Residential Children's Activities Specialist

YWCA NORTHEAST INDIANA INC•Fort Wayne, IN

About The Position

The Child Activities Specialist provides trauma-informed and trauma-responsive programming, activities, parenting education, and family-centered support to children in residential Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Addiction Recovery programs. The role promotes safety, healing, resilience, healthy development, and positive family relationships. The Specialist creates supportive environments and develops age-appropriate activities for children and families, including Two-Generation programming that engages both caregivers and children. This is a full-time, salaried position with typical hours Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The role requires working one weekend per month, schedule flexibility to accommodate programming and residential needs, participation in a scheduled on-call coverage rotation, and transportation of children and families in agency vehicles for approved activities as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
Obtain CPR and First Aid certifications within the first year of employment.
Knowledge of trauma-informed and trauma-responsive care for children, youth, and families impacted by Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Addiction Recovery.
Knowledge of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how trauma may affect a child's behavior, development, emotional well-being, relationships, and coping.
Knowledge of child and adolescent development and ability to provide age-appropriate programming for preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school youth.
Experience planning, coordinating, and facilitating children's activities, groups, recreational programming, and family-centered activities.
Experience developing summer programming, school-break activities, seasonal programming, holiday events, field trips, and community outings.
Experience facilitating or assisting with parenting classes and parent-child activities focused on positive parenting, healthy communication, family relationships, and parent-child engagement.
Knowledge of positive parenting practices and ability to support parents and caregivers in developing healthy interactions with their children.
Knowledge and experience using de-escalation, conflict resolution, and trauma-responsive techniques with children experiencing behavioral or emotional challenges.
Experience coordinating with community partners, schools, and enrichment opportunities.
Strong communication, relationship-building, teamwork, organization, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of professional boundaries, confidentiality, mandated reporting, child safety, and resident safety practices.
Experience maintaining accurate program documentation, including attendance, participation, activities, services, community partnerships, and outcomes.
Experience with data collection and outcome tracking for program evaluation, grant reporting, and Two-Generation programming.
Ability to plan and coordinate field trips and community activities, including scheduling, permission forms, transportation, supplies, and other logistics.
Experience maintaining attendance records, activity logs, incident reports, service documentation, and program data for tracking and reporting.
Ability to walk, stand, bend, stoop, reach, and lift or carry up to 30 pounds.
Full range of body motion, including manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
Corrected vision and hearing to the normal range.
Ability to drive a personal vehicle frequently throughout the six-county service area.
Ability to sit at a computer workstation for extended periods and occasionally stand for long periods.
Ability to focus on detail and accuracy.
Ability to work in a primarily non-smoking office environment combined with remote and community-based work, with travel that may involve inclement weather.
Ability to manage occasional high stress when dealing with clients, staff, and volunteers.

Responsibilities

Plan, coordinate, and facilitate trauma-informed, age-appropriate activities for children and families in Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Addiction Recovery residential programs.
Create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment that promotes healing, resilience, social-emotional development, creativity, and healthy relationships.
Develop and maintain a consistent schedule of children's activities, groups, and family-centered programming.
Plan and facilitate parenting classes and parent-child activities to strengthen parenting skills, communication, family relationships, and positive interactions.
Incorporate Two-Generation programming that engages parents or caregivers and children in activities supporting the well-being of the family.
Coordinate with community partners, volunteers, interns, and local organizations to provide educational, recreational, cultural, and enrichment opportunities.
Develop and coordinate summer programming, including structured activities, field trips, educational opportunities, recreation, and special events.
Coordinate seasonal and holiday activities, celebrations, family events, and special programming.
Plan and coordinate community outings and field trips, including scheduling, permission forms, transportation, supplies, and other preparations.
Collaborate with the Residential Children's Case Manager and Residential Services staff to identify programming that addresses the needs of children and families in shelter.
Support children experiencing behavioral or emotional challenges using trauma-informed, trauma-responsive, de-escalation, and conflict-resolution approaches.
Assist parents and caregivers in developing positive parenting strategies and identifying ways to engage meaningfully with their children.
Maintain accurate documentation of activities, attendance, participation, services, community partnerships, and program outcomes.
Maintain activity calendars and communicate upcoming programs, groups, outings, and events to residents and staff.
Purchase, organize, and maintain children's programming supplies, games, educational materials, and activity equipment within the established budget.
Participate in Residential Services and Children's Services meetings, training, supervision, and professional development as required.
Maintain knowledge of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma-informed care, child development, domestic violence, sexual violence, substance use and recovery, and their potential impacts on children and families.
Follow organizational policies concerning confidentiality, mandated reporting, child safety, professional boundaries, and resident safety.
Collaborate with staff across Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Addiction Recovery programs to coordinate services for children and families.
Work one weekend per month to provide and support children's and family programming.
Participate in the Residential Services Coverage on-call rotation as scheduled.
Transport children and families in agency vehicles for approved activities and outings as needed and in accordance with agency requirements.
Uphold and promote the YWCA Mission, maintain compliance with state standards, follow policies and procedures, contribute to fund development efforts, and support other departments and staff.