Provincial Up-dates:
Joe Markey, outgoing President in Nova Scotia, spoke about informal talks about certification taking place in that province but nothing formal. Nova Scotia has Residential Care
Standards which are starting to be enforced more and more. The question was asked: “Do standards address education?” Jason Mathews, in coming Nova Scotia President,
noted that education remains open in Nova Scotia. Jeff Reid contributed that for new hires, there is an expectation of two years diploma and/or degree in the social sciences.
Nova Scotia has around 100 members in its association, a slight decline due, in part, to a lost database. Jack Phelan asked how many workers in province were members of
the association. Joe believed there were 250 residential care workers and Jack commented the membership represents almost 50% of the total. Kelly Shaw noted The Nova
Scotia Community College does outreach to facilities for those workers who do not meet the provincial standard.
Dave Connolly, President of CYCA of PEI and an instructor at CompuCollege in PEI stated the association membership stood at 50 members, drawn from 5 residential
programs and an open/closed custody program. The highest membership was 113 in the past. The association would like to increase membership. The province only has the
one ten month program for child and youth care at Holland College and has had this for about twenty years until recently. This is only the second year for the two year program
at CompuCollege. There is some healthy competition between the programs with students trending toward the shorter, ten month program as the most expedient way to enter
the work force.
Tania, CYCABC President, noted the association has been dormant for a few years now. It was reinstituted in 2004 and has 40 members. The association has not even
addressed standards and regulations, being concerned with building up the association again. They are networking with local educators and service providers toward that end.
BC does have a model created by Leanne Rose-Sladde which was almost at the recommendation phase when the association became crippled. The association’s immediate
goal is to expand active membership at this time.
Pat Foran, President of the CYCAA headed up a considerable Alberta delegation to the meeting. He noted they now have 900 members, and are increasing around 100 per
year. Pat estimated around 2000 practice in AB, so membership is approaching the 50% level. 430 members are certified and remain members of the association. The
association views certification as the jewel of the association. A delegation from the association has met with representatives of the Children’s Ministry but not the Minister
regarding legislation. The impression was of the meeting going well, but the issue remains one of political will being generated. Pat noted the Degree program at Grant
McEwen. A two year diploma is the expectation in the province. Larger centers attract the educated while facilities in the country accept a lesser standard. Pat noted that the
colleges use the certification materials as part of their curriculums to the extent that graduates of those programs can defer one of the testing phases.
Ken Lee, a secure treatment youth care practitioner and representative for the Manitoba Association, noted the loss of good people as cyc’s move on to real professions. The
Manitoba association is supported primarily by students of Red River College Child and Youth Care Program and corporate memberships and a few front line workers. Board
members have had meetings with government around certification and also the local organization representing the larger treatment centers. They found them reserved around
standards due to hiring issues. Employers do ask for formal education and do offer another pay level for formal education. The membership stands at 50 members, 25 or so
students, 20 members and the corporate members. The association executive has the goal to promote board membership by front line members as there is a perception of
conflict of interest.
Mark Kelly, of the Yukon Child Care Association stated the association has 90-100 members. All members are Early Childhood Educator graduates and a good half of them are
working with youth over the age of six in his opinion. Members have to be certified to work in the field. There are two associations, day care and child care. Mark noted
Yellowknife has 190 non-profits with a population of 18000 leading to much networking. Mark does forecast the existing competencies becoming the foundation for a Yukon
Child and Youth Care Program and its standards. There has been a preference for social workers. However four cyc’s have been hired as support workers to social agencies.
Goal to recruit cyc people in as the profession takes a foothold in the territory. Mark noted some employers are advertising specifically for CYC workers now. Brooke adds that
the colleges in Yukon and NWT have networked around early childhood diploma. They have to teach by teleconference and across cultures, vast distances and shape
programs accordingly.
