York Region Children’s Aid Society, Intake and Assessment

Year 1 Practicum, January to May 2026

The York Region Children’s Aid Society (YRCAS) is a non-profit community organization legally mandated to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect. As a leader within the child welfare sector, we partner with parents, caregivers, and community to provide a safe environment for children and youth, through equitable, culturally aligned services.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Child Youth and Family Wellbeing Student Mentor, the Intake Services Student will work within the area of Intake Services, and may be asked to perform any of the following responsibilities with the direct support of their Student Mentor:

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assist with screening calls, determining appropriate responses, and providing information, consultation, assessment and crisis intervention to sources of referral, and liaise closely with other service providers in the community to ensure optimum delivery of services.

Utilize anti-oppressive, critical thinking and solution focused involvements to assist the student mentor in carrying out interventions with families using the least disruptive course of action required to ensure child/youth safety.

Work with your student mentor to ensure immediate safety of children through the development of a Safety Plan that involves engagement and collaboration with family, community, and community organizations.

Support your student mentor with carrying out investigations and assessments related to cases of alleged physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse involving children, including assisting in making determinations regarding risk, verification, and recommendations.

Participate in joint investigations with police and other governing bodies and agencies, as appropriate to ensure the safety of children.

Participate in the development of plans for risk reduction and intervention, based on Comprehensive Assessments and Plans of Service as outlined in the Risk Assessment Model.

Assist in determining when children require admission to the care of the Society and, where necessary, provide support to your student mentor in removing children to ensure their immediate safety as a last resort.

Assess and help to make decisions related to reunification plans and implement such plans where appropriate.

Develop and maintain effective and therapeutic casework relationships with service recipients with the objective of supporting and promoting their ability to reduce risk of harm to children.

Provide referrals to appropriate internal and external resources in order to provide quality service to Society service recipients, with the objective of reducing risk of harm to children.

Assist with the development and preparation of admission documentation and initial plans of care for children who have been admitted into the Society’s care.

Work with your student mentor to assess requests for financial assistance for clients and support the arrangement of such assistance if deemed justified and necessary.

Participate in the supervision of therapeutic access visits between children and caregivers as required.

Ensure both internal and external record checks are completed via “Search Request” through the CPIN Support Team.

Collaborate with your student mentor to determine intervention of Family Court involvement, and help to prepare accurate legal documentation, provide testimony in Unified Family Court and Criminal Court, assist in preparing clients for court and enforcing court orders in order to protect children.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Have awareness and competency in identifying and addressing bias, discrimination, and racism to disrupt systemic barriers that families, children, and youth are experiencing.

Strong ability to connect, collaborate and engage with individuals to ensure optimal service delivery to children, youth and families.

Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Curious, creative and innovative thinker.

Practicum Requirements: 

Vulnerable Sector Police Check 
Drivers Licence 
Access to a car

Does your practicum require any previous experience? If yes, please specify.

Please indicate whether this practicum will be in-person, remote or hybrid.

Hybrid.

Please indicate whether this practicum will involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect.

Direct practice

Number of practicums offered? 2

Deadline for applications:

9:00AM on Wednesday October 29, 2025

Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?

Resume only

Accessibility Considerations:

Will the student have access to a private space for notes or computer use? Yes

Are there breaks between clients/patients/meetings? Yes

Is the practicum considered fast-paced? Fast

Is there a high noise level in the practicum? Medium

Is the site wheelchair accessible? Yes

What are the physical demands of the practicum? Sitting, standing, walking, driving.

Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of?
N/A. If a student has accessibility concerns, they should connect with the Department of People and Culture at YRCAS for support.

Applying to this practicum:

Applications for this practicum must be submitted directly through the York CAS HR portal here: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=cde5c983-fb41-4db1-904a-85f406d7a6a3&ccId=9200376731442_2&type=JS&lang=en_CA

Please apply for the Intake and Assessment Student Placement opportunity (#2025-STU-10 & 2025-STU-11). Applications must be submitted by 9:00AM on Wednesday October 29, 2025.

Once you have submitted your application, please also email miri.ben.dat@utoronto in the Practicum Office to notify our office that that you have applied.