Youth Worker (PYK)
2018-2019
Type: Career, Certificate (C1)
Open Admissions
Division: Health And Human Services
The Youth Worker Certificate provides students with specific foundation skills and knowledge to work with at-risk youth in non-traditional settings. Youth workers provide strengths-based youth development, support, outreach, interventions, and conflict resolution to adolescents and young adults. The Youth Worker Certificate is recommended for students who plan careers working with youth in: Probation/Parole Services, Youth Case Management, Juvenile Corrections, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Counseling, Youth Social or Mental Health Services, Family and School Counseling, Law Enforcement, Vocational/Employment Counseling, Faith-based Ministries. The Youth Worker Certificate can be applied to the Criminal Justice, Developmental Disabilities, and Human Services Practitioner Associate Degree programs.
Students interested in participating in an academic program that involves working with children, the disabled, or the elderly, or which includes a clinical affiliation, internship, or field placement with a private or public healthcare provider, may be required to undergo criminal background checks, including a national as well as local check (i.e. Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI)). Depending on the contents of these criminal background check(s), a student's participation in an academic program that involves working with children, the disabled, or the elderly or which includes a clinical affiliation, internship or field placement with a private or public healthcare provider may not be allowed, and therefore may impact a student's ability to complete program requirements. Furthermore, please note that eligibility to participate in the program and/or clinical affiliation, internship or field placement as a result of screening requirements, such as criminal background checks, is not a guarantee of eligibility to sit for professional credentialing examination(s) or employment upon graduation.
First Year
Fall
| PSY102 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PYW101 | Working With Youth | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Spring
| PYW222 | Seminar and Practice of Youth Work | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Program Note
Communication and Mathematics proficiency required to graduate.
See guided pathway sheets for advising information specific to your area of focus.
Total Credit Hours: 9
Program Student Learner Outcomes
- Establish positive relationships adolescents and their families that promote constructive change.
- Demonstrate an understanding of cultural competence; provide ethical and culturally sensitive care.
- Develop and utilize a variety of conflict resolution and problem solving techniques.
- Identify, evaluate and utilize effective verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills.
- Utilize a strength based, resilience and humanistic perspective.
- Engage in ongoing self-assessment and self care to maintain attentiveness to professional competence.
Occupational Skills required
- Active listening
- Empathy
- Intercultural competence
- Actively seeking to help people
- Social perceptiveness
- Oral communication
- Documentation
- Ethical decision making
- Complex problem solving
- Judgement and decision making
Experiential Learning Required in Program
- PYW 222- Seminar Practice of Youth Work
Most Common Linked Occupation Title – All Education Levels
- Counselor and Case Manager
Most Common Linked Occupation Title – Associate’s or Less
- Social and Human Service Assistants
Average Annual Growth (10-Year Projection)
- US - 1.80%
- Boston MSA – 2.10%
- Essex County – 2.10%
- Boston MSA Average Entry-Level Wages (2016) – $24,600
- Boston MSA Median Wages (2016) – $32,200