The history of professional child and youth work began in 1801 in France with Jean Marc Gaspard Itard and Mme. Guérin.  In Ontario, child and youth counsellors (CYCs) have been working with disadvantaged and troubled youth since the mid-1800s.  A century later, in the late 1950s, formal training programs were established and CYCs became known officially as "Child Care Workers."  The professional association was incorporated, August 1, 1969, as the "Child Care Workers' Association of Ontario" (CCWAO).

With the development of standardized training programs in the community colleges, degree programs, a professional journal, and provincial and national conferences, the profession expanded rapidly throughout Ontario.  The role of the CYC also expanded well beyond the traditional residential worker in psychiatric facilities for children and adolescents.  With these new roles and status came the new name -- in 1989 the CCWAO became the Ontario Association of Child and Youth Counsellors.  In 1999, the OACYC became the largest CYC association in North America.
For a more complete chronology of the profession and the OACYC, see Milestones.

• most have a  college diploma (Child and Youth Worker, or prior to 1987, Child Care Worker diploma), with about 1500 hours of field work
  
• some have related diplomas (Corrections, Early Childhood, Behavioural Science, Social Services, etc.) or degrees with CYC experience
  
• many have degrees in Child and Youth Care (Ryerson University, University of Victoria) or a CCW/CYW diploma with a degree in related fields (psychology, sociology, social work, family studies, etc.)
  
• some have advanced degrees in such studies as education, criminology, psychology, social work, child and youth administration, etc.