June 1 2015
The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta
#202 (B), 6715-76 Ave
Edmonton AB T6B 0A9
Ph: 780-448-7254 Fax: 780-448-9159
Honorable Fred Horne
Minister of Health
Legislature Office
208 Legislature Building
10800 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
Canada T5K 2B6
Phone: (780) 427-3665
Fax: (780) 415-0961
Dear Honorable Mr. Horne,
The information in this application has been updated to accommodate the changes implemented
at Mount Royal University. Mount Royal University has suspended applications for the diploma
program but will continue to offer a Bachelor of Child Studies degree program please accept this
revised application.
On behalf of Child and Youth Care Counsellors employed in Alberta, the Child and Youth Care
Association of Alberta, is submitting this application requesting that the Health Professions Act
be amended to include the occupation of the Child and Youth Care Counsellor as a regulated
profession.
Child and Youth Care Counsellors provide direct services to children, youth and families who
are at risk. A population which has had numerous incidences of reported abuse and is constantly
at risk of being further traumatized, if not provided with professional interventions. The services
that are provided by an educated Child and Youth Care Counsellor offer additional protection to
the public, due to fact that the treatment of abused children and youth has made significant gains.
One of the results of being abused is that a child can act out violently. In the past year, two Child
and Youth Care Counsellors have been killed in the line of duty in this province. In order to
intervene successfully with this population, the most skilled workers need to be identified and
regulated.
There is a lack of means to investigate formal complaints, administer correction or discipline for
those who engage in incompetent, unethical, or impaired practice, which places the public at
considerable risk. Since membership in the Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta is
voluntary, there is a lack of ability to enforce protective standards pertaining to qualifications,
continuing competencies or requirements for practicing in this field.
The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta is asking that Alberta take a leadership role
and be the first in the world to protect this vulnerable population- by legislating the field of Child
and Youth Care.
Respectfully Yours,
Making Alberta Safer for All Albertans,
President: Carmen Roberts-Kowalchuk
Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta
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INTRODUCTION:
To ensure that the public’s best interests are protected, the Child and Youth Care Association of
Alberta contend that the occupation of a Child and Youth Care Counsellor should be regulated,
under the Health Professions Act of Alberta. Due to the fact that membership in Child and Youth
Care Association of Alberta is voluntary, there is no means to regulate: the
educational/continuing competency standards and requirements for practicing in this field. If a
person practicing in this field is not a voluntary member of the Association, there is no means to
investigate formal complaints or administer correction or discipline for those who engage in
incompetent, unethical, or impaired practice which places the public and consumer at
considerable risk.
HISTORY OF THE FIELD OF CHILD AND YOUTH CARE:
The field of Child and Youth Care began with the Child Savers of Alberta at the turn of the 20th
century. The Child Savers were volunteers whom wanted to help homeless children. During the
1930s economic times left the care of orphaned and abandoned children to religious groups.
During the 1940’s and 50’s, group care and correctional facilities were developed in Alberta.
This signaled the beginnings of Child and Youth Care as a paid career. The skills required by
these positions grew to such an extent that formal education was required.
In 1970 Grant MacEwan College offered the first post secondary education program for Child
and Youth Care called the “Youth Development Program”. Now there are five Universities and
Colleges in Alberta that offer degree, or diploma programs for this field of practice. The body of
knowledge for a Child and Youth Care Counsellor includes the concepts created by authors Fritz
Redl, David Wineman, James K. Whittaker, Albert E Treischman, Larry K. Brendtro, Bruno
Bettleheim, B.F. Skinner and Carl Rogers who provided the foundation for therapeutic practice.
In 1971 the Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta was established. In the 1970s a study
was conducted by the Department of Social Services and Community Health to identify the
knowledge and skills required performing the duties of a Child and Youth Care Counsellor.
