Child and Youth Workers work in various settings, including schools, hospitals, community centers, and residential care facilities. They often work with children and families struggling with a range of issues, including poverty, abuse, neglect, mental health problems, and behavioral problems.

A typical day's duties may include some of the following: interviewing children and adolescents to assess their problems, organizing community events and meetings for children and adolescents, liaising with colleagues and Lawyers when legal action is required, and assisting with the process of adoption and foster care.

Child and Youth Workers typically work full time, although some may work part-time or on an as-needed basis and may work evenings and weekends to accommodate their clients' schedules. They have a great deal of contact with children and families, so they must be able to maintain good boundaries and remain professional at all times.

Child and Youth Workers must have excellent communication skills and build rapport with children and adults. Their duties include effectively managing challenging behaviors and supporting families in crisis. They must also be able to work as part of a team and collaborate with other professionals, such as teachers, social workers, and mental health professionals.

Average day of a Child and Youth Worker
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of common tasks Child and Youth Workers are required to complete:

• Counsel children, adolescents, and families regarding health issues, substance abuse, physical abuse, social adjustment, and childcare
• Advocate for children in foster care and adoption programs
• Counsel and rehabilitate minors in correctional institutions
• Interview children and adolescents to assess their problems
• Gather and document information on family background
• Interview parents to determine their capacity to raise a child
• Provide counseling and assistance for minors dealing with substance abuse issues
• Organize group and community meetings and activities (e.g., group therapy, support groups, social gatherings, or community events)
• Assist in housing processes for children in foster care
• Interview adopting families
• Conduct evaluations on prospective homes
• Assign homes to children and adolescents
• Conduct regular checkups on children to monitor their development
• Investigate cases of possible child abuse or neglect and report cases when necessary
• Evaluate the effectiveness of social programs
• Provide testimony as a specialist in a court of law when necessary