Graduate Certificate in Child and Youth Mental Health

This program takes a multi-modal, strengths-based approach to working with children and families with serious mental health concerns. Indigenous and cross-cultural content is included.

The critical need for mental health specialists has been identified by British Columbia's schools of social work, schools of child and youth care and by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Graduates receive a TRU post-graduate certificate, which may ladder into master's programs at other post-secondary insititutions. If you are interested, discuss this option with the institution to which you plan to apply.

This program prepares you for positions in the Canadian mental health system, the Ministry of Children and Families, schools, First Nations agencies and hospitals, as well as for work with special needs children in community settings.

Program requirements

Admission requirements

A recognized bachelor's or master's degree, with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher

Admission recommendations

• A degree in child and youth care, nursing, social work, education or psychology; other degrees may be recognized in combination with professional experience
• Volunteer or paid experience working with children or youth who are mentally, physically or behaviourally challenged
• A counselling course

Additional requirements

• A completed and signed Consent to a Criminal Record Check (CRC) form
• Official transcripts, sent directly to OL Admissions from the issuing institution and received four to six weeks prior to course start dates
• An Admission Checklist
• A Personal History form

Residency requirements

A minimum of 15 TRU credits (distance; this program is not offered on campus)

Graduate certificate requirements (15 credits)

You must receive a GPA of 3.00 or higher over all courses required for this credential, as follows:

• CYMH 5511, Context and Theory in Child and Youth Mental Health Practice (3)
• CYMH 5521, Assessment for Intervention in Child and Youth Mental Health (3)
• CYMH 5531, Intervention in Child and Youth Mental Health (4)
• CYMH 5541, Clinical Internship and Capstone (5); you must pass all theory courses with a GPA of 3.00 or higher before you can enrol in CYMH 5541

The program coordinator arranges an appropriate internship with input from you, based on availability and resources in the community you select. A clinical internship consists of a total of 210 hours and can be completed on a part- or full-time basis.

You may need to relocate at your own expense, if suitable service agencies are unavailable near where you live.

Acceptance into the certificate program does not guarantee that students are placed into an internship.

Program completion

To stay in good standing with the program, you must take a minimum of one course every year. Typical completion time is two years.

Complete courses one at a time in their sequential order.