GARFAT,  Thomas Fredric, PhD.
207 Rue L’ile de Belair E.,
Rosemere, Quebec, Canada, J7A 1A8
450-420-0091
Email:   garfat@videotron.ca
www.cyc-net.org/transformaction  www.cyc-net.org/eircan

 Education

B.A.   University of Victoria, 1974

M.A.   Applied Clinical Psychology, Lakehead University, Ontario, 1976

PhD.   Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria, British Columbia, 1996

 

Professional and Academic Affiliations

Honorary Life Member, British Columbia Child and Youth Care Association, 1981 - 

Member, Quebec Association of Child Care Workers, 1982 -

Member, Academy of Child and Youth Care Professionals, 1986 -

Member, International Federation of Educative Communities, 1991 -

Member, International Leadership Coalition for Child and Youth Care, 1992 -

Member, Nova Scotia Child and Youth care Workers Association 1996 –

Adjunct Professor.  University of Minnesota at St. Paul.  1996 – 2005

International Fellow.  Centre for Child and Youth Care Learning.  Athlone, Ireland. 2003 -

Visiting Course Instructor and Master’s Supervisor.  UNISA ,Johannesburg South Africa.  2003 – 

Instructor and Course Development – Child and Youth Care, Ryerson University, Toronto, 2004 –

Clinical Practitioner in Residence – University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 2006

Adjunct Professor, Graduate Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C.
 

 Awards

 2006 – Beyond Borders Award, presented by the Canadian Council of Child and Youth        Care Associations.  Montreal. October, 2006

2006 - Henry W. Maier Clinical Practitioner in Residence, Washington University, Washington.

2003 - International Fellow, Centre for Child and Youth Care Learning. Athlone, Ireland.       

2001 - First Annual Nova Scotia Child Care Worker of the Year

1996 - Governor General’s Gold Medal Award for Research
 

Detailed Employment History

 2006                      Clinical Practitioner in Residence, University of Washington

Seattle, Washington

The Clinical Practitioner in Residence Program was designed to honour, and continue the practice influence of, Henry W. Maier.  As the 1^st Practitioner in Residence, I was responsible for the development and delivery of experiential learning workshops and classes for undergraduate and graduate students.  See here: http://depts.washington.edu/sswweb/maier/firstprac.php

 

2005 – 2006      Consulting Clinical Director, Pine River Institute

Hornings Mills, Ontario

As the Consulting Clinical Director for the Pine River Institute, a private therapeutic boarding school for adolescents with addictions, I was responsible for the hiring of clinical staff, staff training, development of the program and policy and procedures for the organisation, which includes residential, academic, therapeutic wilderness and aftercare. See: http://www.pineriverinstitute.com

 

2004 – Course Instructor, Ryerson University

Toronto, Ontario

I developed and deliver the on-line course, Intensive Family Involvement, for the School of Child and Youth Care.  I also developed, and teach, the on-line course Residential Care Techniques for Child and Youth Care Workers.

 

2002 -   EirCan Consulting

Canada and Ireland

EirCan is a joint Irish-Canadian consulting company formed by myself and Dr. Niall McElwee to promote the best of Child and Youth Care practices from Ireland and Canada.  Activities include consultation, training, research and publication in both countries. See www.cyc-net.org/eircan.

 

1996 –              TransformAction Consulting and Training

Halifax and Montreal

Private practice in consultation and training for individuals, teams, organizations and governments providing services to troubled children, youth and families.  Major initiatives have included: consultant for the development of Provincial Standards for Residential Child-caring Facilities and the Secure Treatment program in Nova Scotia; reviews of the residential care systems for the Provinces of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia; involved with the Cree of Northern Quebec helping them to re-structure their services to troubled youth to be more culturally appropriate, training of Inuit residential care managers; review of treatment program and on-going consultation in Ireland and a on-going retreat training development in Scotland.  See www.cyc-net.org/transformaction 

 

1996 - 1999       Consulting Director, Nexus

Kentville, Nova Scotia

The re-design and development of a residential treatment facility for troubled adolescents from a traditional control-based program to a family-focussed, community based residential and outreach intervention program for youth and families based on a team and relationship approach.  This program now serves as a model for other program development in the residential community. 

