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Ernie Hilton

Location

Fall River, Nova Scotia, Canada

Biography

Ihave been working in this field since 1985. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology I began as a child and youth care worker in a residential setting in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia called Hawthorne House, one of six facilities operated by what is now known as HomeBridge Youth Society. I was shown the ropes by some brilliant Child and Youth Care workers and loved the role. The money on the other hand… well at four dollars an hour, let’s just say I worked a ton of hours. Over the next two years I gained more residential experience working in other HomeBridge facilities.

In 1987 I secured a fulltime job in a provincial youth corrections facility, a jail for adolescent offenders. The money was wonderful at the time, but the role was not a great fit for me, even though there was some good work happening there. In 1989 I went back to HomeBridge as a Child and Youth Care supervisor in a crisis and assessment center known as Brenton House. It was a fabulous experience working with an integrated professional team of psychology, social work and cyc.

In 1996 I had the opportunity to work as the Child and Youth Care supervisor for Nova Scotia’s first safe house (Sullivan House) serving youth who were being sexually exploited. This was troubling work but I loved it. In collaboration with a task force of Royal Canadian Mounted Police and local police, Child and Youth Care workers worked to provide services to young men and women needing a safe place live away from those who were exploiting them.

In 2000, I moved to a more senior position with HomeBridge Youth Society and felt compelled to further my education in the understanding and management of child and youth care work so I enrolled in a program at Nova Southeastern University in Florida where I graduated with a MSc. in Child and Youth Care Administration. I have now been with HomeBridge Youth Society as a Child and Youth Care manager for 27 years. http://www.homebridgeyouth.ca/

How I came to be in this field

I was working in recreation jobs, Boys and Girls Clubs, Parks and Recreation, coordinating after school activities, then decided to quit my full time job and walked into a residential setting, Hawthorne House and asked for a job. I signed some papers, next thing I knew I was fishing with some youth at a lake the next day.

A few thoughts about child and youth care

It is a lifestyle not simply a career.
The benefits of the role extend to every area of your life, it’s our responsibility to enhance them.
A mentor is a must; you won’t get to excellence on your own.
Find time to quiet your mind everyday – it is there the best decisions are found.

Last thing I read, watched, heard, which I would recommend to others

I love this youtube it makes me think of Mark Krueger. For those of you who knew Mark watch this and remember his brilliance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

A favorite Child and Youth Care experience

Each time I witness a Child and Youth Care worker take the professional step to speak to a class of students, their colleagues at a team meeting or present at a workshop or conference it feels good knowing the profession is evolving, through their efforts and perpetuating the competencies that run deep in the field.

A few thoughts for those starting out

Give up fear, hesitations and excuses if you really desire effective practice.
No blame, no resentment.
Read everything you can get your hands on related to the work.
When you get professionally lost know the indicators in advance, and seek out your mentor.
Get a mentor
Find gratitude in every experience and remember to say thank you at the end of every day and when you get up in the morning to three people.
Love them before you act
Find time to invite nature into your week.
Learn how to manage your emotions so they don’t manage you.

Influences on my work

My relationships with everyone and everything, literature, research; literally every interaction has meaning if I choose to find the lesson. Especially cycw’s who never give up on children. You know, the ones who hang in with that unwavering commitment the next day after the difficult night before and come back to work with the same congruent intention to support and challenge; these people inspire me.

Anything else

Yes, I work with a great bunch of employees at HomeBridge, all 140 of them including our amazing Board of Directors!

Last updated October 2016