Indigenous community workers can have a significant impact on the lives of the Indigenous children and youth they support and also have a positive effect on their entire community. Indigenous community workers interested in post-secondary education and upskilling may not have access to these learning opportunities, especially while they’re working to create meaningful change in their communities.
The Certificate in Indigenous Child and Youth Engagement provides a bridging of both those worlds – connecting education to direct employment in your own home community. When you enrol in the certificate courses, you’ll be able to participate in post-secondary education and still continue your current work and activities in the community allowing you to stay connected to your community, family, and culture. Plus, you can take what you’ve learned and apply it in real time to your practice.
This certificate is not currently open for registration.
Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to advancing reconciliation, decolonization, and Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing across all areas of university life – including what and how we teach. This important work includes preparing students to recognize and address inequities and to practice and uphold equity, guided by the university’s Truth and Reconciliation and Standing Strong Task Force reports.
The Chang School is here to support your learning journey and help you find the path that’s right for you.If you’re looking for other related programs or have questions about your options, we’re here to help. Contact us at ce@torontomu.ca.
Industry and Careers
This certificate can help you build the skills you need to pursue opportunities in the following areas and jobs:
- Community-based youth and family work
- Community outreach
- Family support worker
- Youth justice worker School-based child and youth work
- Child and youth counsellors
This certificate can also help an Indigenous CYC worker on the pathway to a degree program within the School of Child and Youth Care at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Who Should Take This Certificate?
- Indigenous child and youth workers who are currently employed or volunteering in youth work with an Indigenous-led organization.
What Will You Learn?
- Explore life-space youth work practice and gain perspectives on healing and therapeutic experiences for young people.
- Understand the design, implementation, and evaluation of youth-centered community-based programs.
- Use a range of culturally appropriate strategies to engage young people in Indigenous contexts.
- Translate ideas and approaches from your learnings and apply them directly to your practice within your own community.
This entire certificate is taught through an Indigenous lens and designed to be relevant to Indigenous communities.
Certificate Requirements
- 4 required courses
- Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 1.67+
Admission Criteria
Recommended:
- Indigenous continuous learners with relevant professional experience
OR
- Indigenous learners with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent
- With six Grade 12 U or M credits (including English)
- With a minimum average of 60 percent
If you’re interested in this certificate but unsure about eligibility, please email Nicole Ineese-Nash, Academic Coordinator, at nicole.ineesenash@torontomu.ca.