What qualifications do you need to become a Child and Youth Advocate?

People frequently wonder what sort of education and work experience is needed to become an Advocate. This is not easy to answer in just a few words. Right now, most of the Advocates have social work degrees either at the Bachelor or Master’s level. Other educational backgrounds found relevant are education, law, and child care, but any human services field of study might be applicable.

In terms of employment experience, most Advocates have worked with children and youth in some capacity within the child intervention or education systems. The current Advocates have had a number of years of such experience before joining the program.

When it comes to choosing an Advocate, probably the most important aspects considered relate to how the candidate views children and youth. The values and beliefs of the candidate and the philosophy and approach towards young people are carefully considered. It is about respect for the individual and their rights. It is about a genuine belief that the voice of a young person should not only be heard but also be considered. It is about believing that young people have the right to be involved and to participate in the decisions being made about them.

In addition to how one views children and youth, Advocates need to have a good understanding of developmental needs of children, they need to be able to understand how a child or youth views problems or issues, and they need to be a good problem solver to assist youth with their own problem solving abilities. Advocates teach by example in assisting youths to advocate on their own behalf.

Strong communication skills are a must. An Advocate will need to utilize many different forms of communication to do their work effectively.

Knowledge of systems and services available to children and youth in the intervention or enhancement system and related systems is required. This knowledge enables an Advocate to assist youth to access their entitlements and exercise their rights.

Find out more about what an Advocate does. Check out "A day in the life of an Advocate."