Child and Youth Care Program (C133)

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 (C133) program teaches students the skills they need to work effectively with children, youth and families who are experiencing social, emotional, developmental and behavioural challenges. The program integrates a holistic approach embedding an ecological perspective and principles of human rights, anti-oppressive practice, resiliency and restorative practice.

Full Description

George Brown College's Child and Youth Care (C133) program combines best practice principles and a relational approach that is anchored in the values of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care Code of Ethics.

Students learn to engage purposefully and effectively with children, adolescents and families who struggle with emotional, behavioural and developmental challenges that impair their abilities to relate to others.

Specific focus is on recognizing the impact of mental health challenges on children and youth.

Students learn to translate theory into practice to move youth from potential risk to resilience.

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

Your Field Education Options

Field placement plays an important role in the Child and Youth Care program.

During the first year, students will learn foundational skills that they will develop as the course progresses.  The subsequent academic courses come to life in a wide range of supervised field placements in the second and third years of the program.

Second-year students can expect to be in placement two days a week (winter semester) and third-year students can expect to be in placement three days a week over 28 weeks (includes both the fall and winter semesters).

Placements may take place in professional settings such as:

  • residential care
  • hospitals
  • shelters
  • schools
  • after-school programs
  • community outreach programs
  • day treatment
  • youth justice

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

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 have found employment in:

  • treatment centres
  • group homes/residential placements
  • hospitals
  • educational settings
  • community-based treatment programs
  • shelters
  • youth justice

Educational Pathways

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

Child and Youth Care graduates are also eligible to apply for a degree completion program at the following institutions:

Child and Youth Care at Toronto Metropolitan University

Child and Youth Care at Humber College

School of Child and Youth Care at University of Victoria

Justice Studies at Royal Roads University

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

For further information, see Transfer Guide.

"I always wanted to be an advocate for children and youth. I met a victim services worker who told me about the program at George Brown. Knowing that I wanted to specialize in child abuse prevention and intervention, I felt that the courses in this program would help me set the foundation for my educational path. I also knew that I wanted to continue pursuing higher education and that Ryerson had a direct entry program, which allows George Brown students to apply to go directly into third year. These reasons and the fact that George Brown provided 2 full-year placements made me choose this program at George Brown."

Kirishika Ethayarajan
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.