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THANK A YOUTH WORKER DAY 2023
ACYCP COMPLETES BENCHMARK ISSUES AND SALARY SURVEY

ACYCP COMPLETES BENCHMARK ISSUES
AND SALARY/BENEFITS SURVEY

Benefits of Certification: Confirmed

Benefits of Certification: Confirmed

CYCCB Current Priorities

CYCCB CURRENT PRIORITIES

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International Thank a Youth Worker Day

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May 4, 2023 is international Thank a Youth Worker Day.

There are many ways to thank a Youth Worker.  What will YOU DO?

Join CYCCB and the Association for Child and Youth Care Practice in celebrating and honoring the millions of CYCs across the world who nurture and support the billions of young people and families in our care.

For more information and ideas, visit https://www.acycp.org/thank-a-youth-worker-day/ .

WHO ARE YOUTH WORKERS?

Youth Worker is a general term for those individuals who work with or on behalf of children, youth, and families in our community. It is another way to express the idea of CYC (Child and Youth Care Practitioner).  This includes early childhood, home school and public school teachers, afterschool workers, juvenile justice staff and police officers, CASA volunteers, residential care workers, youth pastors, foster parents, disabilities program staff, recreation and sports leaders, child welfare workers, and many others.


Together, they make up the Child and Youth Care Profession, the largest human services workforce with over 6 million members in the United States.

ACYCP COMPLETES BENCHMARK ISSUES AND SALARY/BENEFITS SURVEY

Christina L. Scanlon, Frank Eckles, Laura Klemm, Dale Curry,
Allison M. Belmont, and Keri A. Plevniak

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ACYCP conducted an ISSUES and SALARY/BENEFITS SURVEY October through December, 2020.  The study was conducted to inform public awareness efforts, set a baseline for future research on changes in the field, and focus ACYCP support to its individual and organizational members.  Study participants were asked to answer a set of demographical questions, identify important issues faced by both youth and CYC practitioners, and report basic information on the salary and benefits they receive from employment. 

The study was distributed electronically using a snowball research method where recipients were asked to redistribute the study to potential interested contacts.   Direct emails were sent to all ACYCP individual and organizational members;, practitioners certified by the Child and Youth Care Certification Board (CYCCB);, CYCCB advisors and Board members; members of FICE INTERNATIONAL; Indiana Journey Fellows and Indiana Youth Services Association (IYSA) members; all CYCCB certified practitioners, CYCCB state and provincial partners (Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin, Indiana, National Safe Place Network); listings in the Academy for Competent Youth Work’s 10K contact database; and Association for Children’s Residential Centers members.  Because the snowball method was used, it is not known how many total contacts received the study. 

The following information provides preliminary findings of the survey.  Work is currently underway to further analyze the data and report additional findings. 

 

WHO PARTICIPATED

A total of 947 people provided survey information.  The study was distributed internationally but is primarily composed of responses from the US (78.6%) and Canada (21.2%).  An additional 0.4% of the responses came from other countries.  The response group was composed of women (79.6%), men (19.3%), and other genders (0.06%).  Ages of respondents in the study ranged from 18 to over 66 with an average age of 40. 

 

PRACTICE SETTING

Respondents were asked, “In which practice setting do you primarily work?”

1 in which practice chart

Community- and Home-Based (37.9%) (e.g., after-school programs, clinic-based day treatment services, in-home treatment services, ministry services, prevention/intervention programs, probation services, recreational programs, street outreach, etc.)

Education, Professional Development, Research (35.8%) (e.g., academia, early childhood care/education, government organization, K-12 public/private school, professional development organization, research, training, etc.)

Out-of-Home Care (26.3%) (e.g., emergency shelters, foster care, group homes, independent living, juvenile corrections, medical hospitals/clinics, psychiatric hospital/clinics, residential treatment, transitional living, etc.)

The relatively even split across practice settings in the data collected demonstrates a wide sampling across the varied fields of practice within the child and youth care field. 

