Do you have a desire to enhance the development and lives of children, youth and families? Then follow your heart to a career that can change someone’s life by enrolling in the two-year Child and Youth Care diploma program. You’ll learn how to enhance the development of children, youth and families, working from a developmental, ecological and strength-based perspective, emphasizing the interaction between persons and their physical, social and cultural environments.You will gain the knowledge, values and skills to promote, support and strengthen the development of children, youth and their families in a variety of settings such as residential treatment, community-based and youth programs, parent education and family support, family preservation and reunification, early intervention and within a variety of school settings.
Through a blend of theory and hands-on experiences, you’ll learn how to reach out to those who are struggling and make a difference in the lives around you. Your theoretical knowledge will come to life during practicum experiences that put you in the middle of this rewarding career before you even graduate.
Apply Now Grab and Go InformationCareer Opportunities
When you graduate, you'll be ready to work with children, youth and families in a wide variety of settings, including:
- Adolescent Psychiatry
- Drop-in Centres
- Family Support
- Foster Care Work
- Group Homes
- Hospitals
- Independent Living Programs
- Recreation & Community Centres
- Residential and Treatment Programs
- Safe Consumption Sites
- Schools
- Women’s Emergency Centres
- Young Offender Centres
Visit ALIS website for more career information.
Student Feature: Melissa Duggan
20 weeks
spent gaining hands-on experience during a meaningful practicum experience
64%
of employers who recruited for child and youth care workers in Alberta in the last two years
1
national accreditation from the Child and Youth Care Educational Accreditation Board of Canada
At-a-Glance
Starts-in
September or January
Credential / Accreditation
Diploma
Duration
2 years
Application Deadlines
Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.
Program Availability
View the program availability for the upcoming intakes.
Academic Centre
Admissions
This program is available for International Students.
New applicants are accepted into the Child and Youth Care program for the Fall (September) term. Students wishing to enroll for the Winter (January) term may take courses in a revised curriculum based on course availability. This admission results in a five term curriculum for the completion of the diploma.
General Admissions Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Lethbridge College programs, as indicated in the Admission section of this calendar.
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded a Child and Youth Care diploma.
Athabasca University
Lethbridge College's Child and Youth Care diploma graduates are eligible to receive up to 60 credits towards the Bachelor of Professional Arts in Human Services major or the Bachelor of Professional Arts in Governance, Law and Management major at Athabasca University. Diploma graduates are awarded up to 30 transfer credits towards year three or four in the Bachelor of Management degree (Major) at Athabasca University. Diploma graduates are awarded up to 30 transfer credits towards the Bachelor of Commerce Post Diploma or the Bachelor of Human Resources/Labour Relations Post Diploma at Athabasca University.
Griffith University, Australia
Graduates of Lethbridge College’s Child and Youth Care diploma program are eligible to transfer credit towards the completion of a Bachelor of Human Services or Bachelor of Child, Youth and Family Practice at Griffith University, in Australia. All students will be provided with an approved course completion pathway at time of offer of admission into a Griffith program. For more information, please visit www.griffith.edu.au/credit
MacEwan University
Graduates of Lethbridge College's Child and Youth Care diploma program with a GPA of 2.7 or higher may be eligible to receive up to 60 credits and entry into the third year of the Bachelor of Child and Youth Care degree at MacEwan University.
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Pre-Placement Requirements
This program has a required Work-Integrated Learning Pre-Placement Requirements (WIL) component. The College dictates the legal terms and conditions governing the WIL.
Students must meet and maintain certain requirements to participate in the WIL setting as determined by programs, practice agencies and/or legislated by government bodies. These may include health (e.g. immunizations, screening tests, etc.), privacy and security (e.g. police information check, IT access, etc.), and OH&S requirements (e.g. CPR certification, Fire Safety, WHMIS, Mask Fit-testing, etc.).
Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) coverage - WIL placement agencies and employers usually require WCB coverage on behalf of the student. Students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Alberta are deemed to be employees of the Province of Alberta and, as such, provided WCB coverage. In certain instances for students outside of Alberta, WCB coverage may not be provided (e.g. non-Alberta residents taking a course solely through distance learning with a WIL placement outside of Alberta). These students are advised to contact the program prior to application.
