Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Care

at Sault College - Ste. Marie Campus Canada

Professional Child and Youth Care practitioners (CYCs) specialize in helping children, youth and families improve their lives. As a student, you will receive training in areas such as counselling, addictions, sexuality, recreation, mental health and special needs. Your courses will place a strong emphasis on practice and application, including four levels of supervised field placement in a variety of settings. Unlike many other colleges, we will provide you with field placements that are scheduled alongside your academic courses so you can practice and process what you are learning. Theory and application will be woven together throughout your training so you will have many opportunities to gain hands-on experience and learn from the experiences of others.

This program has a long history of innovation and uniqueness within the Province. The CYC program at Sault College will prepare you to positively affect the lives of children, youth and families throughout your career.

Program Outcomes
A graduate of the Child and Youth Care Program at Sault College will reliably demonstrate 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.

This eight-month program, unique in the province of Ontario, is designed for those who don`t have a business-related background or education, but recognize the importance of having key knowledge of business to enhance job prospects and for advancement in their careers. In only a few months, you will develop the skills in the key areas of management, marketing, accounting, finance, human resource management and other critical business-related functions, while earning a graduate certificate from a recognized post-secondary program. Most other college programs take two years to give you the level of study you will gain at Sault College in less than one. Business knowledge is recognized as a necessary piece of one`s portfolio when actively seeking exciting opportunities in the domestic and global marketplace. In today`s economy, employers seek what this program will provide you: the skills required to solve problems, make decisions, and perform a multitude of tasks, all with a strong foundation of what it takes to lead and succeed.

Do you love making networks work? The Network Architecture and Security Analytics (NASA) program at Sault College is designed to build on your already-amazing computer skills and deepen your knowledge in the design,  operation, analysis and security of enterprise networks.

Become more in-demand as a specialist in information technology and network communications. Though this one-year post-diploma program you will:

• Use the latest technology to become a network architect. Learn about network planning, implementation and maintenance.
• Learn the skills of a cryptographer and how to assess security risks to digital infrastructure and develop security systems to protect sensitive information from hackers.
• Acquire professional and entrepreneurial skills for entry into the industry and self-employment.

The NASA program prepares you to obtain certification from Cisco Systems as a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) security specialist.

Few people have the skills and education needed to address the massive demand in this area across multiple sectors. Because of you, we know one more person who will keep us safe from spammers and identity thieves. Our personal information feels safer already!

The Kitchen Assistant program prepares you for entry level positions within the food service industry. This program is also designed for students wishing to advance to the Culinary Skills Chef Training program, but who may need some academic upgrading. The program includes food theory classes, explores kitchen operations and allows for hands on preparation of a variety of recipes. You will prepare food and practice customer service skills while on your work placement, in the Colleges Gourmet to Go.

The Sault College Mobile Application Design program prepares you for the evolving and in-demand fields of mobile design development and web application development.

As a mobile application designer in the program, you’ll build native applications for mobile devices, cross-platform web applications for all devices and create web and mobile-based solutions using the most current technologies.

Courses are taught by industry experts and cover topic such as:

• Responsive web design
• User experience (UX) design
• User interface (UI) design
• Mobile application design and development
• Cross-platform web applications for all devices
• Business skills

Your path is unique. And we have options for that! The Mobile Application Design Program is a one-year post-diploma program gives you flexibility and strengthens your marketability in the workforce.

Want to contribute to conserving and protecting our natural environment? Are you interested in learning how natural ecosystems function and interact? Do you want a rewarding career carrying out work leading to the sustainability of natural resources?
If you answered yes, this is the program for you. Our team of experienced Natural Environment faculty can teach you the skills you`ll need to gain meaningful employment in the rapidly expanding environmental sector.

Students will study the natural environment and learn to understand how ecosystem components interact together. You`ll be taught how to identify organisms including birds, fish, mammals, insects, fungi, plants and trees. The physical parts of ecosystems are critically important to their function, so emphasis will be placed on understanding the climatic and geological forces that have shaped the land. Courses in forest soils and aquatic resources will provide students with knowledge of these processes.