 

HIGHEST EDUCATION

The education level of the practitioners completing the study was as outlined in the chart below with over 75% of the respondents having attained at least Baccalaureate or Masters Degrees.

2 chart

It is Interesting to note that in the US more practitioners had Baccalaureate degrees while in Canada it was more prevalent for practitioners to have completed 2-3 year diploma programs.  This may be due to differences in the education system and between oversight and regulation requirements.

 

CYC CERTIFICATION

Respondents were asked to report the CYC Certification Level they had attained.  Approximately 40% of respondents were certified at one of the three certification levels.

3 certification chart

Respondents reported that 16.6% were paid more because they are certified (83.4% reported not being paid more).  Based on the data, we found that people certified at the CYC-P level tended to make more money than people who are not certified and people who are certified at Entry or Associate levels.  The Entry and Associate Certification Levels are not available in Canada.

 

ISSUES FACING CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Respondents were asked, “What are the top three most concerning issues facing children and youth?” and “What issue is MOST IMPORTANT to you as a CYC professional?”

In the charts below, a rating of “1” is Most Concerning or Most Important while “15” is considered Least Concerning or Least Important.

4 most concerning issues chart

Similarities in the responses between Canada and US reflect pervasiveness of some issues across North America.   At the top of the chart there is much congruence between Canada and the US.  The bottom ratings reflect bigger differences, which may be effects of societal or service system differences. 

5 most important issues chart

 

Similarities in the responses between Canada and US reflect pervasiveness of most issues across North America.   With the exception of ‘ensuring equity within child and youth work programs’, all of the ratings fall in similar priority rankings although in slightly different order.  These ratings are likely due to similar challenges faced by the workforces in both countries that relate to the status of youth in society and working conditions within the respective service systems.

 

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Are you employed on a part-time or full-time basis? 

Most respondents work on a full-time basis (81.6%) with the remainder employed on a part-time basis (15.2%), or as volunteers or in other employment categories (3.2%).

How much did you earn in 2019

On average, Canadians reported higher salaries than US child and youth care practitioners. In the US, the most commonly reported income for full-time practitioners was in the
$35,001 - $50,0000 range.  In Canada, the most commonly reported income for full-time practitioners was in the $50,000 - $75,000 range. Future reports will explore these differences in more detail. 

6 2019 full time salaries USA7 2019 full time salaries

8 Salary Range chart 

Do you receive any bonuses, awards, incentives, or additional compensation as a condition of your employment?  

Overall, a wide variety of benefits and incentives were identified by the respondents. Some of the most frequently cited include medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as holiday, vacation, and sick leave. Other commonly mentioned benefits were free parking, retirement accounts, and workers’ compensation insurance.  Less frequently, respondents also listed a number of other benefits such as travel allowances, cell phone reimbursement and performance-based raises. 

General Benefits: Vacation and holiday leave, sick or personal time off, and overtime.

9 time off

Health and Wellness Benefits:  Family and Medical Leave, health club membership, wellness programs, medical, disability, vision, mental health, dental, and prescription drug insurance.

10 health wellness chart

Other Benefits:  Extended leave/sabbatical, housing, free meals while working, retirement/financial planning, retirement account, work from home support, severance pay, business expense reimbursement, relocation support, worker’s compensation insurance, child care support, free parking, school tuition reimbursement, and student loan repayment.

11 other benefits chart

CONCLUSION

ACYCP is using this survey to establish a benchmark upon which to measure change over time.  Planning is underway to replicate the study in the near future.  This is a preliminary report.  Additional analysis is underway which will be reported in subsequent publications.

