Diploma in Community Worker (Fast-Track)

at George Brown College - St. James Campus Canada

Career Development Practitioner is a three-semester (one-year) graduate certificate program that prepares graduates to enter the career development sector. The program may also appeal to practitioners working in the field who want to gain additional formal training and job coaching experience. The career development sector includes non-profit/community-based, government, post-secondary and private/corporate organizations.

The key objective of the field is to assist clients to be self-sufficient in career exploration, skill acquisition, job search and maintenance. Career Development Practitioners coach and counsel others on:

• Job search
• Career planning
• Career choice and change
• Academic and training advising
• Identifying and meeting staffing needs

Practitioners may work with specialized and diverse groups such as:

• Youth
• Women
• People with disabilities
• Immigrants and refugees

This program has been designed to meet the changing needs of the sector and will help meet demand for trained Career Development Practitioners in the GTA and beyond.

What key skills and knowledge will you gain?

• Emerging trends and techniques in job search and career exploration
• Individual and group facilitation/counselling
• Job development and employer engagement
• Ethics and professional practice
• Career development theory
• Diversity, accessibility, equity and inclusion
• Use of technology and social media
• Career and employment information resources
• Employment legislation and programs

Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Apply evidence-­based career development practices in advising diverse client groups.
• Utilize self­-reflective and critical thinking skills to enhance counselling, teaching and learning strategies with groups and individuals.
• Develop a commitment to ongoing professional development to actively respond to changing labour market and professional requirements.
• Integrate appropriate career information resources and tools with career and employment strategies to enable clients to meet their employment goals.
• Perform needs assessments and develop subsequent interventions using techniques and skills that enable diverse ranges of clients to meet employment goals.
• Design consulting, advising and teaching strategies that incorporate trends and issues of the changing labour market to assist clients in job search and career transitions.
• Integrate emergent technologies into the full spectrum of Career Development processes and applications to maximize service delivery to clients navigating changing labour market requirements.
• Adhere to relevant legislation and social policy to plan programs, interventions and referrals for client groups.
• Use current work search tools and strategies to facilitate successful client job search.

If you want to work as a baker or pastry chef, this is where you start. This one-year certificate program will help you launch a career in baking and pastry arts. You’ll learn all the basics of pastry, cakes and decorating through hands-on training and classroom learning. You’ll also gain specialized knowledge in areas such as artisanal breads, chocolate techniques and fermentation, as well as menu management and nutrition.

PROGRAM STANDARDS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Identify the workings and the effects of ingredients on one another and predict how the end product will be affected.
• Perform problem-solving and troubleshoot recipes.
• Perform basic techniques involved in the daily production of a bakery or pastry shop.
• Recognize and produce both classical and modern baked goods.
• Apply food safety principles and practices as identified by the local health unit.
• Apply basic mathematical principles and recipe conversions, bakery formulations and percentages.
• Practice skills used in the daily operation of a bakery, including cost controls, food cost, percentages, labour cost and inventory controls.

George Brown College's Child and Youth Care program combines best practice principles and a relational approach that is anchored in the values of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Care Code of Ethics.

Students learn to engage purposefully and effectively with children, adolescents and families who struggle with emotional, behavioural and developmental challenges that impair their abilities to relate to others.

Specific focus is on recognizing the impact of mental health challenges on children and youth.

Students learn to translate theory into practice to move youth from potential risk to resilience.

Your Field Education Options
Field placement plays an important role in the Child and Youth Care program.

The first year provides students with an opportunity to develop a solid foundation of skills to build upon. The subsequent academic courses come to life in a wide range of supervised field placements in the second and third years of the program.

Second-year students can expect to be in placement two days a week and third-year students can expect to be in placement three days a week over 28 weeks (includes both the Fall and Winter Semester).

