Field Placement & Seminar II

The field placement component of the CYW Program allows the students the opportunity to integrate Child and Youth Work theory into practice. The student is required to complete the assigned hours (16 hours per week) in an appropriate setting (most students will complete FPII within an educational setting). Direct supervision, while on placement, is completed by a Field Placement Supervisor who is an appropriately credentialed and experienced employee of the placement agency. Students while on placement are also assigned a College Advisor, whose responsibility is to support the student's placement experience by: reading the student's weekly journals and providing timely feedback; being available for the student to help with any issues or problemsthat may occur within the placement setting; supporting the Field Placement Supervisor in his/her supervisory role of the student; provide information about the Child and Youth Worker program as required; interpret and clarify the Durham College CYW program policies for supervisors and students; , keep channels of communication open with both the student and his/her supervisor; and determine the final grade in consultation with the seminar teacher. Students will also be required to attend and participate in a one-hour per week seminar class which is scheduled on the student's weekly timetable. The main focus of the seminar component is to both support the student in his/her FPII experience and to develop and consolidate skills and knowledge that arerequired for the student to have as he/she progresses on to the fourth and final placement (FPIII). Therefore, during some weeks students will be required to complete supplemental assignments outside of the scheduled seminar time (ie. Completing a mock interview at Career Services; completing an updated and professional appropriate resume, agency research). It is important to note that in order to ensure effective and consistent lines of communication are in place to support the student's success, any issues or problems that the student may experience at his/her own placement setting should be forwarded by the student to his/her placement supervisor and or advisor first and then, if the issue does not reach resolution, the student needs to contact his/her advisor for support and guidance. The seminar component of this course is to provide a forum for students to raise and discuss common difficulties that they may experience during placement or that CYWs experience in their daily work. The role of the seminar teacher is to facilitate this process not to deal with individuals concerns of the students.