Child and Youth Care

Courses

• First Year - Semester One
• CADW1003 Child & Youth Development
• This course introduces the learner to the foundation information of growth and development patterns, from conception through adolescence. Physical, cognitive, social, emotional and moral developments are examined. Norms and deviances to development will be studied.
• CYWP1001 Foundations of Child & Youth Care
• This course is an introduction to the field of Child and Youth Care. Students explore the historical roots of the profession, the professional role of the Child and Youth Care practitioner and the scope of practice in the field. An examination of the theoretical approaches in the field will introduce the learner to guiding principles for their practice, including using strength based and ecological approaches to build relationships and enhance supports for children, youth and families.
• COUN1033 Helping Relationships
• This course explores the fundamental therapeutic engagement skills utilized in the field of Child & Youth Care. Skills essential for effective therapeutic interventions with children and adolescents include building therapeutic rapport, active listening, questioning, seeking concreteness, and empowerment. This course puts theory into practice, incorporating extensive use of experiential role-plays in order to develop, practice, and improve one’s therapeutic engagement skills with children and youth.
• CYWP1010 Self in CYC Practice
• This course explores elements of the self that impact Child and Youth Care practice, including strengths, interests, culture and opportunities for personal growth. The course facilitates the development of skills in reflective practice, utilizing self-care strategies, and exploring the nature of relational CYC practice.
• CYWP1009 Supporting Change
• This course explores principles of learning theory to observe, assess and support changes in behaviour. Principles of change theory are introduced to assess individual readiness and enhance motivation to change. Goal setting is used to create meaningful changes in behaviour.
• GNED General Education Elective
• General Education Courses

• First Year - Semester Two
• CYWP1013 Building Resilience
• This course explores behaviour from a pain-based framework, utilizing the Circle of Courage to address risk and resilience. Learners will explore the universal needs of belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity and develop skills in assessing and enhancing support for children, youth, and families. Focus on a restorative approach to building community and repairing harm will be used and learners will explore their role in supporting youth through crises and high-risk behaviours.
• CYWP1012 Childhood Mental Health
• This course explores mental health literacy in the Child & Youth Care field, building on prior learning about development and the foundations of child and youth care practice. The focus is on mental health diagnoses affecting children, youth and families, most notably the diagnoses that first appear in childhood. The course explores both theory and practice in relation to supporting children’s mental health and well-being.
• CYWP2010 Legislation for CYCs
• This course examines the development, purpose and philosophy of legislation that governs the lives of children, youth and their families. Agencies and resources which enact the legislation to protect the rights and responsibilities of children, youth and their families will be introduced. The Child & Youth Care practitioner role as advocates for children's rights will be introduced.
• PROF1028 Professional Practice
• This course is foundational in preparing students for practicum experiences in upcoming semesters. It also provides a framework and support for learners to develop a professional e-portfolio; reflecting on their strengths, life experiences, prior learning, and the development of child and youth care competencies. Students will continue to build on their portfolio throughout their time in the CYC program, with support and guidance from faculty.

  Prerequisite: CYWP 1001, CYWP 1009

• CYWP1014 Therapeutic Interventions
• This course provides students with fundamental skills in understanding the relationship between recreational and therapeutic programming to health and wellness and in achieving goals. Learners will gain experience in planning and implementing programming based on presenting needs and developmental levels of children and youth. Learners will develop a “toolbox” of intervention strategies that are practical, relevant, and easy to use with children and youth in a variety of settings.
• GNED General Education Elective
• General Education Courses

