If you meet all the academic requirement you will have the opportunity to do about 900 to 1,000 hours of work on field placements during your final four semesters. The placements are typically unpaid and take place in professional settings such as schools, hospitals, government agencies, treatment centers and facilities.
Child & Youth Care (CYC)
About the Program
This three-year advanced diploma program equips you with the skills and knowledge to work effectively with children, youth and families who face various challenges that affect emotional, social and/or mental health.
Child and youth care practitioners specialize in facilitating change and collaborate with other professionals dedicated to implementing prevention, intervention and treatment strategies. They foster positive development and serve as valuable resources.
Throughout the program, you will gain exposure to various treatments, counselling and therapeutic theories, while building on your foundational understanding of human behaviour and development. You will study a broad range of topics such as strength-based approaches, attachment theory and exceptionalities, including the autism spectrum.
As a graduate of this program who meets GPA requirements, you will be eligible to pursue internal pathway opportunities at Seneca, including the Honours Bachelor of Child Development and Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies. You will also be able to take Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Mental Health and Addiction — a unique pathway that allows you to earn a degree within two years (four semesters plus a work-term) after completing a summer bridging stream, which includes the following courses:
- Advanced Studies in Community Mental Health
- Health and Community Psychology
- Trauma Methods and practices in Community Mental Health
Credential Awarded
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Duration
6 Semesters (3 Years)
Starts
September
Program and Course Delivery
This program is offered in Seneca's hybrid delivery format with some courses available in Seneca's flexible delivery format. Some coursework is online and some must be completed in person. Students will need to come on campus to complete in-person learning requirements. For courses offered in the flexible delivery format, professors use innovative learning spaces and technology to teach students in a classroom or lab and broadcast in real time to students attending remotely. In flexible courses, students have the choice of coming on campus or learning online.
Skills
Throughout the course of this advanced diploma program you will develop skills in:
- Prevention, intervention and treatment strategies
- Treatments, counselling and therapeutic theories
- Understanding in adolescent development, violence, child and youth management, diversity, therapeutic activities, group and family work
Work Experience
Field Placement
Your Career
When you graduate from this program, these are the types of employers waiting for you:
- educational environments (such as schools, school boards and special education classes)
- government agencies
- community agencies (including children, youth and family agencies)
- day treatment centres
- out-of-home care (including group homes and foster care)
- therapeutic programs
- hospitals
- youth justice programs
- children's aid societies
Professional Accreditation
Seneca’s Child and Youth Care advanced diploma program has earned accreditation from the Child and Youth Care Educational Accreditation Board of Canada as a provider of quality postsecondary education in the field of child and youth care, effective through June 15, 2030.
Upon completing your diploma, you may qualify to apply to become a member of the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care. Graduates with experience may apply to be certified by the Child and Youth Care Cerification Board, North America.
Throughout this program, you will earn the following training and certification:
- ASIST – Applied Suicide Intervention Training Certificate
- CPI – Crisis Prevention Intervention Training Certification
- DLE – The Purposeful Use of Daily Life Events Training
Program of Study
| Course Code | Course Name | Weekly Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| CYC100 | Foundation of Child Youth and Care | 3 |
| CYC101 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| CYC102 | Anti-oppressive Practice | 3 |
| CYC103 | Health and Wellness | 2 |
| CYC104 | Child and Youth Care Practice | 2 |
| COM101 | Communicating Across Contexts | 3 |
| or COM111 | Communicating Across Contexts (Enriched) | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CYC200 | Therapeutic Foundations and Methodologies | 3 |
| CYC201 | Interviewing and Counseling | 3 |
| CYC206 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| CYC227 | Families in Change | 3 |
| CYC247 | Field Placement Preparation | 2 |
| plus: General Education Course (1) 1 | 3 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| CYC300 | Child and Youth Care Methods | 3 |
| CYC301 | Exceptionalities of Children and Youth | 2 |
| CYC302 | Therapeutic Activities | 3 |
| CYC347 | Field Placement Seminar | 3 |
| CYC357 | Field Placement | 4 |
| plus: Professional Options (1) | ||
| plus: General Education Course (1) 1 | 3 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| CYC401 | Assessment and Recording in CYC Practice | 2 |
| CYC402 | Crisis Interventions | 3 |
| CYC403 | Group Work in CYC Practice | 3 |
| CYC447 | Field Placement Seminar | 3 |
| CYC457 | Field Placement | 7 |
| plus: General Education Course (1) 1 | 3 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| CYC502 | Family Work in CYC Practice | 3 |
| CYC503 | Child and Adolescent Mental Health Disorders | 3 |
| CYC547 | Field Placement Seminar | 3 |
| CYC557 | Field Placement | 4 |
| plus: Professional Options (1) | ||
| Semester 6 | ||
| CYC602 | Counselling Children and Youth Lab | 3 |
| CYC604 | Specialization in Child and Youth Care | 2 |
| CYC605 | Child Trauma and Abuse | 3 |
| CYC647 | Field Placement Seminar | 3 |
| CYC657 | Field Placement | 4 |
Professional Options
| Course Code | Course Name | Weekly Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BHS204 | Autism and Developmental Disabilities | 3 |
| CYC376 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| CYC377 | Impact of Social Networking | 3 |
| SSW371 | Selected Issues: Intimate Partner Abuse and Violence | 3 |
| SSW372 | Selected Issues: Addictions | 3 |
| SSW373 | Selected Issues: Mental Health | 3 |
| SSW374 | Selected Issues: Child Welfare | 3 |
| SSW380 | Homelessness in Canada | 3 |
Program Learning Outcomes
This Seneca program has been validated by the Credential Validation Service as an Ontario College Credential as required by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate 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.
Admission Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or a mature applicant
- English: Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent course
Canadian citizens and permanent residents may satisfy the English requirements for this program through successful Seneca pre-admission testing.
Recommended upgrading for applicants who do not meet academic subject requirements.
International Student Information
International admissions requirements vary by program and in addition to English requirements, programs may require credits in mathematics, biology, and chemistry at a level equivalent to Ontario’s curriculum, or a postsecondary degree or diploma, equivalent to an Ontario university or college. Program-specific pre-requisite courses and credentials are listed with the admission requirements on each program page. To review the academic requirements please visit: Academic Requirements - Seneca, Toronto, Canada (senecapolytechnic.ca).
Pathways
As a leader in academic pathways, we offer a range of options that will allow you to take your credential further in another Seneca program or a program at a partner institution.
To learn more about your eligibility, visit the Academic Pathways web page.