Child and Youth Care
The information on this program page is based on the 2012-13 Academic Calendar. This page will be updated on June 1 with 2013-14 Academic Calendar information.
Important: The complete 2013-14 Academic Calendar is now available in print format at the Lethbridge College Bookstore and can be downloaded from our Publications page.
Helping people make a change
If you have a desire to make a difference in the lives of children and families, your caring nature can benefit you with a rewarding career by enrolling in our Child and Youth Care program. Our two-year diploma will give you the skills and expertise you need to work with people of almost any age who are experiencing challenges due to life circumstances. And that’s just the beginning: we’ll help you open the door to a myriad of fulfilling opportunities to make full use of your potential in this vital, high-impact field.
Child and Youth Care is right for you if you have:
- excellent written and oral communication skills
- decision-making and problem-solving skills
- a desire to engage in therapeutic relationships with others
- the ability to be reliable and consistent
- the flexibility and creativity required to adopt new ways to do things
- an ability to work in a team environment with children, youth, families, and other professionals.
Make lives better
You'll receive the opportunity to work with many individuals, each with their own unique set of circumstances. You'll get a first-hand account of those suffering from trauma, rejection, abuse, and emotional stress. Practicum experiences will prepare you for this, where your theoretical knowledge will come to life with hands-on learning.
CYC - PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
There is a required practicum component to this program. The College dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the practicum experience. Failure by the student to accept by way of legal contract and abide by these terms and conditions will result in non-completion of the program.
The Child and Youth care program believes the practicum experience is a crucial part of the program. There are three different practicum courses - one in the second term of the first year (5 week long), and one in each of the second year terms (7 and 9 weeks in duration). Our practicum coordinator arranges the practicum sites so students will not have to find any setting themselves. Upon entering a practicum, all of the course work is completed, so students are in the setting full time (40 hours/week) for the duration of the practicum. Students will have assignments to complete, but they are directly related to the practicum experience and apply what the student learned in their courses. These practicum experiences will require day, evening, weekend and all variations of shift work.
Due to the desire to have quality practicum placements, all students are required to complete a minimum of one practicum experience out of the Lethbridge area, which means outside of a 100km radius of Lethbridge. Students can choose which one of the three practicums they will do out-of-Lethbridge-region, and may complete more than one out-of-Lethbridge-region practicum if desired. All cots for travel, accommodation, living expenses, etc. for the out-of-Lethbridge-region practicum are the responsibility of the student. Typically these out of town settings can include Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and into Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Applicants are advised they will be required to provide a Criminal Record Check and an Alberta Children's Services Intervention Record Check (IR Check) before entering the practicum experience component of the program. The existence of an IR or criminal record may affect practicum placements, program completion and employment prospects. The consequences of a prior criminal conviction will be examined and discussed on an individual basis. The logistics for obtaining a Criminal Record Check and an IR Check will be discussed with students during program orientation. Cost of the Criminal Record Check is approximately $75 on each occurrence. Students are advised that it is necessary to have these checks completed at least once per year.
Applicants will be required to have St. John Ambulance Standard First Aid and CPR(or equivalent) certificates prior to their practicum experiences. The cost for this certification is approximately $125.
| Tuition | Fees | Books & Supplies | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $3,634 | $1,323 | $1,700* |
| Year 2 | $2,528 | $850 | $1,000* |
