Course

Personal and Professional Issues for the Youth Justice Worker

Faculty
Applied Community Studies
Department
Youth Justice
Course Code
YJWD 1100
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
Flexible delivery ranging from 2 - 15 weeks
Max Class Size
30
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
This course will examine issues critical to the student’s development as a youth justice worker. The principal course objective is for students to develop a realistic awareness of the professional role associated with working with youth in the justice system. Emphasis will be placed on student analysis of personal values and how these are incorporated into a professional role. Ethical theories and decision-making skills that adhere to professional roles, policy requirements, and legal obligations will be the foundation of this course. Students will also increase self-awareness and develop plans for effectively managing personal and work related stressors.
Course Content

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

  • Federal and provincial legislation underscore the need to address the contributing factors of youth involvement with the criminal justice system.  Youth justice workers take a holistic approach to exploring and addressing these factors in responsive and innovative ways, in a variety of contexts.
  • Youth justice workers are self-reflective practitioners who approach relationships from a strengths-based perspective.   
  • Youth justice workers are intentional and demonstrate critical thinking in assessing and making sound, ethical decisions.
  • Youth justice workers recognize the power differential in professional helping relationships and seek to work collaboratively, honouring the self-determination and autonomy of those they serve. 
  • Youth justice workers work from a trauma-informed perspective and demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity.
  • Youth justice workers recognize the relational nature of their work and actively work on developing interpersonal skills, including communication, problem solving, conflict resolution, and feedback skills.
  • Due to the relational nature of the work, self-awareness and personal wellness are integral in maintaining healthy and productive relationships.  
Learning Activities

This course may be team taught in order to draw on the expertise of various faculty to meet course objectives.

This course will employ a number of instructional methods to meet course objectives, which may include:

 

  • Lectures
  • Demonstration
  • Group discussion and exercises
  • Student presentations
  • Blackboard

 

Means of Assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College Policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. 

Typical means of evaluation will include a combination of:

  • Written assignments
  • Journals
  • Class presentations
  • Examinations
  • Class participation

This is a graded course.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Define the role of the youth justice worker from a systems perspective and identify the characteristics they could bring to that role.
  2. Assess strength and development areas in themselves and others, in relation to interpersonal and communication skills. 
  3. Discuss and apply a decision-making model to promote ethical decision making.
  4. Identify their personal value system, including the influence of culture and bias, and explain how it can affect their relational practice. 
  5. Assess and describe appropriate responses to youth needs, strengths, and preferences, demonstrating critical thinking skills in applying trauma-informed perspectives, cultural sensitivity, and strength-based practice. 
  6. Illustrate evidence-based personal wellness activities. 

 

Textbook Materials

To be determined.

Example:  Oudshoorn, J. (2015). Trauma-informed youth justice in Canada: A new framework toward a kinder future. Toronto, ON: Canadian Scholars' Press, Inc.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Admission to the Youth Justice Program or program permission.

Corequisites

Courses listed here must be completed either prior to or simultaneously with this course:

  • No corequisite courses

Equivalencies

Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:

  • No equivalency courses

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for YJWD 1100
Athabasca University (AU) AU CRJS 3XX (3)
College of New Caledonia (CNC) CNC SSWK 195 (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU ARTS 1XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) No credit
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU SOCW 2XXX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU CRIM 1XXX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) No credit
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV CRIM 160 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) No credit
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU CRIM 1st (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025