Heather Modlin, Executive Director of the St. Francis Foundation, instructor at Compu-College, representative for NL, and Council President estimated the current membership
of their association at100 plus. Membership has held constant since the 2002 national conference. With a working population estimated at 300, a third can be viewed as in the
association. Newfoundland is working toward a university degree program in child and youth care. The provincial government has hired a person to design standards for
residential care in Child Welfare. The recent child death review blasted the child protection system for the lack of standards and training for child protection workers. There is the
hope that these child protection issues can lead to development of formal education and standards for Child Protection, with some linkages to child and youth care education at
the university level.
Guest Speaker
Sandra Griffin, Early Childhood Educators Association, experienced developing their professional structure in BC and
nationally. Sandra has worked with Ken Dryden around the national day care movement.
Sandra considers her field child and youth care. She intended to give an overview on thoughts and experiences on what
works in developing. She came into field 30 years ago, wanting to stay home with daughter, setting up a home day care,
unaware of regulations around day cares. In the beginning day care was a sector with an under laying philosophy which
was not respected in the beginning. The day care field was unrecognized, education unrealized and the work itself
degraded by lack of decent wages. She noted turnover was high and that the workers could not be hooked with a sense that
it can get better. There was a need to inspire people to see that they can make a difference. Sandra has faced a lot of ‘what’
is in it for me’. Personal frustration had no place in meeting the goal. The situation was a catch 22 between minimum
wages and minimum education. By adopting a real entrepreneurial spirit, generating funds which could not come from
membership dues, the association entered an extensive grant writing phase. It was critical to have small cadre of people
who are always on the watch to generate funds and ways to enhance all phases and steps. She gave the example of their
magazine that existed for many years but which was underwritten by a new grant each year. Foundations, governments and
local and municipal governments can all be sources for funds. They would write in meeting expenses, travel and publishing
expenses into successive grants. Relationship, Sandra believes is vital for the worker themselves. For that reason, they
would do socials to generate shared experience and to connect. Regular workshops and conferences were also vital on an
annual schedule. It was fundamental to hold key mission guides or talking points including the child being at the center of
their efforts and their efforts being national in scope. In everything, relationship was essential. Sandra noted the need to
maintain these through changes in personnel, governments and changes in political will. Many bureaucrats are working
toward similar goals and they can become allies toward your goal. She gave as an example the recent trend toward law
and order and the role of child and youth care professionals in socializing youth to lead a healthy lifestyle, a fundamental
plank to fighting crime.
Sandra noted that if the goal is set too high it just wears out the membership. There is a need to have minor successes
and the cumulative impacts of these. She noted the conflict between those who practice and those who advocate. People
working did not want to be advocates; they just wanted to do their work. By separating out lobbying and advocacy from
profession practice and placing a specific focus on lobbying, they were able to develop services for front line. Evidence
based research was vital to the grant process. There is a need to support your argument with recognized and supportive
research. It took 30 years for research to emerge in a supportive fashion that the general public is able to adopts a shared
outlook. Research is essential to good practice.
Sandra believed splitting and factionalism does in the collective effort every time. Finding those areas where there is
agreement and acting upon these where and when it occurs was essential. She noted the National Children’s Agenda may
have lapsed with political change but the common sense behind it has not. There is a need for unification between all
those who work with children and youth to push for Canadians to live up to commitment on the rights of the child. There is a
need to be vigilant for the opportunity to speak up exploiting the opportunities as they are presented. They would even craft
press releases for member associations to help them exploit local conditions.
