Child & Youth Care

CYC-1002: Introduction to Field Placement

This course prepares the student for the first field placement that occurs in the second semester. Students experience a forum for discussion of recurring issues related to the field placement experience. These recurring issues are explored through lectures, class discussions, and presentations by guest speakers from the Child and Youth Care field. Students identify their strengths and areas for growth in preparation for their second term field placement. Guidance and direction is provided for students to assist in the selection of their first field experience.

CYC-1014: Introduction to Child and Youth Care

This course introduces students to the profession of child and youth care - examining historical developments as well as assisting the student in acquiring a body of knowledge and skill which are unique to child and youth care. The course focuses on three central themes: i) the children, youth, and families served; ii) the role of the Child & Youth Care Practitioner; and iii) self-awareness

CYC-1023: Health and Nutrition

In this course, students develop a personal perspective of wellness as they explore the following aspects of health and nutrition: the promotion of health and wellness from a holistic perspective including physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, and environmental health; an understanding of nutrition and the dietary needs of healthy people, basic human anatomy, a review of prescription and illegal drugs, and a brief study of infectious and non-infectious diseases - especially those pertaining to childhood and adolescence.

COM-1013: Critical Thinking and Writing

In this writing course, students respond to current issues and news articles via various styles of paragraphs and essays. Students strive for clarity of message and diplomatic expression of opinion based on fact. Students practice thinking critically and organize and hone their writing to ensure clarity and correctness in their messages. Critical Thinking and Writing lays the foundation for a subsequent research-writing course.

PSY-1003: Psychology I

This course focuses on how we behave. It is an attempt to understand ourselves and others. The primary goal of this course is to see psychology as an objective way of studying human experience.

GED-XXX3: General Education Elective

CYC-2002: Field Seminar I

This is the first of five seminars related to the field practicum. This seminar and the following seminars will be offered concurrently with field placement. Field Seminar is a forum for first-year students to integrate placement experiences with classroom learning. Common and recurring issues related to the student's field placement experience will be identified and prioritized for discussion.

CYCF-2056: Field Work I

Field practice is the forum for observing, identifying, practicing and incorporating skills and theory taught in the classroom. Each field experience combines with the student's specific learning needs and the placement's requirements to offer a practical learning opportunity for the student.

CYC-2012: Child and Youth Care Methodology I

In this course, learners will be introduced to the methods used in creating and maintaining a therapeutic milieu, with a specific focus on self-awareness. As many students enter this field for personal reasons and with personal histories that reflect an interest in the ways that children and youth can benefit from the intervention of trained professionals, it is important that students understand their own styles of interacting.

CYC-2022: Therapeutic Activities

This course is designed to investigate the objectives of play and programming with children and youth using a relational approach. The focus is on the psychological insight that play is an essential element of life. In organized play, skills, and processes are learned which later enable individuals to relate to their community and society. Throughout this course learners will enhance their ability to facilitate activities with children and youths that are strength-based, engaging, meaningful, and therapeutic.

CYC-2033: Legislation and Social Issues

In this course the student will become familiar with all the relevant legislation and regulations related to the practice of Child and Youth Care such as the Child, Youth and Family Services Act and Youth Criminal Justice Act. Pertinent pieces of legislation will be raised and discussed as the student learns about the laws that govern intervention with children, adolescents and families. The needs and rights of children, adolescents and families will be reviewed within the framework of existing and proposed legislation. This course will provide the student with an opportunity to identify recurring social issues and identify what is being and/or needs to be done to resolve these issues.

HGD-1013: Human Growth and Development

Using a developmental psychology lens this course focuses on providing students with an opportunity to improve understanding of development and self in the context of global community. Students will examine the human lifespan from infancy to old age, across physical, cognitive, social and personality contexts. Foundational theories, socio-cultural and historical context, as well as an examination of current issues unique to Canada, provide the learner with opportunities for critical thinking and a better understanding of the influences on their own development and self-awareness. Applied learning assignments provide learners with the opportunity to demonstrate learning while also adding to their co-curricular record. Global partnership, diversity and equity, epigenetic change, and transgenerational impact are recurring themes throughout.

