Social Emotional Learning Assistant

East Bay Community Action Program•East Providence, RI

10h•Onsite

About The Position

Are you passionate about helping young children develop the emotional skills they need to thrive? Do you believe every child deserves a nurturing environment where they can learn to navigate their feelings, build meaningful relationships, and develop confidence? As a Social Emotional Learning Assistant at EBCAP's Head Start program, you'll be at the heart of children's most critical developmental years. You'll work alongside dedicated teaching teams and clinical professionals to create trauma-informed classroom environments where children with behavioral and social-emotional needs can flourish. You'll Be a Game-Changer: Partner directly with children who need extra support, implementing evidence-based strategies like Conscious Discipline and The Incredible Years to help them develop self-regulation skills, emotional literacy, and school readiness. Real-Time Impact: Watch children grow and succeed as you coach them through challenging moments, model emotional coping strategies, and celebrate their progress every single day. Collaborative Environment: Work closely with our Head Start Site Clinician, teaching teams, and families to create individualized therapeutic integration plans that truly make a difference. Meaningful Connections: Build trusting relationships with children and families, becoming a vital source of support and positive guidance during foundational years.

Requirements

An Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, or related field (Psychology, Social Work, Human Development, etc.) with behavioral intervention training, OR A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential with experience coaching children with challenging behaviors
Prior experience working with young children with behavioral or developmental needs
Understanding of child development and positive guidance techniques
Valid Rhode Island driver's license and reliable transportation
Staying calm and therapeutic during high-stress situations
Building trust quickly with children, families, and colleagues
Observing carefully and documenting accurately
Communicating with empathy and clarity
Embracing cultural diversity and working with varied populations
Collaborating as a team player while adapting to changing needs

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in early childhood education
Certification in Conscious Discipline, Incredible Years, TBRI, or similar frameworks
Bilingual skills (Spanish, Portuguese, or other languages)
Experience in trauma-informed settings

Responsibilities

Implement individualized therapeutic integration plans using evidence-based behavioral frameworks
Provide hands-on coaching during classroom activities, transitions, meals, and play to reinforce positive skills
Teach emotional coping strategies and conflict resolution in real-time moments that matter
Track progress through thoughtful observation and documentation
Collaborate weekly with clinical staff to refine strategies and celebrate wins
Help teaching teams create environments where all children can develop social-emotional competencies
Maintain safe, nurturing classroom spaces that support learning and growth
Partner with families to reinforce strategies at home
Integrate social-emotional learning seamlessly into daily activities
Participate in ongoing professional development focused on trauma-informed care and behavioral strategies
Connect with community partners and early intervention providers
Contribute to program quality and support integrated services that benefit families