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Emmanuella Kodua
The queer theory be viewed in multiple ways such as desire, identity, and sexuality. Each of these factors are explained by Vachon (2020) as proving opportunities to queer CYC. Firstly, desire is described as an operating function of CYC because it opens possibilities regarding ways of being, being with, and becoming (Vachon, 2020). Instead of beginning with the deconstruction of queering, desire gives CYCs the ability to develop the imaginative “if” in order find ways of practising, teaching, theorizing, and researching about what we and those we work with (LGBTQ clients) desires are. The possibilities of desire allow CYCs to effectively engage and build a rapport with our clients and colleagues.

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From my understanding , after reading the reading , Care permates queerness. It can be seen in the careful ways that sex, identity, desire and love must be traversed in queer life throughout history and to this day in many countries , communities and families ; in the care filled ways that queer people (male, female, trans  & others ) came together to look after one another when HIV/AIDS first ravaged the guy community and as it continues to infect around the world; in the caring ways that communities of queers have formed throughout history when rejected by family , friends , employers and society ; in  the many diverse creative and taboo acts of sexual expression than queering desire gives rice to (although this is certainly not exclusive to lesbain gay or trans people); and in the navigation of homophobic policies practices and people. ( Vachon, 2020)  Queerness requires and radiates care in our desires , sexuality , identity , policies and theory . It is within these five elements of queerness that is centred in the reading relates to CYC practice.  CYC are responsible on ensuring that the programs are supporting all the clients and if they have any questions and concerns we are their to be a positive safe space and non judgement environment and a healthy bond build with the clients and overcome the challenges they may face along the way.

-  Mahlet Yehuwalaeshet

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From the reading, my own experiences with studying Child and Youth Care I would define care as being acts of kindness and attention which involves being present in the moment. Along with statements of affirmation there is action being the words.  The word “care” embodies the intention and purpose of Child and Youth Care Practitioners which is to demonstrate this virtue to the children, youth and families we are working with. As it is stated in the article “It is a way of doing”, “in direct work with children, youth, families and those who support them” (Garfat & Fulcher, 2011, p. 1).

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From the reading, my own experiences with studying Child and Youth Care I would define care as being acts of kindness and attention which involves being present in the moment. Along with statements of affirmation there is action being the words.  The word “care” embodies the intention and purpose of Child and Youth Care Practitioners which is to demonstrate this virtue to the children, youth and families we are working with. As it is stated in the article “It is a way of doing”, “in direct work with children, youth, families and those who support them” (Garfat & Fulcher, 2011, p. 1).

- Gabriela Miller

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Niasha
In the article, it was stated that queer theory includes engaging in an active process that provides contest of scholarships, politics, categories, identity, liberalism, truth, history, and subjectivity (Vachon 2020). It promotes different ways of being, knowing and experience (Vachon 2020). Within the queer theory, acceptability is the ability to view things, people, and ideas in a non bias way. Understanding that one thing can be perceived in many ways by many different people. As CYC’s, it is our duty to understand that inclusion is a very important aspect of a program, advocating venture, counselling session, being successful. Just because one workshop worked for one group does not mean it will work for another group. We must accept that there are differences in this world, and learn them, acknowledge them, and implement them in our work.

Vachon, Wolfgang. “Queering Child And Youth Care.” International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, vol. 11, no. 2, 2020, pp. 61–81., doi:10.18357/ijcyfs112202019519.

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Jada B.

Identity is important to CYC because it sets guidelines, a way to orient practice and a sense of belonging. To know your "self", what you stand for,  how you do things, developing your own methods of helping child and youth is all apart of one's identity. If you can't define your own identity then how do you expect to help a child or youth find theirs? The young people we work with may not care about our titles but to me, it stands for something because we have practiced and practiced to be able to earn the title to be able to help these young people.

