Child and Youth Workers collaborate with and assist teachers and other professionals in delivering programs and interventions to individuals and groups of exceptional students and non-identified students exhibiting social, emotional, or behavioural problems.
Major Functions and Responsibilities of Child and Youth Workers employed by various school boards.
Promoting and supporting prevention programs for specific groups of students (e.g. anger management, body image).
Promoting and supporting class-wide and school-wide prevention programs.
Participating in assessment and needs identification to meet behavioural and academic objectives for children and adolescents.
Planning behavioural programs in collaboration with teachers, parents, and other Support Services staff.
Counselling students and consulting with teachers, parents, administrators, and other Support Services staff.
Utilizing a groupwork modality to address the needs of students when appropriate (e.g. using a groupwork modality to address issues related to bereavement, separation and divorce, body image, self-esteem, teen parenthood, parenting).
Utilizing the techniques of non-violent crisis intervention to safeguard student and staff safety when required.
Providing support to students experiencing personal crises.
Consulting with classroom teachers and administrators regarding behaviour management.
Performing collaborative planning with teachers, parents, and other Special Services staff.
Assisting in developing, implementing, modifying, and evaluating social skills and behavioural programs with individuals and groups of students.
Assisting in delivering classroom programs, formulated or modified by the classroom teacher, to students with special needs.
Coordinating integration activities of students with special needs.
Providing direct behaviour management to children and adolescents.
Providing in-service training to other members of the school community (e.g. crisis prevention, conflict resolution, PDD / Autism).
Observing and monitoring students' performance and reporting behavioural progress and problems.
Liaising with parents regarding student progress, problems and/or needs.
Maintaining records and preparing and presenting reports, as appropriate.
Contributing to the formulation of Individual Education Plans.
Assisting students in acquiring social and recreational skills.
Advocating on behalf of students.
Directing and supervising co-op students in work placements and CYW students in practicum placements.
Providing CYW representation on project committees within the Board.
Representing their boards in committee work with community agencies.
Liaising with community agencies in support of specific children.
Education and Experience Qualifications which vary from School Board to Board:
A Minimum Community College Diploma in Child and Youth Work.
Two or three years of Child and Youth Work practice experience following graduation.
Membership in the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Counsellors is sometimes required.
Child and Youth Workers are expected to adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Counsellors.