Child and Youth Program Assistant May be eligible for 1000.00 Incentive at 6mo. and 1 year.

About the role

CY Assistants work directly with children and youth, keeping them actively engaged, well-cared for, and safe while participating in the CYP. The 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

The CYP Assistant’s duties and responsibilities are grouped into the following categories:

• Curriculum
  • Develops schedules and activity plans, including reviewing and providing input into plans developed by entry-level and intermediate Educational Aids.
  • Ensures 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 parent-provided instructions such as special dietary needs, physical needs, or other information that may affect the child or youth’s experience.
  • Prepares and implements program options for children and youth with special requirements and cares for them as directed by the supervisor.
  • 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.
• Indoor and Outdoor Environment
  • Prepares, arranges, and maintains 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 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 schedules of indoor and outdoor activities and on field trips, outings, and special events.
  • Ensures children and youth 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.
  • Serves as 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
  • Assists 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.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Collects, maintains, and reports program participation data.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Conditions of employment
  • 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; 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 six months from the date of the drug test.
  • This position has been identified as a Test Designated Position (TDP). The incumbent will be subject to and must consent to 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.

Qualifications

Resumes must include information demonstrating experience and knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as they relate 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 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.
  • Six 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 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 to provide basic program information and explain CYP processes and procedures.
  • One year of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting.

• Education
  • Must provide a copy of your high school 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.
  • 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.
  • Six 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)
  • A successful candidate must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • One year of experience working with children or youth in a child and youth setting.
  • 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 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.
  • 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 high school diploma or equivalent.

• Additional information
  • Incumbents 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.
  • All individuals involved in the provision of child care services on a Department of the Navy installation or in a DON-sanctioned program must complete the Installation Records Check (IRC), which includes:
    • Check of the Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) records in