Through this study a training curriculum and an effective method to assess individual
competencies was developed and called the Certification Program. In 1979 the first Child and
Youth Care Counsellor was certified in Alberta. The Certification Program was available to
employees of the Department of Social Services and Community Health. Interest grew from the
private sector in gaining access to this program for their employees. In 1983 the Alberta
Association for Services for Child and Family (now known as ALIGN Association of
Community Service) submitted a proposal to the department requesting that the certification
program be available to all Child and Youth Care Counsellors working in Alberta. In 1985
access to the certification program was granted and transferred to the Child and Youth Care
Association of Alberta. In 1989 a Certification Board was created and in 1994 this Board was
given control over all revenues created by administering this program. In 2014 the Certification
Board became a standing committee of the association. Over the years the practice of Child and
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Youth Care has made significant developments. The knowledge base, competencies and
certification information has been regularly updated to reflect the new advancements in the field.
There are two processes to become recognized as a Fully Certified Child and Youth Care
Counsellor. 1. A person must have a degree or diploma in Child and Youth Care or have
completed 2 years of study in the Bachelor of Child Studies Program from Mount Royal
University with a letter of endorsement (this two year program was previously recognized as a
Child and Youth Care Diploma Program until 2014) Candidates with a degree or diploma in
child and youth care will be exempt from the exam process but not the endorsement and
internship requirements. 2. The second process is for candidates who do not have a degree or
diploma in child and youth care. The candidate must complete a 3 hour written and a 3 hour oral
exam. The exams demonstrate their knowledge of theory and practice of Child and Youth Care
and the integration of such into practice. All certification candidates must complete 2080 hours
of internship, and be endorsed by their Agency. This process allows agencies to hire staff from a
variety of backgrounds and leaves the agencies in control of the endorsement of certification.
In 2012, The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta received a grant from the Alberta
Government to develop an on-line education system. There are 3 levels of education. Level 1
focuses on providing practical skills and knowledge required by Child and Youth Care
Counsellors. Level 2 provides the necessary information to assist with passing the written and
oral exams of certification. Level 3 is for certified Child and Youth Care Counsellors which
provides specialized and current knowledge. The online system ensures accessibility regardless
of location.
The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta applied for legislation under the Health
Profession’s Act in 1990. This application was denied due to Child and Youth Care not being
perceived as a health profession. However, in the past 34 years the field of Child and Youth Care
has shown considerable progress. As part of this field, Child and Youth Care Counsellors are
employed by Alberta Health Services, and our scope of practice does include restrictive
procedures identified under the Government Organization’s Act. For example, Child and Youth
Care Counsellors do administer and have a basic understanding of psychotropic medications and
medications classified as narcotics. Child and Youth Care Counsellors do provide services and
interventions to clients classified under persons with disabilities, disorders and mental health
issues.
GUIDELINES – BECOMING A REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSION:
A) Ascertain what constitutes the practice of the profession, whether
person’s practicing the profession should be authorized to provide restricted
activities and the conditions, if any, that should apply to the practice of the
profession or the provision of restricted activities.
The profession of Child and Youth Care has been in existence since the 1940s, and has had an
Association in Alberta since 1971.
The client base is children, youth and families who are identified as ‘at risk/vulnerable’ by a
variety of allied professionals, in social service settings, mental health programs, schools and
communities. Typically, Child and Youth Care Counsellors work with children from five years
of age to 18 years. However, when youth are in transition to adulthood the Child and Youth Care
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Counsellor will potentially maintain their services until a youth reaches the age of 21 and
sometimes up to 24 years of age, depending on the service agreement and the agency’s policies.
The profession is orientated to provide mental, physical, emotional, and social health, and
wellbeing, for children, youth and their families. The Child and Youth Care Counsellor is an
aligned profession working in tandem with the Health Service industry and other identified
professions under the Health Professions Act.
The health services provided by Child and Youth Care Counsellors are, but not limited to:
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To protect, promote or maintain health, to prevent illness, treat or rehabilitate them to
take care of the health needs of the ill, disabled and injured clients under the direction of
medical personnel whom are not always present.
Recognition of developmental issues.
Teaching life and social skills.
