Child and Youth Care

Program Overview

Sheridan College's Child and Youth Care program equips students with the knowledge and skills to work with young people facing challenges. Through a combination of classroom learning and field placements, students develop expertise in prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies, fostering personal growth and positive change in youth. The program emphasizes a strength-based approach, cultural diversity, and trauma-informed practice, preparing graduates for careers in various settings supporting young people.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Overview: The Child and Youth Care program at Sheridan College prepares students to work with young people facing life's toughest challenges.
The program provides a strong theoretical and practical foundation based on a foundational understanding of human development, family systems, and cultural diversity.
• Objectives: The program aims to develop students' ability to:
• Develop and implement prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies
• Guide at-risk youth through their daily challenges
• Teach social and life skills and support efforts to manage behavior
• Facilitate personal growth and positive change in young people
• Description: The program combines hands-on experience with classroom learning, including four semesters of field practicum in various settings such as youth justice, foster homes, shelters, residential treatment facilities, and community outreach programs.
Students also engage in collaborative group assignments, role-playing activities, class discussions, and case studies to develop problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.

Outline:

• Content: The program covers topics such as:
• Child and youth development
• Family systems
• Cultural diversity
• Trauma-informed practice
• Restorative practices
• Mental wellness
• Working with families
• Current issues in child and youth care
• Structure: The program consists of six semesters, with a combination of field placements and coursework.
• Course Schedule: The course schedule varies depending on the semester, but typically includes courses such as:
• Anti-Oppression and Equity in Child and Youth Care Relational Practice
• Fundamentals of Teams and Small Groups
• Introduction to Trauma-informed Practice

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including:
• Hands-on experiential activities
• Collaborative group assignments
• Presentations by guest speakers and agencies
• Role-playing activities
• Class discussions and case studies
• Faculty: All professors have been active in the field within the past five years, ensuring a curriculum that is cutting-edge and provides a strong foundation for students' future careers.
• Unique Approaches: The program promotes a strength-based approach to practice that focuses on encouraging a child's strengths in overcoming their struggles.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths: Graduates of the program may pursue careers in various settings, such as:
• Group homes
• Mental health settings
• Education system
• Opportunities: Graduates are prepared to work as child and youth care workers, providing support and guidance to young people facing challenges.
• Outcomes: The program prepares students for successful careers in the field of child and youth care, enabling them to make a positive impact on the lives of young people.