ou can make a career out of Child and Youth Work! (CYW) Most college aged men don’t think of CYW as a serious career. Usually that’s because of a number of myths and misconceptions about the kind of work that CYW’s do, as well as our salaries and employment opportunities.

n 1984 I started working with under privileged kids at Christie Lake Camp, and it changed my life forever.

I worked for 7 summers at this camp, where I met and worked with many Child and Youth Workers who had graduated from the Child and Youth Worker (CYW) program at Algonquin, or from other colleges, and who spent their summer vacations volunteering at the camp. I talked with these CYW=s about their jobs and their CYW careers and I decided that I wanted to be a CYW.

In September of 1988, I started the CYW program at Algonquin. When my classes started, I was surprised to see only 6 male students in a class of more than 60. Three of these guys were friends of mine from Christie Lake. I wondered where all the other male students were!

By the time I graduated in 1991, there were only 3 male graduates in a class of 26.

gencies from outside Ottawa came to our class before graduation and tried to Arecruit@ all the male students to work in their agencies. They offered us full time jobs, with competitive pay and benefits, right out of college. They explained that there was a Achronic shortage@ of male CYW graduates. I found out that male CYW graduates were few are far between…and highly sought after.

 I had been working part time at the Youth Services Bureau and the Children=s Aid Society as a Child and Youth Counsellor (Their name for a CYW) since 1990, after I had completed a 2^nd year field placement at a CAS Residence. After I graduated in 1991, I worked a full time contract position with the CAS for a year. In November of 1992, just before I got married, I took my fiancée’s  advice and I started working at the Roberts/Smart Centre (That’s where she worked at the time) I landed a full time Youth Worker (Their name for a CYW) job within a month!   My salary back then was $30,000 (Not bad for my first full time job in the field). For the next 10 years, I worked at the RSC in 5 different programs- ranging form Secure Treatment to Therapeutic Camping. I worked as both a night worker and as a front line shift worker. I really enjoyed working with the clients of the RSC- young conduct disordered men and women aged 12-16. The work was not easy, but it was extremely rewarding (and even fun).

By 2002 I was making $44,000. I had 2 kids and a mortgage (in that order) and I was living in a nice home in Orleans.  I ran into some of my college friends who were surprised that I was still “in the field”. I was proud that I had used my college education to the fullest, and had been able to make a career out of CYW.  Later in 2002 The RSC offered me an acting position as a Coordinator (entry level management position) for one of their residential programs. (Managers make $50,000+)  I gladly took on the challenge. In November of 2004 I was made a permanent Coordinator.

Those myths about CYW are wrong, you can make a career out of being a CYW.  My story in not unique. There are hundreds of CYW’s in the city of Ottawa right now, who work in very challenging and rewarding jobs, earn good money, have good benefits, and have a future. Just like lots of other jobs there is a wide range of work experiences and salaries. If you are dedicated and willing to take

 If you have any questions about being a CYW or the Algonquin CYW program, email me below