in Child and Youth Care

Prepare for a career as a Child and Youth Counsellor (CYC), providing care and treatment for children or adolescents experiencing a range of social, emotional, behavioral, or learning challenges.

Start Date

September 05, 2023

Program Availability:

Accepting Applications

Program Code:

CYW

Delivery:

Hybrid , In Person , Placement

Credential

Ontario College Advanced Diploma

Academic School:

School of Justice and Community Development

Location:

Sutherland Campus

Program Contacts

Heather Sago

Program Coordinator

Domestic Tuition:

$2261.96 per semester*

International Tuition:

$8734.6 per semester*

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Canadian Students International Students

View Curriculum

January 08, 2024

Program Availability:

Accepting Applications

Program Code:

CYW

Delivery:

Hybrid , In Person , Placement

Credential

Ontario College Advanced Diploma

Academic School:

School of Justice and Community Development

Location:

Sutherland Campus

Program Contacts

Heather Sago

Program Coordinator

Domestic Tuition:

$2231.09 per semester*

International Tuition:

$8593.71 per semester*

*Domestic tuition amounts shown are from the 2022-2023 academic year and are subject to change.

*International tuition amounts shown are from the 2022-2023 academic year and are subject to change.

Apply Now

Canadian Students International Students

View Curriculum

Child and Youth Care Practitioners (CYCP) are involved in all facets of care, from intake to assessment, program planning, goal formulation, and intervention. They team up with teachers, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists as well as other social services to provide a assistance through a variety of treatment strategies.

Fleming is one of the few institutions in Canada and abroad that has completed and earned full accreditation by the Child and Youth Care Educational Accreditation Board of Canada (CYCEAB).

Three work placements provide varied practical experience and ample opportunity to hone skills to interact with this often challenging client group.
Courses include innovative and best practices required by the industry, such as trauma-informed practice and treating the family, as well as group dynamics, counselling, advocacy, legislation, crisis intervention, and family dynamics.

The philosophy of the program is to be thoroughly involved with the individual, using everyday occurrences as learning opportunities for growth and empowerment. The curriculum also encourages self-reflective practice of personal values, beliefs, attitudes and assumptions relating to human behavior and relationships. You will also learn self-care strategies to help navigate the impact of working in this sector.

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be eligible to join the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care (OACYC).

Fleming is the only college in Ontario to offer a specialized training certificate in the Therapeutic Use of Daily Life Events (DLE). The first training session was delivered by the co-founder of the theory, Dr. Thom Garfat, along with a team of DLE trainers.
Your curriculum includes courses in innovative and best practices required by the industry, such as trauma-informed practice and treating the family, as well as group dynamics, counselling, advocacy, legislation, crisis intervention, and family dynamics.
Three work placements provide varied practical experience and ample opportunity to hone skills to interact with this often challenging client group.
Small class sizes and individual attention enhance your learning experience. You will be supported by our knowledgeable and caring faculty who are experts in community and social services education.

The Child and Youth Care Advanced Diploma program at Sir Sandford Fleming College has earned accreditation from the Child and Youth Care Educational Accreditation Board of Canada as a provider of quality post-secondary education in the field of Child and Youth Care, from June 4, 2019, to June 3, 2026.

Placements can take place locally or outside the Peterborough area. Placements are integrated with seminars to provide extra support and direction to students during the three placement experiences. The program provides over 1200 hours of placement experience and preparation.

These traits and abilities will help you succeed in this program and career:

Compassionate and committed to making a difference in the lives of children, youth, families, and the community
Team player who thrives in a wide range of dynamic environments
Energetic, flexible, open-minded, creative, and responsible
Physical, emotional, and moral strength to work with challenges, such as addictions, mental health, abuse, trauma, and learning difficulties
Effective communicator
Calm under pressure

"Many of my classmates were hired while still in the second year of the program as a result of placement experience. I was hired full-time after graduation at Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle, which is where I did all three of my program placements."
Ziigwanbinesii Charles (Rachel),
Child and Youth Care Program Graduate

