Child and youth Program Assistant
About the role
The CY Program Assistant works directly with children and youth, ensuring they are actively engaged, well-cared for, and safe while participating in the CY Program. Their day includes helping children develop social skills, make healthy choices, build self-help and school readiness skills, and explore their environment.
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.
Cares for children and youth with special needs as directed by the supervisor.
Demonstrates, instructs, leads, and facilitates planned and spontaneous program activities.
Helps prepare, arrange, and maintain indoor and outdoor activity areas and materials to accommodate daily schedules.
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 DoD, NAF Component, and local installation policies, guidance, and standards.
Maintains control of and accounts for whereabouts and safety of children and youth.
Observes program participants for signs of illness, abuse, or neglect and reports as directed.
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 and participates in program evaluation using designated instruments.
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.
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.
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.
Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of employment.
Selectee is required to participate in the direct deposit pay program.
Conditions of employment:
All individuals involved in the provision of child care services on a Department of Navy (DON) installation or in a DON-sanctioned program must complete the Installation Records Check (IRC).
The IRC includes a check of the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) records in the Alcohol and Drug Management Information Tracking System (ADMITS) database, a check of the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) records in the Fleet and Family Support Management Information System (FFSMIS), and an installation security/base check via the Navy Justice Information System (NJIS) database and/or other law enforcement systems.
This information will be used to determine suitability for the applicant in accordance with criteria for automatic and presumptive disqualifiers, per DoDI 1402.05.
Some positions have special requirements.
Qualifications
Entry Level (CY-1702-01): High school diploma or equivalent. Prior experience working with children and/or youth is preferred.
Intermediate Level (CY-1702-01): High school diploma or equivalent, six (6) months of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting, and completion of Navy Entry Level training requirement (Army, Air Force, and Marine equivalent accepted).
Target Level (CY-1702-02): High school diploma or equivalent, one (1) year of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting, and 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.