Working with at-risk youth is a challenging, but rewarding career path which involves collaborating with other mental health and community service workers to help society's most vulnerable young people thrive. If you're looking to make a difference in the lives of youth, CDI College's Child and Youth Services Worker diploma program is for you.
Child and Youth Services Workers are indispensable in Alberta's healthcare system. In a given day, you will be working under the supervision of counsellors, dealing with many different issues affecting children and youth.
The Child and Youth Services worker program gives you hands-on, job-ready training helping at-risk youth with family concerns, legal issues, access and success in education, physical and mental health, and addictions.
Split into two parts, the Child and Youth Services Worker program first focuses on the community services worker part of your diploma, with courses in social service work, professional communication, working with families, diversity and social justice, as well as the fundamentals of poverty, addiction, and mental health.
The second part of the program focuses on child and youth services, and includes training in child development, including trauma, grief and loss, advocacy and empowerment of youth, the youth and social welfare systems in Canada, interviewing techniques, youth justice issues, and youth diversity.
Additionally, you'll take part in a 100-hour practicum placement, where you'll get the opportunity to test your skills in the field under the supervision of experienced child and youth services workers.