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
In the Child and Youth Care (Accelerated) program, you will have an opportunity to learn how 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 2022/23 intake for this program, you will start in May 2023. To begin your studies in May 2022, apply to the 2021/22 academic year.
Full Description
In the Child and Youth Care (CYC) (Accelerated) program, you will have the opportunity to learn how 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: If you apply to the 2022/23 intake for this program, you will start in May 2023. To begin your studies in May 2022, apply to the 2021/22 academic year.
Scope of practice 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, students will be required to work in multiple small and large groups within classes and community settings.
Your Field Education Options
Students gain 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 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.
Students are able to apply for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for one field placement.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
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):
- Social Service Worker (Accelerated) (C135)
- Behavioural Science Technician (Accelerated) (C156)
- Community Worker (Accelerated) (C131)
- Early Childhood Education (Fast-Track) (C130)
- Assaulted Women's and Children's Counsellor/Advocate Program Direct Entry (C137)
Graduates are also eligible to apply for the degree completion program in Child and Youth Care at:
- Toronto Metropolitan University
- Humber College
- University of Victoria in British Columbia
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.
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 4: May – August
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CYCS 1048 | Therapeutic Activities |
| CYCS 1049 | Counselling Children and Youth |
| CYCS 1057 | Child and Adolescent Development |
| CYCS 2038 | Field Practice I |
| CYCS 2039 | Fieldwork Seminar I |
| CYCS 2042 | Human Sexuality |
| CYCS 2047 | Introduction to Child and Youth Care and Legislation |
SEMESTER 5: September – December
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CYCS 1050 | Group Work with Adolescents |
| CYCS 1055 | Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Oppressive Practices |
| CYCS 2026 | Trauma Informed Approaches |
| CYCS 3017 | Mental Health in Child and Youth Care |
| CYCS 3020 | Community Based Practices |
| BST 2003 | Crisis Prevention and Intervention |
SEMESTER 6: January – April
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CYCS 2011 | Writing for the Profession |
| CYCS 2035 | Fieldwork Seminar II |
| CYCS 3016 | Working with Families |
| CYCS 3018 | Field Practice II |
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Develop and maintain relationships with children, youth and their families applying principles of relational practice and respecting their unique life space, cultural and human diversity.
- Assess and respond to the strengths and needs of children and youth, including complex responses impacted by developmental, environmental, physical, emotional, social and mental health challenges in order to promote positive change.
- Analyze and evaluate the impact of the inter-relationship among family, social service, justice and community systems on children, youth and their families and use this information in the planning of holistic care and in the reduction of systemic barriers.
- Plan, implement and evaluate interventions using evidence‐informed practices in the areas of therapeutic milieu and programming, and group work to promote resiliency and to enhance development in children, youth and their families.
- Advocate for the rights of children, youth and their families and maintain an anti-oppression perspective and cultural competence in diverse cultural contexts.
- Apply communication, teamwork and organizational skills within the interprofessional team and with community partners to enhance the quality of service in child and youth care practice.
- Develop and implement self-care strategies using self-inquiry and reflection processes to promote self-awareness and to enhance practice as a child and youth care practitioner.
- Use evidence-based research, professional development resources and supervision models to support professional growth and lifelong learning.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
International Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2021. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2022 and at later dates.
** Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Spring 2023. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Spring 2024 and at later dates.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
- Completion of a two-year or three-year diploma, or a three-year or four-year bachelor's degree
English Language Proficiency
Applicants with international transcripts who do not provide English proficiency test results must test at the college level in the George Brown College English assessment to be considered for admission.
Please visit English Proficiency for more details.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit Transfer Guide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
Clinical Pre-placement health form requirements and program policy
- Upon confirmation of acceptance into this program, students must meet and complete all the mandatory requisite health form requirements for this program. It will take up to 10 to 12 weeks to complete.
