Child and Youth Worker

Child and Youth Workers, also known as Child Care Workers, Child and Youth Counsellors, and Child and Youth Care Workers are professionals who work with children and adolescents in various therapeutic contexts, in the USA and Canada.[1]

CYWs complete a four-year programe in a university or a college leading to an advanced diploma in child and youth care. Programes 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 specialized 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, addictions, or social service worker training.

Some CYW's further their education specifically in child and youth care and hold bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in child and youth care. The University of Victoria in Canada offers a doctoral programme for child and youth workers.

CYWs work in many milieux, including schools, psychiatric hospitals, and a variety of treatment programmes. One typical "entry level" position for a CYW is as a front-line worker in a therapeutic group home. Some child and youth workers work privately and some have clinically supervised private practices. Those in private practice should be certified members of an association. Provincial and state associations are found throughout Canada and the USA.

Notes

  1. ↑ Edunet website

External links