Child and Youth Program Assistant

Flexible Child and Youth Program (CYP) Assistants work directly with children and youth, ensuring they are actively engaged, well-cared for, and safe while participating in the program. The role involves helping children develop social skills, make healthy choices, build self-help and school readiness skills, and explore their environment.

Responsibilities

• Curriculum
  • Develops schedules and activity plans, including reviewing and providing input into plans created by entry- and intermediate-level staff.
  • Ensures program plans and activities incorporate the observed needs of individual children and youth.
  • Implements activities and special events that meet physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs.
  • Incorporates special instructions from parents (e.g., dietary needs, physical needs, or other relevant information).
  • 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.
  • Role models developmentally appropriate practices 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.
• 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 regularly and recommends replenishing damaged, missing, or depleted supplies.
  • Secures supplies, equipment, and facilities.
• Interactions and Relationships
  • Establishes a program environment that sustains participant interest and promotes positive interactions with children, youth, and adults.
  • Interacts with children and youth using approved child guidance and youth development techniques.
• Supervision of Children and Youth
  • Provides care, supervision, oversight, and accountability for program participants in compliance with Department of Defense (DoD), NAF Component, and local installation policies.
  • Maintains control of and accounts for the whereabouts and safety of children and youth.
  • Supervises children and youth during indoor/outdoor activities, field trips, outings, and special events.
  • Ensures children and youth depart with authorized persons according to written parental instructions.
  • Observes program participants for signs of illness, abuse, or neglect and reports as directed. Mandatory reporter for suspected child abuse or 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 assessment information in planning.
  • Participates in program evaluation using designated tools (e.g., programmatic rating scales, risk assessment tools, self-inspection materials, and national accreditation tools).
• Compliance
  • Assists in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent.
  • Ensures compliance with laws, policies, and regulations applicable to DoD CYP 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

• 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 for DoD Child and Youth Programs.
• Pass all applicable records and background checks, including fingerprint checks, Tier 1 with Child Care check, and State Criminal History Repository (SCHR) check.
• Undergo pre-employment and random drug testing. A positive drug test or failure to submit for testing is grounds for removal. Marijuana use is prohibited under Federal law regardless of State laws.
• Pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunizations.
• Employment contingent upon proof of education if not provided at the time of application.
• Must reside within 50 miles of the chosen hiring installation at the time of application.
• Automatic disqualification for convictions involving sexual offenses, child victims, or felony drug offenses, as well as negligence in civil/administrative proceedings concerning child injury or death.
• Participation in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within the first 30 days of employment is required.

Qualifications

Resumes must demonstrate experience and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) relevant to this position.

• 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 team member.
  • High school diploma or equivalent required. Prior experience working with children and/or youth is preferred.
• Intermediate Level (CY-1702-01)
  • Entry Level abilities plus:
  • Knowledge of basic child and youth development principles to meet physical, emotional, social, and intellectual needs.
  • Ability to implement developmentally appropriate principles and practices for high-quality care and education.
  • Ability to interpret a curriculum or activity plan.
  • Ability to follow written instructions, plan and organize, and work cooperatively as a team member.
  • Six (6) months of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting.
  • Completion of Navy Entry Level training requirement (or Army, Air Force, and Marine equivalent).
• Target Level (CY-1702-02)
  • Entry and Intermediate Levels' knowledge and abilities plus:
  • Knowledge of child and youth development principles to inform program responses.
  • Skill in implementing developmentally appropriate practices for high-quality direct care and education.
  • Skill in promoting and fostering effective working relationships with children, youth, and coworkers.
  • Skill in verbal communication to explain program processes and procedures.
  • One (1) year of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting.
  • One of the following:
    • Completion of DoD standardized training courses;
    • A valid Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or Military School-Age (MSA) credential; or
    • A minimum of a 2-year degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Child Development, Youth Recreation, Physical Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Youth Development, or a related Pre-K or Primary Education field.

Education

Must provide a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or college transcripts (showing degree awarded/conferred) when you apply. If your degree has not been awarded, you must also provide a copy of your high school diploma or equivalent along with certificates of completion for DoD-approved competency-based training courses and/or a valid CDA/MSA credential.