Course description
This course focuses on the application of CYC theories and related intervention skills in working with children and youth, while engaging in reflexive practice. This course will provide students the opportunity to learn and receive feedback on the use of helping skills for engaging children and youth on both common and complex topics in a participatory learning environment.
Topics will include:
- Assessing for suicide risk
- Grief and loss
- Substance use
- Disclosures of trauma and abuse
- Other relevant child and youth issues
Course content
The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:
- Children and youth deserve compassionate, non-judgemental support rooted in respect, empathy, and recognition of their lived experiences.
- CYC practice centres on building, sustaining, and repairing meaningful relationships with children, youth, and their families.
- CYC practitioners draw on a range of perspectives - such as developmental, ecological, and anti-oppressive - to understand lived experiences and recognize strengths within broader social contexts.
- Empathic communication is essential for understanding the realities and perspectives of young people.
- Collaborative case planning empowers youth through shared goal-setting and supports growth through ongoing partnership.
- Strength-based, culturally grounded approaches guide assessment and intervention, focusing on resilience and potential.
- Effective practice integrates theory with reflexive engagement, requiring practitioners to examine their own values and biases.
- Case analysis and consultation offer practical opportunities to apply skills and interventions in real-world contexts.
Means of assessment
Instructors may use a student's record of attendance and/or level of active participation in a course as part of the student's graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance must be clearly defined in the instructor's Course Outline.
Typical means of evaluation would include a combination of:
- Written assignments
- Exams and/or quizzes
- Presentations
- Video recordings of practice skills
This is a letter-graded course.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Engage in professional self-reflective praxis.
- Develop and maintain professional caring relationships, aiming to understand, validate, and be responsive to the individual child or youth.
- Demonstrate the use of basic and advanced practice interventions as a CYC professional.
- Apply CYC theories appropriate to relevant practice issues, related to children and youth.
- Integrate feedback received.
Textbook materials
Textbooks and materials are to be purchased by students. A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester.