Child and Youth Care Association of SK

STANDARDS FOR PRACTICE

of North American

Child and Youth Care Professionals

SEPT 28, 2023 ver 2.7.0

2022 REVISION

Download a Copy

Standards_for_Practice_of_NA_CYC_Professionals_Sept_2022_v2-7.pdf

“Professional Child and Youth Care is committed to promoting the well-being of children, youth, and families in a context of respect and collaboration.”

Member Associations

Canadian Council of Child and Youth Care Associations

The Council of Canadian Child and Youth Care Associations is the national networking organization representing child and youth care professionals in Canada through their provincial associations.

Alberta

Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta (CYCAA) www.cycaa.com

British Columbia

Child and Youth Care Association of British Columbia (CYCABC) https://cycabc.com/

Manitoba

Children and Youth Care Worker’s Association of Manitoba (CYCWAM) http://cycwam.org/

Newfoundland and Labrador

Child and Youth Care Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (CYCANL) https://cycanl.ca/

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Child and Youth Care Workers Association (NSCYCWA) https://www.nscycwa.org/

Team

Scott Dakiniewich (President)

Hi, I'm Scott Dakiniewich, a family man with over 20 years of experience in child and youth care. I completed my Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2009, followed by my Master of Social Work degree in 2018, and most recently, my MBA in 2022.

I started my career at Ranch Ehrlo Society, where I gained valuable experience in child and youth care work. I then moved on to Eagle's Nest Youth Ranch, where I have been working since 2009, providing care and support to young people in need. I currently serve as the Director at Eagle's Nest Youth Ranch.

In addition to my work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and four young children, traveling, bike riding, and playing ball hockey. While I wouldn't call myself an avid reader, I enjoy keeping up with the latest research and trends in social work and child and youth care.

I'm also passionate about teaching and sharing my knowledge with others. I have been teaching in the youth care worker program at Great Plains College since 2018, where I help prepare the next generation of youth care workers to make a positive impact in the lives of young people.

I'm committed to positively impacting young people and their families, both through my work at Eagle's Nest Youth Ranch and through teaching and mentoring others in the field.

Ebube Azoro (Treasurer)

My name is Ebube Azoro. I hold a Bachelor's degree in business economics from the University of Saskatchewan. Since the completion of my degree, I have been involved in a variety of roles where I was responsible for providing strategic solutions to meet the needs of various stakeholders.

I transitioned into the world of child and youth care when I joined Eagles nest youth ranch as a youth care worker. This affords me the opportunity to continuously make an impact in the lives of children and youth in need. I am also currently a service assistant at BMO Nesbitt burns where I assist with the daily administration of client's accounts.

I am a fitness enthusiast who maintains an active lifestyle during his leisure time. I also enjoy spending time with close friends and family.

Baily Strachan (Vice President)

Hello, I’m Bailey Strachan a proud Métis woman, born and raised in Saskatchewan. My journey in the field of Child and Youth Care has been a rich and fulfilling one. In 2013, I earned my diploma in Youth Care Work from Saskatchewan Polytechnic, this path led me to complete my Bachelor's Degree in Child and Youth Care Work at MacEwan University in 2015.

Throughout my career, I've been privileged to support children, youth, and families in a variety of settings, including Inpatient Care, Child and Adolescent Group Homes, non-profit organizations, Schools, and the Early Learning sector. In 2019, I took on a new role as a lead instructor for the Youth Care Worker program at Great Plains College. In this capacity, I am dedicated to using my passion, knowledge, and experiences to guide students on their educational journey, always viewing their growth through the lens of Child and Youth Care.

My commitment to making a positive impact goes beyond the professional realm. I am actively involved with non-profit organizations in Saskatchewan, such as Youth Matter Canada and TeensTalkYxe, where I contribute to child, youth, and mental health programming, emphasizing the importance of a trauma-informed approach.

In all my work, I prioritize the creation of safer spaces and meaningful professional relationships with my students and anyone who invites me into their life space. These principles are central to my approach to empowering and nurturing the growth of those I serve.

I am truly honored to be a part of the Child and Youth Care Association of Saskatchewan, where I have the opportunity to contribute to the well-being and growth of not only children and youth but also the professionals who work alongside them. This association provides a wonderful platform for collaboration with like-minded professionals, enabling us to collectively make a positive impact on the lives of children, youth, and families in our community.

Kadane Headley (Secretary)

My name is Kadane Headley, and I am a dedicated and certified Child and Youth Care practitioner committed to promoting well-being and mental health for children and adolescents. With a background spanning local, provincial, and national youth-serving programs and diverse experiences in group home settings and psychiatric care. My journey in Child and Youth Care is marked by a diverse range of experiences, from youth engagement initiatives to program development and acute care inpatient psychiatric units. These opportunities have equipped me with unique insights and skills, fostering my adaptability in the dynamic child and youth care field. I hold a Child and Youth Care Counseling Diploma from Mount Royal University, a Bachelor of Child and Youth Care Degree from Macewan, and a Masters in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care from McMaster University. This academic foundation and my dedication to ongoing learning enable me to provide relational, comprehensive care to the children and adolescents I work alongside. In addition to my formal education and other professional development, I have completed 200t hours of yoga teacher training and have experience teaching yoga to children and youth. I am working towards connecting and collaborating with fellow professionals in the field. Learning from shared experiences and collectively providing resources allows us to positively impact the lives of the children and youth, families and caregivers in our community. In my commitment to enhancing my practice, I conscientiously acknowledge the profound impacts and effects of colonization and displacement on Indigenous, Métis, and Black communities in Saskatchewan and across the country. Recognizing the importance of continuous learning, I approach my work with cultural humility, striving to understand the complex intersections that influence the lives of the individuals where I live and work. This awareness propels me to contribute towards creating a more inclusive and equitable environment in my professional endeavours.

Riley Vastic (Practicum Student - University of Victoria)

Hi, I’m Riley! I am a Child and Youth Care student at the University of Victoria and am currently completing the final stage of my degree as a practicum student with the Child and Youth Care Association of Saskatchewan (CYCASK). My educational journey began in Victoria, BC, where I completed a Certificate in Community Support and Education Assistance and a Diploma in Child, Family, and Community Studies at Camosun College. Following my studies, I worked in the non-profit sector for several years, supporting individuals and families navigating poverty, housing insecurity, mental health challenges, addiction, and disability. My experience has spanned a range of roles, from frontline emergency support and outreach to case management and community-based programming. In 2021, I moved to Saskatoon with my husband and began my Child and Youth Care degree online through the University of Victoria. Alongside my studies, I completed training as a birth and postpartum doula and spent a few years supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. I took an extended pause from my studies after welcoming my first child in January 2024, and am now excited to be returning to the final stage of my degree while continuing to grow both personally and professionally through the experience of motherhood. My experiences as a mother, wife, CYC student, doula, and human services professional have deepened my passion for advocacy, relational practice, maternal and infant wellbeing, and creating more accessible, responsive, and connected systems of support. I am particularly interested in early childhood, family wellbeing, and the ways that strong relationships and community supports can shape outcomes for children and families. Through my practicum with CYCASK, I am excited to contribute to the growth and advancement of the Child and Youth Care profession in Saskatchewan. I am especially interested in supporting professional connection, education, advocacy, and collaboration, while learning more about the role of a provincial professional association in strengthening the field and supporting CYC practitioners across Saskatchewan.