Your Future Starts Here…
Child and Youth Care
The Oulton College Child and Youth Care Diploma Program prepares you for a career in this expanding field, in a wide range of work settings, including Community Based Programs, Schools, Family Support, Group Homes, Residential Treatment Facilities and Hospitals.
Our program is committed to training students who are passionate about the welfare of youth and youth issues. Students will learn the principles, philosophies and characteristics required to provide quality youth care. Beginning with the origins of child and youth care work, to current practices, students will learn how to help youth who are at risk.
Our Child and Youth Care Program provides hands-on practical experience and training in:
- Working as a member of a team in a support network.
- Courses in child abuse, psychology, counseling and behavior modification.
- Certification in ASSIST: suicide intervention.
- Certification in CPI: Non-Violent Crisis Intervention.
- Field trips to the New Brunswick Youth Center, to Portage Atlantic, and to Courts.
- Guest Speakers from numerous employment agencies.
- Employment Readiness: report writing, resume writing and cover letters.
- Computer Applications I
This program includes hands-on opportunities in two practicum placements (one lasting 8-weeks and the other lasting 12-weeks). Such training gives real-life experience that allows students to practice the skills you learned in class. This is valuable experience which can be added to their resume.
If you are passionate about the welfare of our youth and are committed to making a difference, then our Child and Youth Care Program may be just the program for you.
Duration: Two Year Program starts September 2013
Practicums: 8 weeks and 12 weeks
Career Choices
Do you enjoy children and interacting with youth? Looking for a fulfilling career that’s always in demand? Our Child and Youth Care Program can be the first step in finding your calling.
- Youth Correctional Facilities
- Group Homes
- Addiction Centres
- Autism Support Centres
- Community-based Programs and Schools
- Educational Assistants
- Behavioral Specialists
You Will Learn
- Strength-based Approaches to Counseling
- Treatment Planning
- Suicide Intervention
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
- Effective Human Relations, Practices, Behavior Management and Interviewing Skills
Course Descriptions
THE PROFESSION OF YOUTH CARE IN CANADA
This course provides an overview of the history, and present day practices of the profession in Canada. The profession will be examined from a theoretical perspective – psychoeducational, behavioral, systemic, disability, etc. – and from a practice perspective – residential, juvenile justice, school-based, community based, recreation, and parent education and support. Protocols, regulations, ethical considerations, teamwork concepts and human rights will also be discussed.
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
This course will introduce students to the principals and practices of effective human relations. Students will have opportunity to integrate theory and skills development as they begin to recognize the process of human interaction. Giving and receiving feedback, assertiveness, and conflict resolution are among the special topics covered.
SELF CARE IN THE YOUTH CARE PROFESSION
Students will have the opportunity to explore and examine areas of personal stress and their maintaining variables in this course. Traditional and holistic methods of self-care will be examined in this applied course.
COMPUTERS FOR THE HUMAN SERVICES WORKPLACE
This course is designed to provide students with the level of computer literacy needed to function in today’s workplace. Utilizing a hands-on approach, general computer concepts, and the concepts of microcomputer operating systems, Internet, and word processing applications will be introduced. A personal email account will be introduced and used throughout the course to facilitate communication between students and instructors. Microsoft Office 2007 Suite: Word and PowerPoint will be covered.
SELF-DIRECTED STUDIES
This module is used by the student who may want to obtain one-on-one instruction with an instructor. This optional module is completed on Friday mornings during the entire duration of the program. The student does not receive a mark for this module as it is optional.
EMPLOYMENT READINESS
The purpose of this course is to assist students to develop employment readiness skills. Among skills explored are: professional resume development, cover and thank you letters, interviewing skills, mock interview, and specific topics associated with professional behavior in the workplace
FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS IN INTERVIEWING
This course emphasizes the necessary skills to begin any helping relationship. Basic helping skills will be examined and practiced – active listening, reflecting, leading, challenging, paraphrasing, summarizing, etc. – through lectures, class discussions, and role play practice sessions.
CHILD ABUSE
This course takes an in-depth approach to educating students with regards to the different forms of abuse inflicted on children by adults. Emotional, physical, sexual abuse and neglect are defined and fully discussed, and symptoms and effects are identified. Special emphasis will be placed on describing the populations of children who are at-risk of abuse and why adults choose to be abusive to children. Interviewing skills for child victims of abuse will also be identified and practiced.
