ListenIntroduction to the Program
I have always wanted to share my perspective on being a student and transitioning into becoming a formal youth care worker. Being in the Child and Youth Care program in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada has taught me many things about what it truly means to be a youth care worker. Being a student has its challenges, but honestly, the positives outweigh the negatives.
The positives? Being part of a team, learning the ins and outs of being a CYC, meeting new people through placements, school, and even the Child and Youth Care Association groups. The downside? Tons of schoolwork. And yes, I mean tons. But do not let that scare you.
Every province in Canada does things a little differently, so I am speaking from my experience in Nova Scotia. One thing I can confidently say is that this program absolutely prepares you for the field. However, you must put the effort in. Staff will support and teach you, but you must show them that you genuinely want to be there.
Most of my hands-on experience came from completing practicums in 24/7 care homes, so my perspective throughout this article is mainly focused on that area of Child and Youth Care.
Learning the Importance of Presence
Working in 24/7 care gave me opportunities to build strong relationships with youth and better understand the importance of being present in their everyday lives. What do I mean by that? I mean showing the qualities of someone who genuinely wants to work in Child and Youth Care. I do not even like calling it a “job.” To the youth, it is not just a job. In 24/7 care, this is their home. We get to leave at the end of our shifts and go home to our families, but they stay there. We are entering their space. That perspective changed a lot for me during placement.
As youth care workers, we become role models, supports, listeners, and sometimes just safe people for youth to exist around. We are there to guide them, support them, sit with them, laugh with them, and sometimes just listen to them. Sometimes the biggest moments happen during the smallest interactions, like sitting in the kitchen talking about random TikToks, music, food, or whatever “important life topic” comes up at 10 p.m.
Being a youth care worker is more than just “clock in, clock out”. Showing up matters. Being emotionally present matters. Youth can tell when someone genuinely cares or when someone is just there for a pay cheque.
A concept that stood out to me throughout school and placement was Thom Garfat’s idea of being relationally present. Garfat explains that:
“Being present in the relational sense involves the Child and Youth Care practitioner making a conscious effort to make her or his ‘Self’ available and self-evident in the moment, focusing with immediacy on the other(s)” (Garfat, 2003, p. 20).
That idea stuck with me because it reflects what I have seen during placement. Youth notice authenticity. They almost immediately know when someone is fake, and they will call you out on it.
As I transition toward casual work in 24/7 care settings, I have realized how important communication skills are. Skills such as empathy, paraphrasing, use of silence, and simply learning when to talk and when not to can make a huge difference when building relationships with youth. So yes, practice the role play videos in class, even if they feel awkward. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Another thing I learned? Self-care is not just a buzzword people throw around to sound inspirational. You will hear the term constantly during first year, and eventually you realize why. This program can be busy at times, between assignments, placements, shifts, all while trying to find balance in your personal life, so learning how to take care of yourself is important. Finding healthy ways to manage stress, staying organized, and asking for support when needed can make a huge difference throughout the program.
Advice for Future Students
And PLEASE be patient when people ask, “Is this like ECE work?” (Nothing wrong with ECE work by the way, just different and not what we do.) You will hear that question a lot, so get used to explaining what Child and Youth Care is and what it means to you.
Throughout this journey, I have learned that Child and Youth Care is certainly not about being perfect. It is about being present, being genuine, and continuing to learn. As students, we are not expected to know everything immediately. We are learning how to build relationships, navigate boundaries, communicate effectively, and support youth in meaningful ways.
Looking back, I realize this field is not just something I study, it is something I genuinely care about. There are hard days, awkward moments, stressful assignments, and shifts where you question yourself. But there are also moments where a youth smiles when you walk through the door, asks you to stay for one more conversation, or trusts you enough to open up to you. Those moments remind me why this work matters.
So, to future students entering Child and Youth Care: show up, be authentic, stay open to learning, and do not be afraid to be yourself. The relationships you build, the lessons you learn, and the experiences you gain will shape not only the kind of worker you become, but also the kind of person you become.
The skills and theories are taught to you in school, but the heart of Child and Youth Care is something you discover along the way.
Reference
Garfat, T. (2002). The use of everyday events in child and youth care work. CYC-Online, 39, April 2002.
