Listen to thisWe all have moments in life that define us and shape who we are. Have you ever had a moment where you instantly knew it would change everything? In June 2024, I had one such moment. I was nominated for and awarded the National Child and Youth Care Worker of the Year Award by the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Care Associations. This unexpected recognition became a turning point, both in my career and my personal journey.
I had worked in the field for 15 years—across a community center, several group homes, a youth shelter, and, for the last 10 years, at a youth mental health treatment center. I love working with youth and being part of a team, and I had always thought I would remain in my role until retirement. Then came the award. Professionals from across the country, strangers to me, had read about my career and volunteer work, and decided I was worthy of such an honor.
Having spent so many years as a front-line worker, I never imagined receiving recognition like this. The acknowledgment was life-changing, sparking deep personal reflection.
After receiving my award at the National Child and Youth Care conference in June 2024 in Winnipeg, I felt a deep sense of support and unity within the field that I hadn’t felt in years. It was also the first time, I attended a conference in its entirety, instead of working behind the scenes and first time I traveled to attend a conference. Meeting colleagues from across the country and hearing their stories made me realize how much I enjoy this connection and growth. One session that stood out to me was about aligning workplace and personal values. It resonated deeply because it reinforced something I had always believed: when our values align with our work, both our youth clients, their families and ourselves can thrive. I began to realize how important it is to have environments that foster both personal and professional growth. I’ve always enjoyed training opportunities to refresh my understanding of current practices and to network with others. However, attending the conference was a unique opportunity at my place of employment. It made me realize that, despite the deep connections I had with the youth and colleagues, I was no longer being challenged in the ways I needed to grow. The award and my experience at the conference made me reflect on what I wanted for my career. I wanted more opportunities to learn, grow, and mentor others, to ensure that I could continue evolving both personally and professionally.
I decided to leave my comfort zone and take a risk on myself, transitioning to a new organization. I realized that the daily routines and structure I had grown accustomed to were no longer enough for me. Making the decision to leave my comfort zone wasn’t easy. I faced doubts and fears about whether the change would be worth it and if I was up for the challenge. But I reminded myself that growth often comes from discomfort.
As Child and Youth Care Workers, we use ourselves as tools to foster growth in the youth and families we work with. We help them develop new skills, celebrate their successes, no matter how small, and guide them toward positive change. But how often do we take the time to celebrate and recognize our own growth and what happens when we fail to do so? Acknowledgment is powerful. Why don’t we recognize each other more often in the workplace? Celebrating small wins can have a profound impact on morale and job satisfaction. A simple gesture, whether it’s acknowledging a birthday, a milestone, or even a small success or intervention, can create a culture of support that fuels growth. We encourage youth to embrace change, yet often, we hesitate to step out of our own comfort zones. Why is it harder for us to embrace the same growth we advocate for? To learn a new skill, attend a training, seek new employment, take that risk? Sometimes we get too caught up in the red tape, company policy and procedures and perhaps union rules to even be willing to put ourselves out there, to try something different or you tried, and it didn’t work so you stay until you feel worn out and stagnant, feeling stuck or only stay at this job because it is something to pay the bills and you lose the spark you once had. We all need to do some self reflection to figure out what helps your spark continue, what inspires and motivates you? For me, it is training/networking and the motivation of advancement.
We are products of our environments, just like our youth. How can we become better child and youth care workers if we do not grow or invest/ put training into our team? When we know better we do better. This could be said for our youth as well. We have all worked with someone that would be described as rude, disrespectful, abrupt etc. How many times was this what was shown in the home and we need to lead by example. In the same point, management need to show this to their frontline workers. If our work environments are filled with negativity then how many employees will want to think outside the box? Or take on an extra responsibility? Or may choose to leave the field altogether. If things are more positive, supportive nature, the opposite might be true, more employees will stay, will want to do better, be more creative in their interventions and ideally not feel like this career is just another job that pays the bills. We should all strive to be the best we can be at everything we do.
Change is hard, but it is often necessary for growth. As we ask young people to adapt to new circumstances, face challenges, and learn new coping skills, we too must embrace change and be ready for whatever they throw at us next. In my own journey, I have seen how experiences, training, and new challenges have shaped me into a better Child and Youth Care Worker. If we are stagnant then it is hard to evoke change. Most of us can acknowledge that Covid 19 has changed our society, has changed how we all work in some capacity. So too must we adjust and change. Staff need to be able to have training opportunities, to be able to feel inspired to continue to stay and work in this field.
Looking back, I realize that growth isn’t always comfortable, but it’s essential. Sometimes the toughest decisions, like stepping away from what we know, lead to the most rewarding changes. Growth, both personal and professional, awaits when we have the courage to embrace it.
