Child and Youth Care Program (Accelerated) (C153)

Program Description

Leadership Claims

This Child and Youth Care program has earned national accreditation from the Child and Youth Care Educational Accreditation Board of Canada, becoming the first of its kind in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area and the third in Canada to do so.

Program Overview

George Brown College's Child and Youth Care (Accelerated) (C153) program will teach you to work effectively with at-risk children, youth and families who are experiencing developmental, mental health, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Apply to this program stream if you have already completed a two- or three-year diploma, or a three- or four-year degree.

PLEASE NOTE: If you apply to the 2023/24 intake for this program, you will start in May 2024. To begin your studies in May 2023, apply to the 2022/23 academic year.

Full Description

George Brown College's Child and Youth Care (Accelerated) (C153) program will teach you to support at-risk children, youth and families by developing therapeutic skills and abilities. Over the course of 12 consecutive months (three semesters), you will learn how to build therapeutic relationships with clients and collaborate with a professional team as you develop skill sets to create a professional identity as an agent of change.

PLEASE NOTE: To start this program in May 2024, apply to the 2023/24 intake. To start in May 2023, apply to the 2022/23 academic year.

Scope of Child and Youth Care (CYC) practitioners includes:

  • assessing risk and developmental needs of vulnerable children and families
  • designing and implementing therapeutic intervention
  • crisis intervention and safety planning with children, youth and their families
  • developing therapeutic relationships within challenging contexts
  • applying group and systems theories in physical and social settings
  • fostering resilience and applying a strength-based approach to assessment and intervention

Have questions? Review our most frequently asked questions and answers.

This program starts in May and is delivered over 12 consecutive months (three consecutive semesters).

Students are required to successfully complete a Ministry-approved crisis prevention and intervention training certificate in their third semester.

In preparation for the field or clinical placement, CYC (Accelerated) students will be required to work in multiple small and large groups within classes and community settings.

Your Field Education Options

George Brown College's Child and Youth Care (Accelerated) (C153) students will get the chance to develop valuable hands-on experience through two supervised field placement opportunities.

The first placement occurs over seven consecutive weeks in the summer semester, and the second placement occurs over four consecutive months in the winter semester. Each placement is four days/week.

Field placement opportunities take place in agencies and institutions that offer services to the community within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The CYC program also offers international placement experiences when possible. 

Typical placement sites include:

  • group homes
  • educational settings
  • hospitals
  • youth shelters
  • schools
  • after-school programs
  • community outreach programs
  • youth justice

Students are expected to work both day and evening shifts (not overnight), and may be requested to work on some weekends.

CYC (Accelerated) (C153) students are able to apply for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for one field placement.

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Child and Youth Care graduates are eligible for membership in the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Counsellors (OACYC), the professional association representing Child and Youth Care Practitioners in the province of Ontario.

Our graduates find employment in:

  • treatment centres
  • group homes
  • hospitals
  • youth shelters
  • schools
  • after-school programs
  • community-based treatment programs
  • youth justice

Educational Pathways

Graduates of the Child and Youth Care (Accelerated) (C153) program may qualify for advanced standing in other programs at George Brown College. Some examples include (but are not limited to):

Graduates are also eligible to apply for the degree completion program in Child and Youth Care at:

Graduates may also apply for advanced standing in the B.A. Health/Community in the School of Public Health and Social Policy at the University of Victoria, the B.A. Justice Studies, and the B.A. Professional Communication at Royal Roads University.

For further information, see Transfer Guide.

"After working at Cedar Heights Residential Living for just a few months, I was hired as a case manager. I work with youth living with brain based development issues who often have more than one diagnosis.

There is never a dull day at work but I feel confident in the field due to my experience at GBC. I had a good base to start from because of the dedication of faculty in making course content relevant and I can apply lessons learnt to my actual work.

Thank you once again for everything!"

Deyana Sameh
Ontario College Advanced Diploma

Visit and discover life in our campus

Book campus tour

Get answers to your questions

Book info session

Sign up to receive tailored resources to make your application, your way.

Sign up and learn more about your options, our programs, and life at George Brown.