An eclectic approach to complex mental, behavioral, and emotional health utilizing
therapies and interventions such as:
o Behavior Management
o Milieu Therapy
o Response Ability Pathways
o Trauma Based Therapy
o Solution Focus Therapy
o Collaborative Problem Solving Approach
Complete suicide, self harm and aggression risk assessments and intervene accordingly
knowing the profession’s limitations, and when appropriate make necessary referrals.
Recognition of mental health concerns and refers when appropriate.
Knowledge and providing appropriate intervention for DSMV diagnosed mental health
issues.
Administering of prescribed medication(s), accounting for narcotics, and the
administration of over the counter medications, when required.
Understanding medical diseases and or conditions and following medical direction for
interventions.
Role modeling appropriate interventions and therapies.
Administration of basic first aid, such as sliver removal and cleaning of wounds, taking
care of nosebleeds, contusions, cuts, allergic reactions and the like.
Assisting and teaching clients with activities of daily living such as washing, teeth
brushing, basic self care, and how to identify something unusual such as a rash or lice.
Child and Youth Care Counsellors provide psycho-social interventions as the main method of
creating change, with most work occurring in the living environment of the child, youth and
family. Psycho–Social interventions are administered through therapeutic interventions.
Therapeutic interventions are required due to the dysfunctions, traumas, abuses, neglect, and or
mental health related issues, the clientele experience.
The Government of Alberta, Government Organization Act provides the standards and directions
for those practicing particular activities related to health services. Typically the activities the
Child and Youth Care Counsellor provides fall under Schedule 7 of this act and include:
Schedule 7.1
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Definitions
1 In this Schedule
(a)
“activities of daily living” means an activity that individuals normally
perform on their own behalf to maintain their health and well-being and
include
(i)
routine and invasive self–care activities, including but not
restricted to the removal of slivers and cleaning of wound,
and
(a.1)
“administration of drug” means the supplying of a dose of a drug to a
person for the purpose of immediate ingestion, application, inhalation,
insertion, instillation or injection;
(e)
“health services” means a service provided to people
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(p)
to protect, promote or maintain health,
to prevent illness,
to diagnose, treat or rehabilitate them, or
to take care of the health needs of the ill, disabled injured
or dying;
to perform a psychosocial intervention with the exception of treating
substantial disorders of thought, mood, perception, orientation or memory
that grossly impair
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
judgment,
behavior,
capacity to recognize reality, or
ability to meet the ordinary demands of life
B) Evaluate the risk to the physical and psychological health and safety of the
public from incompetent, unethical, or impaired practice of the profession.
Incompetent, unethical or impaired practices increase the potential for serious acts of criminal
violence. Malpractice has resulted in, much publicized, abuse/trauma of the public and clients. A
portion of the client population are classified as a danger to themselves/others due to
suicidal/homicidal tendencies. This would indicate the potential for serious consequences if
professional interventions are not received. Educational standards and an enforceable code of
ethics are essential to provide the treatment and effective services required by the clients.
Quality standards will protect the general public through the delivery of knowledgeable
treatment interventions to the clients and their families. Leaving the care and treatment to
uneducated care givers has resulted in further trauma and abuse of this vulnerable population.
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When evaluating the risk it is important to note that Child and Youth Care Counsellors are
predominantly supervised by other Child and Youth Care Counsellors. So if the supervisor is
uneducated then effective interventions will not be modeled, taught or administered.
There is not only a potential for significant or negative consequences to an individual consumer’s
physical health, but there are documented cases where individual consumer’s have died, been
assaulted, abused or further traumatized.
Incompetent and unethical services provided by a non-regulated Child and Youth Care
Counsellor can impair or lessen the quality, strength, or effectiveness of the required services.
This then results in the deterioration, persistence or increase of original issues, leading to
continued or greater personal suffering for the client, family and the community. This can also
lead to new, more, or longer periods of reliance on, services being required. The extra services
bring a significant increased financial strain on the family, community and province of Alberta.
