Child and Youth Program Assistant Entry Youth Center

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.

Responsibilities

• Curriculum: Develops schedules and activity plans; reviews and provides input into schedules and activity plans developed by entry and intermediate level Educational Aids. Ensures program plans and activities incorporate observed needs of individual children and youth. Implements activities and special events that meet physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs. Incorporates special parent instructions (dietary, physical needs, etc.). Prepares and implements program options for children with special requirements; cares for children with special needs as directed. Demonstrates, instructs, leads, and facilitates planned and spontaneous activities. Role models developmentally appropriate practice and classroom management techniques. Promotes and models safety, fitness, health, and nutrition practices. Helps arrange for and/or serve snacks or meals where applicable.
• Indoor and Outdoor Environment: Prepares, arranges, and maintains activity areas and materials to accommodate daily schedules. Sets up displays and bulletin boards. Inventories equipment regularly and recommends replenishing supplies. Secures supplies, equipment, and facilities.
• Interactions and Relationships: Establishes program environment sustaining participant interest and promoting positive interactions with children, youth, and adults. Interacts 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 DoD and local policies. Maintains control and accounts for whereabouts and safety. Supervises during daily activities, field trips, and special events. Ensures children depart with authorized persons per parental instructions. Observes for signs of illness, abuse, or neglect and reports as directed. Mandatory reporter to Family Advocacy and Child Protective Services.
• Parent and Employee Communication: Interacts professionally with employees, parents, and command personnel. Provides daily verbal or written feedback to parents. Participates in conferences with parents and employees.
• Assessment: Observes children and youth, documents developmental progression and concerns, and uses information in planning. Participates in program evaluation using rating scales, risk assessment tools, self-inspections, and national accreditation tools.
• Compliance: Assists in achieving and maintaining DoD certification and national accreditation. Ensures compliance with laws, policies, and regulations applicable to DoD CY programs. Notifies supervisor of safety, fire, and health concerns.
• Additional Responsibilities: Collects, maintains, and reports program participation data. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or hold 3 years of lawful U.S. residency.
• Must satisfactorily complete all background checks for child care positions, including fingerprint checks, Tier 1 with Child Care check, State Criminal History Repository (SCHR) check, and Installation Records Check (IRC) including SARP/ADMITS, FAP/FFSMIS, and NJIS or other law enforcement systems.
• Must successfully pass E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must pass pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization, be free of communicable diseases, and obtain appropriate immunizations.
• Must successfully obtain and maintain appropriate security clearance.
• Must complete required training certificates and maintain credentials required by Federal, State, and/or national accreditation institutions used in DoD's Child and Youth Programs.
• Ability to sustain considerable walking, standing, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 40 pounds.
• Position is designated as Test Designated Position (TDP) — incumbent must consent to pre-employment and random drug testing. Executive Order 12564 requires a drug-free workplace; marijuana use is illegal under Federal law and a positive test results in withdrawal of offer and ineligibility for 6 months.
• Participation in Direct Deposit/Electronic Fund Transfer within first 30 days is required.
• Positions at the Child Development Center are year-round. Hours between 5:15am and 7:00pm; some evenings and/or weekends to support training.

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 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.
• Must be at least 18 with high school diploma or equivalent. Prior experience working with children/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 development 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 plan and organize.
• 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, Marine equivalent accepted).

Target Level (CY-1702-02): Entry and Intermediate Level knowledge and abilities plus:

• Knowledge of child and youth development principles to inform program response to meet needs.
• Skill to implement developmentally appropriate principles, practices, and services for high-quality direct care and education, individually or in groups.
• Skill in verbal communication to provide basic program information and explain CYP processes.
• One (1) year of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting.
• Completion of 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 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.

Education

Must provide a copy of H.S. Diploma, GED, or College Transcripts (showing degree awarded/conferred) when applying. If degree not yet awarded or possessing certificates of completion for DoD competency-based training courses and/or valid CDA/MSA credential(s), must also provide copy of HS Diploma or equivalent.

This response is AI-generated, for reference only.