These placements may take place in professional settings such as:

• residential care
• hospitals
• shelters
• schools
• community outreach programs
• day treatment

Program Learning Outcomes

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Develop and maintain relationships with children, youth and their families applying principles of relational practice and respecting their unique life space, cultural and human diversity.
  • Assess and respond to the strengths and needs of children and youth, including complex responses impacted by developmental, environmental, physical, emotional, social and mental health challenges in order to promote positive change.
  • Analyze and evaluate the impact of the inter-relationship among family, social service, justice and community systems on children, youth and their families and use this information in the planning of holistic care and in the reduction of systemic barriers.
  • Plan, implement and evaluate interventions using evidence?informed practices in the areas of therapeutic milieu and programming, and group work to promote resiliency and to enhance development in children, youth and their families.
  • Advocate for the rights of children, youth and their families and maintain an anti-oppression perspective and cultural competence in diverse cultural contexts.
  • Apply communication, teamwork and organizational skills within the interprofessional team and with community partners to enhance the quality of service in child and youth care practice.
  • Develop and implement self-care strategies using self-inquiry and reflection processes to promote self-awareness and to enhance practice as a child and youth care practitioner.
  • Use evidence-based research, professional development resources and supervision models to support professional growth and lifelong learning.

Students in the Business Administration – Project Management advanced diploma program will be prepared to manage project scope and change, project control, project staffing and risk management, provide motivation and goal setting, utilize project management tools and perform other functions in careers that incorporate project management or in stand-alone project manager positions. Graduates of this program will have demonstrated their knowledge, skills and abilities related to business in general and project management in particular.

This learning experience will enable graduates to demonstrate:

• Analysis of the impact of an organization's project management initiatives on its human resources, management, financial and business strategies, policies and practices
• Implementation of a project plan including making trade-offs among competing objectives and taking timely action to deal with problems and opportunities
• Application of accounting and financial knowledge to the management of projects
• Allocation of human resources required to manage project tasks using leadership and teamwork skills
• Working with teams and stakeholders effectively and in a professional manner, respecting differences

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Evaluate the impact of global issues on an organization’s business opportunities by using an environmental scan.
  • Apply principles of corporate sustainability, corporate social responsibility and ethics to support an organization’s business initiatives.
  • Assess and use current concepts/systems and technologies to support an organization's business initiatives.
  • Conduct and present research to support business decision making.
  • Plan, implement and evaluate projects by applying project management principles.
  • Perform work in compliance with relevant statutes, regulations and business practices.
  • Apply human resource practices to support management objectives and the organization’s goals.
  • Use accounting and financial principles to support the management and operations of an organization.
  • Assess marketing and sales concepts and strategies and apply them to the needs of an organization.
  • Outline principles of supply chain management and operations management and assess their impact on the operations of an organization.
  • Participate in the development of a business plan.
  • Develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance in the business field.
  • Outline strategies used to manage risks in an organization's business activities.

Social Service Worker (Accelerated) is an innovative one-year program (three semesters) designed to guide you in developing the knowledge, values and skills to work directly with a wide range of people in need.

This program stream is available to college and university graduates with a diploma or degree related to the field of social or community work. In this program, you’ll learn to identify and act upon the systemic barriers that can impede access to social and economic justice in today’s society.

Students will examine the expanding professional roles and responsibilities of social service workers in large urban centres and within a rapidly changing society.

In addition to the theoretical models, methods and skills of social service work practice, you will learn about:

• Group facilitation
• Allyship and anti-oppressive practice
• Counselling skills
• Social change and proposal development
• Social innovation
• Mental health
• Substance use and addiction

Many of the Social Service Worker faculty have professional experience with:

• Marginalized communities
• Institutional health and social service organizations
• Federal, provincial and municipal governments
• Research and initiatives in social innovation
• A range of not-for-profit organizations and agencies
• Direct practice with individuals, families, groups and communities

Community Worker (Fast-Track) is a dynamic social justice program grounded in the principles of and respect for human rights and anti-oppression practice. Students are prepared to work with largely urban-centred, diverse communities across a range of issues (i.e. poverty, housing, food-justice, immigration and settlement, etc.) in ways that are responsive to their multiple and changing needs.

If you are passionate about human rights and social justice, committed to working with diverse communities, bring a mature and professional approach to your education and field work, and are prepared to take on a course load of 20+ hours per week, this program is for you.

