# data[].attributes.headline
15) How has COVID-19 affected your practice? How have you adapted to those challenges?

# data[].attributes.subject
15) How has COVID-19 affected your practice? How have you adapted to those challenges?

# data[].attributes.body
- She also runs a therapeutic outreach program and it has helped her to be more creative, and become more performative-based.
-She talked about the power of relationships, and how important it is to make connections in any way possible.
- The pandemic has made being connected a bit harder, and it might often feel like you're not hitting home with the client. But despite this, what is important is that you keep reaching and keep trying your best to help your clients.

# data[].attributes.headline
14) What trends do you see in the Child and Youth Care profession?

# data[].attributes.subject
14) What trends do you see in the Child and Youth Care profession?

# data[].attributes.body
- It's about providing in-home supports because people aren’t leaving their homes and not getting back into their social living and communities.
- At this point, strengthening peoples’ awareness around mental health issues that are gonna be leftover from the pandemic is crucial.
- It has become normal for kids to stay at home because of the pandemic, but children need to go out and they need to play and explore. This has definitely caused a change in functioning.

# data[].attributes.headline
13) Describe the benefits and challenges of your current job or the CYC field.

# data[].attributes.subject
13) Describe the benefits and challenges of your current job or the CYC field.

# data[].attributes.body
- Day treatment is an intensive intervention, and it includes doing a lot of hard work at a pivotal time in people's lives. But the great thing is hitting intervention, not just for the student but also for families.
- The lockdown has been really hard on everyone. After coming out of the 2-3 years of lockdowns, you can see there's a huge need because we’ve been apart too long.
- It really highlights the importance of social connections.

# data[].attributes.headline
12) How have internships impacted your career advancement?

# data[].attributes.subject
12) How have internships impacted your career advancement?

# data[].attributes.body
-They were everything.
-Provided the best learning experience and the best exposure to what I did and did not want to do.

Advice: Be clear on what you want to do.
-It's up to you individually to advocate for yourself, your profession, and the people you work with.
-You have power in the room and closest relationship next to family to that youth.
-How can we, in a multidisciplinary team, provide a perspective they don't experience with that young person?

# data[].attributes.headline
11) Describe your first CYC job in more detail.

# data[].attributes.subject
11) Describe your first CYC job in more detail.

# data[].attributes.body
-Providing milieu in group home, being in the day-to-day moments, building relationships and intervening in the moment.
-These were some of Kirsti's toughest years, she "earned her stripes" through experiences.
-Sometimes the best learning is to make mistakes, figuring out what works best and what's the best intervention for you.
-How do you make washing dishes or cooking a meal therapeutic?
-Have to understand the importance of being there and supporting kids when doing chores, walking to the park, etc.
-What are you bringing to the table, what have you learned to make that connection?

# data[].attributes.body
-George Brown 3 year program, 1st practicum at public school, 2nd residential, 3rd suggested being treatment.
-After 3rd practicum, Kirsti was offered part-time at a residential treatment center in a group home.
-Then worked for TDSB as CYW but she wanted more therapeutic work.
-Offered a position with an organization formerly known as Skylark Children, Youth and Families (now called Lumenus Community Services) where individual voluntary counseling occurred in a high school, this position was funded by United Way.
-After 10 years the funding was cut and Kirsti moved into day treatment.

# data[].attributes.headline
9) What is the salary range for CYC’s within the agency? 

# data[].attributes.subject
9) What is the salary range for CYC’s within the agency? 

# data[].attributes.body
Kristi stated that the average starting salary range for a CYC at JFCS was $40k to $50k a year.

# data[].attributes.headline
8) What are the minimum requirements for hiring CYC professionals in your agency?

# data[].attributes.subject
8) What are the minimum requirements for hiring CYC professionals in your agency?

# data[].attributes.body
The minimum requirement for getting a job at JFCS can be a bachelor's degree in child and youth care or any other related field from a college/university. She also mentioned that you didn't have to be Jewish to get a job there.

# data[].attributes.headline
7) Are you a member of the OACYC? Why or why not?

# data[].attributes.subject
7) Are you a member of the OACYC? Why or why not?

# data[].attributes.body
Kristi said she was not a member of OACYC. Though she works as a CYC at JFCS her future plan was to transition from CYC to counselling psychology in the future hence she doesn't feel the need to become an OACYC member.

# data[].attributes.body
College or University;
CYCs at this agency typically hold a BA in Child and Youth Care.

# data[].attributes.body
An example of a day at work:
Each student is working on their own goals, so what the CYC would be looking for is signs where they are not functioning at best, to help at that moment, to intervene in a way that supports them becoming more self-aware and develop more pro-social behaviours.

# data[].attributes.body
It depends; transitional support workers provide classroom coverage and give transitional support of skills they’ve learned and then connect them to neighbourhood supports
In the classroom, they help formulate goals mental health and academic performance and use it in a day to day and in the moment with therapeutic milieu.

# data[].attributes.body
- The clients involved in the day treatment program are typically students in grades 6-8 in the elementary program and students in grades 9-11 in the high school program.
- Clients also include the student's families who participate in family therapy through the program.

# data[].attributes.headline
2) Description of specific program - goals and functions, how does it work?

# data[].attributes.subject
2) Description of specific program - goals and functions, how does it work?

# data[].attributes.body
- Kirsti works in the day treatment program of Jewish Family and Child Services.
- The day treatment program consists of a free-standing home at Yonge and Eglinton, two elementary classrooms, two high school classrooms, and mental health day treatment.
- These programs are for students who might be struggling to attend mainstream schools.
- Children and their families have family therapy with staff, and they also offer support staff who help support students after day treatment is finished.

# data[].attributes.body
- Jewish Family and Child Services is the Jewish equivalent of the Children's Aid Society.
- Many different categories in JFCS, one of them is a day treatment program, this is where Kirsti works.
- There is also a free-standing home at Yonge and Eglinton, as well as two elementary classrooms, two high school classrooms, mental health day treatment for students who are struggling to attend mainstream schools.