C) Evaluate and make recommendations on the services normally provided
by a person practicing the profession, including the complexity of the services
and how they are carried out.
Child and Youth Care Counsellors provide health services by working with individual clients or
with a group of clients either independently or as a member of a team.
Child and Youth Care Counsellors practice in a wide range of settings such as schools, hospitals,
group homes, residential treatment centers, drug rehabilitation centres, juvenile correctional
institutions, home-based care, community resource centres, sexual assault centres, and drop in
centers.
In evaluating the services of the Child and Youth Care field, the Child and Youth Care
Counsellor has, as their primary concern, the mental, emotional health and wellbeing of their
clientele.
This field does assess behaviors (such as various risk assessments), but does not provide
diagnosis of behavior, emotional and psychological disorders. The Child and Youth Care
Counsellor will support the work of other professionals, such as psychologists, who may make
recommendations for the implementation of a particular service plan.
A number of interventions and modalities are integral to Child and Youth Care Counsellor
practice. These include but are not limited to:
 relational therapeutic child and youth care practice;
 maintenance of a therapeutic environment/milieu;
 life space intervention;
 therapeutic crisis intervention;
 suicide intervention;
 developmental perspective;
 non-abusive physical restraint;
 resilience and developmental asset approach
 systems approach;
 family intervention
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solution focus intervention
trauma based therapy
response ability pathways interventions
collaborative problem-solving approach
Clients are referred from a variety of sources. Referrals for services to Child and Youth Care
Counsellors can be made from, but not limited to: social workers, psychologists, the school
system, police, youth justice system, medical professionals and the community at large.
Within a system of care, interdisciplinary referrals are part of the on-going practice. An example
of an interdisciplinary referral would be a teacher who may refer a student to a social worker
who then may refer a client to a Child and Youth Care Counsellor. Child and Youth Care
Counsellors also refer clients to other services in the community such as psychologists,
recreational programs, and educational supports. After a client or family is referred for services
the work of the interventions will be carried out by the Child and Youth Care Counsellor.
Child and Youth Care Counsellors frequently request and advocate for the clients they serve to
be referred to other health professionals when appropriate or required, but do not make
professional referrals as a whole. A Child and Youth Care Counsellor does make appointments
for their clients to see other professionals such as but not limited to: psychologists, doctors,
dentists, psychiatrists, social workers, therapists, and other health care professionals when
appropriate.
It is recommended that due to the complex knowledge required by this field, it is imperative that
Child and Youth Care Counsellors become legislated, to promote health, life skills, support
growth and development, as well as, to protect the clients and public from further harm.
It is recommended that the Child and Youth Care field become regulated due to the fact that
specific knowledge is required to carry out therapeutic services.
Child and Youth Care Counsellors are often alone with the clients, are supervised by other Child
and Youth Care Counsellors and do not have a global code of ethics; this leaves clients
vulnerable to abuses. Due to this, enforceable standards need to be implemented.
D) Consider whether the services normally provided by persons practicing
the profession are regulated by an enactment.
The Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act, Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act,
Children First Act, and in relevant situations, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, connects Child
and Youth Care Counsellors in terms of the guidelines for treatment, but does not dictate the
quality or qualifications of the Counsellors delivering the ordered services.
Due to the absence of legislation or regulations, all standards are voluntary, including adhering to
the code of ethics. The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta have defined a code of
ethics by which their members must abide, to uphold professional conduct and protect the public
interest. Penalties for incompetence or misconduct may include revocation of certification and
removal from membership in the association. However membership in the association is not a
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requirement in order to work in this field. Therefore individuals are free to continue to work with
this most vulnerable population without any legal obligation to protect the client’s or the public’s
best interest.
This profession is not regulated in any other jurisdiction in Canada or by any other legislation.
The only jurisdiction in the world that is regulated is in South Africa, which professionalized the
practice of Child and Youth Care under the National Qualification Framework Act #67 of 2008.
Although South Africa does have regulations pertaining to Child and Youth Care qualifications,
this legislation does not identify or define a scope of practice. There are no regulations or
legislation for this field in any other jurisdiction in the world.
