What Can I do With a Degree in Child, Youth, and Family Studies?

The information on this page is designed to help you explore possible careers. Use the links below to navigate to different areas of the page. We recommend working with a career counselor to help you identify careers based on your skills, interests, and values.

List of Employers and Job Titles Developed from Jobs Posted Jobs in Handshake for Child, Youth, and Family Studies Majors
Government Classification Specifications (Community Colleges, State and County Agencies, School Districts)
Professional Associations

Students who major in Child, Youth, and Family Studies develop many skills that are valued by employers. These skills include: critical thinking, analysis, communication, interpersonal, research, writing, and problem solving. Child, Youth, and Family Majors understand human development, identity, diversity, and oppression. Students and alumni may find employment in business, government, nonprofit, social service, and educational institutions depending on their interests, skills, values, and experience. Internships or other relevant experience (part-time paid or volunteer) may be a prerequisite to finding employment.

Resources to Generate Ideas for Careers and/or Places of Employment

List of Employers and Job Titles Developed from Jobs Posted Jobs in Handshake for Child, Youth, and Family Studies Majors

The following list of employers and job titles was derived from the University Career Center's jobs database where the employer specifically requested Child, Youth, and Family Studies Majors. This list does not reflect all potential places of employment or kinds of jobs for Child, Youth, and Family Studies Majors. This list does not reflect current openings.

Benton County — Juvenile Outreach Specialist
Camp Fire USA, Portland Metro Council — Youth Advocate, Site Supervisor
Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare — Program Coordinator/Family Care Coordinator
Catholic Community Services of Western Washington — Case Manager, Certified Peer Counselor (Youth or Parent), Chemical Dependency Professional, Family Support Specialist, Mental Health Therapist, Outpatient Therapist, Prevention Coordinator, Program Manager, Women's Advocate
Central City Concern — Parent Trainer
Clackamas County Children's Commission — Primary Caregiver
Community Action Organization — Family Advocate, Family Support Worker - Opening Doors, New Parent Network Supervisor, Outreach Worker
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Kids —Program Coordinator
Tom Sargent Safety Center at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital— Child Safety Advocate
Education Service District 105 (ESD105) — KidScreen Specialist
Friends of the Children — Professional Male Mentor
Home Forward — Resident and Community Services Coordinator (bilingual Spanish)
Hopelink — Child Development Manager
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization — Home Visitor, Community Outreach Specialist
Impact NW — Program Specialist I - Parent/Child
Jackson County — Project Service Coordinator
Janus Youth Programs — Skills Trainer, Crisis Intake Specialist
Juliette's House Child Abuse Assessment Center — Child Interviewer/Intake Counselor
Lifeworks NW — Bilingual Mental Health Therapist, Child Milieu Counselor,
Mayhew Program, The — Summer Island Program Facilitator
Mentor Graphics Child Development Center— Infant and Toddler Teacher, Transition Teacher
Metropolitan Family Service — Program Coordinator
Morrison Center Child & Family Services — Adolescent and Family Counselor, Program Evaluation/Data AnalystSchool Based Clinician, Child Development Therapist, Residential Counselor/Skills Specialist, Dual Diagnosis Therapist (SSM), Youth Care Specialist, Family Support Specialist, Relief Residential Counselor, Treatment Coordinator, Family Therapist, Bilingual Family Therapist
Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) — Administrative Assistant/Disabilities Services - Head Start, Supervisor/Site Coordinator, Child Care Resource and Referral Specialist
Neighborhood House, Inc. — Child Care Specialist
Outside In — Youth Specialist I & II, Workforce Development Case Manager for Youth, Housing Specialist, Parent Support Specialist
Portland Community College (PCC) — Lead Child Development Specialist
Portland YouthBuilders — Advocate
Salvation Army — Youth Advocate
Tongue Point Job Corps Center — Residential Advisor
Trillium Family Services — Child and Adolescent Treatment Specialist. Awake Overnight Child and Adolescent Treatment Specialist
Volunteers of America of Oregon — Infant Interventionist, Child Care Supervisor, Toddler Interventionist
YMCA of Columbia-Willamette — Site Director
YWCA of Clark County — Independent LIving Skills Program Resource Specialist
YWCA of Greater Portland — Program Manager

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Government Classification Specifications

Classification Specifications are generic descriptions of jobs in government agencies. This is not a list of current openings. Generally, classification specifications provide an overview of the job and describe essential duties and responsibilities as well as requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and educational requirements. Salary information may also be included. You can review this information to identify kinds of government jobs you might be interested in pursuing.

Community College

Mount Hood Community College Class Specifications with salary information