What can you expect from the Community Worker (Fast-Track) program?

• The three-semester Community Worker (Fast-Track) program combines classroom instruction with supervised field placements. Theory, analysis and practice are presented through a variety of innovative instructional tools developed from popular education and learner-centred approaches to teaching and learning.
• Highly participatory classes of dialogue, debate, activities, interactive lectures, guest speakers and panels, and group work provide students with a program of study that is current, exciting and critically engaging.

What key skills will you learn?
Throughout the program, students will have the opportunity to develop a variety of important and high-demand skills, including:

• Anti-oppressive and intercultural practice in working with diverse populations (including youth, immigrant communities, Indigenous populations)
• Critical analysis, research and writing
• Group facilitation and leadership
• Individual and group counselling
• Conflict mediation and restorative justice
• Community organizing, activism and advocacy
• Community development, project design and proposal writing
• Policy analysis and rights-based advocacy

Features of the Community Worker program include:

• Strong ties with over 350 agencies across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
• Founder and lead organizer of the annual Tommy Douglas Institute that brings communities, students, educators and activists together to explore higher education and social justice in the 21st century.
• The full-time Community Worker (C101) program has been graduating community workers for more than 40 years.

Program courses are organized into four core areas:

• Community work theory and practice
• Social and political analysis
• Group skills and counselling
• Field placement and seminar

Not only will you develop relationships with our community partners through field placements, you will also meet with sector professionals in your classrooms at networking events, guest panels and program electives taught by agencies and practitioners currently working in the field (i.e. Community Legal Issues, Urban Aboriginal Peoples’ Perspectives in Community Development, Housing and Homelessness).

Who are the Community Worker (Fast-Track) faculty?
The experienced educators that make up our faculty bring their passion for education and change to create a highly engaging and dynamic learning environment. Coming from backgrounds in local, national and global activism, they remain active on social issues and maintain close ties to communities, activists and organizations.

What kind of students enrol in the Community Worker (Fast-Track) program?
Graduates from other degrees and diploma programs interested in learning more about social justice and community development enrol in this program. Our students are a diverse group of students with broad social and community experiences.

Program Learning Outcomes

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Establish constructive relationships with individuals concerned with community work.
  • Describe their personal values and motivation as a community worker.
  • Serve in a variety of grassroots community organizations especially in the areas of co-operatives, seniors and community legal services.
  • Be comfortable in community work roles ranging from direct service to classical advocacy and organizing.
  • Understand and articulate the special needs of multicultural groups.
  • Analyze social inequalities and demonstrate creativity in the organization of new services and institutions to meet community needs.
  • Work with groups to identify their own needs.
  • Access existing services and community resources.

The Video Design & Production program will prepare future professionals with the skills required in this emerging field by merging traditional filmmaking techniques with new mediums and distributive methodologies. Graduates will be armed with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills that will enable them to decide which path (employment or self-employment) is best for them. Students will be exposed to elements of both video design and video production including photography, immersive environments and auteurship, as well as the necessary video editing and post-production skills to create video for entertainment, marketing, advertising, education and social network strategies.

PROGRAM STANDARDS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Create independent digital film projects according to project specifications using various production techniques.
  • Work effectively as a member of a digital film production team in various capacities and roles.
  • Manage scheduling and budget for digital film productions.
  • Capture quality moving images using appropriate camera/lighting equipment and techniques.
  • Develop a short film and television portfolio to showcase digital filmmaking skills.
  • Write story-driven, visual and cinematic scripts focused on effective dialogue, structure and character development.
  • Record and mix multi-track sound in a digital format using industry standard equipment and software.
  • Market and distribute digital film projects using industry and new media outlets.
  • Edit digital video on non-linear, industry standard software and equipment.