Students with disabilities who may require accommodations must schedule an appointment with Accessibility Services at Lethbridge College preferably upon acceptance to the program and no later than the Add/Drop deadline to identify potential impacts of their disabilities in the WIL setting. As part of this process, it may be necessary to collaborate with WIL supervisors to determine appropriate accommodations that do not compromise the health and safety of clients, essential placement requirements, or mandatory licensing processes. Failure to consult with Accessibility Services in a timely fashion may compromise the student's WIL placement and opportunities for success in the WIL setting.
In order to participate in a WIL, a student may be required to complete a Police Information Check or other type of Security Clearance to the satisfaction of Lethbridge College and the WIL organization. Completion of a WIL does not guarantee employment with a WIL organization. Many disciplines are provincially or otherwise regulated (e.g. health professions under Alberta's Health Professions Act); such regulation is beyond Lethbridge College's control. Completion of a WIL and graduation from a certain program do not guarantee one's licensure or admission into a regulatory body. Prospective students are encouraged to consult with a representative of the relevant regulatory body if they have concerns.
WIL sites may include Lethbridge, surrounding rural communities, and may extend beyond these boundaries depending on WIL site availability and approvals. WIL’s may include day, evening, and/or weekend schedules. Students will be expected to travel to assigned sites and will be responsible for arranging travel and any associated costs.
Program Practicum Overview
Students will complete 3 practicums during their program which allows them to apply concepts taught in the classroom in CYC practice settings. Each practicum is a block practicum where the student works full time in the practicum site for the duration of the practicum. CYC 1178 is 6 weeks, CYC 2255 is 7 weeks, and CYC 2285 is 7 weeks. Students must complete at least one practicum outside of the Lethbridge area (100 km away from Lethbridge). Students will be required to work a variety of shifts in their practicum sites.
Any questions about practicum can be directed to the Practicum Coordinator: Kathleen Vink kathleen.vink@lethbridgecollege.ca
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Delivery Formats
The Child and Youth Care program is available through the following delivery methods
On Campus
This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge College campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.
Courses
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Year 1 | ||
Term I | ||
CYC-1158 | Communications in CYC Practice | 3 |
CYC-1169 | Observation, Reporting and Assessment | 3 |
CYC-1173 | Foundations and Roles of CYC | 3 |
ENG-1150 | Composition | 3 |
HSP-1151 | Family Systems and Development | 3 |
PSY-1170 | Human Development Across the Lifespan | 3 |
Credits | 18 | |
Term II | ||
CYC-1163 | Behaviour Management | 3 |
CYC-1175 | Therapeutic Interventions | 3 |
CYC-1178 | CYC Clinical Practice I | 3 |
CYC-1180 | Counselling Techniques I | 3 |
CYC-1194 | Activity Leadership | 3 |
PSY-1179 | Adolescent Development | 3 |
Credits | 18 | |
Year 2 | ||
Term I | ||
CYC-2251 | Family Support and Intervention | 3 |
CYC-2255 | CYC Clinical Practice II | 6 |
CYC-2272 | Family Violence | 3 |
CYC-2280 | Counselling Techniques II | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Term II | ||
CYC-2260 | Mental Health/Substance Abuse in CYC | 3 |
CYC-2269 | Case Management and Evaluation | 3 |
CYC-2285 | CYC Clinical Practice III | 6 |
CYC-2253 | Group Process | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Total Credits | 66 |
Tuition and Fees
Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
---|---|---|---|
Year 1
|
$5,219.00
|
$1,526.00
|
$1,500.00
|
Year 2
|
$4,570.00
|
$1,163.00
|
$1,200.00
|
Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
---|---|---|---|
Year 1
|
$16,739.00
|
$1,526.00
|
$1,500.00
|
Year 2
|
$14,627.00
|
$1,163.00
|
$1,200.00
|
Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.
Students will be charged a medical/dental benefit fee unless they opt out by demonstrating alternative coverage prior to the end of the first week of class.
Our Budget Wizard is a free self-service tool that can help you make sense of your finances and the cost of your education. Give it a try!
Contact us
This program belongs to the
Centre for Justice & Human Services
Featured Graduates

Justine Schmidt
"This program has really changed my life. It was everything I wanted in a program and more."

Virginia Ridge
“I could not have been as successful as I was in this program if it weren’t for the amazing instructors. They always provided the support and encouragement needed to push through, especially when I was really stressed out. It didn’t matter if I needed to vent about something at school or something that was going on in my personal life, they were always there.”

Remi Ayilara
“The environment, the culture, the language, the weather – everything is different. But with the help of my instructors here in the college and most especially my classmates too, they make everything easy for me. They were really supportive, really, really supportive.”
Scholarships
With just one online application, you can apply for all the Lethbridge College awards and scholarships for which you qualify, including these featured scholarships: