Child and Youth Program Assistant

About the role

The purpose of the CY Program Assistant is to provide appropriate developmental care and instruction for children and youth ranging in age from 6 weeks to 18 years in one or more CY programs.

Curriculum

• Develops schedules and activity plans.
• Ensures that program plans and activities incorporate the 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.
• Incorporates special instructions provided by parents such as special dietary needs, physical needs, or other information that may affect the child or youth's experience in the program.
• Prepares and implements program options for children and youth with special requirements.
• Cares for children and youth with special needs as directed by the supervisor.
• Demonstrates, instructs, leads, and facilitates planned and spontaneous program activities.
• Promotes and models safety, fitness, health, and nutrition practices.
• Helps arrange for and/or serve appropriate snacks or meals where applicable.

Indoor and Outdoor Environment

• 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.

Interactions and Relationships

• 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.

Supervision of Children and Youth

• 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.

Parent and Employee Communication

• 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.

Assessment

• 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.

Compliance

• Affords assistance in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent.
• Affords assistance in ensuring compliance with law, policies, and regulations applicable to DoD CY programs.
• Notifies supervisor of health, fire, and safety compliance concerns.

Additional Responsibilities

• Collects, maintains, and reports program participation data.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Conditions of employment: 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.
• Must satisfactorily complete all background checks for child care positions, including fingerprint checks, a Tier 1 with Child Care check, and a State Criminal History Repository (SCHR) check.
• Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of all communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunization against communicable diseases.
• Ability to sustain considerable walking, standing, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 40 pounds.
• You must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Must successfully obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance as needed.
• Ability to 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.
• Participation in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment is required.
• Positions at the Child Development Center are a year round position. Hours will be between 5:15am and 7:00pm. Work shifts may include some evenings and/or weekends to support training requirements.

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.
• Six (6) months of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting.

• 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.
• Completion of Navy Entry Level training requirement (Army, Air Force, and Marine equivalent accepted).

• 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.
• Education: Must provide a copy of your H.S. Diploma, GED, or College Transcripts (showing degree awarded/conferred) when you apply.

• Entry Level (CY-1702-01): A successful candidate must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent. Note: Prior experience working with children and/or youth is preferred.
• Intermediate Level (CY-1702-01): A successful candidate must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent, have six (6) months of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting AND have the following: Completion of Navy Entry Level training requirement (Army, Air Force, and Marine equivalent accepted).
• Target Level (CY-1702-02): A successful candidate must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent, possess one (1) year of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting AND have one of the following: Completion of the DoD standardized training courses; OR A valid Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or Military School-Age (MSA) credential; OR A minimum of a 2-year degree in degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Child Development, Youth Recreation, Physical Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Youth Development, or other field related to Pre-K or Primary Education. Note: If your degree has not been awarded and/or you possess certificates of completion for DoD approved competency-based training courses, and/or a valid CDA/MSA credential(s), you MUST also provide a copy of your HS Diploma or equivalent.