Academic Break

CYC-3002: Field Seminar II

This is the second of five seminars related to the field practicum. This seminar and the following seminars are taught concurrently with field placement. Field Seminar is a forum for second-year students to integrate placement experiences with classroom learning. Common and recurring issues related to the student's field placement experience are identified and prioritized for discussion.

CYCF-3054: Field Work II

This course provides the student with experience in working with children, adolescents, and/or families. The student is exposed to the experience of working as a team member in a community setting and has a primary goal of integrating theory and practical experience.

CYC-3023 : Therapeutic Foundations

This course provides students with a basic understanding of counseling theories and techniques specifically those that are used when working with children and youth. The counseling process when engaging children and youth, and selected theoretical models, are examined in detail.

CYC-3033: Interviewing and Counselling

This course examines the nature of the helping interview as a vehicle for understanding people and their problems. The primary focus is on adapting interviewing and counselling skills to various practice settings. Role playing and interview simulations provide opportunities for students to develop and practice their skills in the classroom.

CYC-3043: Group Work

This course is designed to increase the students' knowledge and skill in the areas of group dynamics, group intervention,group conflict, and group leadership. The student will examine their relational practice in groups and provide feedback to others while developing their group work skills. The student will develop a needs based group work proposal, and create therapeutic, goal driven, evidence informed interventions that meet the needs of the target population. The importance of evaluating the effectiveness of the group work experience will be explored.

COM-2053: Communications for Community Services

This course enhances students' communication skills in preparation for work in community services. Through the theme of "advocacy and education," students read, examine, and respond to selected essays and articles, creating research reports and research presentations to share with their peers. The research process provides students with the opportunity to develop their writing skills through critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, application, and evaluation. These skills are necessary for success in current and future college courses, the workplace, and students' personal lives.

GED-XXX3: General Education Elective

CYC-4002: Field Seminar III

This course focuses on developing the child and youth care practitioner's skills in problem solving, intervention, programming, and best practice. Emphasis is on identifying problems that are conducive to change, establishment of goals, case management, and evaluation techniques. The helping processes of joining, relating, talking, interpreting, and life-space interventions will be developed and practiced. Experiential learning will occur.

CYCF-4055: Field Work III

This course provides the student with experience in working with children, adolescents, and/or families. The student is exposed to the experience of working as a team member in a community setting and has a primary goal of integrating theory and practical experience.

CYC-4012: Child and Youth Care Methodology II

This course examines the psychodynamics of children and youth in need of help and the complex factors involved. Opportunity to develop therapeutic, observation, and assessment skills in relation to children and youths' behaviour, as it relates to the process of change, is provided.

CYC-4023: Family Process

This course introduces the student to the developmental stages that a family experiences during its lifetime. A family systems approaches will be used to explore the stages of the family with attention being placed on the changes in family systems in Canada. Understanding the family in relation to the larger social fabric will be explored. In addition, the student will examine themselves in relation to their family experiences.

CYC-4033: Adolescent Development

In this course the student will begin the process of developing an informed professional perspective regarding the nature of adolescence development. This course will utilize a biopsychosocial approach while exploring developmental issues, developmental theories and key influences including peers, family and culture. Child and Youth Care Practitioners are responsible for supporting and intervening with adolescents in a variety of settings. It is essential that CYC's are aware of and understand the range of both normal and deviant adolescent behaviours.

CYC-4042: Assessments and Clinical Documentation

This course will examine the use of assessment instruments and recording tools used by various human service organizations. Why agencies keep records and how records are created, monitored, updated, and stored will be reviewed. Various assessment tools will be studied as a process for gathering information to understand problem behaviours and situations, and to develop professional, effective, and supportive service plans.

