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 thisHi there,
My name is Amanda Popoff and I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba.I am 21 years
old and a current graduate of the Child and Youth Care Program.
I have been working in a co-ed group home, the boys are aged 7-12 (once
they turn 12 they are no longer staying at the home), and the girls are
14-18. I have been working here for 3 years, this was my first practicum
placement and I have been here ever since.
I also work at a program called Just TV. It is a gang prevention program
that works with inner city youth aged 16-24. We currently have 2
exceptions, two 14 year old boys. What the program does is give these
youth the opportunity to express themselves through multimedia. This is
a pilot program and we are currently in our 2nd year. Program runs from
April until December, and we have a film festival in December that gives
the participants a chance to perform in front of a large audience. We
have a full recording studio and the appropriate equipment to make
videos. The participants can conduct a video about anything they want,
as long as it is not promoting anything negative. The participants also
write their own music. These youth are very talented, and working here
has been a great learning experience.
If you would like to see the videos we have produced, you can go to you
tube, and type in "just tv bnc" and the videos will be there.
Amanda Popoff
...
Hi Amanda, thanks for the link. The work of the young people is
excellent.
Peace
Jeremy Millar
...
Thanks for the info Amanda. Sounds like you are doing a great job in
support of children in "need".
Marsha Orien
...
Hi Amanda,
I am a mature Child and Youth Care student and was curious to see the videos you talked
about. I am in awe of the talent and the quality of the videos on
you tube. What an incredible accomplishment. Thank you for sharing
this.
Julie Clarke
...
Amanda,
My name is Mandy Thorogood and I am a current student in the Child and
Youth Care Diploma in Calgary. I took a look at the videos on you tube
and am very impressed! It is so fascinating to see the different
programs offered in the country. There is nothing really similar to that
here in Calgary, AB but I think gang violence is becoming more prevalent
in our society and could be utilized. Even if it wasn't specifically for
gang violence, but youth that need that escape and way of positively
expressing themselves and engaging in such an experience. I think it is
amazing to provide youth with such opportunities to express themselves
and it seems as though there are some very talented youth you are
working with!!
My questions come from seeing these amazing videos and wondering how it
all got started. It would be of interest to me to start a program such
as this, and my questions are geared at who started the program!
How did it start? Could you maybe give me a little bit more information
on the program in general?
Also what qualifications would someone need to be employed in such a
program?
Any more information you can give me would be greatly appreciated!
Really enjoyed the videos and just wondering how this program was made
possible!
Also....where do you hold the film festival...is it available to anyone?
:) Thanks so much!
Mandy Thorogood
...
Hi Amandas,
I am also in a second year
student in the cycc diploma program at Mount Royal and I am interested
in working with children and youth through creative means. Whether
creative "counseling" be through video or song or dance, I see such
great potential to have this medium to explore the 'problems' faced by
today's children and youth.
As a native student, having the child or youth engaged in creative ways
of self exploration seems to be right up my alley. I am not conventional
in regards to text booking cases, but rather I can see myself engaged in
programs such as the "just TV" program. Good to know there are these
types of avenues of exploration instead of the usual milieu settings to
counsel.
There was a stop smoking poster contest way back when I was in
elementary school which was a fun way to bring about awareness. Today,
multimedia is the wave of the future so, as counselors, adaptation seems
to be the key in finding creative and engaging ways to help the youth.
Starting at art is good, but not for everyone. If the usual text book
methods don't work, I can see utilizing multimedia mediums as the next
step in exploring the counseling relationship.
In my experiences with contemporary therapeutic methods, I have seen
some interesting changes. What I am talking about is music therapy. JB
music therapy has some interesting ways of dealing with anger amongst
other issues todays youth face today and I can see myself engaged in
working with youth on a more contemporary bent in my practice.
Thanks for the Information on this "Just TV" Program. It's filling my
head with ideas now in regard to finding new ways of working with
youths.
Ken Wildman
Cheers