There is no legislation requiring continuing competency requirements.
Although, there are Child and Youth Care Counsellors and Associations in all regions of Canada
and the World, all others are not yet regulated by legislation in their jurisdictions.
E) Consider whether the profession is a distinct and identifiable profession.
Child and Youth Care is a distinct and identifiable profession. The Child and Youth Care
Counsellor carries out the work, at times, based on their own assessment of the child, youth and
family. While Child and Youth Care Counsellors work, in collaboration with many other
professions, these other professionals make recommendations, diagnoses and requests, but the
Child and Youth Care Counsellor completes the work with the client to produce change and
wellbeing. The work unique to Child and Youth Care Counsellors is that Child and Youth Care
Counsellors use relational practice and create a therapeutic milieu regardless of the actual setting,
while integrating the bio-psycho-social needs of the individual client.
The Child and Youth Care profession can be described as a complete system, which includes the
assessment, development and implementation of interventions for maladaptive behaviours is the
essence of the work that is done. In order to assess behaviours, the Child and Youth Care
Counsellor must be able to identify normal and abnormal development. This is accomplished
through having specific knowledge of the human developmental theories which include various
behavioural/psychological/social, counselling and systems theories.
The most common modalities used are: trauma based, solution focus, behaviour management,
the art of empowerment, therapeutic relationship, therapeutic environment, collaborative
problem-solving approach and the circle of courage based on the aboriginal healing circle.
Members of other professions such as: psychologists, social workers, nurses, psychiatric nurses,
rehabilitation practitioners, occupational therapists, mental health therapists, provide some
similar services as the range and scope of therapeutic methods for assessment and intervention
may be similar since the existing theories (behavioral, cognitive, social, developmental) are
similar in most helping professions.
This field is different from all other professions, as the Child and Youth Care Counsellor provide
services for a full range of clients regardless of the cause of their maladaptive behavior. The
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work is done within the contexts of where the child, youth or family exists, as the Child and
Youth Care Counsellor provides psycho-social interventions that promote the optimal
development, functioning and growth of children, and youth and families. This is done by
focusing on the strengths of the child, youth and family across social, economic, cognitive and
behavioural domains. Growth is accomplished though the use of the most appropriate treatment
modality within the context of the client’s environment to achieve competency, health and
wellness.
F) Consider whether the proposed title is appropriately descriptive and
whether it is likely to cause public confusion.
The proposed protected title is: Registered Child and Youth Care Counsellor and this will
encompass anyone working within this scope of practice.
This title is distinctive and unique to the Child and Youth Care Profession. This title accurately
describes the profession, and no other college prescribes this title to a profession either
provincially, or nationally.
This title will not cause public confusion as the only similar title is for daycare staffs, which are
currently called Child Care Workers. Applying the words of “Youth” and “Counsellor” to the
title, would ensure that there is a distinct separation between these two vocations. By regulating
this profession it would assist in creating a higher profile for this occupation and would alleviate
any possible confusion.
G) Consider the potential costs and benefits of regulating the profession,
including the expected effect on practitioner availability and on education and
training programs, the expected effect on enhancement of quality of service
and the expected effect on the process, access and service efficiency.
An annual Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta membership fee presently costs $100.00
and to maintain the status of being a Fully Certified: Child and Youth Care Counsellors it costs
$70 annually. The Government of Alberta does pay the yearly membership and fully certified
maintenance fees along with some private agencies that voluntarily pay these fees on behalf of
their staff. The potential costs of regulating the profession would be that in order to ensure that
the college can be run effectively; personnel would need to be hired. To cover the financial
obligations of operating the College, membership fees would be increased. The benefits will be
that the public will: be better protected; obtain quality services and attain better outcomes for
those receiving therapeutic services.
Legislation will not affect the availability of Counsellors because there is method of
accommodation by those who are already employed in this field.
