Child and Youth Program Assistant

About the role

CYP Assistants work directly with children and youth, keeping them actively engaged, well-cared for, and safe while participating in the CYP. The CYP Assistant's day includes helping children develop social skills such as making friends and conflict resolution; make healthy choices whether it be choosing nutritional snacks or appropriate recreational activities; build self-help and school readiness skills; and explore the environment around them.

Responsibilities

• Develops schedules and activity plans, incorporating observed needs of individual children and youth.
• Implements activities and special events that meet the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs of children and youth.
• Prepares and implements program options for children and youth with special requirements.
• Demonstrates, instructs, leads, and facilitates planned and spontaneous program activities.
• Role models developmentally appropriate practice and classroom or activity area management techniques.
• Promotes and models safety, fitness, health, and nutrition practices.
• Helps arrange for and/or serve appropriate snacks or meals where applicable.
• Helps prepare, arrange, and maintain indoor and outdoor activity areas and materials to accommodate daily schedules.
• Sets up displays and bulletin boards.
• Inventories equipment on a recurring basis and recommends replenishing damaged, missing, and depleted supplies.
• Secures supplies, equipment, and facilities.
• Establishes a program environment that sustains participant interest and promotes positive interactions with other children, youth, and adults.
• Interacts with children and youth using approved child guidance and youth development techniques.
• Provides care and supervision, oversight, and accountability for program participants in compliance with the Department of Defense (DoD), NAF Component, and local installation policies, guidance, and standards.
• Maintains control of and accounts for whereabouts and safety of children and youth.
• Supervises children and youth during daily schedule of indoor and outdoor activities and on field trips, outings, and special events.
• Ensures children and youth (as applicable) depart with authorized person according to written parental instructions.
• Observes program participants for signs that may indicate illness, abuse, or neglect and reports as directed. Incumbent is a mandatory reporter to Family Advocacy and Child Protective Services as prescribed by local policy in the case of suspected incidences of child abuse and neglect.
• Interacts professionally with employees, parents, and local installation command personnel.
• Provides parents with daily verbal or written feedback about their child/youth or program activities.
• Participates in conferences with parents and employees.
• Observes children and youth and documents developmental progression and/or concerns. Uses the information in planning.
• Participates in program evaluation using designated instruments such as programmatic rating scales, risk assessment tools (as required), self-inspection materials, and national accreditation tools.
• Affords assistance in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent.
• Ensures compliance with law, policies, and regulations applicable to DoD CY programs.
• Notifies supervisor of health, fire, and safety compliance concerns.
• Collects, maintains, and reports program participation data.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Complete required training certificates, and maintain certifications or credentials required by Federal, State, and/or national accreditation institutions used as part of DoD's Child and Youth Programs.
• Pass all applicable records and background checks.
• Undergo pre-employment and random drug testing. A positive drug test, or failure to submit for testing, is a basis for removal from this position.
• Pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of all communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunization against communicable diseases.
• Employment contingent upon proof of education if not provided at time of application.
• Marijuana is a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act and therefore use of marijuana is illegal under Federal law regardless of State laws.
• A positive drug test result for marijuana (or any other drug tested for) will result in withdrawal of the tentative job offer and ineligibility to apply for a position within the Department of Defense for 6 months from the date of the drug test.
• This position has been identified as a Test Designated Position (TDP). The incumbent of this position will be subject to and must consent to a pre-employment and random drug testing.
• Starting May 7, 2025, non-affiliated individuals requesting access will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another acceptable form of identification to access the installation. (review required documents section for more information.)

Qualifications

• Entry Level (CY-1702-01): Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing; Ability to follow verbal and written instructions; Ability to complete all Department of the Navy (DoN) training requirements within the specified timeframe; Ability to promote and foster effective working relationships with children, youth, and coworkers; Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a team.
• Intermediate Level (CY-1702-01): Entry Level abilities plus: Knowledge of basic child and youth development principles to meet the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development needs of children and youth; Ability to implement developmentally appropriate principles and practices to provide high-quality direct care and education and development; Ability to interpret a curriculum or activity plan; Ability to follow written instructions; Ability to plan and organize, and work cooperatively as a member of a team; Ability to promote and foster effective working relationships with children, youth, and coworkers; Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a team; Six (6) months of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting.
• Target Level (CY-1702-02): Entry and Intermediate Levels' knowledge and abilities plus: Knowledge of child and youth development principles in order to appropriately inform the efficient and effective program response to meet the needs of children and youth; Skill to implement developmentally appropriate child and youth development principles, practices, and services in order to provide high-quality direct care and education for children and youth, either individually or within groups; Skill to promote and foster effective working relationships with children, youth, and coworkers; Skill to work cooperatively as a member of a team; Skill in verbal communication in order to provide basic program information and explain CYP processes and procedures; One (1) year of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting.