Child and Youth Worker (1055)
3 Years - 6 Semesters
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Community Fun
The Child and Youth Worker program has developed a number of special programs that have made a significant contribution to the community of Sault Ste. Marie. Students have been and are directly involved in these projects and have learned first-hand just what it takes to create and deliver such events. Faculty and community field work supervisors provide the direction while students earn credit for their contribution. Students in the CYW program have an opportunity to work closely with faculty and agency personnel while in the program to develop their strengths and professionalism.
Annual W.A.L.K. – We All Love Kids
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Sault College Child and Youth Worker W.A.L.K. (We All Love Kids). Since 2001, our third-year CYW students have participated in this community development project that has not only provided children and families in our community with a day filled with fun and free events but has also raised over $60,000 to fund children's programs in Sault Ste. Marie. Throughout the semester, the students learn valuable skills related to community development as they work together to organize events for the day of the W.A.L.K. They gain knowledge related to fundraising, marketing, proposal writing and the value of working together as committee members.Of particular importance, the students select one community agency each year to become the recipient of their fundraising efforts. The students actively fundraise over the semester to raise money for this agency so that it is able to deliver programs that directly benefit children and families in their agency. Over the years, this student initiative has granted much-needed financial support to community programs such as Algoma Health Unit, Children's Aid Society, the Soup Kitchen, Algoma Family Services, Brain Injury Association and the Algoma District School Board.
The event is held in early April and for the past three years, Sault College has generously offered its site as the venue for the Family Fun Day. This year our recipient was the Soup Kitchen's Brighter Beginnings Children's Program: Summer of Good Healthy Fun program. Through their hard work and fundraising efforts, the students raised over $4,000 in 10 short weeks, with contributions from the Downtown Kiwanis Club, Gayle Joy Investments and Boston's Pizza. It is important to note that the funds raised do not include "donations in kind." Over 300 children and families attended our event this year. They were treated to a wide range of fun activities, copious free draws and free food. A great time was had by all.
Our thanks go out to the community for the incredible support given to the event by the businesses and merchants whose generosity helped make this event such a success, through donations of prizes, food and activities.
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In the course of the three year program, CYW students and faculty take advantage of our location at the hub of Lakes Superior and Huron. Through courses such as Recreation Leadership, Group Dynamics and Field Work, we have been camping and hiking in our local and provincial parks. We have visited with elders and healers at Garden River First Nation. We have been seen playing non-competitive games at a municipal park and have been cross-country skiing in a park that is 15 minute drive from the College.
Examples of past projects have included the following:
Empathy Belly: An empathy belly is a device that is worn by a participant and simulates many of the symptoms of pregnancy. A CYW student team would present the empathy belly education program to adolescents with a focus on prevention of teen pregnancy and education about the realities of pregnancy.
Youth Span: This program (no longer in operation) was developed between the CYW faculty, a local high school, a local church and a youth network. This program provided supervised alternative lunch-time activities for high school students other than the cafeteria. CYW students linked directly with the high school guidance department. This program received an award of excellence from the Ontario Teacher's Federation.
Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness Campaign: This project began as classroom activity for the community development course. Under the direction of faculty, students submitted a proposal which was accepted by the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. The successful project was a Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness Campaign for Sault College students which targeted an audience of approximately 2,400 students. A follow-up project included an educational campaign on the links between alcohol use and sexual assault.
Confrontation Skills Training: This project was developed by Sandy MacDonald, CYW faculty. She and colleague Jeff Arbus, marketed and presented this model to train people to effectively manage confrontations. Sandy and Jeff have presented this training in Canada, the United States and Scotland. Students are trained in this model to enhance their abilities to defuse and manage confrontations.