As a Child and Youth Care Practitioner (CYCP), you can find employment in a variety of community-based organizations, public and private workplaces, including human service agencies, educational settings, health facilities, and recreational/ sports facilities. The increased need for CYCPs in residential care settings has resulted in an accelerated hiring rate for locations such as group homes, residential and day treatment programs in children's mental health centres, and treatment residences. CYCPs work with a diverse range of people and personal circumstances, including:

Children and youth who have experienced traumatic events in their lives such as abuse and neglect
Children and youth struggling with mental challenges
Children, youth, and their families experiencing the impact of homelessness
Children and youth impacted by addictions, mental health issues
Children, youth and their families who have experienced violence
Families living in poverty
At-risk youth

The Indigenous Perspectives Designation (IPD) is an option available to students studying in the Community and Justice Services program. To qualify for the IPD, students must take and successfully complete GNED49 - Introduction to Indigenous Studies and GNED128 - Indigenous Knowledges, along with a minimum of four approved co-curricular Indigenous events or experiences that will be incorporated into the final portfolio assignment in GNED128. The student’s transcript will indicate the IPD designation. Upon graduation, students with an IPD will have a strong foundational basis in Indigenous Studies, and a designation that will be marketable in the employment sector.

Your program has mandatory requirements which may include a criminal reference check, first aid, CPR-C, etc. For more information, please see the Non Academic Requirements page.

Develop and maintain therapeutic relationships with children, youth and their families, respecting their unique life spaces, and applying the principles of relational practice to meet their needs.
Assess the strengths, developmental and holistic needs of children, youth and their families, using methods grounded in theoretical frameworks, research and therapeutic practices, to develop care and intervention plans.
Develop and implement care and intervention plans appropriate for the therapeutic milieu using evidence-informed practices and research to provide support for children, youth, and their families.
Use equitable and inclusive approaches that are anti-colonial, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and strength-based frameworks, as well as cultural humility, to create positive and sustainable solutions and respond to inequities and to systemic barriers experienced by children, youth and their families.
Advocate for, and in solidarity with, children, youth, their families and communities through their participation in the development and implementation of care and intervention plans that uphold their rights.
Employ communication, collaboration and relational skills with the inter-professional team and with community partners to ensure and enhance the professionalism of practice.
Engage in self-inquiry, relational inquiry and critical reflection to develop strategies for learning and the practice of self-care, as a practitioner.
Use professional development resources and supervision to increase professional capacity, learning and leadership skills.
Adhere to relevant legislation and Child and Youth Care standards of practice, competencies, and codes of ethics as a practitioner.
Practice in a variety of contexts and settings, respecting needs for developmental growth, safety, wellbeing and agency, while addressing the varying age and developmental ranges of children, youth, and their families.
Employ crisis prevention and intervention techniques, and harm-reduction principles, with children, youth and their families in the provision of care, to ensure their safety, resolution of crises, and reparation of relationships.
Develop the capacity to work with children, youth and families who identify with Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities, as well as people in LGBTQ2A+ and disabled communities, by identifying systemic inequities and barriers, integrating practices such as trauma informed care, and respecting their inherent rights to self-determine.

Students applying to Child and Youth Care must meet the following requirements:

OSSD including Gr 12 C English

OSSD with majority of courses at College (C ) or Open (O) unless otherwise stated.
Grade 12 C courses will be accepted where Gr 11 C course requirements are listed.
Where College level courses are listed, U and M courses will be accepted.

Mature Students

If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Skillsmarker to assess your eligibility for admission. Additional testing or academic upgrading may be necessary to meet specific course requirements for this program.

PC / Windows

Operating System:

Windows 10
Processor:

Core i5 - 1.6Ghz minimum
Memory:

8GB minimum
Hard Disk:

160GB minimum

Apple / MacOS

Operating System:

MacOS 10.12 or newer
Processor:

Core i5 6th Gen or better
Memory:

8GB minimum
Hard Disk:

160GB minimum

Internet Connection: 2.5 Mbps Download and 3.0 Mbps Upload (minimum)

Students are required to have their own computer, internet access, webcam and microphone.

In The NewsChild and Youth Care

Transfer Agreements

You may be able to use credits obtained at Fleming College to continue your postsecondary education in pursuit of a degree. The articulation and credit transfer agreements with our partner institutions are summarized below.