Infant Toddler Preschool Advocate

ABOUT YWCA PIERCE COUNTY:

In alignment with YWCA USA’s mission, YWCA Pierce County is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. YWCA Pierce County seeks to transform lives through safety, healing, and empowerment.

As an inclusionary nonprofit organization, YWCA Pierce County provides assistance to survivors of domestic violence and their children. All survivors are welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, or sexual orientation. Bilingual staff and interpretation services eliminate language barriers and ease transitions for all of our clients. In the last three years, YWCA has served an average of over 9,000 adults and children annually, who are seeking help due to domestic violence.

YWCA Pierce County is committed to eliminating racism by creating a community of social justice, which means we work for inclusion and equality for all people, regardless of race. We do that within our organization by educating staff, implementing inclusive policies and practices, and practicing nondiscrimination in our services. We do this in the community by promoting and supporting inclusion, equity and social justice, and by partnering with other organizations who share those values and activities.

ABOUT THE INFANT-TODDLER-PRESCHOOL ADVOCATE POSITION:

The Infant-Toddler-Preschool Advocate is responsible for the developmental, social-emotional, and physical needs of infants and children under 5 years old that are engaged in YWCA services by safely and carefully supervising, supporting, nurturing, and guiding the children in the program. This position organizes and leads curriculum-based art and recreation activities for children, provides respite care to children, and provides family advocacy support for families living in shelter and in the community. This position works as part of the Children's Program team to provide comprehensive support to children and families.

SCHEDULE/COMPENSATION:

• This is a full-time (40 hours per week), non-exempt, regular position. The schedule is Monday through Friday. Successful candidates will be able to work within standard business hours with ability to work evenings two nights per week
• This position pays $26.36 per hour and includes a full benefit package of paid time off, 11 paid holidays, medical/dental/vison insurance, access to our Employee Assistance Program, and after two years of employment, we start putting the equivalent of 10.5% of your wages into the YWCA Retirement Fund

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Submit a cover letter and resume detailing how your qualifications meet those needed for this position.

CLOSING DATE:

Wednesday, May 15th, 2024, or until filled.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops, plans, and implements curriculum for children, ages 0-5 years old, in collaboration with Children's Program Manager and other program staff.
• Maintains a predictable and consistent rhythm in the program as well as expectations, boundaries, and guidelines.
• Models, explains, and upholds Children's Program rules, policies and procedures to children and their parent(s).
• Assists children with learning-readiness activities and implements calming techniques.
• Supervises groups of children of varying sizes. Guide children's free play and rest periods.
• Assists children in toileting and changes diapers.
• Plans, prepares, and serves nutritionally sound snacks to children.
• Develops and maintains a clean, orderly, developmentally rich, and safe program space.
• Adapts to changing program needs.
• Helps to maintain program supplies and storage areas.
• Work closely with program volunteers and supports their service.
• Partners with parents in supporting the overall social, emotional, cognitive, and developmental health of their children
• Provides back-up coverage for other Children's Program groups and activities, if needed.
• Provides family advocacy to meet the assessed needs of the children/youth served (intakes, maintains client files, distribution of tangible goods, provides resources and referrals, advocates for children in educational and childcare systems).
• Works in conjunction with all Children's Program team members to plan and host special events.
• Ensures sign-in sheets for all activities are completed in a thorough manner and turned in to program manager in a timely fashion.
• Collects and track output and outcome data.
• Participates in agency or community work teams, upon request, including committees, task forces, or event planning.
• Actively participates in weekly Children's Program meetings, All YWCA staff meetings, and scheduled internal trainings.

This is a general description of the responsibilities of the position; other duties may be assigned.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledgeable in Human Development and developmental milestones of the 0-5 age group
• Knowledgeable in the impacts of trauma on human development
• Ability to work from an open-minded, positive, non-judgmental, creative, and empowering foundation
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with diverse groups of people
• Ability to form trusting relationships with children and their parents
• Ability to effectively supervise and guide groups of children in order to maintain safety and good health at all times
• Ability to role model positive skills and attitudes to children and parents
• Ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure
• Ability to perform in crisis situations
• Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team
• Ability to complete outcome-based evaluations on children
• Ability to easily adapt to different situations
• Ability to work a flexible and varied schedule, including evenings, and special events
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of clients or employees of organization
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form
• Ability to apply broad concepts appropriately and consistently to varied situations
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications
• Commitment to YWCA vision, mission and values

REPORTS TO:

Children's Program Manager

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities of staff but will support the roles of the volunteers in the program.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Associate Degree with relevant coursework in childcare, child development or social work; OR
• At least two years related experience and/or training; OR
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Education and experience surrounding trauma and children is desired.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have ability to transport self in and around Pierce County. If that includes driving own vehicle, then must possess current and valid Washington State Driver's license as well as insurance per Washington State Law
• Acceptable criminal history record
• CPR & First Aid Certification
• Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to position requirements and applicable law
• Completion of Domestic Violence Victims Services training within first year of employment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but can often be loud (multiple children playing, yelling).

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY:

YWCA Pierce County is committed to enacting anti-racist policies, practices, and organizational structures aimed at dismantling white supremacy in all of its manifestations. We understand that racial inequities sit at the foundation of all forms of oppression and strive to build an intersectional, trauma-informed organizational culture and apply these lenses in the ways we interact with one another and deliver services to our clients and communities. We recognize that anti-racism is not an endpoint, but, rather, a continuous and iterative practice that requires individual, collective, and organizational learning, accountability, and action.

YWCA Pierce County is an equal opportunity employer that honors and values diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, sexual orientation, or (dis)ability. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, refugees, people with (dis) abilities, gender queer and members of LGBTQI communities, as well as survivors and individuals from other underrepresented and historically marginalized communities

If you require alternative methods of application, please call (253) 272-4181 x226.