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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 thisWe are doing a research paper on "Is Child and Youth Care a profession?" Just wondering how people feel about this.
Elaine Barry
...
See Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies for a discussion on
this topic this side of the world ...
https://www.cyc-net.org/ijass-2-3.html#editorial
Niall C. McElwee
Ireland
...
Hi Elaine;
The short answer to your query is YES! The longer answer includes a
discussion of training, certification, professional expectations,
understanding of unique child and youth needs, professional settings and a
commitment to the field, etc, etc.
I would love a longer discussion over a few emails, as I am a Child and Youth Care professional, swamped with work (as we all are!)
Regards
Mark Kelly
...
Elaine I did an M.A. thesis on this topic in an Irish context. See
https://www.cyc-net.org/pdf/byrne-thesis.pdf
John Byrne
...
NOTE: You will find a rich seam on this topic by going to CYC-NET at
www.cyc-net.org and then using the
Google search of our site. Enter the words: child youth care profession in
the search box, and take a picnic lunch with you! – Editors
...
Hi Elaine,
I am unclear how you want your query answered? Yes, Child and Youth Care is
aprofession ... you ask us what we think about that: For me,
Child and Youth Care is a "profession" based on the belief
thatprofessionalismis necessary to any kind of work I am doing
particularly inhuman services. I think professionalism is the more
potent component simply because asI work I am not necessarily focussed on
my "profession". However, I am at all times cognizant of my professionalism,
if that makes sense. I thinkthere is acongruence between my beliefs
and valuesthat shows up in my "professional stance." For
instance I am in the Child and Youth Care profession and yet it is my
personal values regarding respect for myself and others that drives my work
with youth. ThenI might ask is it my personalvalues that encompass my
professional role or werethose values honed during my academiccareer as a
Child and Youth Care student? It is agood question, one that
has meruminating on the possibilities.
Thank you
Marjorie Mcquarrie
...
In my mind Youth Care is absolutely a profession. I have dedicated almost
fifteen years of my life to this field. I have a certificate, a degree and a
multitude of workshops under my belt. If one refers to the dictionary, a
higher education as well as mental labor rather than physical is listed to
describe a profession. We certainly fall under those criteria. We are also a
collective body, we have standards that need to be followed and we are held
accountable by these standards.
Charlene Snell, YCW
...
In response to Elaine's question ...
Your question is one that has been extensively discussed by Child and Youth
workers for several years. One notable discussion, "Beyond Professionalism:
The Child and Youth Care Worker as Craftsman" (Eisikoits, Z., Beker, J.:
Child Care Quarterly (1983), 12, 93-112); and H. Maeir's response
"Should Child and Youth Care Go the Craft or the Professional Route?"
Child and Youth Care Forum, (1983) 30 (6), 435-440. provide some food
for thought.
While the dictionary definition has not always applied to Child and Youth
Care, our discipline is increasingly fitting that criteria as education
requirements for becoming a CYCW are better defined, as we participate in
specialized higher education programs, create professional organizations and
develop standards for practice. While these parameters for defining a
profession are adequate within the corporate framework, I believe that Child
and Youth Care has added dimensions that define us as a profession. These
dimensions incorporate more than theories, concepts, advanced education and
standards; and probably resemble craftsmanship, dedication and passion for
the work we do. There has been a school of thought that suggests that the
latter dimensions detract from 'professional status'. For me, a combination
of the corporate framework and the added dimensions ('craftsmanship',
dedication, passion) go hand in hand to make our discipline a profession. So
yes, Child and Youth Care is a profession, but I believe we won't be
recognized or embraced by other professions until we ourselves acknowledge
that we are.
Maxine Kelly
Tennessee
...
Maxine, thanks for your response.
I agree and believe we must keep this notion alive if we want to choose our
own path to professionalization and honor the valuesembraced byour
profession. It is interesting to note that when one does this, great
innovation can occur around traditional structures such as certification and
legislative recognition. B.C has been focusing on this for many years
andthe association has worked diligently in the development of a draft
certification document which, in my opinion, upholds the principles of
quality care and provides a unique structure for this element of the
traditional certification processes. Unfortunately, as associations
experience time and time again, funding has been a major stumbling block in
moving this initiative forward. Who would have thought that I would
still get energized by this discussion after 20 years!
Leanne Rose Sladde
...
Have a look at a discussion in this group from a couple of years back:
https://www.cyc-net.org/threads/profession.html
- Eds.
