Child and Youth Care

School of Education and Community Services

Does a career of working with children and youth at risk interest you? Check out the Child and Youth Care program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. You’ll find two options: the one-year certificate or the two-year diploma. Whichever you choose, you’ll need a steady personality, strong listening skills, compassion and respect for others.

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The two-year Child and Youth Care diploma program is offered at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon Campus, Ave. W (450 Avenue W North). Qualified instructors will help you build on knowledge and skills developed in the Child and Youth Care Worker certificate program. You’ll learn more about:

abnormal psychology
agency administration and community development
conflict resolution and small group facilitation
cultural diversity and family systems
individual assessment and development of case plans
sexual victimization
therapeutic intervention strategies and suicide prevention

You’ll participate in five extended work-based practicums. You’ll get hands-on experience implementing individual client programs, facilitating established agency programs, carrying out basic administrative functions and managing client education sessions. It’s an opportunity to build your professional skills while enhancing your own personal growth.

Graduates of the two-year diploma program are qualified for jobs as family support workers, group home staff, program coordinators or community outreach workers in a variety of educational, residential, social services or community-based agencies.

Use your Child and Youth Care diploma to transfer into third year of the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Justice Studies at Lethbridge College in Alberta.

Youth Care Worker certificate and diploma (previous)

Students who have previously met admission requirements and were accepted into the Youth Care Worker program will have two years to complete this program. The Youth Care Worker certificate program must be completed by 2024 and the Youth Care Worker diploma program by 2025. For students completing their existing certificate or diploma courses through PLAR, the same completion dates apply: certificate 2024 and diploma 2025.

You may contact the student advisors for assistance in making an education plan to complete your program.

Marilyn Philipchuk at 306-659-4903 or marilyn.philipchuk@saskpolytech.ca

Part-time students who have a few courses and would like to explore the option of attending the revised in-person Child and Youth Care diploma program should contact the program head, Suong Polley at 306-659-4908 or suong.polley@saskpolytech.ca.

Career and salary information

Your career

As a graduate of the diploma program, you could work as a family support worker, group home staff, program coordinator or community outreach worker in a wide range of human service agencies. There are job opportunities in a wide range of settings—community-based child and youth programs, parent education and training, family support, school-based programs, residential treatment, recreation programs, therapeutic foster homes, child and youth advocacy, justice programs, AIDS education and support, life skills training and community development.

For more information, contact the Student Employment Services at a campus nearest you.

Potential careers

Sample job title	NOC classification
Indigenous outreach worker	Social & community service workers (42201)
Youth care worker	Social & community service workers (42201)
Youth development co-ordinator	Social & community service workers (42201)
Youth program director	Managers in social, community and correctional services (40030)

Part-time delivery

To register for individual courses, please view the part-time offerings available in the Courses section below.

Admissions

Admission requirements

Grade 12
English Language Requirement

Note

A security clearance, personal interview and/or a medical may be required for practicum or observation visits.
Admitted students are required to provide evidence of a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search prior to entering required coursework and practicum with children, youth, and adults. At the discretion of the agency, a student may be declined access to a practicum placement based on the contents of the Criminal Record Check, personal interview and/or medical assessment. A student must complete the practicum placements to graduate from the program. The cost of the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search is the student's responsibility.
Proof of current Standard First Aid and CPR 'C' or equivalent may be required prior to entry into a practicum.
Accepted international students require a co-op work permit to complete the practicum requirements for this program. This is mandatory. Students who do not have a co-op work permit will not be allowed to participate in their practicums. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they have the required documentation to study in Canada and a co-op work permit to complete the practicum requirements of this program.

Alternative admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

See Certificate program

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission method

First Qualified/First Admitted

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake.

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year.

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

Tuition and fees

2024-25 academic year

$8,500

International students

View tuition rates for international students.

Courses

Get credit for what you know

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

Transfer credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Institution	Details
Athabasca University	Graduates of this program may receive 60 credit units toward Bachelor of Professional Arts-Human Services (BPA-HRSV).
Lethbridge Polytechnic	Graduates of this program may be eligible for block transfer, with a min GPA of 2.0, into the third year of the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Justice Studies. Students must complete Criminology-CJP 2278 prior to entering third year of the BAAJS program.

Mental Health and Addictions Counselling

Justice Studies

Additional information

Have a question? Email ConEd@saskpolytech.ca or call 306-659-4418.