These preliminary findings provide valuable information that can be used as a basis for future inquiry. For example, which of the wide variety of benefits identified are most effective in promoting effective practitioner performance and reducing turnover within the workforce? Although retirement accounts were frequently cited as a benefit, they were not mentioned by more than half of the respondents. Do organizations that provide quality retirement programs promote long-term careers and reduce turnover? Does a long-term career in child and youth care place an individual at risk for an uncertain retirement due to relatively low salary and fewer retirement programs?  Since certification at the professional level is associated with higher salary, does professional level certification promote practitioner longevity in the field? Since there is a paucity of research pertaining specifically to the child and youth care workforce, the findings from this survey add to our knowledge but also prompt important questions for further investigation. 

SIGN-UP FOR VIRTUAL TESTING


iStock 1223889856CYCCB implemented virtually proctored online testing in Summer 2021.  All CYCCB exams are now available virtually. This significantly improves CYC practitioner access to testing and certification worldwide. Testing is now available 24/7 so you can schedule a time that best meets your needs. 

Sign up for testing. The CYCCB Office will contact you to verify payment and send instructions to complete the process. 

The virtual testing program was co-developed by CYCCB working with their partner, Indiana University (IU).  CYCCB Board member and Faculty at IU Bloomington, Dr. Deborah Getz, worked with a team of CYCCB staff and Board members to design, implement, and test the program.  The key question that had to be addressed was “how do you conduct testing without an in-person proctor while assuring that test takers are not taking unfair advantage or copying the exam contents?”  The efficacy of the testing program is based on the idea that test takers are taking the exams fairly.  In the past, no testing was conducted without an in-person proctor in the exam environment.  This has worked well over the 13 years that CYCCB has been conducting certification testing in the US and Canada.  With the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it was clear that another solution was needed.  

If you need additional information, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call  at (979) 764-7306.  

COMMENTS FROM VIRTUAL TEST TAKERS


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Shelly Currie
Faculty, Child and Youth Care 
Nova Scotia Community College 
Ivany Campus

"The online format is easy to navigate and convenient to use.  I was thrilled to be able to access the exam from my home at a time convenient to my schedule."

Josée Massé
Assistant Director of Emerging Minds
Ontario

“The new online format was simple to navigate, and ongoing support was available when I needed help!”


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Chrissy Deckers
Faculty, Child and Youth Care
Georgian College
Ontario

"I appreciated the convenience of the online exam. I thought the process was very straight forward. Setup instructions were easy to follow and I was well supported throughout the process. I really appreciated the opportunity to complete the exam in advance of being able to gather again in light of the pandemic."

Joanne Fraser
Casual Faculty, Child and Youth Care
Nova Scotia Community College
Truro Campus

"Taking the certification exam online was a great experience.  Meeting my proctor, Dr. Getz, for a chat a few days before the exam helped to ease my test taking anxiety. She walked me through setting up the required software and answered any questions I had, and she made sure I had her contact information in case any difficulties arose. Being able to take the exam in the comfort of my own home allowed me to go at my own pace and not compare myself to others who may have taken less time than I did. As a result, I believe I was able to fully concentrate on doing my best without any distractions. I passed with flying colours and overall, it was a very comfortable and enjoyable process! Thank you, Dr. Getz and all involved in bringing the exam to the online environment!"

BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION: CONFIRMED

The following are recent publications that confirm benefits of CYC Certification.

Benefits of CYC Certification Brochure  Published www.InYouthWork.org February 2022. 

What is the most practical and efficient way to improve child and youth care services?  Dale Curry.  Published in the ACYCP Advocate Column “The Accidental Practitioner”.  Winter 2022.

News Release: ACYCP, CYCCB and COA announce inclusion of CYC Certification in the COA Standards February 2019.

CYC Youth Worker Survey  Diehl Consulting Group.  August 2021.

STRTP Policy and Practice Recommendations to Improve a Critical Component of Care for Foster Youth  California Alliance of Child and Family Services: Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) Member Task Force.  February 2021.

ACYCP Salary and Benefits Survey Association for Child and Youth Care Practice. December, 2020.

