The Transition from Student to Practitioner in Children and Youth Care

The transition from child and youth care student to child and youth care professional can be an anxiety producing experience. The purpose of this chapter is to identify the challenges regularly encountered by beginning practitioners in order to provide a frame of reference for entry into this type of work. Anticipating and preparing for these events may facilitate an easier transition into the world of work. This chapter addresses the following areas: finding work, readiness to practice, defining the child care role, supervision, agency structures and suggestions for the beginning practitioner.