PSY-2003: Psychology II

This course focuses on how we behave. It is an attempt to understand ourselves and others. The primary goal of this course is to investigate the application of psychological information to people's lives.

CYC-5002: Field Seminar IV

This is the fourth of five seminars related to the field practicum. This seminar and the following seminars take place concurrently with field placement. Field Seminar is a forum for third-year students to integrate placement experiences with classroom learning. Common and recurring issues related to the student's field placement experience are identified and prioritized for discussion.

CYCF-5056: Field Work IV

This course provides the student with experience in working with children, adolescents, and/or families. The students assume a higher degree of responsibility involving decision-making, assessment and crisis intervention. In addition, the student is exposed to the experience of working as a team member in a community setting.

CYC-5012: Child and Youth Care Methodology III

This course focuses on developing the child and youth care practitioner's skills in problem solving, intervention, programming, and best practice. Emphasis is on identifying problems that are conducive to change, establishment of goals, case management, and evaluation techniques. The helping processes of joining, relating, talking, interpreting, and life-space interventions will be developed and practiced. Experiential learning will occur.

CYC-5022: Working with Families

The Working with Families course builds on the knowledge obtained in CYC 4023 - Family Process. A systematic approach is used as a basis for understanding the origins of troubled families and the need for interventions to promote a more functional family environment. The learner reviews current legislation and continues to develop a relational perspective and framework to working with children and their families. The student examines local community-based CYC intervention strategies, and analyzes their current placement's approach to working with children and their families.

CYC-5033: Violence, Abuse and Trauma

This course examines the issues and concerns associated with violence and abuse in society. The student gains an understanding of how children, youth, and their families are affected by violence and trauma. Focus is placed on examining physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of children and adolescents from a familial and larger systemic perspective. Partner abuse and violence in society are also examined. Treatment needs of the abused and the abusive will be explored. Also, the importance of advocacy work will be explored. An anti-oppression perspective will be utilized in order to focus on the issues of power imbalance, and resulting forms of abusive behaviour.

GED-XXX3: General Education Elective

CYC-6002: Field Seminar V

This is the fifth and final seminar related to the field practicum. This seminar is offered concurrently with field placement. Field Seminar is a forum for third-year students to integrate placement experiences with classroom learning. Common and recurring issues related to the student's field placement experience will be identified and prioritized for discussion.

CYCF-6057: Field Work V

This course provides the student with experience in working with children, adolescents, and/or families. The students assume a higher degree of responsibility involving decision-making, assessment and crisis intervention. In addition, the student is exposed to the experience of working as a team member in a community setting.

CYC-6022: Culture and Human Diversity in CYC Practice

This course will assist students in exploring diverse populations in our society and the impact of social identity, location, and privilege in working with children, youth and families. It is intended to help students grow in their thinking and awareness of critical concepts of self and others. CYCPs value self-inquiry, self-reflection and self-awareness as essential components of professional practice. Students will explore historical, current societal, as well as personal biases, and develop strategies to respectfully practice/promote sensitivity to the needs of diverse populations.

CYC-6013: Organizational Behaviour and Clinical Supervision

This course acquaints the learner with the organizational structure and behaviour of a typical social service agency. It investigates leadership and management decision making process which influence the behaviour of individuals and groups. Administrative duties involved in a variety of CYC based settings, including the supervisory process, staff performance appraisals, leadership issues, accountability and professional development are emphasized.

CMH-1023: Understanding Addictions and Concurrent Disorders

The purpose of this course is to examine addiction and problem gambling as well as mental health problems in the practice of Concurrent Disorders. Incidence, trends and prevalence of addictions, problem gambling and mental illnesses along with assessment and treatment practices are explored. Key issues and challenges related to treatment for co-occurring mental health and addiction problems including interactions of mental health medications and substance abuse will be identified. Students will be encouraged to surface their own assumptions and biases and deepen their appreciation of how concurrent disorders affect people's lives and familiarize themselves with current best practices.