- Students will need to process and provide proof of their medical records such as (MMR, Varicella, Hep B blood test reports/titers, Tdap shot valid every 10 years and two-step TB skin test), a clear police vulnerable sector check renewed every year, Standard First Aid certificate renewed every three years and CPR level C renewed every year. These requirements must be submitted by the given deadline to ParaMed.
- Students who do not comply with the program’s health policy and requirements will not be eligible to attend and will be excluded from the field practicum, which may jeopardize your academic standing and ability to graduate in this program.
- All costs, service fees and fines associated with the overall health requirements are the responsibility of the student.
- To download the mandatory requisite health form, and for more details, go to the Pre-placement website.
Police Vulnerable Sector Check requirements and program policy (renew every year)
- In compliance with the requirements of our placement partners, all students in this program are required to have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check completed, and this check must be renewed annually before entering into field or clinical placement.
- The police vulnerable sector check process typically takes two to three months, but under some circumstances can take four to eight months. This is required to protect the clientele of our placement partner agencies, who are considered “vulnerable persons” under the law.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that the police vulnerable sector check covers appropriateness for “individuals being employed and/or volunteering who will be working with vulnerable person(s).”
- Students are required to keep the original copy of their police vulnerable sector check.
- Students who are unable to provide a “clear” police vulnerable sector check may not be able to start their field or clinical placement and therefore may be unable to complete the program. Students who are not eligible to attend their practice placement due to a “not clear” status will jeopardize their progress in the program. Our agency partners have the final decision for students being allowed to practice in their agency.
- Failure to meet the requirements for field placement will prevent students from completing the program and/or securing employment.
- The fees for the police record check vary and must be paid by the student. For more information, please visit the Pre-placement website.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Social & Community Services
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 2185
Email: communityservices@georgebrown.ca.
Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Child and Youth Care (Accelerated) Program Coordinators:
Judy Masters, Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 3708, Email: jmasters@georgebrown.ca
Zalina Mohamad, Zalina.Mohamad@georgebrown.ca
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Visit Our Campus
We encourage you to sign up for an information session to learn more about this program, meet your professors and have your questions answered.
Child and Youth Care Program (Accelerated) (C153)
Apply Now:
Domestic StudentsProgram 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
In the Child and Youth Care (Accelerated) program, you will have an opportunity to learn how 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: The 2021/22 Child and Youth Care (Accelerated) program runs from May 2022 through April 2023 for 12 consecutive months.
Full Description
PLEASE NOTE: The 2021/22 Child and Youth Care (Accelerated) program runs from May 2022 through April 2023 for 12 consecutive months.
In the Child and Youth Care (CYC)(Accelerated) program, you will have the opportunity to learn how 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.
Scope of practice 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 milieu work
- 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 intervention training certificate in their third semester.
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
Students gain valuable hands-on experience through two supervised field placement opportunities. Each placement lasts four consecutive months and runs four days a week.
Field placement opportunities take place in agencies and institutions that offer services to the community within the Greater Toronto Area. The CYC program also offers international placement experiences when possible.
Typical placement sites include:
- group homes
- schools
- hospitals
- youth shelters
- 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.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Your Career
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
- community-based treatment programs
- youth justice
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 4: May - August
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CYCS 1057 | Child and Adolescent Development |
| CYCS 2042 | Human Sexuality |
| CYCS 1048 | Therapeutic Activities |
| CYCS 1049 | Counselling Children and Youth |
| CYCS 2038 | Field Practice I |
| CYCS 2039 | Field Work Seminar I |
| CYCS 2047 | Introduction to Child and Youth Care and Legislation |
SEMESTER 5: September - December
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CYCS 1050 | Group Work with Adolescents |
| CYS 1055 | Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Oppressive Practices |
| CYCS 2026 | Trauma Informed Approaches |
| CYCS 3017 | Mental Health in Child and Youth Care |
| CYCS 3020 | Community Based Practices |
| BST 2003 | Crisis Prevention and Intervention |
SEMESTER 6: January - April
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| CYCS 2011 | Writing for the Profession |
| CYCS 2035 | Field Work Seminar II |
| CYCS 3016 | Working with Families |
| CYCS 3018 | Field Practice II |
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Develop and maintain relationships with children, youth and their families applying principles of relational practice and respecting their unique life space, cultural and human diversity.
