The duties and responsibilities of the CY Program Assistant have been grouped into categories, including curriculum, indoor and outdoor environment, interactions and relationships, supervision of children and youth, parent and employee communication, assessment, compliance, and additional responsibilities. Each is described below.

Curriculum: Assists in planning and coordinating activities for program participants, including group as well as individual activities.Implements daily schedules and activity plans to ensure age and/or stage appropriateness. Incorporates special instructions provided by parents such a special dietary needs, physical needs, or other information that may affect the child or youth's experience in the program.Assists children and youth with special projects and homework. Cares for children and youth with special needs as directed by the supervisor. 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 schedule. 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 ranging in age from 6 weeks to 18 years. Ensures children and youth (as applicable) depart with authorize person according to written parental instructions. Supervises children and youth during daily schedule of indoor and outdoor activities, on field trips, outings, and special events. Observes program participants for signs that may indicate illness, abuse, or neglect and reports as directed. 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. Participates in conferences with parents and employees.

Assessment: 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.

Conditions of employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Position is subject to special inoculation and immunization requirements as a condition of employment for working with children. Employee is required to obtain appropriate immunization against communicable diseases in accordance with recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which includes the influenza vaccine.

In accordance with the Department of the Navy Test Designated Position listing issued 7 October 2003 this position is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. A positive drug test, or failure to submit for testing, may become the basis for removal from this position.

Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization and be free from communicable disease.

Must satisfactorily obtain or complete required training certificates and maintain certifications or credentials required by federal, state or National Accreditation institutions utilized as part of DOD’s Child and Youth Programs.

Incumbents must satisfactorily complete all background checks for federal childcare positions, including a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI),  criminal history checks to include fingerprints, and installation record checks.

Incumbents will be automatically disqualified for a conviction (either  civilian or military to include any general, special or summary court-martial or non-judicial punishment) for a sexual offense, a felony drug offense, or any criminal offense involving a child victim. Automatic disqualification also applies if the incumbent  has been found negligent in a civil adjudication or administrative proceeding concerning the death or serious injury to a child or dependent person entrusted to the individual’s care.

All selections are contingent upon satisfactory employment reference checks.

Qualifications

Must be at least 18 years of age and possess a high school diploma or equivalent.

To qualify at ENTRY level ($11.76 - $12.74 per hour):

Prior experience working with children and/or youth preferred.

To qualify at INTERMEDIATE Level ($13.25 - $14.35 per hour):

Have six (6) months experience working with children or youth in a child or youth setting.

AND

Have completed child abuse modules and modules 1, 2, and 10 of the DoN Standardized Module Training.

To qualify at TARGET Level ($14.87 - $16.11 per hour):

Completion of the DoN Standardized Module Training AND 12 months of experience working with children and youth.

OR

A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or Military School-Age (MSA) credential.

OR

2-year degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Child Development or related field of study, which can include Youth Recreation, Physical Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Youth Development, Psychology, Social Work, Home Economics with an emphasis in Human Development, or other degrees as appropriate.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Using the qualifications of the position, a predetermined rating and ranking criterion of knowledge, skills, and abilities will be used for each application.