Who We Are?

About CYC-Net Canada

Welcome to CYC-Net Canada! This is a platform in the digital lifespace for those passionate about working with young people & engaging in Relational Child and Youth Care (CYC) Practice across Canada. CYC-Net Canada came to be in 2022 and was created with the intention of supporting and developing skilled, competent Relational CYC Practitioners and the provision of consistent care across programs and educational settings throughout the country. With this goal in mind, CYC-Net Canada, as is the case with CYC-Net International, offers access to the news, resources, and other information available on it with no cost to the Child and Youth Care professionals accessing it. CYC-Net Canada is supported by individuals and organizations across Canada. It is also supported by (and supports) CYC-Net.

What is CYC-Net Canada?

CYC-Net Canada is a gathering place in the digital-lifespace. It is a place for those who engage relationally with young people and families to produce & share knowledge, news, and experiences. It is a place for us to connect with other professionals and organizations across Canada, and, ultimately, it is a place where we can create a shared meaning of Relational Practice and grow (together) the field of Child and Youth Care in our country.

Our Mission

CYC-Net Canada is dedicated to advancing the field of child and youth care in Canada by:

  1. Providing a gathering place in the digital life-space for professionals, students, and individuals passionate about the field of Child and Youth Care to connect, collaborate, and share their knowledge, experiences, and resources.
  2. Promoting consistency and competence in Relational Child and Youth Care practice, education, and research.
  3. Fostering a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and respect, where the voices of all members of the Child and Youth Care Community are amplified and valued.
  4. Collaborating with associated groups and organizations in Canada to advocate for policies and practices that support the well-being and development of children and youth.

The History of CYC-Net and CYC-Net Canada

CYC-Net – the International Child & Youth Care Network – was founded in 1999 by Brian Gannon & Thom Garfat. In 1999.  Prior to this, Brian had developed an intranet for the South African CYC Association and, in many ways, CYC-Net was an extension of this, his initial work.

In the early years CYC-Net was a fledgling organisation sponsored by a small grant from the Dutch Embassy in South Africa and by both Thom and Brian working to support it.   Over time, it became supported by many organisations / institutions, especially from Canada.

CYC-Net was founded on the idea that helpful resources should be available to everyone, worldwide, without the need to pay for access.  The idea was to provide information, connections and learning to the widest CYC network possible without people having to ‘buy’ a membership or otherwise pay for the resources. Afterall, even 5$ per month is a lot of money in some contexts.

Originally begun as a Discussion Group, with 8 CYC professionals from around the world – Africa, Israel, Australia, Canada, England, etc., – it quickly grew to a network of hundreds of people interested in CYC Professional Development.  And from this discussion group, the idea of a web presence providing the opportunity to network, learn and develop was encouraged.  Thus was CYC-Net originally developed. It evolved in the field, from the field, for the field.

One might safely say, it evolved from the needs of the field.

CYC-Net has now evolved to a place where it is visited by thousands of people every month, from all corners of the globe.  As Carol Stuart said, it is the go-to resource for anyone working with troubled youth.

CYC-Net Canada is a recent development.  It evolved as CYC-Net decided to become more ‘locally present’ in supporting CYCs in every corner of the globe.  CYC-Net Canada will, thus, have a specific focus on CYC in Canada, while still connecting to the broader, global CYC network.  All the resources of CYC-Net support CYC-Net Canada.

So, we invite you to join us in spreading the word about the value of Child and Youth Care practice in Canada.

The CYC-Net Canada team.

Working Together with Other Groups in Canada

CYC-Net Canada is a network. As such, we seek partnerships and collaboration in advancing and promoting the field of child and youth care in Canada. We are proud to work with a variety of groups and organizations across Canada to promote excellence in child and youth care practice, education, and research.

  • Collaborating with local colleges and universities to provide specialized training for child and youth care professionals
  • Partnering with research organizations to conduct studies on the impact of early intervention programs
  • Engaging with policymakers at the civic, provincial, and federal levels to advocate for child and youth services funding.
  • Working with provincial and other national child and youth care organizations, such as the Council of Canadian Child and Youth Care Associations and FICE Canada, to share and maximize resources

Board of Governors

  • Christine Gaitens, Co-Chair  Ontario
  • Jessica Hadley, Co-Chair  Manitoba
  • Andy Leggett, Treasurer  Ontario
  • Koryn Marshall, Ontario
  • Heidi Holloway, Secretary  Nova Scotia
  • Thom Garfat, Quebec
  • Heather Modlin, Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Jenny McGrath, Alberta
  • Travis Sampson, Nova Scotia
Our constitution