Child and Youth Worker

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Child and Youth Workers, also known as Child Care Workers, Child and Youth Counsellors, and Child and Youth Care Workers are professionals who work children and adolescents in various therapeutic contexts.

CYWs often complete a three-year programme in a community college leading to a diploma. Programmes will include coursework and field placement. Typically, the first year placement is in an elementary school classroom, second year is in a therapeutic group home, and third is a specialised setting such as a hospital, chosen by the student. Some individuals enter the child and youth care field with a college diploma or university degree in a related field, such as psychology, sociology, or social service worker training.

CYWs work in many milieux, including schools, psychiatric hospitals, and a variety of treatment programmes. The typical "entry level" position for a CYW is as a front-line worker in a therapeutic group home. They may go on to work in special education classrooms. School board positions, which are unionised, are highly sought among CYWs.

CYWs tend not to remain in the field as a lifelong career, due to the amount of energy the job calls for, as well as the irregular shift hours, which are not conducive to family life.