MARY’S HOME CHILD WATCH COORDINATOR

Position Title:             Child Watch Coordinator

Reports to:                  Mary’s Home Operations Manager

Status:                         Part Time, 20-25 hours per week

Schedule:                    Primarily mornings and early afternoons; occasional evenings

Organization Overview

Dream Centers is a faith-based non-profit organization founded in 2011 to provide health and hope to people of Colorado Springs who are working to rebuild their dreams. Mary’s Home, a program of Dream Centers, opened in 2015. Mary’s Home is a faith-based supportive housing program that provides single-mother families with the opportunity to gain supportive relationships, holistic health, life skills, economic self-sufficiency, and community resources to permanently exit homelessness.

Position Summary

The Mary's Home Child Watch Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of our child watch program, providing direct care to children while their mothers participate in program activities, classes, and appointments. This role includes supervising children ages 6 weeks to 6 years old, coordinating volunteer schedules, and implementing age-appropriate Christian religious education curriculum. The ideal candidate will create a nurturing, safe, and spiritually enriching environment for the children of Mary's Home residents.

Key Responsibilities

Child Care & Programming (50%)

• Provide direct supervision and care for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years old for 3-6 hours daily
• Create and maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for children
• Implement age-appropriate Christian religious education curriculum and activities
• Apply trauma-informed care and resilience-building approaches in all interactions with children
• Plan and lead daily structured activities, including crafts, games, stories, and learning exercises
• Maintain appropriate records regarding child attendance, behavior, and developmental progress
• Address behavioral issues using trauma informed and resilience practices, avoiding any form of discipline, but re-direct children to more appropriate behaviors
• Communicate regularly with mothers regarding their children's experiences and development
• Request, maintain, and prepare materials so they are adequate, appropriate, and safe. Maintain the outdoor area and classroom in a safe and clean manner, and meet all health and safety standards, including CACFP regulations.
• Demonstrate acceptance of all children (and their families) including those with special needs, behavioral challenges, diversity of culture, race, ethnicity and parental choices.

Volunteer & Staff Management (30%)

• Recruit, screen, and train child watch volunteers in coordination with the Director of Volunteer Engagement
• Schedule volunteers to ensure adequate coverage for all child watch shifts
• Provide ongoing support, guidance, and feedback to volunteers
• Facilitate regular volunteer meetings and training sessions
• Monitor volunteer performance and address any concerns
• Maintain volunteer records and hours

Administration & Communication (20%)

• Ensure all child watch areas meet safety standards and regulations
• Maintain inventory of supplies and request replenishment as needed
• Document and report any incidents or concerns related to children in the program
• Attend regular staff meetings and contribute to program development
• Communicate effectively with Mary's Home staff to ensure coordinated services

Required

• Strong Christian faith and commitment to incorporating Biblical teachings into childcare
• First Aid and infant, child & adult CPR certification and mandatory reporter training within 60 days of employment and maintained as required
• 2 years' experience working with children ages 0-6 in a professional capacity
• Knowledge of child development and age-appropriate activities
• Deep commitment to and knowledge of trauma-informed care and resilience practices for children
• Ability to manage multiple children with varying needs simultaneously
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Background check clearance
• High school diploma or equivalent

Preferred

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field
• Previous experience implementing Christian education curriculum
• Experience coordinating volunteers
• Understanding of the unique needs of children from challenging backgrounds
• Training in ACEs, resilience science, or child development
• Experience working with children impacted by trauma, abuse, homelessness, or systemic poverty
• Experience selecting or developing curriculum
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry children up to 40 pounds
• Ability to bend, stoop, sit on floor, and stand for extended periods
• Ability to move quickly in response to children's needs
• Position requires physical mobility, with or without reasonable accommodation if requested, to perform essential functions of the job.
• Job involves sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, reaching grasping, bending, stooping, crouching, pushing and/or pulling.
• Exerting 20 to 40 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects including the human body.
• The ability to make fast, simple, and repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
• The ability to endure physically and emotionally working with pre-school age children for long periods of time.
• The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one’s side when the eyes are focused forward.
• The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• The ability to see details at a distance.
• The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.

Background Check Requirements

• All candidates must consent to a Criminal Check, Employment Verification, Education Check, Pre-employment drug test, Colorado Department of Human Services for fingerprints and background inquiry, Motor Vehicle Record

Salary : $20 - $23