Volunteer AmeriCorps Child Care Assistant

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services. We are recruiting for the following position:

Sea Mar is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization

THIS IS A FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER POSITION WITH A MODEST LIVING ALLOWANCE STIPEND. THIS IS NOT A FULL-TIME JOB.

AmeriCorps members receive up to $20,400 prorated stipend over the course of their service of 1,700 hours ending August 2027.  Members serving less than 1,700 hours will receive a reduced Living Allowance stipend. Members receive their stipend at two-week intervals prorated though their service year. After successful completion of their service time, AmeriCorps members receive a maximum $7,395 Education Award to be applied towards the member's education/training. Members serving less than 1,700 hours will receive a reduced Education Award

Position Summary

The Child Care Teaching Assistant is responsible for assisting in the planning and carrying out of the activities for an assigned classroom. The AmeriCorps Member must have knowledge of child development as evidence by professional references, education, experience and on-the-job performance.

Duties and Responsibilities

As a mission-driven organization, the core values of, and the services offered at Sea Mar based on the belief that everyone deserves to be respectfully treated in a way that preserves dignity and enhances self-worth. Sea Mar is an advocate for its clients and aims to achieve industry-leading, client-centered, culturally-aware services.

Sea Mar - AmeriCorps Members serve as an extension of this mission and demonstrate their commitment to an excellent client experience by:

• Understanding and empathizing with client needs
• Surpassing client expectations
• Demonstrating a high level of integrity
• Exhibiting compassion and commitment
• Advocating for social justice
• Taking pride in individual work as well as that of the team
• Continually learning to stay current with industry standards, best practices and technology

As a Sea Mar – AmeriCorps Member, the individual in this position commits to adherence to these values to their utmost ability and endeavors to strengthen and embody this mission daily.

The AmeriCorps member will be required to complete the Member Service Agreement requirements in order to be compensated fully for their position (Stipend and Educational award).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but not limited to the following:

• Participate in mandatory trainings, service projects and team building activities throughout their 10-11 month full time term of service.
• Work cohesively with the lead teacher’s plans to prepare and deliver instructional activities that facilitate active learning experiences.
• Assist in guiding every child through self-directed activities, allowing them to develop at his or her own pace.
• Along with lead teachers, foster a nurturing, safe, and stimulating, non-competitive environment.
• Demonstrate verbally and by role modeling a sounds knowledge of good teaching practices.
• Maintain a safe, clean and pleasant environment.
• Tend to the physical care, safety and wellbeing of all the children in the group.
• Provide information to parents regarding their children as well as general child development information.
• Responsibility for setting the tone for and maintaining classroom discipline.
• Actively participate in the Healthy Futures education project for AmeriCorps. Providing health education materials to teachers, children and family.
• Participate in an AmeriCorps site health project, by introducing health education to the current curriculum. Work with Lead Teacher’s to develop lesson plans on this health intervention series.

Qualifications

The AmeriCorps member will have an understanding of children growth and development and the ability to apply this understanding through planning activities, areas and materials that encourage the children in problem solving and independent play. The member must have the ability to instruct other adults and to work with all children in an appropriate manner. Must be willing to accept supervision and maintain positive relationships with children, co-workers and parents. Must have the ability to meet the social and emotion, physical and developmental needs of the children, maintain a safe, clean and healthy environment and possess knowledge of nutrition, health and first aid.

To perform this service successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred
• Member must have the ability to interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals; possess the ability to write routine reports and correspondence; ability to communicate effectively with clients or employees of the organization.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to compile, interpret, and utilize information; and to communicate effectively with people of all backgrounds and educational levels.
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision, use good judgment, meet deadlines, and prioritize workloads.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality.
• Must be well organized and have good attention to detail.
• Must be able to maintain professionalism and appropriate boundaries in all interactions.
• Must have intermediate computer skills.
• Must be computer literate and have good mathematical skills. Experience in Windows Office programs preferred.
• Must be able to solve problems and reason deductively.

Education, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, and Medical Screening

• High School Diploma Required
• Preferred undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience.
• Must have a current TB test (within the past year). Must receive a satisfactory background check from WATCH and all CNCS background check requirements.
• Must have and maintain current Food Handler’s Permit.
• This position must obtain CPR Certification within 90 days of their service start date and is required to maintain current CPR through completion of member’s service hours.

Service Environment

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

• This member will provide service in a group office setting, with significant levels of distractions and background noise.
• Must maintain a professional appearance and demeanor at all times.
• Must wear appropriate personal protective equipment

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, this employee is regularly required to communicate in person and by telephone with other individuals, and may be asked to speak in front of groups.
• This employee must be able to sit for long periods of time and to use a personal computer.

Supervision

The AmeriCorps Member does not supervise any other positions.

Bilingual Spanish Required. Reliable Transportation required. 

What We Offer:

Sea Mar offers talented and motivated people the opportunity to work in a dynamic and growing community health organization. Working at Sea Mar Community Health Centers is more than just a job, it’s a fulfilling career with opportunity for advancement. The fringe benefits surpass most companies. For example, Full-time employees working 30 hours or more, receive an excellent benefit package of:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Prescription coverage
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Paid-time-off starting at 24 days per year + 10 paid Holidays.
• We also offer 401(k)/Retirement options and an exciting opportunity to work in a culturally diverse environment. 

Sea Mar is an equal opportunity employer.

Please visit our website to learn more about us at www.seamar.org. You may also apply thru our Career page at this link.