Child and Youth Care faculty members


As faculty we are committed to our own learning and unlearning in doing the work of anti-colonial and anti-racist praxis in child and youth care. We engage in scholarship and teaching to nurture inclusive learning environments and communities of belonging. We teach with culturally relevant pedagogies guided by the First Peoples Principles of Learning that enact our commitments to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action and UN Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).   

We strive to work with students to interrupt structures and practices that uphold patriarchy, heteronormativity, ablism, classism, racism, colonialism, economic inequality and other forms of oppression and violence.  We support students to think through and take action in addressing systemic and structural inequities in our complex and changing world through collaborative, applied relational praxis with children, youth and communities.  

Yvonne Gomez, BA, BSW, MSW,

Co-Coordinator, Faculty

Email: gomezy@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1070

Education: BA (Women's Studies), BSW, York University, MSW, University of Victoria 

Areas of Instruction: Child and Youth Development, Working with Families, Abuse and Recovery, Activity Planning

CYC Practice Expertise: CYC Practicum, Work-Integrated Learning, Child Welfare and Kinship Practice, Community Development, and Critical Thinking 

Yvonne Gomez

Tiffany Sosnowski, MSW, RSW

Co-Coordinator, Faculty

Email: sosnowskit@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1038

Education: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Masters of Social Work (MSW), University of British Columbia

Areas of Instruction: Substance Use and Mental Health for Adolescents, Advanced CYC Skills and CYC Practicum

CYC Practice Expertise: Adolescent Substance Use and Mental Health, Healthcare Systems, Program Development, Community Development, CYC Practicum Education

Tiffany Sosnowski

Jacky Barreiro, MA, MBA, PhD 

Email: barreiroj@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1036

Education: BA University of Loja, MA University of Delaware, PhD Simon Fraser University

Areas of Instruction: CYC Practicum, International and Community Development, Research Methods

CYC Practice Expertise: Diversity in Education, International Education, Relational Practice, Post-qualitative Methodologies

Jacky Barreiro

Robert Bates, MA 

Email: batesr@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1042

Education: Dip (CYC) Douglas College, BA (CYC) University of the Fraser Valley, MA (CYC) University of Victoria

Areas of Instruction: History and Substance of Professional Child & Youth Care, Legislation & Policies, Child Protection, Family Violence & Abuse, CYC Practicum

CYC Practice Expertise: Child & Youth Care Professionalization, Life Space Crisis Intervention, Child & Family Agency Accreditation, Child & Youth Care in Child Protection

Robert Bates

Justin Chan, MEd, RCC 

Email: chanj38@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1034

Education: BA (Psychology), MEd (Counselling Psychology), Simon Fraser University 

Areas of Instruction: CYC Practicum, Theories of Change, Relationship Practice Skills, Activities and Groups in CYC

CYC Practice Expertise/Interests: Relationship and Counselling Psychology, Reflective Practice, and the Uses and Effects of Technology

Justin Chan

Carys Cragg, Ed., RCC, CYC-P

Email: craggc@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1067

Education: BA (CYC), MA (CYC), University of Victoria, EdD Western University

Areas of Instruction: CYC Practicum, CYC Foundations, Applied Child & Youth Development

CYC Practice Expertise: CYC Practicum, Work-Integrated Learning, Reflective Practice, Program Development/Quality Assurance, Professional, Academic, and Creative Writing

Carys Cragg

Kristy Dellebuur O'Connor, PhD 

Email: dellebuurk@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1068

Education: BA (CYC), MA (CYC), University of Victoria, PhD Simon Fraser University

Areas of Instruction: Change Theory, Systems Theory, Applied Development, CYC Practicum

CYC Practice Expertise: CYC Praxis, Anti-Racist & De/colonizing Teaching & Learning, Relationality, Adolescent Well-Being

Kristy Dellebuur O'Connor

Meaghan Dougherty, EdD.

Co-Coordinator Youth Justice Program, Faculty

Email: doughertym@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1049

Education: BA (Hons.) (Crim), MA (Crim), EdD (Post-Secondary Leadership), Simon Fraser University

Areas of Instruction: Substance use and mental health, Social research methods, Professional ethics, Practicum

CYC Practice Expertise: Youth Justice, Substance use, Non-profit management 

Meaghan Dougherty

K. Larisa Hanssen, MA, GDBA

Email: hanssenk@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1038

Education: BA (Psychology & Anthropology) University of Victoria, MA (CYS), Mount Saint Vincent University

Areas of Instruction: Relationship Building, International Perspectives in CYC, Applied Child & Youth Development, Group Facilitation/Leadership 

CYC Practice Expertise: Transitions from Government Care, Youth Homelessness, Youth Mental Health, Program Development and Evaluation, Reflective Practice 

Larisa Hanssen

Cheryl Inkster, MA, PhD (Candidate) 

Email: cheryl.inkster@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1070

Education: BA (Child and Youth Care), Douglas College, MA (Counselling Psychology), Simon Fraser University, PhD (Counselling Psychology) (in-progress), University of British Columbia

Areas of Instruction: Counselling and Relationship Building, Aboriginal Perspectives and Experiences, Critical Issues in Practice

CYC Practice Expertise: Indigenous Children's Health and Wellness, Identity development, Child and Youth Mental Health, Counselling and Communication Skills

Cheryl Inkster

Jason Lam, MSW, RSW

Email: lamj25@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1035

Education: BCOM (Marketing) University of Alberta, MSW and MSc (Mental Health), University of Michigan  

Areas of Instruction: Counselling and Relationship Practice Skills, Child & Youth Development,  CYC Practicum, Social Research Methods

CYC Practice Expertise: Children and Youth Mental Health, Child Welfare, E-Mental Health, Social Entrepreneurship 

Jason Lam

Emily Taylor, BA, MEd

Email: taylore9@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1035

Education: BA (Double Minors in Sociology & Political Science) SFU, MEd (Indigenous Education and Leadership) UBC

Areas of Instruction: Indigenous Pathways: Intro to Indigenous Child, Youth and Family Practice, Indigenous Experiences & Perspectives, First Nations Policies and Legislation, Working in Communities

CYC Practice Expertise: Indigenous Knowledge and Pedagogy, Indigenizing Curriculum and CYC Practice, culturally safe, culturally relevant and responsive educational spaces

Emily Taylor

Jessica Williams, MSW, RSW

Email: williamsj13@douglascollege.ca

Office: C1035

Education: BA (Criminology), Simon Fraser University, MSW, University of British Columbia

Areas of Instruction: Mental Health in Childhood and Adolescence, CYC Practice in Child Protection, Counselling Skills, Advanced CYC Skills and Developmental Theory

CYC Practice Expertise: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Counselling, Child Protection, and Family Systems

Jessica Williams