Introduction to Practice for Child and Youth Care Counsellors

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course Code
CYCC 1141
Descriptive
Introduction to Practice for Child and Youth Care Counsellors
Department
Child and Youth Care
Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
201630
PLAR
Yes
Semester Length
Flexible delivery ranging over 2 to 15 weeks
Max Class Size
30
Contact Hours
60 hours: Lecture
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Learning Activities
  • Lecture
  • Discussions
  • Field Visits
  • Collaborative Learning
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to child and youth care practice. Students will examine the role of the child and youth care counsellor in a broad range of settings. Students will develop observation skills including information gathering, reflection and interpretation. Individualized planning skills will be introduced and practiced in this course.

Students who have taken CFCS 1160 or CYCC 1142 or CFCS 1142 will not receive additional credit for CYCC 1141.
Course Content

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

  • Child and youth care practitioners support children, youth, families and communities in culturally appropriate ways, in a broad range of settings.
  • Observation of and reflection on self are integral to effective child and youth care practice and on-going personal and professional development.
  • Positive change in the lives of children and youth happens with support, encouragement, planning, discussions, action and evaluation.
  • Observation and Recording:
    • Observing and learning from other practitioners and community members provides insight into roles, responsibilities and contact for practice
    • The purpose of the observation is to be more effective in responding to others.
    • Effective observers have clear focus, purpose and intention. They conduct themselves in a legal, culturally respectful and ethical manner.
    • The ways in which observations are recorded and reported influences how the information is used.
    • Accurate observation requires awareness of personal values and filters, preconceptions and biases. Cultural awareness, self awareness, contextual factors, choice of language and openness to reflection, review and revision need careful attention.
    • Context and events are linked, thus contextual factors need consideration when observing, recording and interpreting.
    • The observer’s presence and behaviour affects the situation being observed.
    • Competent practitioners consider different hypotheses when interpreting their observations. Their conclusions are tentative, open to reflection, review and revision.
Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Articulate a basic understanding of the history of child and youth care as a professions as well as the current context and roles of a CYCC
  2. Describe human interactions, in their cultural; contact of cultural identity, verbally and in writing, using the skills of observation, recording, interpreting and reporting
  3. Articulate a beginning understanding of the context of cultural identity, historical events and trauma, as well as ethical and legal issues, when interpreting and recording observations
  4. Describe some models of child and youth care practice
  5. Using selected assessment models, write an individualized client plan that includes relevant cultural components in the context of the individual’s family and community
  6. Articulate an awareness of personal values and filters, preconceptions and biases (through written work and in class discussion) on one’s own practice
Means of Assessment

This course will conform to Douglas College policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations. Typical means of evaluation would include a combination of:

  • Research Essays and Reports
  • Field Research
  • Participation
  • Attendance
  • Examinations

This is a letter graded course.

Textbook Materials

T.B.A.

Other texts and materials as assigned.

Prerequisites

Enrolment  in CYCC Program or permission of Coordinator

Which Prerequisite