Report of a Crosswalk between the Competencies of The Nationally Recognized Core Competencies For Afterschool and Youth Development Professionals (draft) and the Competencies for Professional Child and Youth Work Practitioners (2010). CYCCB. September 2011

CYCCB Current Priorities

CYCCB.jpg                      CYCCB’s Current Priorities and Accomplishments 

CYCCB was formed by the Association for Child and Youth Care Practice (ACYCP) in 2008 to oversee the implementation of the CYC-P professional certification.  Over the past 10 years, much has been accomplished to establish and expand the CYC Certification.

The international certification effort continues to be an excellent example of what can be accomplished when CYC practitioners work across silos to accomplish a common goal.  The most important work of CYCCB continues to be accomplished by volunteers working in conjunction with the Board and office staff.

We thank the many practitioners who have served on our Board and committees.  Many of our leadership have been involved for more than 10 years. CYCCB’s mission could not have been accomplished without the thousands of unpaid volunteer hours donated by this group and others.

CYCCB is truly an international effort that provides a place for expertise to be brought together for the common good of CYC practitioners, the profession, and the millions of young people we serve. 

CYCCB is now the largest international CYC certification program in the world.  

CYCCB is currently involved in Strategic Planning to set goals and direction for the next 3 years.  CYCCB has completed similar planning processes 3 times in its history.  Each plan has been over 90% attained by the next planning session. 

Over the last 12 years, CYCCB has:

  1. Provided leadership in revising the 2002 CYC competency document. In 2010 work was completed to update language and practices to better reflect cross-sector work.

  2. Implemented proctored test sites in many US states and four Canadian Provinces.  Currently, there are over 80 trained proctors available across North America.

  3. Created a Canadian version of the CYC-P exam that is adjusted for culture, diversity, language, and practices in Canada.  Additional work to further refine the exam is currently in planning.

  4. Integrated the CYC-P credential into the existing certification programs sponsored by state and provincial professional associations in Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Louisiana, Florida, California, Indiana, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Ontario.  CYCCB has recognized the certification sponsored by the Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta (CYCAA), Canada. Practitioners certified by CYCAA can use their certification to meet some of the CYCCB Certification requirements. Negotiations are underway to expand reciprocity with the Alberta CYC Credential.

  5. Co-sponsored work with the ACYCP and the University of Pittsburgh to hold an international gathering of higher education faculty from child and youth work degree programs attended by representatives from colleges and universities in the US, Canada, and Scotland. Work was started on an integrated higher education system built around the Competencies for Professional CYW Practice (2010) and CYC Certification. A new Higher Education Committee is in development.

  6. CYCCB continues to support the work of the Child and Youth Care Educational Accreditation Board of Canada (CYCEAB) to raise standards for CYC higher education programs in Canada.  CYCCB is a founding member.

  7. Collaborated with ACYCP, National AfterSchool Association (NAA), National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA), CYC Certification Institute (CYCI), National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS), and the Association of Children’s Residential Centers (ACRC) in 2012 to establish the CYW Workforce Coalition (CYWWC).  This group is working across sectors to link professional development opportunities, establish a unified voice for the CYC workforce, and increase career pathways that promote an accessible, stable, and competent workforce.

  8. Published the CYC Professional Certification Workbook in 2017 to provide a comprehensive source of information for students and practitioners preparing for CYC certification.  This will be updated by the end of 2019 to better describe the Entry and Associate Level certifications which were added to CYCCB after the workbook was initially published.

  9. Research continues to be prioritized to further explore how certification and high standards of practice impact the millions of children, youth, and families cared for by certified CYC professionals. Sponsoring studies in organizations that have large numbers of certified practitioners is expected to further clarify the impact of certification on practice and young people.

    The Research Committee base has been moved from Kent State to Indiana University.  The Committee is currently looking for a new chair to replace Dr. Dale Curry, who established and chaired the committee for 10+ years.