- Assess and respond to the strengths and needs of children and youth, including complex responses impacted by developmental, environmental, physical, emotional, social and mental health challenges in order to promote positive change.
- Analyze and evaluate the impact of the inter-relationship among family, social service, justice and community systems on children, youth and their families and use this information in the planning of holistic care and in the reduction of systemic barriers.
- Plan, implement and evaluate interventions using evidence‐informed practices in the areas of therapeutic milieu and programming, and group work to promote resiliency and to enhance development in children, youth and their families.
- Advocate for the rights of children, youth and their families and maintain an anti-oppression perspective and cultural competence in diverse cultural contexts.
- Apply communication, teamwork and organizational skills within the interprofessional team and with community partners to enhance the quality of service in child and youth care practice.
- Develop and implement self-care strategies using self-inquiry and reflection processes to promote self- awareness and to enhance practice as a child and youth care practitioner.
- Use evidence-based research, professional development resources and supervision models to support professional growth and lifelong learning.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2020. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2021 and at later dates.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
- Completion of a 2-year or 3-year diploma, or a 3-year or 4-year bachelor's degree
English Language Proficiency
Applicants with international transcripts who do not provide English proficiency test results must test at the College level in the George Brown College English assessment to be considered for admission.
Please visit English Proficiency for more details.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit Transfer Guide for more information.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Special Requirements
Clinical Pre-placement health form requirements and program policy
- Upon confirmation of acceptance into this program, students must meet and complete all the mandatory Requisite health form requirements for this program. It will take up to 10 to 12 weeks to complete.
- Students will need to process and provide proof of their medical records such as (MMR, Varicella, Hep B blood test reports/titers, Tdap shot valid every 10 years and Two Step TB Skin Test), a clear police vulnerable sector check renewed every year, Standard First Aid certificate renewed every three years and CPR level C renewed every year. This requirements must be submitted by the given deadline to ParaMed.
- Students who do not comply with the program’s health policy and requirements will not be eligible to attend and excluded from the field practicum which may jeopardize your academic standing and unable to graduate in this program.
- All costs, service fees and fines associated with the overall health requirements are the responsibility of the student.
- To download the mandatory Requisite health form and for more details, go to the Pre-placement website.
Police Vulnerable Sector Check requirements and program policy (renew every year)
- In compliance with the requirements of our placement partners, all students in this program are required to have a police vulnerable sector check completed, and this check must be renewed annually before entering into field or clinical placement.
- The police vulnerable sector check process typically takes two to three months, but under some circumstances can take four to eight months. This is required to protect the clientele of our placement partner agencies, who are considered “vulnerable persons” under the law.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that the police vulnerable sector check covers appropriateness for “individuals being employed and/or volunteering who will be working with vulnerable person(s).”
- Students are required to keep the original copy of their police vulnerable sector check.
- Students who are unable to provide a “clear” police vulnerable sector check may not be able to start their field or clinical placement and therefore may be unable to complete the program. Students who are not eligible to attend their practice placement due to a “not clear” status will jeopardize their progress in the program. Our agency partners have the final decision for students being allowed to practice in their agency.
- Failure to meet the requirements for field placement will prevent students from completing the program and/or securing employment.
- The fees for the police record check vary and must be paid by the student. For more information, please visit the Pre-placement website.
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
School of Social & Community Services
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 2185
Email: communityservices@georgebrown.ca.
Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Child and Youth Care (Accelerated) Program Co-ordinators:
Judy Masters, Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 3708,
Email: jmasters@georgebrown.ca
Pearl Fernandez, Phone: 416-415-5000 ext. 2980
Email: pearl.fernandez@georgebrown.ca
For more information about George Brown College, you may also call the Contact Centre at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Visit Our Campus
We encourage you to sign up for an information session to learn more about this program, meet your professors and have your questions answered.