 

1995 - 2005       Adjunct Faculty

University of Minnesota, St. Paul

Adjunct instructor in the School of Child and Youth Studies.  Area of specialization is in working with youth.

 

1994 - 1995  Cadre Conseiller

Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, Montreal

The Batshaw Youth and Family Centres (BYFC's) was formed as a result of the merger of the 4 major English youth serving agencies in Montreal.  It is the agency responsible for youth protection and young offenders services for English speaking troubled youth and their families. I was responsible for the development and implementation of the Orientation Table for the BYFC's.  This table was mandated, through the development of an Individualised Service Plan, to define the objectives and service commitments for each family requiring or requesting on-going services from the agency.

 

1993 – 1995      Doctoral Student

Doctoral studies, University of Victoria

During this time I completed the residency and research requirements for a PhD. in Child and Youth Care.  As well I developed and taught Advanced Program Design in the Master's program for students in the Faculty of Human and Social Development.

 

1984 - 1994   Director of Treatment Services

Youth Horizons

Youth Horizons was one of the largest treatment agencies for troubled youth and their families in Canada.  As Director of Treatment, I was responsible for the development, supervision and management of all treatment services of the agency including 2 residential treatment centres, 4 emergency shelter programs, 7 group homes, 1 day treatment program, 1 alternate school, 1 back-up unit, supervised apartment programs, community family intervention and an independent living program. The treatment services division consisted of a total clinical staff of approximately 100 permanent child care workers, 80 part-time child care workers, 15 social workers, 42 night supervisors, 16 program treatment supervisors, 3 program directors. The budget was approximately 7 million dollars and the client population was 200+. Major achievements during this time included: the development of a system of clinical supervision for all program staff; the transfer of one residential centre from a rural to an urban location;  the implementation of a framework for intervention planning; the development of a philosophy of treatment; the design and development of external, non-residential services for children and families; the establishment of case conferencing and the development of a framework for staff professional development.  As a member of the senior management team I also participated in the development and implementation of policies and procedures for the whole agency.

 

1990               Instructor, Special Care Counselling Program

Vanier Community College, Montreal

             I taught communication skills courses for 2nd year child and youth care students.

 

1986 - 1988   Staff Development Officer

Youth Horizons

Due to the absence of a staff training and development officer during this time, I was also responsible for the development and delivery of staff training for clinical personnel within the agency.  This included family work, supervision, intervention planning, crisis intervention, team work and individual treatment.  During this time I developed an overall framework for individual and team professional development.

 

1982 - 1984   Divisional Director: Adolescent Residential Services 

Youth Horizons

While responsible for the supervision and management of the residential treatment centre, I was also responsible for the development, supervision and management of highly structured community based group home programs for troubled adolescents who could not manage regular community group homes.  This was the beginning of Youth Horizon's movement to the treatment of severely troubled children in a community, rather than a rural, environment.  The integration of family members was an integral part of the success of these programs

 

1981 - 1982   Divisional Director - Residential Treatment Centre 

Youth Horizons

As director, I was responsible for overall supervision and direction of this 36 bed co-educational adolescent residential treatment centre.  My duties included supervision of program supervisors, family intake and assessment, program development, administration and management of the centre.  I developed a system of intervention planning and treatment, reduced dramatically the use of isolation rooms and implemented case conferencing and staff training.

 

1978 - 1981   Assistant Professor

School of Child Care, University of Victoria

I developed and taught skill acquisition and theory courses in child care and family systems work for child care, social work and nursing undergraduate students in the Faculty of Human and Social Development. I implemented video-feedback skills training and developed family-focus student placement settings.  At this time I also held a cross appointment with the Division of University Extension and was responsible for the development and delivery of distant education and professional development training programs in B.C. for child and youth care workers, social workers, family support workers and others.

