C2Y: Discussions on Child and Youth Care

Institutional Care in Kenya, a Personal Perspective from Stephen Ucembe

Stephen Ucembe starts the conversation by discussing his life growing up in residential care, which leads to an insightful, and at times disquieting, critique of institutional care in Kenya. The interview was inspired by Mr. Ucembe’s chapter in RESIDENTIAL CHILD AND YOUTH CARE IN A DEVELOPING WORLD: Global Perspectives (available from CYC-Net.org). His contribution is an engaging and eye-opening analysis of residential care in Kenya.

Stephen Ucembe founded the Kenya Society of Careleavers in 2009 to provide support to young people leaving institutional care. He is a social worker, and is employed by Hope and Homes for Children as a Regional Advocacy Manager.

Sexual Abuse Seen as an Individual

On this episode of Your Right to Speak, Salvatore and Jenn speak with Carleen as they continue on the topic of Sexual Abuse. Carleen talks about how there is not a one-fits-all therapy for sexual abuse and how the therapy needs to meet where the individual is at mentally and emotionally. Carleen makes it a point to say that labels such as survivor or victim are often charge but she found in her experiences people who are sexually abuse want to be seen as an individual.   Carleen talks about how some people who are sexually abused may have a positive reaction to their body however it was not wanted and it creates a scene of guilt, shame and how to address this in therapy.   

If you are a child or youth that would like to be on the show or if you have a topic that you think we should talk about please email Salvatore at yourrighttospeak@gmail.com 

Do We Really Want Compliance? A conversation with Dr. Lorraine Fox

Inspired by a recent email discussion on CYC-Net.org, Dr. Lorraine Fox talks about The Catastrophe of Compliance and why it is imperative to teach young people discernment. She draws upon trauma informed care to look at point and level systems, individualized work, and the benefits of a “medical model” approach when working with children and youth.

Dr. Lorraine Fox is a Certified Child Care Worker and holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She has has been a direct service worker, a supervisor, a clinical director, an Executive Director, and an Assistant Professor. She has been sharing her knowledge and wisdom through publishing and presenting for several decades, now, and I’m thrilled that she is joining us today for this conversation. To learn more about her work and to read the article referred to in the podcast (The Catastrophe of Compliance) please visit http://www.drlorrainefox.com.

Sexual Abuse: A Discussion with Cheyanne Ratnam

On this episode, we talk with Cheyanne about sexual abuse. Cheyanne talks about her unfortunate experiences as a sexual abuse survivor, as well as why it is taboo to talk about sexual abuse and the connection to culture. There is discussion on how to recover as a survivor or victim and the importance of an individual to label themselves. Cheyanne stresses the importance of using a cultural humility perceptive.

Facebook: Abuse Never Becomes Us (ANBU)

Twitter: cheyratnam

Facebook Subscribe: Cheyanne Ratnam

LinkedIN: LI: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/cheyanneratnam

 

If you are a child or youth that would like to be on the show or if you have a topic that you think we should talk about please email Salvatore at yourrighttospeak@gmail.com 

A Last Resort Profession – Resisting the Trend. A presentation by Kiaras Gharabaghi

This week is a recording of the closing key note talk from the 2016 Canadian National Child and Youth Care conference, which took place in Halifax. In May of this year there was a report released called Because Young People Matter: Report of the Residential Services Review Panel. It is well worth reading, you can find a link to it here. Kiaras Gharabaghi is one of the three authors and in this talk he shares some of his learning and reflections from the report. The presentation is one hour long. Here is the description of his closing keynote:

“How is it that once the evidence has failed, the treatment is a bust, and the systems scratch their heads we look to CYCs to take over? Over the past ten years, professional structures, policy moves and institutional responses to young people facing adversity have prioritized rhetorical movements over relational practices. From family-based care to evidence-based treatment approaches, anything but child and youth care practice has de facto carried the day, until the system’s failures become sufficiently apparent that there is only one move left; the move of last resort – the move into places where child and youth care practitioners are asked to work miracles, but expected to accomplish little. The time to resist this trend is now. Gharabaghi argues that unless we elevate our approaches to stand as alternatives to the current rhetorical front runners, our profession will become known as the profession of last resort. Much is at stake.”

 

A Talk With Ontario Autism Coalition

On this episode of Your Right to Speak we introduce Jenn as the new co-host. We talk with Laura and Bruce who are member of an Organization called Ontario Autism Coalition. Laura and Bruce talk about the recent IBI age cut off and how there fought for change. The conversation then turns to gaps within the education system and how teachers could better work with student with disabilities.

Ontario Autism Coalition website: http://ontarioautismcoalition.com/

Ontario Autism Coalition Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4179793644/

If you are a child or youth that would like to be on the show or if you have a topic that you think we should talk about please email Salvatore at yourrighttospeak@gmail.com

Non-Adult Sex Work, A Discussion with Nikki Thomas

In this conversation, Nikki Thomas talks about the many myths and realities about sex work, particularly as it relates to people under the legal age of consent to do sex work (18 years old, in Canada). Nikki offers some thoughts on why young people become involved in sex work, how to support young people doing such work, and dealing with personal values as professional care providers.  