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Identity is important to CYC work because it helps define our profession. The population we work with have no idea of what our profession is (Vachon, 2020, p. 74). CYC doesn't carry much weight in the sense unless it is fulfilling some sense of paperwork, insurance, etc. However it does help to create a sense of belonging, orientating practice and provides a body of literature (Vachon, 2020, p.75). A persons identity helps define who they are, it is their qualities, their beliefs and their personalities. This is important in our work because every youth we work with is different and knowing that their identities will never be the same helps us to be understanding and build an open minded relationship with the youth. Being accepting of that identity will also play a crucial role in your relationship with the client.

-Kelli-Ann Duggan

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Identity is relevant to Child and Youth Work because according to Vachon (2020, p. 75) “It creates a sense of belonging and a way of orienting practice, and provides a body of literature and a language to discuss that literature”. This gives their identity purpose and meaning. CYCP’s are able to identify with the role of a Child and Youth Worker and become aware of the responsibilities that come with it. CYCP’s become more willing to perform and provide better care to the children or families they are working with. If there is no sense of identity, CYCP’s will begin to feel out of place, which can lead to them not providing the accurate or proper care to the clients they are working with. Doubts and biases may begin to form in their mindset, making it difficult for them to put the child or families well-being first. Identity is also relevant to Child and Youth Work because it allows CYCP’s to build an open mind and understanding to the children and families they work with. CYCP’s, will be working with both children and families with all different types of ethnic backgrounds, race, gender and sex. In order to properly interact and communicate with them, they need to have an open-mind, be understanding and respectful to each person. Not every cultural background is the same, and not every race, gender or sex share the same experiences. Understanding and accepting everyone’s identity and who they identify as plays a major role in the care and well-being of each client.

-Meghann Bartholomew

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Vachon, 2020) understood care as having innate personal characteristics and the occurring drive. It is important to have this attribute in Cyc because it requires you to get out of comfort zone. It encourages a Cyc to demonstrate and build rapports with their clients. Having this skills allows a person to assist anyone regardless of their cultural and religious background. Demonstrating care will allow client to sense a warmth and weights lifted of for clients who may experience tough situations. It is an important tool that is needed to when working with vulnerable clients who may need to sense that vibration of good energy.

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Identity is relevant to child and youth care work because it defines what it means to be a child and youth care worker. Identity also defines what it means to be who the young person is that the child and youth care worker is working with. The meaning of identity makes people feel like they belong, and allows for child and youth care workers to understand how they approach people with their unique and similar identities in care (Vachon, 2020, p.75). Identity in relation to CYC practice defines what a person can and cannot do, or what makes a person what they are, such as what a CYC can and cannot do, and what about a person makes allows them to be labelled with the identity of a CYC (Vachon, 2020, p.75).

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Care in Child and Youth Care. by Dellah McLean

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Care in Child and Youth Care. by Dellah McLean

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Care is measured in our practice and how we grow and develop in direct work with children, youth and their families (Vachon, 2020).Humanism is important in the work we do as we offer support and guidance that is necessary for child development and functioning (Vachon, 2020). Caring should be viewed as a moral goal where the values in this practice should be understood and an ongoing practice necessary for helping children and youth on a bigger scale (Vachon, 2020). We need to be sensitive and work to meet the needs of children, youth, and, their families.

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Care is measured in our practice and how we grow and develop in direct work with children, youth and their families (Vachon, 2020).Humanism is important in the work we do as we offer support and guidance that is necessary for child development and functioning (Vachon, 2020). Caring should be viewed as a moral goal where the values in this practice should be understood and an ongoing practice necessary for helping children and youth on a bigger scale (Vachon, 2020). We need to be sensitive and work to meet the needs of children, youth, and, their families.

