Anti-Oppressive Practice in Child and Youth Care

The children, youth and families served by child and youth care practitioners are disproportionately impacted by systemic inequalities, discrimination, and oppression. Child and youth care practitioners need to be equipped to work with equity deserving young people and families in ways that mitigate power imbalances. Students explore intersectionality and how each person's social location impacts their development. Students examine how child and youth care practices can impose dominant values on marginalized groups and identify child and youth care practices that share power. Through case studies and critical reflection, students identify structural factors that marginalize children, youth and families, examine the use and misuse of power in child and youth care practice, and develop ways of engaging children, youth, and families through a power-with approach. Through self-reflection students examine their own intersectionality and how it may impact their practice.