 

1976 - 1978   Executive Director

The Pacific Centre for Human Development, Victoria

As director of this community program my responsibilities included the supervision and administration of a staff of 20 child care workers, psychologists, family therapists, life skills coaches and teachers, in a community based agency which included family therapy, outreach, job training, alternate schools and public education. My accomplishments included the development of an in-home family treatment orientation and the stabilization of the agency within the local community.

 

1977 - 1978   Instructor in Verbal Communications

Faculty of Psychological Foundations, University of Victoria

            I developed and taught summer courses in communication skills for teachers.

 

1975 - 1976         Master's Degree Studies        (Applied Clinical Psychology)

Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario

 

1972 - 1975   Child Care Counsellor II

Reception and Diagnostic Centre, Victoria

In this role, I was responsible for the direct care and treatment of adolescents in this co-educational short-term residential placement program  For the last year of this program I also became one of the first Family Support Workers in the province of British Columbia.

 

1972 - 1973   Child Care Counsellor

Seven Oaks Residential Treatment Centre, Victoria, B.C.

 

Pre - 1972    Pre-professional employment   

 

Professional Community Activities

Chair,   B. C. Child Care Services Assoc., Beyond Caring Conference 1979, 1980.

Chair,   B. C. C. C. S. Assoc. Education and Training Committee,  1980, 1981.

Chair,   First Canadian National Conference for Child Care Workers, Victoria, 1981.

Conference Organizer, 4th National Canadian Child Care Workers Conference, Montreal, 1984.

Co-chair, 1st International Child and Youth Care Workers Conference, Vancouver, 1986.

Member, Board of Directors, Canadian Child Welfare Association, 1987-1990.

Member, Program Committee, Canadian Child Welfare Association, 1987-1992.

Chair,  The Best of Care: A National Symposium on Residential Care, Ottawa, March 1990, sponsored by Canadian Child Welfare Association.

Member, Planning Committee, 2nd International Child and Youth Care Workers Conference, Washington, D.C., 1991.

Member, National Advisory Committee, Child Abuse Training Project, Winnipeg, 1990-1993.

Member, National Child and Youth Care Conference Committee, Halifax, NS, !996 - 1998

List facilitator, CYC-NET, an international discussion list for child and youth care professionals, 1996 - present.

List facilitator, CYC-NET SUPERVISION, an international discussion list for child and youth care supervisors, 2000 - present.

 

Journal Activities

Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Child Care, Calgary, Alta, 1981 - 1988.

Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Child and Youth Care Work, Wisc., Minn., U.S.A. 1985 -.

Co-Editor, Journal of Child and Youth Care, Nanaimo, BC, 1989 – 2002 (now RCYCP)

Co-editor, Relational Child and Youth Care Practice. Ryerson University, Toronto, Ont., 2003 - present (n.b. This journal replaces the previous JCYC)

Co-founder and Co-editor, CYC-ONLINE, a monthly inter-net electronic journal for child and youth care professionals, 1996 - present.

International Associate Editor.  Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies. Althone, Ireland. 2001 - present.

                                   

Training Activities           

During the past twenty years I have delivered hundreds of workshops, training programs, seminars or talks for professionals in the social service fields. These presentations have been mainly in areas of Child and Youth Care Practice, Supervision, Family Systems Theory and Therapy, Residential Care and Systems Thinking. The major focus has been on professional skills development, conceptual stimulation, values promotion and personal responsibility in practice.  Countries include Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada, USA, New Zealand, South Africa.

 

Major Conference Presentations

Nov.    1984         The Self-esteem Imperative, Keynote address, Inter-Association Child Care Conference, Valley Forge, Penn.

Oct     1985         Words That Have Meaning: Reflections on the Words of Fritz Redl. Opening Address, 1st International Child Care Conference, Vancouver, B.C.

Mar.    1986         New Beginnings: Reflection on Child Care and Child Care Work. Keynote Address, Inaugural Conference, Saskatchewan Child Care Association.

