Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and youth? The Algonquin College Child And Youth Care Program offers a comprehensive and practical education to prepare you for a rewarding career supporting young people and their families. This advanced diploma program is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to foster positive change and healthy development in vulnerable children and youth.
Discover the Algonquin College Advantage in Child and Youth Care
Choosing the right program is crucial for your future career. The Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program stands out for several reasons:
- Advanced Diploma: Earn an Ontario College Advanced Diploma (3 Years), signifying in-depth knowledge and practical skills highly valued by employers in the field.
- Ottawa Campus Location: Study at Algonquin College’s vibrant Ottawa campus, providing access to excellent facilities and a supportive learning environment.
- Flexible Learning Options: Recognizing diverse student needs, Algonquin College offers full-time and part-time online options for the first year of the Child and Youth Care program, allowing for flexible learning.
- Experiential Learning at its Core: The program emphasizes hands-on experience through community-based service learning projects and extensive field work placements, ensuring you graduate with real-world skills.
- Focus on Relational Practice: Learn to build and maintain therapeutic relationships, applying relational practice, lifespace engagement, and anti-oppressive approaches in your work with children, youth, and families.
Hands-on Experience: Service Learning and Field Placements
A cornerstone of the Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program is its commitment to experiential learning. You’ll gain valuable practical skills through:
- Community-based Service Learning: Engage in projects that connect you with community partners to address social issues. These projects, supervised by college staff, enhance your personal and professional development while you contribute to real community needs.
- Field Work Placements: Gain hands-on experience in workplace settings. These placements are integral to the curriculum and provide opportunities to apply your classroom learning in real-world scenarios. While college staff don’t directly supervise daily tasks, they ensure placements align with program goals, monitor your progress, and provide support throughout your placement journey.
Unique Learning Experiences: Outdoor Activities Courses
Adding a unique dimension to your learning, the Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program offers two distinctive courses in outdoor activities. These courses provide an unforgettable experiential learning opportunity:
- Outdoor Activities 1 & 2: Learn to facilitate outdoor activities designed to promote social, emotional, and physical development in youth. Experience a memorable camping trip with classmates and faculty, applying your skills in a unique and engaging environment.
Curriculum Designed for Real-World Impact
The Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program curriculum is meticulously structured over six levels to provide a comprehensive education. You will develop a strong foundation in theory and practice, covering key areas essential for effective child and youth care professionals.
Course Highlights:
Level 1 & 2 (Year 1): Foundational Knowledge
- Communications 1 & Professional Communication for Child and Youth Care Practitioners: Develop essential communication skills for professional practice, including writing, advocacy, and documentation.
- Principles of Psychology & Adolescent Development: Gain a foundational understanding of psychology and the specific developmental stages of children and adolescents.
- Anti-Oppressive Practice in Child and Youth Care & Diversity: Learn to apply anti-oppressive frameworks and understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in child and youth care practice.
- Introduction to Child and Youth Care & Systems Navigation for Child and Youth Practitioners: Explore the field of child and youth care and learn to navigate relevant systems impacting young people and families in Ontario.
- Child Development: Understand child development from conception to adolescence, learning about key developmental milestones and factors.
- Community Service Learning & Field Preparation: Engage in community-based learning and prepare for upcoming field placements.
- Mental Health 1 & 2: Gain essential knowledge of mental health challenges in children and youth, including common disorders and intervention strategies.
- General Education Elective: Broaden your knowledge base with a course from a range of general education electives.
Level 3 & 4 (Year 2): Developing Core Skills
- Field Practice Supervision 1 & 2: Receive ongoing supervision to reflect on your field practice experiences and develop professionally.
- Therapeutic Activities & Therapeutic Programming: Learn to use recreation, crafts, and games therapeutically and develop effective programs for young people.
- Child and Youth Care Interventions & Trauma and Abuse: Build skills in crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and addressing the impact of trauma and abuse.
- Outdoor Activities 1: Fall Camping: Participate in the experiential outdoor activities course focusing on fall camping.
- Field Practice 1 & 2: Engage in your first and second field placements, applying learned theories and skills in real-world settings.
- Counselling Skills & Life-Space Engagement: Develop essential counselling and communication skills and explore the concept of life-space engagement in child and youth care.
Level 5 & 6 (Year 3): Advanced Practice and Specialization
- Research Writing for Evidence-Based Programming: Develop research and writing skills for evidence-based practice in child and youth care.
- Field Practice Supervision 3 & 4: Continue to refine your practice through advanced supervision and professional development.
