JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Children's Program Assistant

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Assist the Children's Program Coordinator in planning and implementing a high-quality Christ-centered program that specifically targets the basic and spiritual needs of preschool, elementary, and teenaged children from hard places and their families in the Center for Women and Children recovery program.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key Result Area #1: Children's Program

• Regularly seeks God's direction and provision for increasing the impact of the Children's Program.
• Able to respond effectively to physical and emotional needs of children of varying ages.
• Consistently helps lead the volunteers in creating and developing a loving, nurturing environment where children of all ages feel safe.
• Physically present in the classroom overseeing & leading the program 90% of the working hours.
• When needed, participates in driving kids to and from community resources & partners.
• Collaborates with the Children's Assessment Team in communicating observations & experiences related to individual children and their moms.
• Work with the Children's Program Coordinator & the volunteer team to create individual parenting plans and help provide moms with educational support and guidance to meet the physical, social, emotional, and educational needs of their children.
• Weekly partner with the Children's Program Coordinator and the volunteers to plan, communicate & implement activities that support the developmental & spiritual growth of the children living in The Center for Women & Children
• Create & update weekly calendars that communicate weekly curriculum plans.
• Assist the Children's Program Coordinator with child intake paperwork as assigned.
• Interact and connect with mothers on a regular basis to build trust and identify the needs of mom & children.
• Assist in coaching and supporting mom in parenting skills/tools.
• Continue to grow in, model, and teach biblical parenting practices through the style of Trust Based Relational Intervention to residents and volunteers.
• Partner with community resources, volunteers, and staff in successfully planning & implementing holiday parties, school breaks, summer programs, and camp experiences for the children living at the Center for Women & Children.
• Collaborate with outside resources used for individual children (ie Head Start) on how to transition children in and out of those programs while communicating needs of the child & being a part of the team between the mom, UGM, and the resource staff.

Key Result Area #2: Leadership & Management

• Communicate with the Children's Program Coordinator & other treatment team members about experiences & conversations with residents and volunteers through emails & voicemail.
• All concerns or issues regarding staff, residents, and program pieces communicated with the Children's Program Coordinator in the weekly meetings.
• When conflicts arise among Children's Program volunteers & staff, model & encourage biblical & peacemaker principles for conflict resolution by encouraging others to speak with persons they have conflict with first.
• Partner with the Children's Program Coordinator and volunteers to oversee and implement daily cleaning & organizational needs in the classrooms and the outside spaces designated for children.
• Collaborate with the volunteers to plan & implement weekly cleaning & restocking of resources in the classrooms.
• Weekly communicates with volunteers & staff about plans made in the Children's Program.
• Assist the Children's Program Coordinator in planning staffing needs with Volunteer & Associate Staff.
• Regularly reacquaints oneself with the policies & procedures of the program to ensure that interactions with residents, volunteers, and community resources are true to the mission of the ministry.
• Demonstrates a willingness to get to know fellow Center for Women & Children staff outside of the Children's Department to gain perspective of all aspects of the recovery program & to enhance & foster a cohesive team in leading & working with residents.
• Attend UGM wide staff meetings in Spokane, CWC monthly All Staff, & special trainings or events assigned.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Committed Christian, able and willing to model servant-leadership and interested in being part of a ministry for the poor, homeless, drug addicted and mentally ill. Grounded in the Christian faith as a mature, active member of the body of Christ in accordance with Union Gospel Mission Statement of Purpose, Statement of Vision and Statement of Faith.
• Strong Interpersonal skills - exercise compassion and discernment while modeling the teachings of Jesus Christ.
• As a unified team member, will honor the leadership, chain of command, standards and ministry objectives of Union Gospel Mission.
• Know and able to communicate and embrace UGM's cultural Core Values and their indicators. The Core Values are applied and observed
• Computer literate (Word, Excel, Outlook); able to complete documents, reports and accurately record information.
• Excellent communication skills: written, verbal and instructional.
• Must have a teachable spirit and the ability to multi-task, listen, and make sound decisions in alignment with UGM's purpose.
• Valid Idaho State Driver's License.
• Minimum three years of sobriety, if in recovery.
• Insightful, trustworthy, honest, reliable, model appropriate boundaries and strong work ethic.
• Valid Idaho driver's license- required.
• CPR/First Aid certification - required.
• Yearly TB clearance - required.
• Criminal background check clearance - required.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL FACTORS:

• Work primarily takes place indoors, with the possibility of 1-2 hours outdoors with kids when the weather permits. Summer hours may require 2-3 hours daily outside - frequently.
• The position involves sitting at a desk or in meetings - occasionally
• The position involves spending a few nights a year at our UGM camp or other facility for staff retreats, & CWC House camps. - occasionally
• Classroom time requires the willingness & ability to sit on the floor, lift children onto a variety of items (including into cribs & onto a changing table), sitting, standing, and the ability to model & participate in child related play and activities of all ages & development levels. - continuously.
• Driving to secondary locations for meetings - occasionally
• Requires working with a diverse population, many of whom struggle with homelessness, addiction and mental illness - continuously.
• Requires a sustained level of high energy, stamina, and the ability to move about all of the facilities on a regular and ongoing basis - frequently.
• Requires the ability to hear, see, and speak clearly - continuously.
• The full-time position typically requires hours of 8:00-4:30, with the occasional extension or adjustment of hours, depending on special events and family crisis that call for staff assistance. It may include some evenings as needed.

EQUIPMENT/TOOLS USED:

• Computer Office, Office 365 products,Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet, UKG HR software, Copier/printer, Phone, Fax

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• A.A. or better in Child Development & experience with at risk kids.
• 5+ year's prior related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Requirement:

Union Gospel Mission is a privately funded 501 (c)3 non-profit, evangelical Christian ministry. Our designated purpose is religious and we are a Christ-centered ministry, which is dedicated to sharing the Gospel and helping the homeless and impoverished. We consider every position essential in the fulfillment of our ministry and Statement of Purpose. As such, each employee must have a relationship with Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior and Lord. All employees must:

• Be able and willing to share the Gospel and participate in all of the ministry activities of Union Gospel Mission;
• Subscribe to Union Gospel Mission Statement, Statement of Faith and Core Values upon hire and continuously while employed;
• Adhere to Union Gospel Mission Employee Handbook.