Sept.  1986         Dreams and Visions, Fantasies and Fairytales. Keynote Address, SPACE Annual Conference, San Diego, California.

Nov.    1986         The Magic of Children and Youth.  Plenary Address 5th National Canadian Child Care Workers Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Oct.    1987         Today's Children, Tomorrow's Adults. Keynote Address, South African Child Care  Workers Association, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Nov.    1987         Heart of the Circle, Circle of the Heart. Keynote Address, Oregon Association of Child Care Workers Annual Conference, Salishan, Oregon.

Nov.    1988         Their Future is Now. Annual Peper Harow Foundation Homes for Healing Conference, London, England.

May    1989         The Empowerment of Youth and Staff.  Keynote Address, North Carolina Child Care Workers Association.

Oct     1989         Planning for Their Future. Keynote Address, Canadian Welfare Association Conference, St. John's, Newfoundland.

Feb.    1990         Stop Abusing Our Children.  Keynote Address, Yukon Conference of Canadian Child Welfare Association, Whitehorse.

Oct.    1990         The Next Step.  Keynote Address for 7th Canadian Child and Youth Care Conference.  Moncton, New Brunswick.

May    1991         A Systems Approach to Milieu Treatment. Opening Address, University of Oregon Annual Child and Youth Care Conference.

Sept   1991         Planning For A Better Tomorrow.  Keynote Address, 1st. Nova Scotia Child Care Worker's Association Conference, Halifax.

May    1992         AS-IF: A Systemic Framework for Child and Youth Care Interventions.

                          Canadian Child and Youth Care Worker's Conference, Victoria, B. C.

May    1994         Video Feedback from Consumers.  International Child and Youth Care                                                           conference. Milwaukee, U.S.A.

Sept   1995         The Effective Child and Youth Care Intervention.  Nova Scotia Child and                                          Youth Care Workers Association.  Halifax, Nova Scotia

Oct     1996         A Celebration of Youth Care: Opening address, National Child and Youth Care Conference, Winnipeg, Manitoba

July    1997         Making it Work.  Plenary address. International Foster Care Conference.  Vancouver, B.C.

Nov.    1998         Using Daily Life Events.  University of Victoria Anniversary Conference, Victoria, B.C.

Nov.    1998         Working with Families. Featured Speaker.  Prince Edward Child and Youth Care Workers 1^st Annual Conference.  Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Mar.    1999         Meeting Aggression. Keynote Address.  Nova Scotia Foster Parents Association Annual Meeting.  Halifax Nova Scotia.

July    2000         Stories of Caring.  Keynote Address.  South Africa Child and Youth Care Workers Annual Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Oct.    2000         Shaping the Future.  Plenary Address.  Nova Scotia Child and Youth Care Workers Association, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Oct.    2001         Themes of Practice.  Keynote address.  Oberstown International Conference, Ireland

Oct     2002         Working with families in residential care. Canadian National Child and Youth care Conference.  Newfoundland.

Oct     2002         A Needs-based approach to Intervention Planning. Canadian National Child and Youth care Conference.  Newfoundland.

June   2003         Thirty years of wonder.  Invited guest lecture. Scottish Institute of Residential Child Care annual conference.  Edinburgh, Scotland

Nov     2003         The Process of Becoming in Child and Youth Care.  Resident Managers Association Annual conference.  Ireland.

Sept   2004         Meaning making and residential care: Developing a community of practice.  Carberry, Scotland.

Oct    2004          Responsibility to Youth.  Keynote. Rath na nOg Conference for residential practitioners. Monaghan, Ireland.

July   2005          Celebrating Caring, Courage and Commitment. Keynote Address. South Africa Child and Youth Care Workers Association.  Cape Town, South Africa.

Oct    2005          Taking it All Back Home, A training for trainers conference, Keynote address, Monaghan, Ireland

Feb     2006         Integrating a Youth Care Approach, Developing a Community of Practice, Part II, Carberry, Scotland.

 

 As at March 2007