CYC Podcast

On this episode of Your Right to Speak we talk with child and youth counsellor Vanessa Lackraj. Vanessa talks about relational approaches and strength-based practice. Throughout the episode, Vanessa stresses the importance of CYCs to be working in the moment, meeting young people where they are at, and recognizing that young people are experts in their own lives. Vanessa also offers advice to new CYCs entering the field and wisdom on how to address boundary challenges with young people.

Let’s raise awareness together!

If you are a child or youth that would like to be on the show or have a topic that you think we should discuss, please email Salvatore and Jenn at [email protected]

In early June 2017, the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care had their conference in Toronto. Over the course of the summer we will be uploading several different presentations and talks from this conference.

We are starting with presentations from Educators Day, which happened the day before the regular conference. Rather than having teachers speaking to teachers, this year we had students and system-involved young people present to educators. We called the day, Learning from the Educated. These two short presentations are Sunbal and Aisha Mohammad. They spoke about being Muslim students, their decision to start wearing a hijab while in the program, and facing white privilege as religious and racialized students.

In early June 2017, the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care had their conference in Toronto. Over the course of the summer we will be uploading several different presentations and talks from this conference.

We are starting with presentations from Educators Day, which happened the day before the regular conference. Rather than having teachers speaking to teachers, this year we had students and system-involved young people present to educators. We called the day, Learning from the Educated. This presentation is from Shyanne Nichols. Shyanne spoke about being a student who started her degree in Child and Youth Care while in the child welfare system, and her experiences transitioning out of care while in the program.

On this episode of your Right to Speak we talk with Child and Youth Counsellor Ian Pereira on the topic of Anti-Oppression. Ian talks about how important it is for people who are developing policy and programs to work through an anti-oppression framework because it recognizes the power and privileges that exist, and allows for more equity. Ian stresses how important it is for individuals who come from privilege and power to feel uncomfortable, reflect, and listen to the lived experiences of various community members.

 

 

Let's raise awareness together.

Sandra Davis is a foster parent whose been loving, caring for, and supporting young women for over 15 years. In this conversation, Sandra discusses the joys and challenges of foster care, where she sees it going in the future, and provides some thoughts for those considering becoming a foster parent.

 

Thank you for listening to our 100th episode! Please feel free to LIKE us on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/CYCPodcast, and subscribe to us on iTunes and Stitcher!

On this episode on your Right to Speak, we continue on the topic of mental health. We talk with Paul Pereira who works in a day treatment substance abuse program for youth. Paul identifies some of the service gaps for young people with mental health challenges; such as, not enough CYCPs in the field and the importance of having services that follow throughout the young person’s life. At the end of the conversation he offers advice to new & future CYCPs, and talks about the most important thing he has learned. 

 

If you are a child or youth that would like to be on the show or have a topic that you think we should discuss, please email Salvatore and Jenn at [email protected]

In this conversation, Patty talks about her son Francis. It is a heartfelt and loving reflection on some of the celebrations, joys, challenges, and learnings she has gone through in her journey with Francis, who was assigned female at birth. There is much to learn from Patty’s wisdom for other parents, service providers, friends, and all those who may come into contact with gender diverse children and youth (which really is all of us).

For Sikh Heritage Month, SAFAR: The Sikh Feminist Research Institute held a workshop at the Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives in Brampton, Ontario where women from various faith backgrounds came together to have a discussion about the threats to religious accommodations of our students, especially our Muslim students. For example, in March, 2017 there was a backlash against Muslim students doing Friday prayers in public schools in Ontario, Canada, specifically in the Peel District School Board in the Greater Toronto Area. While religious rights are undeniably accommodated under the Ontario Human Rights Code the past month was a wakeup call for educators that racism exists in our own backyard. Listen to a recording of this important conversation as different women share what their faith means to them, what teaching tools have worked for them, and how they care for themselves as educators. Many of these points and ideas are directly applicable to any of us who work with young people.

For Sikh Heritage Month, SAFAR: The Sikh Feminist Research Institute held a workshop at the Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives in Brampton, Ontario where women from various faith backgrounds came together to have a discussion about the threats to religious accommodations of our students, especially our Muslim students. For example, in March, 2017 there was a backlash against Muslim students doing Friday prayers in public schools in Ontario, Canada, specifically in the Peel District School Board in the Greater Toronto Area. While religious rights are undeniably accommodated under the Ontario Human Rights Code the past month was a wakeup call for educators that racism exists in our own backyard. Listen to a recording of this important conversation as different women share what their faith means to them, what teaching tools have worked for them, and how they care for themselves as educators. Many of these points and ideas are directly applicable to any of us who work with young people.

This is the first episode in a new series on the topic of mental health On Your Right to Speak. Salvatore and Jenn talk with Katherine who is the program coordinator of the Bachelor Child and Youth Care at Humber College in Toronto and works at St. Joseph’s Health Center as a CYCP in the child and adolescent mental health unit. Katherine discusses the difference between youth and adult services, She then talks about issues around waitlist and services as well as the challenges transitioning from youth to adult services. Near the end of the conversation, Katherine talks about one important thing she has learned and offers advice to new Social Workers and CYCPs on how to best work with youth. 

 

 

If you are a child or youth that would like to be on the show or have a topic that you think we should discuss, please email Salvatore and Jenn at [email protected]