CCCYCA/Garth Goodwin 2002-2006, All Rights Reserved
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Monday, October 16, 2006
Pre-Conference Day: Standards and Regulations
Batshaw Child and Family Services Centre,
6 Weredale Park, Montreal, PQ
Carol Stuart (ON), Joe Markey (NS), David Connolly
(PEI), Jason Matthews (NS), Tania Brzovic (BC), Pat
Foran (AB), George Roy (AB), Mike McGillvrey (AB),
Marlene Kingsmith (AB), Kelly Shaw (NS), Jeff Reid
(NS), Susan Lollis (ON), Pat Anderchek (ON), Rick
Kelly (ON), Mark Kelly (YT), Brooke Alsbury (YT), Jenny
McGrath (AB), Ken Lee (MB), Marilyn Phelan (AB), Jack
Phelan (AB), Heather Modlin (NL), Garth Goodwin (MB)
Carol welcomes everyone to Professional
Regulations Day. She requests a brief up-date
regarding the work being done in the area in each
province. She informs the group Sandra Griffin will visit
later to talk about how Early Childhood Educators
developed their profession. Frank Ekles of the
Academy of Child and Youth Care Practice is also to
come in to speak about the North American
Certification Project. The Academy itself will join the
group at 11:30. There will be a lunch break at noon.
Continuing in the afternoon, Carol will up-date group
on the study she was part of on competences in the
mental health field in Ontario. Finally, the group will
split up into working groups to discuss aspects
regarding standards and regulations.
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Sandra Griffin, Guest Speaker
Ken Lee, Tania Brzovic, Pat Foran, Phillip Alleyne, and Heather Modlin at luncheon
Public Relations Focus Group
North American Certification Project Up-date
Frank Ekles and Dale Currie of the NACP arrived to give an overview of the status of the project. Frank noted it has
been a layering process beginning some thirty years ago looking for a way to identify, develop and promote best
practice.
A committee set about collecting 150 of the best competencies in child and youth care, including some from
Canadian sources. There are many credentialing programs in the United States and many very specific to
employer or work situation. The goal is to have a full practice credential, with standardized testing, a portfolio, online
registration process all designed for practicality. To date they have pilot tested 775 people including Canadians.
Canadians have different educational system and one goal was to highlight the potential contrast that may emerge.
Carol Stuart applied the pilot test to a Canadian group in British Columbia and reported on this. This included
applying the exam, supervisory assessment, and feedback from participants. The outcome was an average
Canadian score of 75.7% to an average American score of 59.3 %. At the supervisory level, the scores were 28.4 /
26.2 respectively. Generally, participants felt the content really captured what child and youth care was all about.
There was a variety of settings and age groups. There were no differences between Canadians and Americans on
perception of exam. The exam has a two hour time limit for the exam. The project remains in the pilot stages with
more work to be done. Were all the supervisors trained to review content in a similar way, for example? The data
supported that everyone was doing a fairly good job. Cultural differences may impact the certification. The different
levels of certification allow for mentoring and educational inputs. Another possible outcome will be the assessment
piece which could see native talent being recognized.
Lunch Break Members of the Council and the Academy of Child and Youth Care Practice retreated to a local
restaurant for a shared luncheon all appreciated.
The Ontario Study
Carol passes out The Role of Competence in Outcomes for Children and Youth: An approach for Mental Health. Carol explained how she initiated this study with the support of
the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Care Associations. The Council removed itself from the project in support of the OACYC over differences of opinion around the
methodology.
The project continued with its valuable goal of establishing what currently exists in education and training for entry level positions in Ontario. The focus of the study was totally on
Ontario, source of the study’s funding.
Typically, graduates enter into employment following the patterns which generally apply to all employees in child and youth care. Part time work first and then working their way
to full time employment. CYC practitioners are employed in a wide range of services within children’s mental health agencies. They are viewed as specialists and are included
in the team meetings.
Participants explicitly thanked Carol and Rick for their work with the study. “This is fabulous”, stated Jack Phelan. Jason wondered if the curriculum translation tool could be
applied back in Nova Scotia. The response was affirmative as the system allows for curriculum development and/or recommendations.
Rick Kelly recommends that people address the hidden curriculum listing issues around diversity as an example. There can be confusion between what the curriculum sets
forward and what students comprehend and take away. Rick believes this kind of work helps clarify the curriculum and through it, the profession.
Carol states that the employers need to get on board to influence the process and help define the final product. She used the example of some employers who would currently
choose a person with a psychology degree over a child and youth care degree.