The focus of this program will be on teaching field skills and techniques which are essential for the inventory, evaluation and monitoring of natural communities. Practical field training will be provided to teach navigating in wild areas using compasses and GPS, and using canoes, motorized boats, ATV`s and snowmobiles for back country transportation. You`ll also learn the latest techniques to monitor and measure natural resources.

The location of Sault College makes it ideal for this program. The rugged natural wilderness of the Algoma Highlands and Lake Superior provide unlimited opportunities for outdoor activity. While classroom lectures and labs provide the theoretical background for the program, much of your time will be spent outside doing hands on applications of what you`ve learned. A critical appreciation of ecosystem function within urban environments will also develop, as students learn of the capacity of the natural environment to solve common urban issues.

Numerous Natural Resource agencies make Sault Ste. Marie their home (e.g., Ontario Forest Research Institute, Great Lakes Forest Research Centre, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Sea Lamprey Control Centre, and Invasive Species Centre). The city is also touted as the renewable energy capital of Canada. With the opportunity to visit a variety of local sites, students learn how natural resources are assessed and utilized to provide clean energy. At the core of these projects are the natural heritage assessments and ongoing monitoring that contribute to long term sustainability. Students will apply a variety of technologies in this important effort to mitigate climate change, yet ensure an energy rich society.

Graduates of this 2 year program are encouraged to continue their studies in the Natural Environment Technologist program though a technician diploma may be awarded after 4 semesters. Students may have the opportunity to be involved in applied research projects. Please see the `Applied Research Centre` section for more information relating to the Sault College Applied Research Centre.

Co-operative Education (Co-op)
Co-operative Education (Co-op) provides opportunities for you to learn beyond your classroom as you integrate relevant work
experiences into your academic studies. Co-op also lets you further develop life and employment skills while earning money.
You can also get a better idea of the career options available to you and build your network of contacts for future employment. Many employers prefer hiring co-op grads because of the applied learning they receive. We will prepare you for your summer work term and employment upon graduation.

Goals of Co-operative Education:

• Provide opportunities for students to learn and apply job search skills.
• Enable students to develop a network of employer contacts.
• Expose students to the realities of the workplace in their chosen field.
• Provide quality work experience where students can apply their knowledge and skills.
• Assist employers by providing well-trained, enthusiastic Co-op students.

Looking for a fun and challenging career in the outdoors? Interested in learning a variety of recreational and wilderness-based skills? This is the program for you.

The natural, rugged wilderness of the Algoma Highlands and Lake Superior region make the Sault area an ideal location for studying parks and Adventure recreation. The area contains several provincial parks and Parks Canada facilities, conservation areas, municipal parks, and outdoor recreational facilities. Included in this list are several Michigan State parks and U. S. National parks and forests, all within a short drive of Sault College.

Unique in Canada, our two-year Adventure Recreation and Parks Technician program offers you a broad background in natural resource management, with quality instruction in three major areas of concentration: Parks, Adventure Recreation, and Travel & Ecotourism. Specialty courses in the parks field include Park Operations, Park Interpretation, and Park Protection.

Adventure recreation training forms the second major component of our program and includes specialty courses in Recreation Planning, Adventure Recreation, and our Second Year Field Camp travel & ecotourism training forms the last major component of our program, and includes specialty courses in Ecotourism, and Adventure Expeditions.

Field trips and hands-on experience form an important part of the program. Students will visit a number of park systems and outdoor recreational facilities in the Lake Superior region. Knowledge of the natural environment will be stressed through acquiring field identification skills in a number of different courses such as Trees and Shrubs, Plant Diversity, Animal Diversity, and Regional Geology. During fall camp, students will be exposed to a number of skill areas in the outdoor recreation field, such as canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, and wilderness camping.

