Since it's founding in 1997, the CYC-Net discussion group has been asked thousands of questions. These questions often generate many replies from people in all spheres of the Child and Youth Care profession and contain personal experiences, viewpoints, as well as recommended resources.
Below are some of the threads of discussions on varying Child and Youth Care related topics.
Questions and Responses have been reproduced verbatim.
Listen to thisHey Folks,
I have a question I am hoping we can explore to help each other continue
to sort out identity as Child and Youth Care professionals. Currently, I am trying to
better understand the role of National Associations with respect to my
professional definition of self.
Can other's tell me the role and purpose it plays in your identity as Child and Youth Care professionals?
Super appreciate your time and energy. We need each other.
Rebecca Ward
...
Dear Rebeca
Here in South Africa we have the National Association of Child Care
Workers (NACCW) which offers training in the field of Child and Youth Care and advocates for the professionalization of the field.
It advocates for children's rights via various community projects that
they run, e.g. Isibindi Projects whereby they assist children and their
families from disadvantaged communities.
Among Isibindi Projects are after-school facilities for children where
they do school homework and play in a safe place under the supervision
of trained care workers, etc.
NACCW also takes an interest in other countries' Child Care Worker's
Associations in the SADC region like the Zambian Association of Child
Care Workers.
NACCW also hosts bi-annual conferencences for child care workers whereby
international experts in the field of child care and development share
their wealth of experience with delegates.
Hope you will find this of interest.
W.M. Ndlangisa
...
Rebecca asked about the role and usefulness of
National Associations ...
Keeps me connected.
Provides opportunity for networking
Helps me stay abreast of current practice/trends Supports the
development of quality and standards in CYW for the nation Provides a
voice for child/youth issues and oppotunity to put them on a national
stage Gives me a sense of belonging to something potentially larger than
my own (geographic/professional) world Get to see the world
Get to introduce others to the world (job opportuniites).
Just a few.....
Rick Kelly
...
Dear Rebecca
Ndlangisa is spot on. I would like to add that the forums born out of
the Association at regional level, for various professional groups
is a great way to support, advocate and share how we do what we do in
our various locations in the field. (SW's forum, Director's forum,
Senior CYCW Forum and CYCW forum, Youth Forum to name a few).
In the same way that we have Biennial National Conferences we have
Biennial Regional conferences where Child and Youth Care workers have
the opportunity to make presentations, chair sessions, run workshops
etc. in preparation for the National Conferences. So in essence we have
a conference every year, either Regionally or Nationally. The benefits
are enormous and it allows an opportunity to showcase, address issues of
concern, introduce new programmes, etc.
I would encourage the Child and Youth Care Fraternity to unite in this
way and speak with one voice so that the children benefit on all levels.
Francisco G. Cornelius
Cape Town
...
Hi Rebecca,
The Council of Canadian Child and Youth Care Associations is a national
body that was established in order to help coordinate and bring together
provincial and territorial Child and Youth Care Associations. The
Council consists of a representative from each active provincial and
territorial association. The Council works to support and help
strengthen each provincial and territorial association as well as help
provide the opportunity to create an association in areas where there is
no active cyw association. The Council is active in supporting various
cyw/cyc related activities either through direct involvement such as
having a representative on the Child and Youth Care Education
Accreditation Board of Canada; financially such as providing CYC-net
with a yearly donation as well as supporting the Ontario Colleges in
their video project currently underway; and in some cases both such as
providing seed money and support to the provincial association who plays
host to the bi-annual National Child and Youth Care Conference.
The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta is currently preparing
to host the Tenth Triennial International Child and Youth Care
Conference and Seventeenth National Canadian Child and Youth Care
Conference in beautiful Canmore, Alberta, October 9-12, 2012. The
Council continues to support both the National and International
Conferences as it has become both a showcase for all things child and
youth work as well as a wonderful opportunity to network and reacquaint
with others in the profession. I encourage you to check out the Council
website at www.cccyca.ca to
find out more.
David Connolly
President
Council of Canadian Child and Youth Care Associations
...
Hello Ndlangisa