• Second Year - Semester Three
• CYWP2009 CYC Practice with Families
• This course guides students to apply a child and youth care approach to work with families. It will introduce learners to current evidence-based practices for assessing, supporting and intervening with families. Case studies provide opportunities to practice assessing family systems for strengths and challenges and to develop a plan for intervention. In addition, students become familiar with community resources they will access while supporting families as a child and youth worker.
• CYWP2007 Child Abuse Effects and Responses
• Students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to deal with issues of violence, abuse, and neglect. The focus of the course will be on identification, prevention, crisis intervention and treatment of violence within the family and in the community.
  Prerequisite: CYWP 1010, COUN 1033
• CYWP2008 Engaging Youth
• This course will support learners to engage with youth to identify and address societal issues that impact their lives. Learners will be eligible for certification in The Purposeful Use of Daily Life Events (DLE). DLE training focuses on the use of teachable opportunities in everyday moments with children and youth. Learners will examine their work with youth from a relational CYC approach including being with, doing with and interpreting work with youth.
• PROF2014 Integrative Seminar 1
• This course provides discussion, coaching, and opportunities for exploration of issues, counselling strategies, and intervention methodologies conducive to the needs of individual children or youth in specialized settings.
  Prerequisite: PROF 1028
  Co-requisite: WKPL 2021
• WKPL2021 Practicum 1
• This placement provides students with the opportunity, under supervision, to plan and implement counselling and specialized programming conducive to the needs of individual children or youth and the specialized setting.
  Prerequisite: PROF 1028
  Co-requisite: PROF 2014
• CYWP2002 Service Delivery Process
• This course will examine the Child and Youth Care service delivery process, and the skills required for effective documentation. This includes the written and verbal communication skills specific to each phase of the treatment plan: intake; plan of care; progress reports; note taking and discharge plans. An overview of the service delivery and documentation process in residential, school-based and mental health settings will be included.
• CYWP2006 Youth Mental Health
• This course is designed as a continuation of Childhood Mental Health. The content focuses on mental health of adolescence and young adulthood. Students learn to recognize symptoms and understand treatment approaches for mental health issues, as well as theories related to cause. Areas of focus include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse and others. Understanding stigma, the Child and Youth Worker role, community supports and the assessment process will be common threads throughout the course.

• Second Year - Semester Four
• CYWP3000 Advocacy
• The role of Child and Youth Care practitioners in using their special knowledge of children/youth’s needs to protect the rights of children and youth is increasing. This project-based course facilitates students to build skills and knowledge in serving children youth and families from an anti-oppressive, rights and strengths based approach. Various levels of advocacy will be explored including client and systemic advocacy, self-advocacy, community education, and improving access to resources. The course guides students to prepare and deliver an advocacy project which makes best use of their self as a CYC. The course uses relevant legislation and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as the basis for advocacy.
• SOCI3002 Developing Cultural Humility
• This course is designed to expand the learner's understanding of cultural issues and diversity in Canadian society. Focus will be put on increasing understanding of one's own and other cultural backgrounds and in developing cultural competency in child and youth work.
• COUN3001 Facilitating Groups
• This course builds on fundamental counselling skills developed in Introduction to Counselling Skills and Advanced Counselling Skills courses to support students to develop and facilitate group program sessions for children and youth. Group facilitation skills will be developed through theoretical discussions, video demonstrations and practical lab applications in role play scenarios. Students will have the opportunity to facilitate a group session with first year Child & Youth Care students.
• PROF2015 Integrative Seminar 2
• This seminar provides advanced discussion and leads learners to employ a variety of critical thinking skills necessary to integrate theory with practice. Examination of potential strategies and actual intervention methodologies will be examined.
• WKPL2022 Practicum 2
• This placement supports students, under supervision, to integrate theory with practice. This course includes an emphasis on working with children, youth and their families in specialized settings.
• PSYC3001 Trauma Informed Care
• The course examines the specialized skills required for crisis intervention with children, adolescents and their families. Learners will examine a myriad of issues relating to trauma and loss including suicide prevention and intervention; responding to tragic events in schools and agencies; and supporting children and teens through their grief experiences.
• GNED General Education Elective
• General Education Courses

• Second Year - Semester Five
• WKPL2063 Practicum 3
• In this final practicum, learners will have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills regarding the competencies required of the graduate Child and Youth Care Practitioner. With faculty support, learners will self-reflect and assess their performance and actively seek feedback to continue to learn and progress.
  Prerequisite: COUN 3001, CYWP 3000, PROF 2015, PSYC 3001, SOCI 3002, WKPL 2022, PROF 2014

*Courses subject to change.