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22 MARCH 2010
NO 1557
Our Field
Over the past couple of months, I’ve
been doing a lot of thinking about Child and Youth Care – about the
field itself, the work we do, the programs we provide, the young people
and their families, the practitioners, and how all of these pieces fit
together. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been involved in such a diverse
range of activities lately, or perhaps it’s because I’m suffering
through a mid-life crisis (I am at that age), whatever the reason, I
find myself questioning a lot of things I have previously accepted, and
wondering about the field of Child and Youth Care and how we are
actually doing.
I have spent a considerable part of my career working on issues related
to professionalism in the field. I advocate for standards, for training,
for specific education in Child and Youth Care. I promote membership in
professional Child and Youth Care associations, and actively proclaim
the value and benefits of belonging to a provincial or state
association. My interests in this area have taken me across the country,
networking with dedicated Child and Youth Care professionals from all
domains of practice. I have also had the privilege of being part of the
CCCYCA for many years, which has given me the opportunity to learn about
Child and Youth Care from a national perspective.
In everything I do, I have a tendency to be somewhat idealistic (those
who know me are laughing right now). I look for the positive and expect
that people are generally driven by good intentions. All of my years in
the field have not dampened this optimism, although I have learned to
balance it with reality (I no longer get conned as often as I used to).
My view of Child and Youth Care, therefore, has been one of hope,
harmony, cooperation, collaboration, and respect. I have watched with
pride as the field has evolved, and imagined that we are all working
together to achieve the same ultimate goal – to provide the highest
possible quality of care to the children, youth and families with whose
lives we have been entrusted.
While I believe we have made significant strides in moving forward, I
have also become concerned that, as a field, we remain so fragmented.
There are continued differences of opinion about the definition of
professional Child and Youth Care and whom we work with. Is our client
group troubled children and youth? Families? Do they have to be in
crisis, or can we work with “normal” people as well? Do we work with
infants? The elderly? Where do we work? Do we work with young offenders
in correctional facilities, or is that a whole different group of
practitioners? Is a community center a Child and Youth Care facility?
Should it be? How should we be educated? Do we need a diploma in Child and Youth Care? A degree? How should our educators be educated? How
should the field be regulated – or should it be? Who should do the
regulating? And – the biggest question of all – what constitutes
effective Child and Youth Care practice?
HEATHER MODLIN
Modlin, H. (2006) Standards, Ethics, and Professional Child and Youth
Care Associations. Relational Child and Youth Care Parctice 19 (2)
pp.54-56