Our Hospitality – Hotel Operations Management program exposes you to current and best practices in:

• Front office
• Food and beverage
• Marketing and sales
• Conferences and catering

You will receive industry certification in food safety, responsible alcohol beverage service and first aid (CPR).
As part of your fourth semester, you will complete a 14-week industry externship. George Brown College works with employers and industry partners to identify potential work experience opportunities. Students are also strongly encouraged to pursue self-directed industry work experience opportunities that they believe would provide the learning experiences they value, and that meet the learning outcomes of the program. This opportunity will enhance your knowledge with real-world experience and help you start building your network of industry contacts. In addition, you will participate in a hotel operations management simulation as part of your final capstone project, which will allow you to apply your newly acquired skills and learning.

To better hone your international hotel management skills you have the option of participating in an exclusive European Study Tour visiting some of the top hotels in Europe.

Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate demonstrates the ability to:

• Support an industry and workplace service culture by adopting a positive attitude and professional decorum, accommodating diverse and special needs and contributing as a team member.
• Deliver customer service and solutions that anticipate, meet and/or exceed individual expectations, as well as organizational expectations, standards and objectives.
• Use marketing concepts, market research, social networks, sales and revenue management strategies, relationship management skills and product knowledge to promote and sell hospitality services, products and guest experiences.
• Apply business and revenue models as well as basic accounting, budgeting, financial and administration skills to support the effective management and operation of a variety of organizations delivering hospitality services and products.
• Comply with relevant organization and workplace systems, processes, policies, standards, legal obligations and regulations, and apply risk management principles, to support and maintain efficient, safe, secure, accessible and healthy hospitality operations.
• Use appropriate technologies to enhance the quality and delivery of hospitality services, products and guest experiences and to measure the effectiveness of hospitality operations.
• Keep current with hospitality trends and issues, and interdependent relationships in the broader tourism industry sectors to improve work performance and guide career development.
• Use leadership, teamwork, conflict and relationship management skills and tools, as well as knowledge of organizational behaviour, labour relations, employment standards and human rights to contribute to a positive work environment.
• Respond to issues and dilemmas arising in the delivery of hospitality services, products and guest experiences by using and promoting ethical behaviour and best practices of corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability.

The Deafblind & Intervenor Studies program is a one-year certificate that will prepare you to work with individuals who have a combined vision and hearing loss. Significant components of this program are delivered online. This program is open to both Deaf and non-Deaf students.

Preparing students to be the eyes and ears for people who are Deafblind
Do you have a passion for helping others? Want to work in a dynamic and evolving sector? Are you creative and a good communicator? If you want to make a difference, consider becoming an intervenor and work with people who are Deafblind.

This one-year Ontario college certificate will prepare you to work with individuals who have a combined vision and hearing loss. You will learn various communication methods to support individuals with deafblindness in accessing information and interacting more fully with their environment.

Most courses are delivered online with some in-person content (semester 1 is delivered fully online; the first seven week of semester 2 are taught in-person and the second seven weeks are taught online).

What you will learn

• How to work with Deafblind children and adults – many of whom are often medically fragile.
• American Sign Language (ASL) – a visual language that is adapted to accommodate for the vision loss of those with this dual sensory loss.
• Professionalism, values and ethics, health and aging.
• How to interact with members of the Deafblind community both virtually and in-person. For those attending from outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), interactive sessions will be arranged in your community.
• You will get hands-on experience through field practice. This may be completed across Canada in your community through George Brown College partnerships.

Theatre Arts – Preparation is a dynamic one-year program, specifically designed for students to obtain the basic skills required to compete for a place in professional theatre schools.

This exciting program develops knowledge and skills in the performance, business and production aspects of the performing arts, helping you to clarify future education and career objectives. Blending theory and practical skills, this program will help you develop the confidence, creativity and fundamental acting skills for this growing industry.

Courses will be taught by artists and teachers from the performing arts professions. You will have ample opportunity to meet Canadian artists, directors, designers, writers and technicians.

Program Learning Outcomes

• The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
  • Employ improvisational skills for problem-solving and character development.
  • Analyze different styles and genres of performance.
  • Develop a career and professional development plan to enhance work performance and maintain currency with industry.
  • Identify career opportunities in the performing arts industry, including opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurial arts work therein.
  • Work collaboratively to prepare and present an interdisciplinary performance.
  • Interact in a professional manner appropriate to the performing arts industry.