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Careers in Child and Youth Work

Careers in Child and Youth Work

Students in the social sciences and liberal arts often pursue careers in child and youth work, applying core social sciences insights:

  • An understanding of the relationship between individual outcomes, family and home life, and wider social structures;
  • Recognition of the interconnections between health, race, gender, class, and other social factors;
  • The role of culture, power, politics, and ideology in shaping approaches to parenting, childcare, education, sexuality, and other social facets of child and youth development; and more.

Related Occupational Categories

Whereas exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work, Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles. Here are just a few of the occupation categories that may be relevant to this sector:

Early Childhood Educators and Assistants

Elementary School Teachers

Secondary School Teachers

Educational Counsellors

Specialized Accessibility Instructors

Therapists in Counselling and Related Specialties

Occupational Therapists

Audiologists & Speech-Language Pathologists

Assisting Occupations in Health Services

Licensed Practical Nurses

Patient Service Associates

Program Leaders in Recreation, Sport, and Fitness

Social and Community Service Workers

Social Workers

Registered Nurses and Psychiatric Nurses

Public Relations, Advertising, & Marketing Professionals

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Academic Program Connections

As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs. Here are just a few examples of academic disciplines that have connections with this sector:

Social Work Learn More

Social Work graduates often work in fields supporting children and their families, whether as registered social workers or in another profession.

Sociology Learn More

Sociologists often apply their understanding of the individual and society by pursuing careers focused on child & youth work.

Social Gerontology Learn More

Social Gerontology graduates, through their study of aging and society, enter the workforce with an enriched understanding of child development and its social and cultural dimensions for children and their families.

Social Psychology Learn More

Social Psychology graduates often work with children and youth, often in the helping professions or health sector.

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Related Sectors

Careers in the Helping Professions

Careers in the Not-for-Profit Sector

Careers in the Health Sector

Related Areas

Career Options by Sector

Career Planning

Skills Development