Program Overview

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Child & Youth Care (CYC)

Program Overview

This three-year advanced diploma program equips students 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.

Program Details

• Campus: King
• Delivery: Hybrid
• Duration: 6 Semesters (3 Years)
• Credential: Ontario College Advanced Diploma
• School: School of Community Services

About the Program

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, students will gain exposure to various treatments, counselling, and therapeutic theories, while building on their foundational understanding of human behaviour and development. They will study a broad range of topics such as strength-based approaches, attachment theory, and exceptionalities, including the autism spectrum.

Skills

• 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

Students will complete approximately 1,000 hours over three years within three distinct field placement opportunities. Field placement occurs in semesters three, four, five, and six. Field practicum is unpaid. Options include but are not limited to professional settings such as public schools, hospitals, government agencies, treatment centers, and residential facilities.

Program Availability

• Start Date: September 2025
• Location: King
• Availability: Open

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.

Training and Certification

Upon completing the diploma, students 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 Certification Board, North America.

Throughout the program, students 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

Career Opportunities

Graduates can expect to find employment in various settings, including:

• Educational environments (such as schools, school boards, and special education classes)
• Government agencies
• Community agencies (including children, youth, and family agencies)
• Day treatment centers
• Out-of-home care (including group homes and foster care)
• Therapeutic programs
• Hospitals
• Youth justice programs
• Children's aid societies

Degree Pathways

Every Seneca diploma has a degree pathway. Students have the opportunity to continue their studies and complete a degree at Seneca or a partner institution.

Experiential Learning

Graduate career-ready and world-ready. This program has a field placement to help students hone essential skills for the workplace.

Career Support

Seneca Works offers students and graduates lifelong access to an exclusive job board, career coaching, networking, and more.

Student Life

Join a diverse and welcoming community of peers and supporters, offering a blend of academic excellence and vibrant urban life.

Graduate Testimonial

“Classroom learning is completely relevant to the field of child and youth care, and experienced professors encourage intelligent discussions which are fostered by small class sizes. The faculty is just as passionate in helping children as you are which provides motivation to accomplish, and even surpass, your personal goals. After accepting a pre-graduation job offer, I have been working full-time for the York Region District School Board. I have worked with and made strong connections with a large number of children and couldn’t be happier.”

— Emma Bannister, Child and Youth Care Graduate

Related Programs

• Behavioural Sciences
• Early Childhood Mental Health
• Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology
• Honours Bachelor of Child Development
• Infant & Early Child Mental Health