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Identity is relevant to CYC work as it connects to both the practitioner sense of identity and how they work with their clients. As Vachon stated, “CYC identity does matter in that it creates a sense of belonging and a way of orienting practice” (p. 75). With that statement, it is important that a CYC practitioner has a sense of self and has an idea of what it is about their personal identity that they want to bring into their practice – which will ultimately guide and inform how they work within the field. But aside from the personal self, the practitioner must also be aware and be critical of their professional self. This connects to what Vachon says in that “identity risks becoming restrictive, creating hierarchies and being dismissive of alternative ways of thinking” (p. 75). With this, a CYC practitioner should always be critical of how much their professional title is informing their views and beliefs. In Child and Youth work, the role of a CYC practitioner and the requirements of the role will vary depending on the setting. A CYC practitioner must be able to adapt to the role and not try to make the role adapt to what they’re used to or what they “think” a CYC practitioner should be. As well, a CYC practitioner should have the mindset that they are not the experts in their client’s lives, and should work collaboratively with their clients and other professionals and not have the approach that they are the professionals and everyone else is under their directive. Finally, while a CYC practitioner should always bring their teachings and thoughts into their practice, they again cannot get confined to what they were taught but have to be open to listen and learn from others about new approaches to care.

- Sabrina S.

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By Brianna Ramlagan

As stated by Vachon (2020), care is not just specifically what we do, it is also about why and how we do it. Having said this, what care means in child and youth care is working with children and youth not for them, and in their best interests while also be attentive to their wants and needs. The article also states that caring is political, relational and transformative but it is not simply an act, caring is also a quality of character. In my own experience, care requires selfless acts of service towards others and caring is an ethical and genuine practice carried out with hopes of not 'saving' anyone but providing the guidance and tools for children and youth to choose to create change and build resilience for themselves.

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Identity is an essential factor to the CYC practice because it creates a sense of belonging and is noticed as a way of orienting practice. Identity also bodies of literature and languages to discuss that literature. In the practice we must be able to ensure that the children and youth have a stable understanding of their identity understanding their identity, they will further be able to explore and understand their desires and sexuality. Furthermore, when a child understands their sense of identity they are able to understand who they have similarities and differences with. Identity is also a major factor when we think about culture. Through culture children and CYCPs are able to relate to the cultures that resonate the most with them.  Identity is also relevant to the CYC practitioner themselves. A strong identity from the CYCP, lets the child know they are working with someone who is sure of their feelings, to give the proper advice and care needed for the child. 

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Identity is an essential factor to the CYC practice because it creates a sense of belonging and is noticed as a way of orienting practice. Identity also bodies of literature and languages to discuss that literature. In the practice we must be able to ensure that the children and youth have a stable understanding of their identity understanding their identity, they will further be able to explore and understand their desires and sexuality. Furthermore, when a child understands their sense of identity they are able to understand who they have similarities and differences with. Identity is also a major factor when we think about culture. Through culture children and CYCPs are able to relate to the cultures that resonate the most with them.  Identity is also relevant to the CYC practitioner themselves. A strong identity from the CYCP, lets the child know they are working with someone who is sure of their feelings, to give the proper advice and care needed for the child.
(Vachon, 2020)

Kianna V

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Desire is important in child and youth care for multiple reasons. One of the biggest aspects of desire is the unknown, the what if. This is important in terms of child and youth care because there are constantly individuals coming in and out of care, different homes, different care givers and constantly different situations. This is important to understand as a CYCP because it can be unsettling for a child to have to be introduced to new people so often. As CYCP's, we are able to help the adjust with ease when we are able to understand how they are feeling and what their needs are.

-Makayla Smith

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Desire is a very important component of our CYC work because it leads us to the imaginative 'if', and helps us find ways of practising, theorizing, teaching and researching what the person we are working with desires (Vachon, 2020, pg. 74). Once you figure out what it is the child desires and what motivate them, it can not only help this child make progress towards their goals, but it also can lead to them feeling excited, hopeful and happy about their future According to Vachon 2020, pleasure becomes a type of politics when working with people and freely imagining what their future holds.

-Olivia J

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Politics
Politics is relevant in CYC work because it covers the acceptability of the LGBRQI2SA community. In that, members are seen and accepted in areas that might not otherwise be considered a safe space. The acceptance of the rainbow flag, stickers in schools and daycare, and homes and shelters for children and youths will show that political acceptance of all. For children and youths to express themselves openly about their gender, sexuality and identity in a safe space are displaying political relevance. Another critical aspect of politics' relevance has diverse staff where children and youths can see themselves in the person they trust. It will give them a sense of comfort that their voice is heard and respected. As Vachon (2020) noted that, "through a politic of acceptability, care risks becoming contingent upon alignment." Children and youths must know that someone is working for them and is allowed to the same treatment as everyone else.

