Who Works On Behalf Of Child and Youth Care Workers?
The Educational and Professional Status of Residential Child and Youth Care Workers Worldwide

Globally, there has been a growing awareness of the need to provide RYW with relevant training and educational opportunities, thus enabling them to acquire the necessary skills to work with at-risk youth in residential settings.

Many RYW are often dedicated but lack professional training and qualifications.

It is imperative that RYW, who often serve as important role models for at-risk youth, receive proper training and education, as this can significantly influence the social and emotional well-being and future of the child.

Most educational and therapeutic residential settings are child-centered, while the challenges and needs of the RYW, who are responsible for the emotional and physical wellbeing of the child, often go unnoticed.

This roundtable will discuss the current educational training, professional status, challenges and needs of RYW worldwide as well as prospects for the future.

Moderator: Emmanuel Grupper, Ph.D., Professor and Deputy Director School of Education & Social Studies, Ono Academic College, Israel

Hezi Aharoni, Ph.D., Coordinator of the Area of Youth Workers in Residential Care; EFSHAR - Association for Development of Social & Educational Services, Jerusalem Lecturer, Givat Washington College, Israel

Jennifer Brooker, Ph.D., YMCA, George Williams College, London, UK

Mr. Avi Hadida, Founder of "Kfir" Staff Training Program, Mandel School for Educational Leadership Graduate, Israel

Kiaras Gharabaghi, Ph.D., Professor and Director, School of Child & Youth Care, Ryerson University, Canada