Youth Development Specialist

The YMCA Early Education Program is hiring multiple Youth Development Specialists!

Starting pay is $17.14 per hour

As a Youth Development Specialist in our school-aged program, you'll be implementing and adapting a wide variety of enrichment activities for grades K-8. You will work with a specific group of youth on interactive and enriching social and cultural experiences, ensuring the safety and security of program participants; we value child and team safety, so you'll be following licensing regulations and adhering to the YMCA philosophy and goals.

Our before and after-school programs create a child-centered environment that promotes learning, character development, healthy living and positive, nurturing relationships. With a commitment to meeting accreditation standards and extensive training and development in research-based practices, you'll also learn and grow and positively impact our children, families and communities.

Scope of Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of youth growth and development and creates high quality program implementation by providing a safe, supportive, interactive, and engaging environment.
• Provide positive classroom climate that encourages respect and responsibility and that is characterized by teamwork, camaraderie and inclusiveness.
• Prepare lesson plans on a daily and/or weekly basis outlining program activity, ensures materials and supplies are available and ready for daily program activities, and ensures all program areas and supplies are clean and well maintained regularly.
• Organize and lead youth in indoor/outdoor activities which meets group and individual needs, interests and considers diverse abilities.
• Provide effective supervision of all children that is age-appropriate and assures the safety and well-being of all youth, at all times.
• Positively interacts with children, parents/guardians and other team members to create a respectful, warm, supportive environment.
• Demonstrate an appreciation of children's efforts and accomplishments and providing assistance and encouragement to program participants when needed.
• Models self-control, respect and cooperation to children and other team members.
• Utilizes youth arrival/departure to share information with parents/guardians and to build relationships.
• Follows program schedule and maintains accurate records of attendance, meals and other records as necessary to meet program requirements. - Participate in team meetings and other school-age program activities.
• Complete fifteen clock hours of professional development annually, through participation in offered training, in-service or continuing education and maintain log/record of such.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding all center staff, children, and families.
• Support the YMCA's mission and center operations as needed.

Minimum and Preferred Requirements:

• Must be 19 years of age and have a minimum of 30 semester hours or equivalent from an accredited college/university with six semester hours or equivalent related to school-aged care, child development, elementary education physical education, recreation, camping or a related field.
• Must meet/maintain requirements for fingerprint background check clearance, provide medical clearance documentation and other program pre-employment prerequisites.
• Ability to meet physical requirements based on job description; The YMCA will accommodate reasonable accommodations for persons with disability.
• This position is a union position.

Child Abuse Prevention - Supports the YMCA's commitment to child abuse prevention by:

• Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members or guests to your supervisor
• Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children
• Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor
• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required