Clarification from the agency

WHO MAY APPLY: Applicants with SOFA Sponsorship (including applicants with current Military Spouse Preference, Family member preference, and current Federal employees) and those Seeking Sofa within the Kanto region commuting area.

Mentor

• Mentors assigned CY Program Assistant team.
• Works with senior employees to provide instruction and training to lower-level employees.
• Assists lower-level employees in completing the Standardized Module Training.
• Assists the Training and Curriculum (T&C) Specialist in helping lower-level CY Program Assistants translate professional
  development training into practice by mentoring, guiding and role-modeling.
• Models appropriate behaviors and techniques for working with children and youth.
• Provides suggestions and makes recommendations to credential practicum candidates.
• Assists the T&C Specialist with recording observations and charts progress of team members' on-the-job skills.
• Consults frequently with the T&C Specialist for guidance on strategies to further assist team members' professional development efforts.

• Plans activities for program participants based on observed needs of individual children and youth.
• Continually reviews activities and plans for appropriateness.
• Works with T&C Specialist, supervisor, and the CY Program Assistants to implement activities and special events that meet the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs of children and youth. Incorporates special instructions provided by parents such as special dietary needs, physical needs, or other information that may affect the child or youth's experience in the program.
• Prepares and implements program options for children and youth with special requirements. Assists children and youth with special projects, homework, and life skills.
• Recommends to the T&C Specialist and CY Program Assistants changes and adjustments to activities and plans where necessary to meet unusual situations.
• Sets up displays and bulletin boards.
• Arranges for and/or serves appropriate snacks or meals where applicable.

• Works with team members to prepare, arrange, and maintain indoor and outdoor activity areas and materials to accommodate daily schedules. Makes suggestions about improvements to the activity areas.
• Inventories equipment on a recurring basis and recommends replenishing damaged, missing, and depleted supplies.
• Secures supplies, equipment, and facilities.

• Encourages participant interest and establishes a program setting that 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 the Department of Defense (DoD), NAF Component, and local installation command policies, guidance, and standards.
• Maintains control of and accounts for the whereabouts and safety of children and youth. Ensures children and youth (as applicable) depart with authorized person according to written parental instructions.
• Oversees arrival and departure of children and youth.
• Supervises children and youth during daily schedule of indoor and outdoor activities and on field trips, outings, and special events.
• Observes program participants for signs that may indicate illness, abuse, or neglect and reports as directed. Incumbent is 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.

• Interacts professionally with employees, parents, and local installation command personnel.
• Participates in conferences with parents, employees, school representatives, and local installation command personnel.
• Briefs other employees and parents.
• Plans and conducts activities for parents in order to encourage parents to become involved.

• Observes children and youth and documents developmental progression and/or concerns and uses the information in planning.
• Assists CY Program Assistants with assessment tasks when needed.
• Participates in program evaluation using designated instruments such as programmatic rating scales, risk assessment tools (as required), self-inspection materials, and national accreditation tools.

• Ensures assigned area achieves and maintains standards for DoD certification and national accreditation or equivalent.
• Ensures compliance with law, policies, and regulations applicable to DoD CY programs.

• Collects, maintains, and reports program participation data.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• Must satisfactorily complete all background checks in accordance with PL 101-647 to include National Agency Check with Written Inquiries (NACI).
• Must pass a pre-employment physical, provide evidence of immunization and be free from communicable disease.
• Position is subject to special inoculation and immunization requirements as a condition of employment for working with children.
• This position is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Ability to 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.
• Ability to sustain considerable walking, standing, bending, stooping, and lifting up to 40 pounds.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate programs designed to meet the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive needs of
  children and youth from 6 weeks to 18 years of age.
• Knowledge of child and youth development principles, practices, and techniques.
• Skills to apply Federal and State laws governing the detection and prevention of child abuse and/or neglect.
• Skill in understanding interests and motivation of individuals and groups in a CYP environment.
• Skill in program planning, organizing, and employee scheduling.
• Skills to provide leadership, mentoring, and guidance to CY Program.
• Ability to identify and respond to emergency situations.
• Ability to train employees on variety of issues to include recognition and identification of childhood illnesses and child abuse, etc.
• Ability to develop curriculum outlines and lesson plans/guides.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing and possess strong interpersonal skills.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application will be screened for the following minimum qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent

• Successful completion of the DoD Standardized Training courses (i.e., Air Force, Army, Marines) AND 1 year of experience at the CY-II (GSE-04) Full Performance Level
• A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or Military School-Age (MSA) credential AND 1 year at the CY Program Assistant/Base Level 4 where incumbent displayed knowledge of and competency in developmentally appropriate programming for children and youth
• A minimum of a 2-year degree in Youth Development, Child Development or a related field, which can include Recreation, Youth Recreation, Physical Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Social Work, Home Economics with an emphasis in Human Development, or other degrees as appropriate AND 1 year at the CY Program Assistant/Base Level 4 where incumbent displayed knowledge of and competency in developmentally appropriate programming for children and youth.

• Knowledgeable of developmentally appropriate programs to meet the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive needs of children, youth, or teens.
• Lead, mentor, and guide others (e.g., groups, teams, peers), and understand the interests and motivations of individuals and groups in a CYP environment.