Within the field of Child and Youth Care there are Counsellors who are not educated in this field
of practice. To provide the necessary education the Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta
has created an on-line education system which provides three levels of knowledge. The basic
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level is designed for participants that do not have the recognized post-secondary education. The
certification level has the treatment modalities and theories as its focus. To become certified a
three hour written and three hour oral exam must be completed. The advanced level has a variety
of topics that are of interest to the Certified Counsellor such as supervisory and leadership skills,
new advances in treatment and self care.
Due to the lack of legislation, there is a variety of qualifications or lack there of, for persons
whom have been allowed to be employed in this field. To identify those who are eligible to be
recognized under legislation in this college the following provisions would apply:
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Child and Youth Care Counsellors who are certified will be identified as a Registered
Child and Youth Care Counsellor.
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Those already working in the field with a Child and Youth Care diploma, degree or a
letter issued by Mount Royal University to confirm that the candidate has successfully
completed the equivalent of a 2 year diploma sanctioned by the Articulation Committee
of Alberta, 2080 hours or more of work experience, and an endorsement from their
agency, will be identified as a Registered Child and Youth Care Counsellor.
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Those new to this field, with a Child and Youth Care diploma, degree or letter issued by
Mount Royal University to confirm that the candidate has successfully completed the
equivalent of a 2 year diploma sanctioned by the Articulation Committee of Alberta ,
will be registered as a Certified Child and Youth Care Counsellor once they have
completed 2080 hours of work experience and are endorsed by their agency. They will
then be recognized as a Registered Child and Youth Care Counsellor.
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A recognized diploma, degree or letter in Child and Youth Care in Alberta would only
include those programs that are members of the Child and Youth Care Articulation
Committee of Alberta.
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The Child and Youth Care Articulation Committee for Child and Youth Care practice in
Alberta supports this application for legislation.
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Recognized diploma, degree and certification programs in Child and Youth Care from
other provinces, territories and countries will be assessed on an individual basis within
the above perimeters.
Once the profession is regulated, the Registered Child and Youth Care Counsellor will provide
treatment within their Scope of Practice and not beyond. This will ensure that defined,
standardized, ethical conduct, and practices are maintained and enforced.
The public, ministry, and other professionals would then benefit from knowing that there is a
standard of practice for services administered to children, youth and their families. By regulating
this field of practice, the public would be aware that a Registered Child and Youth Care
Counsellor has a recognized education and adheres to a code of ethics. The public would also
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have a regulated body to report incompetent, unethical or impaired practices to and the comfort
of knowing that any issues of concern will be investigated and resolved.
There are approximately 2000 persons working in this field in Alberta. The evidence for support
for the application for regulation is as follows:
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The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta has been sustained for over 40 years,
and the membership supports this application for legislation. There are currently 718
members of the Association.
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A poll was circulated across Alberta asking persons working as Child and Youth Care
Counsellors, even if they were not members of the Child and Youth Care Association of
Alberta, if they support the application for legislation to become a regulated profession
under the Health Professions Act. To date, 870 signatures have been collected.
H) Ascertain the qualifications and minimum standards of competence that
are required for a person applying to practice the profession and how the
continuing competence of practitioners is to be maintained, ascertain what
educational programs are available and evaluate the available educational
programs.
The qualifications and minimum standards of competence required for a person applying to
practice in this field would be: Certified by the Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta.
The present standards is that a Fully Certified Child and Youth Care Counsellors must maintain
there knowledge pertaining to their field, by completing 15 hours of training every two years.
Training opportunities have been abundantly accessible. For example, in addition to agency
contributions, various Associations, accredited colleges, and post secondary institutions, offer
conferences, workshops, and symposiums. These opportunities will continue, along with
modules that are available on the Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta’s on-line
education website. To maintain continuing competencies the educational requirements for the
Fully Certified Child and Youth Care Counsellor will be implemented for all Regulated Child
and Youth Care Counsellors.