THE FAMILY – SYSTEMS, ISSUES, HELPING
This course will examine the family system; its communication patterns, rules, and life cycle. Students will have the opportunity to review historical and current practices through an extensive literature review and instructor led lectures. Students will also be introduced to the process of assessment, engagement, empowerment, and discharge as it relates to working with at-risk families.
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
This course will explore life span development (birth to death) with a primary focus on childhood and adolescence. Focus will be placed on developing an understanding of social, emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual and psychological growth through exploring widely accepted theories.
BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT
This course will introduce students to a wide variety of applied behavioural techniques used to modify behaviours. Focus will be placed on methods to increase positive behaviour for success in any setting.
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY OF CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE
The various psychopathologies related to the intellectual, social, emotional and physical sensory functioning of children and youth will be examined through the use of case studies and possible guest speakers. Psychopharmacological treatment will also be discussed.
YOUTH AND DEVIANCE IN CANADA
This course, facilitated through lectures, class discussions, field trips and guest speakers, will introduce the student to the concepts and theories associated with adolescence, delinquency and youth culture. Topics discussed include, but are not limited to history of delinquency, youth crime statistics, youth as victim, schools and delinquency, female deviance, and the Juvenile Justice Act.
GROUP DYNAMICS AND THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY PLANNING
This course provides opportunities for the student to utilize the skills and techniques of the group process in social and work situations. The focus is on group behavior in therapy settings and the use of various techniques, methods and approaches within the group process with children, adolescents, and families. Students will apply this theoretical knowledge to a wide array of therapeutic activity planning exercises.
COMMUNICATIONS II: REPORTING IN CHILD AND YOUTH CARE
This course will focus primarily on reports generated by Youth Care Workers. Students will have the opportunity to develop an Individualized Care Plan, Incident Reports, Weekly Reviews, Care Plan Updates, and Daily Logs through this case-study guided module.
CRISIS INTERVENTION
This course will provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills for managing crisis situations when in the field. Based on the premise that crisis is opportunity, students will learn intervention methods and safe practices through lectures and certifications. Certifications include, but are not limited to, Non Violent Crisis Intervention and Suicide Intervention.
INDEPENDENT DIRECTED SEMINAR
This course will assist students to develop their research and oral presentation skills in an area of mutual interest between the student and the instructor. It is intended that this seminar will be added to the student’s professional portfolio.
CHILD AND YOUTH CARE IN THE SCHOOL SETTING
This specialty course will assist students to further develop their skills for work in the educational setting. Topics discussed include professional practice, integration, special education planning, participating in the IEP process, and supporting children with exceptionalities. Up-to-date information will be provided by experts in the field when possible.
CHILD AND YOUTH CARE IN THE RESIDENTIAL SETTING
This specialty course will assist students in developing and honing their skills for work in the residential setting – group home, foster home, etc. Focus will be placed on guiding the student to develop competency based approaches that will be used to work with children, youth and their families who are experiencing out of home care situations. Up-to-date coverage will be provided by experts in each area.
YOUTH, DRUGS AND MENTAL HEALTH
This course will provide students with information regarding drug use and abuse in the youth population. Special emphasis will be placed on assisting students to develop an understanding of such topics as risk factors and protective factors for youth drug/use and abuse, models of assisting youth (stages of change model, harm reduction model, abstinence model, motivational interviewing, etc), the links between mental health issues and drug use/abuse, and the core functions of a substance abuse counselor.
PRACTICUM PLACEMENT 1
The student who meets all designated requirements will be placed in a field placement for an eight-week period. The purpose of this applied course is to assist the student to integrate theory and practice through a supervised experience with a designated population.
PRACTICUM PLACEMENT 2
The student who meets all designated requirements will be placed in a field placement for a twelve-week period. The purpose of this applied course is to assist the student to integrate theory and practice through a supervised experience with a designated population. When possible, this placement will be in a different location than CYC-400, Field Work I.
Admission Requirements
- Grade 12 Diploma, Adult Diploma or GED
- 19 years of age prior to May of first year
- Meeting with an Admissions Advisor
- Acceptance by the Admissions Committee
- Completion of the Pre-Enrollment Package