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Politics is relevant to CYC work because queer politics is something that is productively forced in agenda at conferences. Despite this, there is also a form of discrimination within politics that they experience. As CYC's it is important to be accepting and open minded without letting the media or politics influence our perceptions/ beliefs. It is our responsibility to separate our biases and pre-conceived judgement when we are in the field to ensure we meet the best interest of the child.
(Vachon, 2020)

- Nefisa. M

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Sexuality in CYC.
It is recognized that all people carry multiple identities in their various roles in society, for example, gender, religion, and occupation. Child and youth care practitioners are commonly referred to as child protection services in different parts of the world and how protection relates to sexuality has been a subject of many critiques.
According to Egan & Hawkes, (2009), "conceptualizing childhood sexuality within the discourse of protection creates a framework that pathologizes the sexual subjectivity of children...…and once the sexual consciousness of the child is spurred into expression, it is constructed as dangerous and pathological and thus in need of outside intervention ". However, it is pertinent to acknowledged that the state responds to young peoples' sexuality with sanctions, prohibitions, and pathologizing.

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Andrea Perumal

As CYC'S working with parents and children from many backgrounds, it is essential that we understand why all children need to develop a healthy sense of identity and the particular challenges and difficulties of achieving this when facing families whose structures, languages, national origins and
skin colours are targets of prejudice. As CYC'S we need to realize how early
children begin developing a sense of differences based on race, culture and
language. The process of forming an identity begins at birth, as children
absorb who they are from those around them. A positive sense of identity is crucial to the development of self-esteem and confidence. A
healthy sense of identity also helps children to be more open to people from
other backgrounds because they are less likely to fear differences or put other children down to feel better about themselves. Having a sense of group identity as well as personal identity also helps a child feel a sense of belonging. Group identity is constructed in many different ways. Identity can come from belonging to a community based on religion, political or social values, shared language, ethnicity or national origin.

(Vachon, 2020)

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From my understanding , after reading the reading , Care permates queerness. It can be seen in the careful ways that sex, identity, desire and love must be traversed in queer life throughout history and to this day in many countries , communities and families ; in the care filled ways that queer people (male, female, trans  & others ) came together to look after one another when HIV/AIDS first ravaged the guy community and as it continues to infect around the world; in the caring ways that communities of queers have formed throughout history when rejected by family , friends , employers and society ; in  the many diverse creative and taboo acts of sexual expression than queering desire gives rice to (although this is certainly not exclusive to lesbain gay or trans people); and in the navigation of homophobic policies practices and people. ( Vachon, 2020)  Queerness requires and radiates care in our desires , sexuality , identity , policies and theory . It is within these five elements of queerness that is centred in the reading relates to CYC practice.  CYC are responsible on ensuring that the programs are supporting all the clients and if they have any questions and concerns we are their to be a positive safe space and non judgement environment and a healthy bond build with the clients and overcome the challenges they may face along the way.

-  Mahlet Yehuwalaeshet

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-Neesha Anderson
Care in the field of Child and Youth Care is defined by our actions in our practice, and how we work with the children and families we encounter. Care encompasses our primary focus of growth and development as the functioning of a child is our main concern (Vachon, 2020, p. 69). Care is also seen in the development of therapeutic relationships (Vachon, 2020, p. 69). There are several elements the make up the core of care: bodily comfort, differentiations, rhythmic interactions, predictability, dependability, personalized behavioural training, and care for the care givers (Vachon, 2020, p. 69). In order to provide adequate care, it is important to recognize the differences in individuals and meet them where they’re at. As stated in the article, care is relational and interdependent: the care “giver” is essential to the care “receiver” and by extension the receiver is essential to the giver (Vachon, 2020, p. 70). Care to me, is understanding these individuals are in care for a reason and it is instrumental to our jobs that we figure out why, how we can provide support and help them to be full participants and contributors to society. From personal experience, working in the field, and learning and understanding new theories, I have developed my philosophy of care. As a Child and Youth Care Practicioner, care is being active and present in all relationships. Ensuring the health, welfare and protection of those that we work with. Again, not assuming that someone might have prerequisite knowledge or specific skills but teaching and understanding people in a way that goes beyond what is written in policies and procedures.