The group then split into two working groups:
Public Relations Focus Group
Grant writing, lobbying, and advocacy are all continuous activities. Governments and funding sources can
change their preferences. Knowing the aims and goals of these and focusing your efforts to ‘fit’ is important.
Rick notes that an initiative can have a better chance of funding than a bricks and mortar request. Building in
hard outcomes into an initiative process is recommended. For example, creating a newsmagazine into the
proposal to allow for a communications outcome was put forward. Some funders may be more lavish and
tacking on the aims and goals to proposal to them is advised. For example, there may be more latitude in travel
and meeting funding that could be placed there. It is important not to make waves with your approach or
expectations, rather to attempt to find a way to make your goal, your funder’s goal. The issue of the time and
manpower to pursue these goals is important.
HRD employees a labor sector approach. They may fund a sector study for child and youth care. There can be a
tendency for stakeholders to bring their grievances to such an endeavor. The Child Care Resource Sector
Council emerged from just such an approach. The research itself would be an important contribution as it would
help define the profession itself and allow for a actual understanding of field in Canada. The aspect of many of
the nation’s cyc’s being unionized was raised. Mark Kelly notes the apathy generally in the field putting him and
Brooke forward as the two persons from the Yukon with an interest in this. There is also the unique situation of
the Yukon itself which may or may not benefit from work being done elsewhere. This may echo the individual
differences that do exist right across the country. Analyzing local needs and local resources follows out of this
discussion. The recommendation was that the Council be more supportive in broadcasting these individual
situations bringing them forward in the national awareness.
Jenny recommends picking one or two manageable and realizable goals that the Council can employee to give
the member something. Mark mentioned newsletters. He went on to note many workers are disenfranchised
and the issue is how to give them something supportive. The issue is how to make the goal relevant for that
worker who gets up everyday and goes to work for ten dollars an hour.
A workshop on how to advocate and present yourself and your argument as a youth care workers was
suggested. Offering members such tools and opportunities may be useful.
Who is a CYC? Where are they working? What are the different degrees of applications? The point being there is
no definitive portrait of the profession in Canada to date.
It was suggested to gather success stories from the profession. There is a need to flesh out the field, explain the
work and the results of the work. Finding a corporate sponsor to underwrite the cost of an advertising campaign
was suggested. Putting together a media plan or media studies was recommended. Crafting a message that
can be easily understood and recalled would be a goal.
Discussion group: Professional Regulation
Discussion:
• Build grandfathering in
• Get the educators and field connected
• Get the provincial ministries on board to move required standards forward
• Train front-line workers in the curriculum assessment process to be the objective assessors
• Ensure professional association reps are working on educational accreditation committees
• Develop a unified Canadian perspective on what a CYC does
• What the professional standards are nationally?
• Focus on agreement
• Develop post-education specialization
Recommendations to the Council
The following topics were suggested for discussion at the annual Council meeting:
1. Support the educators group as they move forward to develop accreditation of educational programs
2. Link the provincial associations to the educational accreditation development
3. Inter provincial agreements to allow transfer and cross province recognition
4. Compare the NACP and Alberta models of the what and HOW of certification and come up with
recommendations to a Canadian model
The meeting was adjourned to allow for a final gathering of the Council and ACYCP delegates to enjoy a cake
prepared for the day.
The minutes of the
Pre-Conference
Working Day are
published here in full.
The next working day
is anticipated prior to
the 15th National Child
and Youth Care
Conference to be held
in Charlottetown, PEI
in October 2008.
Dale Currie and Frank Ekles provided a status report on
the Academy of Child and Youth Care Practice's North
American Certificate Project.
The Council wishes to thank Carol Stuart for her ongoing
participation in the working days as meeting chairperson
and promoter for national standards and regulations in
Canada. Thanks also to Batshaw Child and Family Services
Centre for providing the venue and refreshments.
Frank and Carol cut and serve a cake featuring banners
listing the hundred plus contributors to the certification
project to date