- Group Work & Group Program Design: Learn to facilitate therapeutic groups and design effective group programs for young people.
- Substance Abuse & Assessment and Intervention Planning: Gain knowledge of substance abuse issues and develop skills in assessment and intervention planning.
- Field Practice 3 & 4: Undertake more complex field placements, further developing advanced skills and workplace readiness.
- Professional Issues and Development & Family Interventions: Explore professional issues in the field and learn about family intervention strategies.
- Outdoor Activities 2: Winter Camping: Participate in the experiential outdoor activities course focusing on winter camping.
This comprehensive curriculum ensures graduates of the Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program are well-prepared for the diverse challenges and rewards of the field.
Career Paths and Further Education Pathways
Graduates of the Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program are highly sought after in a variety of settings. Career opportunities include roles such as:
- Child and Youth Care Practitioners
- Youth Workers
- Educational Assistants
- Case Coordinators
- Child Advocates
- Child and Youth Counsellors
- Community Support Workers
- Family Support Workers
- Housing Support Workers
These roles can be found in diverse environments such as:
- Group Homes
- Hospitals
- Mental Health Treatment Centers
- Shelters
- Schools
- Youth Justice Programs
- Community Resource Centers
Pathways to University
The Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program also provides a strong academic foundation for those wishing to pursue further education. Pathway agreements with various universities allow graduates to receive significant credit towards bachelor’s degrees in related fields, including:
- Ontario Tech University: Receive advanced standing towards a Bachelor’s degree, potentially completing it in an additional 2-3 years with bridging courses.
- Munster Technological University (Ireland): Gain direct entry into Year 4 of the BA (Hons) in Social Care, completing your degree in just one additional year.
- Athabasca University: Receive substantial block credits towards various Bachelor of Commerce, Human Resources, Management, and Professional Arts degrees, offered online for flexible learning.
- Yorkville University: Transfer credits into their degree programs, with options for in-person or part-time online study.
- Saint Paul University: Receive significant credits towards an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations and Spirituality.
These pathways demonstrate the Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program‘s commitment to providing flexible options for your career advancement and academic growth.
Program Details and Admissions Information
Admission Requirements:
To be eligible for the Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program, applicants must meet both college and program-specific requirements:
- College Eligibility:
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or
- Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) certificate, or
- General Educational Development (GED) certificate, or
- Mature Student status (19+ and without a high school diploma).
- Program Eligibility:
- English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent) with a minimum grade of 65%.
- Proof of English language proficiency for international applicants (IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo).
Tuition and Fees:
For the most up-to-date information on tuition and fees, please use the Algonquin College Tuition and Fee Estimator tool. Additional costs include textbooks and supplies (approximately $1000-$620 per year) and expenses related to field placement requirements such as police record checks and immunizations (up to $350).
Program Availability and Schedule:
The Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program has varied availability depending on the start term.
| Start Term | Availability | International Availability | Competitive? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025 | No | No | |
| Fall 2025 | No | No | |
| Winter 2026 | No | No |
Program Schedule Example (Winter 2025 Start):
| Term | Level |
|---|---|
| Winter 2025 | Level 01 |
| Spring 2025 | Level 02 |
| Fall 2025 | Level 03 |
| Winter 2026 | Level 04 |
| Spring 2026 | Break |
| Fall 2026 | Level 05 |
| Winter 2027 | Level 06 |
Class schedules may vary, with classes potentially scheduled between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., Monday to Friday. First-year classes typically run Monday-Friday, while second and third-year classes are on campus two days a week with field placements three days a week.
Is Child and Youth Care Right for You? Success Factors
The Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program is an excellent fit for individuals who:
- Are emotionally resilient and can manage stress effectively.
- Are dedicated to understanding and supporting positive change in the lives of young people and families.
- Enjoy working collaboratively as part of a team.
- Possess strong observation and analytical abilities.
- Have solid communication skills (both oral and written).
- Are open-minded, embrace diversity, and respect individual uniqueness.
Connect with Us
For further information about the Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program, please contact the program coordinators:
Andie Fournier (Program Coordinator – Year 1)
[email protected]
613-727-4723, ext. 6075
Vicki Grisim (Program Coordinator – Year 2 & 3)
[email protected]
613-727-4723, ext. 5170
Take the first step towards a fulfilling career. Enroll in the Algonquin College Child and Youth Care program and become a skilled and compassionate professional dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of children, youth, and families. Learn more and apply today!