Nikki Thomas is a sex worker who has been involved in the business for about a decade. She is a strong advocate for rights of sex workers and was involved in a recent legal case that went to the supreme court of Canada. A case which resulted in forcing the Government to change the laws regarding sex work. Nikki also hosts Allegra Escorts Podcasts, where she speaks with other sex workers. To hear the podcast visit: https://soundcloud.com/allegra-escorts-podcast

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A look within the LGBTQ Community: One Persons Opinion

On this episode, we talk with Joey who is the lead of digital media for Pride Toronto. Joey talks about how he feels society more accepting towards the LGBTQ+ community however, there are some challenges.  

If you are a child or youth that would like to be on the show or if you have a topic that you think we should talk about please email Salvatore at yourrighttospeak@gmail.com         

Adult Allies in Youth Justice Movements with Dr. Hava Gordon

In this episode we explore the relationship between youth and adult allies, particularly as it relates to issues of injustice. Dr. Hava Gordon discusses some of the justice issues that young people in the US face, particualry as they relate to schooling, and looks at what the role of adult’s are in supporting youth movements. She introduces several suggestions on how to be an ally, some of the challenges of being one, and suggestions on how to avoid aspects that can limit ones capacity to be an ally.

Dr. Gordon is an associate professor of Sociology and Criminology  at the University of Denver. Her work focuses on the social construction of inequalities such as gender, race, class and age; social movements, and schooling. Her current research is on community struggles over urban school reform, and is the subject of her upcoming book This is Our School! Race, Resistance, and Community Struggles over School Reform.

Thinking of Sexuality as a Spectrum

On this weeks episode, we say farewell to our co-host, Josh. Best of luck to him and his future endeavours! The two guests on the show are Melissa and Maria, who are peers of Salvatore (Sammy). The topic of the show talks about how sexuality is a spectrum and the different challenges facing the LGBTQ + community. There is also talk around the coming out process. 

If are you a child or youth that would like to be on the show or if you have a topic that you think we should talk about please email Salvatore at yourrighttospeak@gmail.com

Confessions of a (former) Teenage Transexual Whore, a conversation with Star.

In this interview: Star, who wrote the zine series “Confessions of a Teenage Transexual Whore” talks about their time doing sex work and making art. They also discuss reasons people do sex work, how to support people who are engaged in such work, and what harm reduction might look like in those contexts. Star, who also uses the name Markus, is a visual artist, writer, student, educator, trans, videographer, and activist. They are currently doing an undergraduate degree in sociology and actively making art. You can find much of their work at starkisscreations.com

Spanking Your Child: Good or Bad?

On this episode we talk with Megan, a recent graduate from Humber Colleges Child and Youth Care Degree. Megan talks with Sammy and Josh about her thesis on sections 43 of the Canadian criminal code and corporal punishment. The 3 discuss how children are viewed and how the discourse of a child needs to change to match the current times. The discussion then focuses on parenting and the use of corporal punishment as a parenting tool and the challenges with that.  It was also noted that communication with the young person is really important to start moving away from using corporal punishment.  

If you are a child/youth that would like to be on the show or if you have an idea of what you think we should talk about please email Sammy and Josh at  yourrighttospeak@gmail.com       

Harm Reduction Programs For Youth Around The World With Murtaza Majeed from YouthRISE

Murtaza Majeed discusses what harm reduction is and looks at examples of harm reduction from Iran, Afghanistan, Ireland, and Portugal. He discusses polices and programs that directly impact young people and talks about the war on drugs, racism in drug policy, and his recommendations for global responses to reduce the negative impact of drug use.

Murtaza Majeed, is the coordinator for Youth RISE, an international, youth focused harm-reduction program based out of London. Murtaza has worked with Medicines du Monde, and was the coordinator for the Afghanistan National AIDS Control Program. He lives in Kabul, Afghanistan.

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Social Media, Communications and Young Peoples Voice

On this episode of Your Right to Speak, Sammy and Josh talk with Sho and Aki about the use of social media, communications and elevating the voice of young people and social justice movements. There is discussion about how social media and communications should be used together, and how social media has become a new way for young people to express their views. 

If you are a child/youth that would like to be on the show or if you have an idea of what you think we should talk about please email Sammy and Josh at yourrighttospeak@gmail.com 

Being a Mindful Practitioner, Parent, and Person with Tina Lackner

Tina Lackner discusses what mindfulness is, the evidence-base that supports it, and how to implement it with children, youth and ourselves. Tina Lacker is a CYW, a registered play therapist, a mother of three, and a faculty member at Humber College in Toronto.

Here are a variety of mindfulness based resources, recommended by Tina, to get you started:

For Children: 

• Christiane Kerr - "Enchanted Meditations For Kids" or "Calm for Kids"
• Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda by Lauren Alderfer

For Teens 

• Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety by Christopher Willard

For Adults 

• Insight Timer- https://insighttimer.com
• Tara Brach- https://www.tarabrach
• Headspace- https://www.headspace.com
• 10 Mindful Minutes by Goldie Hawn

For Parent and their Children: 

• Still Like A Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and their parents) by Eline Snel, 

For Parenting: 

• Parenting the Mindful Child by Susan Kaiser Greenland and Child's Mind: Mindfulness practices to help our children be more focused, calm, and relaxed by Christopher Willard

For CYCs: 

• Acceptance & Mindfulness treatment for children and adolescents: A practitioners guide by Thomas Ollendick, Steven Hayes, Lauren Greco