As part of our commitment to providing practical, hands-on training and skills necessary to secure long-term employment, our program offers valuable opportunities to acquire employer recognized certifications where feasible. Many of these certifications are provincially or nationally recognized. Some of the specialized parks-related training which may be outside of class includes Chainsaw Operator Safety and Heritage Interpreter certification. Specialized outdoor recreation-related training may also be offered and may include certification in wilderness survival, kayaking, canoeing, nordic and alpine skiing, snowboarding, rock and ice climbing, and scuba diving. All certifications are subject to specific requirements and where applicable additional fees. Some certification courses are arranged through the School of Continuing Education at an additional cost to the student. Most of these certifications are provincially or nationally recognized.

Students may have the opportunity to be involved in applied research projects. Please see the `Applied Research Centre` section for more information relating to the Sault College Applied Research Centre.

Co-operative Education (Co-op)
Co-operative Education (Co-op) provides opportunities for you to learn beyond your classroom as you integrate relevant work
experiences into your academic studies. Co-op also lets you further develop life and employment skills while earning money.
You can also get a better idea of the career options available to you and build your network of contacts for future employment. Many employers prefer hiring co-op grads because of the applied learning they receive. We will prepare you for your summer work term and employment upon graduation.

Goals of Co-operative Education:

• Provide opportunities for students to learn and apply job search skills.
• Enable students to develop a network of employer contacts.
• Expose students to the realities of the workplace in their chosen field.
• Provide quality work experience where students can apply their knowledge and skills.
• Assist employers by providing well-trained, enthusiastic Co-op students.

The Personal and Developmental Support Services program at Sault College will prepare you for the various challenges and experiences that are part of the expanding health care and community settings.

The faculty and staff at Sault College are ready to assist you in preparation to become a successful graduate in these dynamic environments. The Personal and Developmental Support Services program is based upon various components: the person, health, caring, holistic wellness, respect, inclusivity, and support work. These components will prepare you for the role of assisting clients and families to achieve and maintain an optimal quality of life. To reflect these beliefs, Sault College has developed a holistic and evidence-based program that incorporates the required knowledge, theory, values, and hands on skills to be successful within the various settings in healthcare and the community.

When you have completed the Personal and Developmental Support Services program at Sault College, you will be able to work with clients across the lifespan in settings such as long term care facilities, hospitals, private agencies, retirement homes, home care settings, boards of education (special needs children), palliative care settings, senior citizen recreation centres, respite settings, and group homes. This program will provide you with a lifelong and rewarding career. Some students choose to use it as a foundation to further their learning.

This 40-hour course is intensely focused on safety and will prepare students to assume the role of an entry-level forest fire crew member. Students will be trained to MNRF standards in the maintenance and operation of equipment such as the power pump, and in proper use of suppression hand tools, communications and camping equipment. Students will also learn basic fire behaviours and fire terminology.

Interested students can obtain the certification by enrolling in the Forestry Technician - Conservation program at Sault College. The SP100 certificate is embedded in the forest fire management course, which is offered in the first semester of the program.

Ranked Number One by students in the province!
The Police Foundations program (PFP) has been rated number one in the province for the past three years in a row by students that are highly satisfied with their program of study.

Graduate with two diplomas and a University degree!
By enrolling in this program followed by attending our nearby partner University, Lake Superior State University, you can graduate with both a College diploma and a University degree in three years, or you can graduate with two College diplomas and a University degree in 4 years, saving anywhere from $27,500 to $38,000 in educational costs.

The only program in North America partnered with Crime Stoppers for patrol experience!
Through the College`s close relationship with the police, the crime rate has decreased significantly in the area patrolled, in large part due to our students` presence.Crime Stoppers` new headquarters will be re-located to the new police resource centre on Gore Street. You can apply your learning and gain experience soon after enrolling in our college program.

Successful graduation from either diploma in our Justice Studies program area will exempt students from taking the security guard and private investigator training sanctioned by the ministry.

We are one of only a few colleges with this accreditation.
Small class size! - Our low student to professor ratio provides excellence in education by giving one-on-one attention, teaching and guiding not often found in larger centres.