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Academic PS Calendar (pdf)

Academic Program Calendar - 2011-2012
Postsecondary Academic Program Calendar - 2011-2012 (ALL)(PDF)
NOTE: Also individual program (PDF's) - downloadable from postsecondary program homepages.

Community Services - Child and Youth Worker

3-year, Ontario College Advanced Diploma Program

Official Program Information

Child and Youth Worker - photo banner

The Child and Youth Worker (CYW) program will give you the knowledge and skills to support children and youth who are experiencing emotional/social/behavioural difficulties. Throughout this three year, Ontario College Advanced Diploma program, you will cultivate a positive belief system and higher levels of understanding about yourself and children/youth. You will also learn how to develop, and apply advanced interpersonal skills and therapeutic interventions to a variety of situations. Utilizing these skills will enable you to provide a positive therapeutic climate that is accepting, valuing and empowering. If you are open to being challenged to grow at an intrapersonal and interpersonal level, and have a high level of commitment and desire to work with youth, then this could be the ideal profession for you!

Employment Opportunities: 

Child and Youth Work is an exciting, challenging and expanding field to work in. As a graduate of this program, you will be qualified to pursue careers serving children, youth and their families. Group homes, foster home networks, schools, youth justice programs, community outreach programs, addictions, early intervention and prevention programs, alternative to custody, diversion programs, shelters, home and community based programs, case management and adolescent treatment programs are among the many career opportunities available to Child and Youth Worker graduates in northwestern Ontario.

Admission Requirements: 
  1. Ontario Secondary School Diploma (or equivalent) with courses from the College (C), University (U), University/College (U/C), or Open (O) preparation levels.
  2. or successful completion of the Mature Student Assessment.
  3. or appropriate credits from Academic and Career Entrance program (ACE).

Additional Courses Required: Grade 12 College or University Preparation English.

If you do not meet these admission requirements, we encourage you to consider the College Access or General Arts and Science programs; if you successfully complete one of these programs, you wil be eligible to apply to programs in the Community Services area.

Physical Demands: 

Field placement and employment agencies require that students are physically able to perform an array of duties. These include physical restraints, driving, physical and recreational programming, lifting, reporting and recording.

Other Requirements: 

Prior to commencement of field placement, the following is required:

  1. Immunization and Communicable Disease’s Form 
  2. Up-to-date Immunization including TB Skin Test
  3. Standard First Aid and CPR
  4. A valid Driver's License may be required for certain placements.
  5. A recent Criminal Reference Check must be processed no earlier than one month prior to your field placement beginning. This will require each first-year student to apply for their Criminal Reference Check within the first week of December. As part of this Criminal Reference Check, agencies also require students to complete a Child Welfare Prior Involvement Check and a Vulnerable Persons Check. All costs associated with police checks, testing and proof of certification are the responsibility of the applicant. The check is used by employers in this field as a screening requirement of field placement and employment. A criminal record may prevent agencies from providing you with a field placement experience, thus blocking your ability to complete program requirements. Outstanding charges, recent convictions and person-related crimes are of particular concern. For more information, contact the Program Coordinator.
Program Continuation Criteria: 

To proceed into a subsequent semester and to graduate, the student must have a minimum  C grade in each semester course.

Articulation Agreements: 

Graduates from this program are eligible to access articulation agreements with the following universities:

  • Lakehead University
  • Athabasca University

For more information on Articulation Agreements

Departments:

how to apply

Do you have significant & relevant experience?

Ask about Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR) - a mechanism to offer credits for learning acquired through study, work, volunteering and other life experiences that are not recognized through formal transfer credit mechanisms.