CAMH’s Child and Youth workers provide therapeutic interventions that promote the growth of valued characteristics, self-esteem, emotional stability and self-efficacy. They possess special skills sets that encompass knowledge of behaviour, emotions, mental health, development, environment and most importantly, therapeutic relationships.

Child and Youth workers offer opportunities to heal, experience positive relationships and feel connected. Working through the client’s reluctance to trust and be cared for, they facilitate an environment where children and youth feel safe and understood. As well, they support parents regarding behaviour management techniques and support.

Child and Youth workers at CAMH are primarily located within the Child, Youth and Family Program with the exception of one, who works in the Dual Diagnosis Day Program.

“Child and Youth workers are also an integral part of interdisciplinary teams,” says MaryLynn Reddon-D’Arcy, CYW Discipline Chief. “For example, we conduct assessments with other program clinicians to help formulate recommendations and plans for treating a client.”

In a given day, staff can be found completing assessments, providing individualized and group treatment for clients, working in the intake department for the CYF program, or parent training, all the while making sure their efforts are in line with evidence-based practices. Mentoring child and youth workers in training from universities and colleges is also a priority.

They are also involved in community-based initiatives like Project CANOE (http://www.canoe.org/)  - a non-profit charitable organization that uses the outdoors, including wilderness canoeing, to create a transformative environment in which young people develop life skills, social competencies, and resiliency, thereby fostering their own personal success.

Child and Youth Workers have a long standing professional association with the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Counsellors, who represent more than 2,000 members and provide a voice to the other 8,000 child and youth workers in the province.