Monday, August 24, 2015

How child and youth care workers help you!

Community service workers, such as those in child and youth care, will touch most of us at some point in our lives. Whether it’s because of a friend going through a trying time, or you personally, it’s a field that’s always in need of those with a caring and helping disposition. I know this to be true because without the remarkably compassionate people who work in this industry, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Growing up, I didn’t fully comprehend just how much my family relied on our local network of community services. Without telling you my entire story, let’s just say I will be forever grateful for the help my family got during some of the toughest times we’ve ever gone through. We had access to youth counselors, employment advisors, family advocates, justice workers and more, and a lot of them had a foundation in youth care.

Professionals in this industry don’t just work to help the stereotypical “troubled teen.” They’re there for entire families, and they’re there when they need it most. It’s not a glamorous profession and it’s definitely not your typical desk job, but the personal fulfillment of seeing someone overcome adversity is powerful.

So if you’re thinking of getting into the helping industry, explore some of the below options to see where a diploma in Child and Youth Care Toronto can take you.

School Guidance: Guidance counselors aren’t just trained to help students figure out their post-secondary confusion on what school to go to and what to take. They offer advice and support on teen relationships and sexuality, family life, mental health and more.

Family Support: Families are often referred to these types of advocates by social service workers and help them through long- and short-term difficulties. They can be depended on to provide guidance and advice for families affected by financial or marital difficulties, drug and/or alcohol addictions and behavioural issues.

Crisis Intervention: Trained to deal with families and individuals in distress, such as mental health emergencies, adolescent issues, family violence or other crises, workers in these roles help to quickly alleviate immediate issues. Once the initial urgency of the situation has been diffused, they then work with the individuals to develop crisis plans and often refer them to a network of other helpful community services.

Youth Employment Services: People who work in this area help disadvantaged and at-risk youth find meaningful employment. This might mean providing resume assistance, interview preparation, search support and help dealing with other work-related issues. Youth employment service workers also provide guidance and direction for those seeking to gain additional skills and higher education.

Community-Based Programs: There are a number of community programs that help children, youth and their families. Each program is typically more focused in particular subject areas and include associations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, Catholic Family Services, Community Living networks, local outreach and youth centres, young parents support services, and so many more.

If you have a strong desire to help others, the Child and Youth Care diploma will open doors to a successful and rewarding career. Your options are plenty and the field is a noble one. You just might be the difference in someone’s life.

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