A look inside Fanshawe College St. Thomas-Elgin Regional Campus: Child and Youth Care Program

As Fanshawe College prepares for its upcoming Open House on March 29, prospective students have the opportunity to explore programs that can set them on the path to fulfilling careers.

This includes the Child and Youth Care (CYC) program offered at the St. Thomas-Elgin Regional Campus, which teaches students all about family issues and children’s emotional and behavioural challenges.

Coordinator Kevin Pole notes the three-year advanced diploma program focuses on building relationships, through both theory and hands-on experience.

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The first field placement typically takes students to local elementary schools, where they gain practical experience working alongside educators.

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Subsequent placements are in community-based agencies, out of home agencies or group homes, as well as hospitals, allowing students to apply classroom theory in real-world settings.

With over 1,500 hours of hands-on experience, graduates are often hired directly from their placements.

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During the program, students have the opportunity to learn counseling techniques, diversity training, and relational skills, giving them the foundational knowledge to pursue further education if they so wish.

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Many of their graduates will go on to pursue degrees in child and youth care, social work, psychology, and addiction studies. Pole himself transitioned to a degree program at Toronto Metropolitan University after completing his diploma.

What makes the St. Thomas campus stand out, according to Pole, is the opportunity to make connections in a smaller community.

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During the Open House, visitors can meet current students, learn about their placement experiences, and participate in a joint activity with the Early Childhood Education program explains Pole.

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The Fanshawe College Open House runs on March 29th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Thomas-Elgin Regional Campus.

For more information or to register for the Open House, visit FanshaweC.ca.

The next intake of students for the Child and Youth Care program will be September 2025.

Written by: K. Freeman