Child Watch Specialist

March 21, 2025

Status: Part-Time, Not Benefits Eligible

Reports to: Children’s Program Coordinator

Schedule of Hours: Estimated 8-10 Rotating Hours Per Week - Hours will be generally on Wednesday between 1-7 PM and some Monday and Friday afternoons as needed. 

Position Remote Eligible: NO

Mandated Reporter: YES

Salary: $25.00/ hour ($26.00 for speakers of needed languages such as Spanish, Tagalog) 

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA), is the only agency in San Mateo County providing crisis intervention and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence and their children, seeks a Child Watch Specialist to work as a team member to provide trauma-informed supported care for children within the context of the programming of CORA’s Mental Health Services. 

POSITION SUMMARY

As Child Watch Specialist, you will have the opportunity to learn, grow and model resilience to children impacted by domestic violence. You will work as a team member to create and implement a trauma-informed curriculum, as well as individualized play care plans for children participating in CORA’s Children Program. In addition, you will work with an energetic and motivated team to support children

participating in emergency shelter, supportive housing, and nonresidential programs through CORA. This position is more than simple child supervision; this is an opportunity to advocate and champion a child’s capacity to overcome violence.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide Trauma-informed care to all children and youth in support of parent support groups.
• Work alongside Children’s Program Project Coordinator, Volunteers and Child and Family Therapists to assist in establishing playgroups and developmentally appropriate activities for children.
• Create an environment of learning and cooperation.
• Communicate with parents upon on arrival and departure at safe houses and community offices.
• Support staff in calling parents for reminders.
• Meet, on an as-needed basis, with the mental health department and children’s clinicians for support, training, and referral assistance.
• Maintain clean, organized and sanitized children’s area.
• Maintain observations of children and enter up-to-date records and reports into spreadsheet and Apricot database. 

OTHER DUTIES

• May assist in completing Children Program Assessment at Shelter.
• May assist in completing daycare applications or school referrals for families.
• Assist in planning, organizing and conducting Children’s Program events and other CORA related events.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• AA or Bachelor’s degree (or currently in college) in education, psychology, social work, or related field, preferred but not required.
• At least one year of experience working with children strongly preferred.
• Completion of state-mandated 40-hour domestic violence training preferred (Applicants who have not completed, will be provided this training.)
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings (until 7:00pm).

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Successful results from a DOJ Live Scan fingerprint clearance are required.
• Demonstrated verbal and written fluency in English and Spanish ideal but not required. 

MANDATED REPORTER STATUS

This position requires you to work with children, and your profession qualifies you as “mandated reporters” of child abuse or neglect, which is found in California Penal Code Section 11165.7. You are required to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect pursuant to California Penal Code Section 11166.5.

CORA History and Overview

CORA has provided services to survivors of intimate partner abuse for nearly 40 years. Our programs include Crisis Intervention Services, including a 24-hour hotline, collaboration with law enforcement, emergency shelter options, and supportive counseling. Family Support Services provides mental health therapy, supportive/transitional housing, and a children’s program. In addition, CORA has robust legal services for survivors of domestic violence and provides educational workshops about the dynamics of domestic violence and healthy relationship skills. CORA is strengths-based, collaborative, accessible, and client-centered. CORA believes that everyone deserves to be treated with respect in their intimate relationships. We provide safety, support and healing to individuals who experience abuse in an intimate relationship and educate the community to break the cycle of domestic violence. Regardless of a survivor’s race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or culture, we save lives and provide an opportunity to begin again. 

CORA inspires work of the highest caliber by fostering staff engagement through transparency and inclusion in agency decisions wherever possible. We strive to ensure our policies and communications reflect an appreciation of the impact of social inequities, historical and current, and actively promote healthy relationships amongst staff by demonstrating mutual respect in all our communications. CORA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We seek diversity with respect to race, color, age, sex, (including breastfeeding and medical conditions related to breastfeeding), religion (including religious dress or grooming practices), national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic characteristics and information, ancestry, marital status, family status, political belief, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), medical condition, military, or veteran status or any other category or status protected by Federal, State or other applicable laws.

All applicants are welcome. Individuals who are bilingual, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community and/or survivors of domestic violence are strongly encouraged to apply. The position will remain open until filled.