258 Personality Psychology 3
CYW351 Activities With Children II 3
CYW352 Ethics And Practice In Crisis Intervention 3
CYW149 Health And Wellness For Child And Youth Care 3
Semester 6
Code Title Credits
CYW200 Field Experience II 32
Semester 7
Code Title Credits
ELEC1030 Choose 1 Elective Course 3
CYW303 Family Based Intervention 4
CYW333 Children & Youth With Exceptionalities 3
CYW340 Adolescent Issues & Intervention 3
CYW317 Child And Adolescent Mental Health And Intervention 3
Semester 8
Code Title Credits
CYW254 Individual Growth And The Group Process 3
CYW350 Child Care Techniques III 3
CYW358 Learning Theory And Behavioural Change 3
PRM125 Pharmacology 3
Semester 9
Code Title Credits
CYW300 Field Experience III 32

Synergy Placement Notice to Students

Pre-Placement Requirements

Synergy Made Simple. Click here for Synergy Support

St. Clair College has partnered with Synergy Gateway Inc to provide you access to Verified - a platform that is used by students at other post-secondary institutions across Ontario for the purpose of digitally collecting placement requirements related to placement(s). Synergy Gateway Inc will provide support and clearance to help with your required documentation. You will be required to complete an Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV) Review through the Verified platform in order to receive clearance to begin your clinical placement. You will be provided access to "Verified" via a secure username and password. You will use Verified to:

  • Upload your pre-placement requirements documentation for review.
  • Book your Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV) service (this is a service that reviews the documents you have uploaded and provides you a status as to your eligibility to begin placements).
  • Track your ongoing requirements compliance.

Each student will receive log-in credentials to access Verified that will be sent to your St. Clair College email account. Please check your inbox, spam and junk mail folders for an email from the "Synergy Help Desk". You will be required to create a new password upon logging in. Be sure to view the video user guides and student guidebook to learn how to use the Verified platform.

Any associated fees for Synergy Gateway Inc to complete the pre-placement requirements are the sole responsibility of the students:

  • Synergy Review Fee: $50.50 + tax
  • Synergy Follow-Up Review Fee: $10.00 + tax

It is mandatory that students complete their ERV service through Verified to be eligible for your upcoming clinical placement.

Once your account has been set up with Verified, inquiries can be directed to Synergy Gateway Inc at www.Synergyhelps.com. You will need to submit a Help Desk ticket. Their Help Desk hours are Monday to Friday: 10 am - 3 pm, excluding holidays.

** Please note: If you are an International student completing a placement, you will require a valid COOP Work Permit.

Requirements

(Please refer to your Synergy communications for full details)

Additional Placement Information

Block placements are full-time commitments (First Year: 6 weeks at 40 hours a week; Second Year: 12 weeks at 40 hours a week; Third Year: 12 weeks at 40 hours a week). Ongoing placements begin in the Fall and require up to 10 hours a week outside of classroom hours. Ongoing placements typically continue through June. Some ongoing placements allow students to attend full-time when classes end (semesters 3,6,9). Students are advised to take a leave of absence from their part-time jobs during block placement as it is not possible to be fully present in placement if you are working outside of your placement hours. You must be available to perform your placement duties as scheduled which may include evenings and weekends.

COVID-19 Vaccination Placement Notice to Students

This is to make you aware that, although a COVID-19 vaccination is not required to attend St. Clair College, most of our placement sites require students to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to be eligible to attend. Students who are not fully vaccinated cannot be provided with a placement for their program and, therefore, will not be able to complete their programs. Please be advised that COVID-19 booster shots and/or other requirements may become mandatory for placement, however, they are not currently required.

  • Student placements are assigned at the discretion of the program.
  • Students may be required to obtain further clearances for placement at the discretion of the placement site.
  • Student personal requests for placement cannot be accommodated.
    • Placements may be outside the Windsor/Chatham area (& could possibly expand throughout the province)
  • Students are responsible for their own accommodation.
  • Students are responsible for their own travel and all costs of placements.
  • Students are responsible for the cost of scrub uniforms/footwear and equipment (such as a stethoscope, a watch with a second hand) and other incidentals as required.
  • Placement schedules may include shifts on days, afternoons, weekends and holidays throughout the program based on placement needs and agency availability.

Your Investment

The standard tuition and compulsory fees for the current academic year:

2025-2026 Tuition Fees  

For programs with Experiential Learning (Work Placement/Internship): Costs for accommodation, if needed, travel and related expenses are at the student's own expense. It is recommended for most programs that students have access to a laptop or desktop computer while away from home during experiential learning periods.

Textbooks and other materials are in addition to Tuition Fees. Textbook prices may be found on the Bookstore website.

Tuition and Payment Info Campus Bookstore

Please be aware that tuition and compulsory fees are subject to adjustment each year. The College reserves the right to change, amend or alter fees as necessary without notice or prejudice.

Program Physical Demands Analysis

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes

Child and Youth Care (Ontario Advanced College Diploma) (MTCU Code 60701)

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to

  1. Develop and maintain therapeutic relationships with children, youth and their families, respecting their unique life spaces, and applying the principles of relational practice to meet their needs.
  2. Assess the strengths, developmental and holistic needs of children, youth and their families, using methods grounded in theoretical frameworks, research and therapeutic practices, to develop care and intervention plans.
  3. Develop and implement care and intervention plans appropriate for the therapeutic milieu using evidence-informed practices and research to provide support for children, youth, and their families.
  4. Use equitable and inclusive approaches that are anti-colonial, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and strength-based frameworks, as well as cultural humility, to create positive and sustainable solutions and respond to inequities and to systemic barriers experienced by children, youth and their families.
  5. Advocate for, and in solidarity with, children, youth, their families and communities through their participation in the development and implementation of care and intervention plans that uphold their rights.
  6. Employ communication, collaboration and relational skills with the inter-professional team and with community partners to ensure and enhance the professionalism of practice.
  7. Engage in self-inquiry, relational inquiry and critical reflection to develop strategies for learning and the practice of self-care, as a practitioner.
  8. Use professional development resources and supervision to increase professional capacity, learning and leadership skills.
  9. Adhere to relevant legislation and Child and Youth Care standards of practice, competencies, and codes of ethics as a practitioner.
  10. Practice in a variety of contexts and settings, respecting needs for developmental growth, safety, wellbeing and agency, while addressing the varying age and developmental ranges of children, youth, and their families.
  11. Employ crisis prevention and intervention techniques, and harm-reduction principles, with children, youth and their families in the provision of care, to ensure their safety, resolution of crises, and reparation of relationships.
  12. Develop the capacity to work with children, youth and families who identify with Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities, as well as people in LGBTQ2+ and disabled communities, by identifying systemic inequities and barriers, integrating practices such as trauma-informed care, and respecting their inherent rights to self-determine.

Effective September 2023