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Over thelength of the program,
students will spend 16 weeks in
practicum settings and in the latter
stages will often have a choice of
what type of facility they will enter,
Tennant says.

"We ask each of the students for a
list of three preferred work situa-
tions," he says. “And with our
contacts we can often find a job
that will fit directly into the
students' career plans."

And the practicum courses have gone
a long way in giving Douglas College
one of the most well respected
counselling programs in the province,
Two years ago, the course placed
approximately 85 per cent of its
graduates directly into the work
force.

"That's a real high standard of
employment," Tennant says. "In all
fairness the job situation is getting
tighter, but our sense is that stu-
dents are still getting jobs.”

And finding work for Child Care
Counselling graduates is something
he does not find too difficult to
do. A large number of employers
will hire students who worked in
their facilities during the practi-
cum courses.

Highlights of the program would have
to include the "normalization"

classes given during the first semes7

ter which show students how to
"integrate clients into mainstream
programs," Tennant says.

What this means is if a child has
difficulty in a special area,or shows
a lack of opportunity because of a
specific need, the graduates will
find ways to help thechild adapt to
the community, Tennant says.

Another aspect of Child Care

 

Counselling is establishing trust
with a problem child. Students willl
learn to spell out their expectations
and set realistic goals for the
children they work with, he says.

"The important thing you have to
remember is that you're not going
to change a person's behaviour over
three days. You have to foster a
good attitude in a good environment."

"The children you work with may have|
been through some difficult times
and many want to take some time be-
fore they begin to trust or listen
to you," Tennant says.

Other courses in the program look
at the stresses on children, the
home environment, and the processes
needed to develop helping relation-
ships through the use of activities
and routines.

"This is an awful lot to learn in
just a one-year program, but I feel
the course is structured to help our
students learn the specifics of the
Child Care Counsellor in a variety
of settings," he says.

"We give them a lot of experience
through the practicums and the.
basics are all covered."

Applications to next August's Child
Care Counselling program will close
April 1, but chances of enrollment
are much higher if a student contacts
Douglas College immediately, he says

Like most other career programs, a
waiting list will be in place a
month before deadlines for applica-
tions close, he adds.

"This is a specific program designed
for people who really want to help
children and adolescents," Tennant
says. “It's something I feel very
strongly about, and I think it's
important."