Oct. 19, 2026

Supporting young people through crisis and creating change beyond the individual

Since graduating from Laurier Social Work in 2016, Wube Yitayew has brought together clinical care, research and leadership to support children and families navigating mental health crises.

When a young person is experiencing a mental health crisis, understanding what they need means looking beyond their immediate circumstances. For Wube Yitayew, it means considering the family, community, culture and systems that shape their life—and taking the time to listen.

“Working with young people and families during some of their most difficult moments has reinforced for me the importance of compassion, dignity, patience, and listening to each person’s story,” he says.

As Clinical and Admission Lead at View Point Health, Wube supports children and adolescents experiencing mental health crises. His work includes clinical assessment, crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment and prevention, treatment planning and family support. He also helps plan for discharge and coordinates care with hospitals, schools, community providers, child welfare agencies and other partners.

It is work that draws on the values and ways of thinking he developed at Laurier, where he graduated from the Master of Social Work program in 2016.

“My Laurier education strengthened my foundation in social work values, ethics, advocacy, research, critical thinking, and person centered practice,” he says. “It also taught me to look beyond a person’s immediate challenges and consider the family, community, culture, environment, and systems that influence their well being.”

Leading through service

Alongside direct clinical care, Wube has taken on responsibilities that influence how services are delivered and how staff are supported. Growing into that leadership role is one of the accomplishments he is most proud of.

He has helped strengthen clinical and admission processes, improve documentation and quality practices, support staff development and contribute to projects focused on access to behavioural health services. He also provides guidance to clinicians, triage staff and peer support team members.

“I believe leadership in social work is about serving others, developing people, creating practical solutions, and helping a team provide better care,” he says.

Remaining involved in direct care connects those leadership responsibilities to the experiences of the children and families using services. His work spans both: responding to a person’s needs while examining the processes that shape their access to support.

Bringing research into everyday practice

For Wube, research is a practical tool for understanding what is happening in a service and where improvements are needed.

He reviews clinical audits, referral trends, admission and denial patterns, client outcomes and quality improvement findings. He has participated in projects examining barriers to services, complex client presentations, clinical documentation, service use and opportunities to improve crisis care for children and adolescents.

“I am particularly interested in connecting research with everyday clinical practice,” he says. “Research should not remain only in academic journals. It should help us ask better questions, identify patterns, improve programs, strengthen policies, and ultimately provide better care.”

That approach connects his work with individual clients to questions about the systems serving them. A pattern in referrals or admissions can prompt further investigation; a review of documentation or outcomes can help identify opportunities for change.

“One of the most meaningful lessons I carry with me is that social work can create change at many levels, from helping one young person through a crisis to using research and data to improve a system that serves hundreds of children and families.”

Continuing to learn

Wube’s professional development has continued beyond graduation. He has pursued additional training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, suicide prevention, trauma-informed care and crisis services, and continues to work toward advanced clinical licensure.

For him, continued learning means bringing research, clinical experience and evidence-based approaches together with the needs of each client and family.

That commitment also shapes how he describes his connection to Laurier.

“Laurier gave me more than an education. It helped shape how I think, how I practice social work, and how I approach leadership and service,” he says.

He sees the Laurier Social Work community as a place for graduates to learn from one another, share experiences and support future practitioners. Its significance also lies in a shared responsibility to look beyond individual practice.

“We have an opportunity to strengthen families, support communities, improve systems, advocate for people whose voices may not always be heard, and help create lasting positive change.”

Remembering the person behind the circumstances

Asked what he would share with current students and future social workers, Wube returns to curiosity, compassion and the importance of being present.

“Social work has taught me that we may not always see the immediate results of what we do,” he says. “Sometimes our greatest impact comes from simply being present, listening without judgment, advocating when someone feels unheard, and helping a person recognize hope during a difficult time.”

His advice acknowledges both the knowledge social workers bring to their practice and the care they need to sustain it.

“Stay humble, remain curious, continue learning, and always remember the human being behind the diagnosis, behavior, or circumstance. Use research and evidence to guide your practice, but also lead with compassion. Take care of yourself so that you can continue caring for others.”

A message that has guided his own journey brings those commitments together: “Never stop learning, never stop serving, and never underestimate the difference you can make in one person’s life.”

This profile is part of 60 Years of Impact, celebrating the experiences and contributions of Laurier Social Work alumni throughout the Faculty’s 60th anniversary.