Child and Youth Care educational programs exist at the following post secondary institutions in
the province of Alberta:
o MacEwan University- Degree and Diploma programs
o Mount Royal University- Degree program
o Lethbridge Community College –Diploma program
o Lakeland College- Diploma program
o Medicine Hat College- Diploma program
o Rocky Mountain College- Diploma program
All 6 post-secondary programs are members of the Child and Youth Care Articulation
Committee of Alberta.
Across Canada, there are programs that offer Child and Youth Care post secondary education, at
the diploma, degree, masters and doctorate levels. Examples of such are:
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o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
University of Victoria, British Columbia
Malaspina University/College, British Columbia
Ryerson University, Ontario
Mount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia
Douglas College, British Columbia
University of Regina, Saskatchewan
University of Prince Edward Island, PEI
Concordia University, Quebec
There is a growing demand for qualified Child and Youth Care Counsellors in the human service
field. The post secondary Child and Youth Care programs typically graduate their target quotas
each year. Should potential employees not see the value in education due to employer hiring
expectations declining, the post secondary institutions could be impacted. However, when a
career becomes desirable, the post secondary institutions have responded by meeting the
demand. Unfortunately due to a lack of professional recognition many degree graduates have not
remained in this field.
(I) Ascertain the ability of the proposed college of the profession to carry out
its powers and duties under the Act or consider whether they could be carried
out by an existing college.
The proposed college of the profession will have the ability to carry out its powers and duties
under the Health Profession Act. The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta has
developed a code of ethics, scope of practice, bylaws, procedures and policies with the intent of
meeting as many of the requirements under the act as possible. The Child and Youth Care
Association of Alberta has maintained its voluntary membership since 1971 and managed the
Certification Program since 1984 all on a voluntary basis. Certification examiners are paid a
stipend from the certification fees. The certification process has been supported by some
agencies that employee Child and Youth Care Counsellors by paying for their dues and
examination fees.
The Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta has an established code of ethics, standards of
practice, policies, procedures and bylaws to define the powers and duties of the members of the
Association. There are registration and educational requirements to become a member and
continuing competency requirements for Fully Certified members. Disciplinary actions have
been established in the policies and procedures manual of the Child and Youth Care Association
of Alberta. The public and other professionals can lodge a complaint with any member of the
Certification Committee or the Board of Directors of the Child and Youth Care Association.
The Board, standing and ad hoc committees have been an integral part of the Association since
its inception. As it stands now, the executive offices of the Board of Directors of the Association
consists of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recoding Secretary, and twelve Directors. The
Board of Directors approved by the Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta membership
appoints five representatives to the Association’s Certification Committee which is an
independent body at arms-length to the organizational structure of the Association. The
Certification Committee concerns itself with matters pertaining to Certification standards,
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policies procedures and finances. Representatives from ALIGN Association of Community
Services, the Alberta Government Human Services, and post-secondary Child and Youth Care
Programs, are voting members of the Certification Committee.
The Association understands the requirements of the Health Professions Act for the
establishment of the Council, including a President, Registrar, regulated members and public
members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The Association also understands
the requirements for the council to establish/appoint a:
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Registration Committee,
Competence Committee,
Hearing, Complaints Director,
Hearing Tribunal, Complaint Reviews Committee,
Committee Panels
Although Child and Youth Care Counsellors work collaboratively with other regulated
professions such as social workers, psychologists, and nurses the ideologies and therapeutic
approaches are different. Due to these factors, Child and Youth Care Counsellors are the only
professionals that can adequately evaluate the skills and competencies of this vocation in order to
protect the public’s health and safety by guaranteeing a mandatory quality standard, as known to
be the case in all professions.
(J) Evaluate the effect, if any, that there would be on any agreements on trade and
mobility to which Canada or Alberta is a signatory if the profession would become a
regulated profession
There would be no effect on any agreements on trade and mobility to which Canada or Alberta is
a signatory if the profession would become a regulated profession. Alberta would establish itself
as a world leader in the protection of children youth and families by legislating the Counsellors
who work with them on a daily bases. No other country or province adheres to such a high
standard.
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