  10. Integrated the Entry and Associate Certifications offered through the CYC Certification Institute into the CYCCB certification umbrella to expand professional development and certification opportunities over the entire span of a practitioner’s career from entry into the workforce through fully competent practice. 

  11. In 2018 the Council on Accreditation, the largest international organization accrediting child care programs, recognized the CYCCB competencies and certification program in their standards. Meeting CYCCB certification requirements was recognized by COA as an indicator of high-quality staffing (which is well documented as a primary indicator of quality programming). Practitioners who have various levels of CYC Certification are recognized as qualified for many positions within the standards.  Additional discussions are in-process to expand the number and types of positions included.

  12. Co-sponsored with the Indiana Youth Services Association, The Journey, Department of Education and 21st Century Learning Community a pilot program in 2018 to test the viability of an on-line application process that facilitates completion of all certification application requirements before a practitioner tests.  The pilot program ended in Dec 2018 and demonstrated that this approach increased the number of people who completed the certification process. It is now implemented throughout Indiana for all CYC practitioners applying for certification in that state. Plans are moving forward to expand the use of this system in other jurisdictions.  

  13. Cross-walked the CYC Certification competencies to the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets. This connected two major frameworks broadly implemented across the CYC field.  Connecting the Dots is a significant effort to bring a research-informed understanding of assets into more general use across the field of child and youth work practice by creating a cross-walk to the CYC Certification Competencies.  As such, it will benefit practitioners in early childhood, juvenile justice, after school, disabilities, congregate and foster care, child welfare, education, and many other settings. This work was undertaken by the Bartholomew County Council for Youth Development in collaboration with CYCCB.

  14. In 2011 CYCCB created a crosswalk to the newly published Core Competencies For Afterschool and Youth Development Professionals. This was important work in validating the idea that the CYCCB competencies, which describe CYC practice across settings, also describe competencies identified by a major national effort to describe competencies specific to out-of-school practice. The National After School Association has since revised the competencies framework twice.  The CYCCB Certification Practices Committee is currently creating a new crosswalk to the revised NAA 3rd edition competencies which is expected to again confirm the correlation of competencies across settings and provide insight into how the CYCCB competencies can be better understood as representing levels of competence.

  15. Discussions are underway regarding creating additional certification levels. Many practitioners could benefit from a certification that verifies a professional as meeting standards for 3rd party insurance payments.  Specific certification for this could open opportunities to CYCs to engage in private practice.

    Provisional certification levels have been implemented for the Entry and Associate Certification levels so that all levels currently offer a provisional option.  These are thought to be important in helping students coming into the field from higher education programs become certified upon graduation, often before they have an adequate employment history.  It is also helpful for part-time practitioners who have completed entry-level training before attaining the required experience. 

  16. CYCCB is exploring the implementation of a new certification management system. As the demand for certification continues to increase, CYCCB is updating its data management systems and designing more efficient application and renewal processing. At this juncture of development, CYCCB is investing in retooling its infrastructure to prepare for expanded demand over the next 5 years.   

  17. Deborah Getz, CYCCB Secretary and faculty at Indiana University are forming a High Education Committee to work with educators to expand the integration of the CYC competencies and certification requirements into university degree programs. She is currently assembling the committee and plans to sponsor national meetings in the near future.

  18. The Spanish version of the Entry Level Certification Exam is being piloted by the staff at Morrison Children and Family Services in Oregon. The exam was originally translated by a team at the University of Texas Brownsville. CYCCB is conducting a study to verify the impact of the exam on test scores of practitioners whose first language was Spanish. Once this study has concluded, it is expected that the exam will be implemented throughout the CYCCB testing system.

  19. In 2020, CYCCB, the Academy for Competent Youth Work, and Youth Build Philly collaborated to create a high school vocational program in Philadelphia. Students in this charter school program complete their high school diploma while studying youth work. The program includes field placements in local child care organizations. This is a 3-year pilot project that is researching the effectiveness and safety of the program.