Youth Program Assistant - Peoria Heights

• Overview The role of the Youth Program Assistant is to to provide leadership at the program sites, as well as ensure an environment that enhances and promotes interpersonal relationships, confidence, self- esteem, values, mutual respect and understanding of various ethnic cultures and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Character development is the chief mission of the Greater Peoria YMCA and the Youth Program Assistant should exhibit a commitment to this goal in all YMCA operations.
• This position is available at multiple school sites including: Norwood Primary, Dr.
• C.T.
• Vivian Primary, Hines Primary, Elmwood Elementary, Concordia Lutheran School.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Youth Program Assistant to perform all the duties always remembering that he/she is a representative of the Greater Peoria Family YMCA and its values. Assist in creating a sufficient variety of experiences that will allow participants to exercise their own creativity and imagination. Assist in creating activities that are fun as well as therapeutic, educational, and which upgrade participants skill and ability levels. Assist in carrying out lesson plans their entirety. Must keep a friendly attitude toward children and fellow staff. Maintain control of group at all times. To know and enforce all program rules and regulations, and to share these with your group on a daily basis. Must leave facilities cleaner than they were when you arrived. Teach and show respect for all equipment and return it to its proper location. Carry out assignments deemed necessary for the overall quality of the Before and After School and School’s Out Programs. Assist in the implementation of all program activities. To report any serious problems that develops with a child. To report in written form all accidents, injuries and discipline procedures. Perform other related duties as assigned. Work School’s Out days as assigned. Attend staff meetings as scheduled. Obtain and maintain current CPR for child and infant and First Aid Certificate. All other duties as assigned to make programs run smoothly or to assist the YMCA in other programs/projects.

Qualifications

The person holding this position must have a high school diploma or be in the process of acquiring one. Must bring to this position the ability to relate to all child participants, parents, and school age staff. Must possess strong language skills both written and oral. Must be adept at public speaking. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from staff, administration, children, parents, regulatory agencies or members of the business community. Ability to write reports and records that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to staff, members, parents, administration, public groups, and Board of Directors. Ability to interpret and convey daily billing procedures to staff and parents. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions and solve problems. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Ability to reason with others, handle their hostility and develop solutions to problems. Current CPR and First Aid within 90 days. WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to walk, stand, and sit (including on the floor) for long periods of time. Exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids. Must be able to lift and/or assist children up to 50 pounds in weight. Must be able to lift and carry food and supplies weighing up to 20 pounds. Ability to stand or sit while maintaining alertness for several hours at a time. Position may require bending, leaning, kneeling, and walking. Ability to speak concisely and effectively communicate. Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical situations and physical ability to act swiftly in an emergency.