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Desire is a crucial component of CYC practice since it opens possibilities regarding ways of being, being with, and becoming (Vachon, 2020, p.74). For example, desire lead toward a politics of pleasure, a different way of considering engagement with colleagues, those CYC’s work with, how they research, and why they do CYC work. Desire motivates CYC’s to develop and find new ways of practicing, teaching, theorizing, and conducting research that reflects what the CYC and those they work with. For instance, desire influences what they would like to achieve, what is fantasized about, and what motives the young person?

-Tawni B.

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(Samantha Sankar)
Sexuality is relevant to Child and Youth Work because as stated in the reading, by "sharing our own sexual experiences, how we learned what gives us sexual pleasure, and techniques or approaches to sexuality are all elements to consider in queering sexuality within CYC" (Vachon, 2020, p.76). In this case, as CYCs when recognizing our own sexuality, we can work better with our clients that have trouble or challenges with their sexuality and provide the correct services or resources to them. It has also stated in the reading that most LGBTQI2SA people use CYC services/resources to support them in reflecting and honouring who they are, such as their gender, identity, sexuality, needs or desires (Vachon, 2020, p. 75). Child and Youth Care Work is a profession that focuses on the care of children and youth and works towards providing children’s' needs and support in order to overcome difficulties in their life. Therefore, sexuality is relevant to Child and Youth Work due to the elements of recognizing and understanding one's sexuality in their point of view and providing services that can help them.

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Andrekia Graham
Queer theory in CYC analyzes, evaluates, designs, or supports programs and services that cater to LGBTQI2SA children and youth, while at times justifying these programs through arguing the benefits for all. (Vachon, 2020, p.65). Therefore, in CYC work the focus is on these individuals, and when programs are designed to advocate and support these youth and children then it shows our acceptability of their differences and their lived experiences. These programs are justifiable because queer people face discrimination from non-queer people and they need strategies to cope. the programs would be beneficial for them as they need the support and a community behind of them. The queer theory also explains that the programs need to be inclusive to all clients. According to Brockenbrough (2013), QOCA is based upon “queer of color epistemologies — or ways of knowing rooted in queer of color political struggles, cultural traditions, and lived experiences — as lenses for knowledge production”. Programs for queer people of color, disabled, female etc; all programs must be suitable and support all. CYCP's have a great responsibility of ensuring that the programs support all clients and if there are any loop holes we should fight against them to ensure all are being supported.

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Tyanna Ballantyne-Evans

Queer theory can be defined as sex, identity, desire, and love that is transversed into queer life. It analyzes the issues that individuals who identify as LGBTQ face in their daily life. According to queer theory, programs and resources must be inclusive to all clients. “queer theory in CYC analyzes, evaluates, designs, or supports programs and services that cater to LGBTQI2SA children and youth, while at times justifying these programs through arguing the benefits for all” (Vachon, 2020, pg.65). As a child and youth care practitioner, it is our responsibility to critically analyze, not only ourselves but the services that we are offering to our clients. We must go against normative beliefs and stereotypes, as well as acknowledge queer POC have a different experience than those who are white.

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Choose one topic (desire, identity, sexuality, theory or politics) and explain how it is relevant to Child and Youth Work.

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Choose one topic (desire, identity, sexuality, theory or politics) and explain how it is relevant to Child and Youth Work.

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From the reading and your own experience, how do you define "care" in Child and Youth Care?

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From the reading and your own experience, how do you define "care" in Child and Youth Care?

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Vachon, W. (2020)

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According to "queer theory" what does acceptability look like in Child and Youth work?

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According to "queer theory" what does acceptability look like in Child and Youth work?