Program Aide

$1,000 Hiring Bonus (External Candidates) 50% following 90 days and 50% after one year

Illinois Action for Children ("IAFC"), a local, state and national leader in the early childhood care and education sector for over 50 years. IAFC programs, services, and advocacy improve learning and life outcomes for children and families, including reducing the effects of poverty. IAFC works to ensure that every child in Illinois - particularly those in need - have access to the necessary resources to succeed in school and in life. Along with our mission, IAFC is committed to building and maintaining a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist culture. We are dedicated to this pledge through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and servicing our staff and clients. IAFC staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our essential work.

The Program Aide supports the core operations of the Early Learning Centers in the areas of transportation, nutrition and education. This position ensures that children are safely transported to and from the program and provides a pleasant and engaging bus environment. In addition, the Program Aide assists classroom or kitchen staff as directed, including temporarily performing the duties of absent staff members. This incumbent will be expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement, communication, competent people and clear priorities. All work to be completed in accordance with organizational standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following. The organization reserves the right to add to, delete, change or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.

Kitchen Support

• Assist cook with preparation of meals as specified on approved menus. In the absence of the cook, assume all required meal preparation duties.
• Keep kitchen and all food service areas clean and sanitary at all times, and comply with established food safety and sanitation procedures. Wash and disinfect food service areas, dining tables and chairs daily.
• Keep foods at proper temperatures until time of service. Make sure amount of food specified by regulation is available to each child.
• Keep food and food service supply storage areas clean, neat and organized. Report any food service problems to supervisor. Inventory food services supplies and reports any items needed.
• Complete state required Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification within 30 days of hire.

Classroom Support

• Assist classroom staff with classroom activities and routines, according to the lesson plan and classroom schedule. Supervise children to maintain a safe classroom environment and support positive social-emotional development.
• Prepare classroom materials and assist in maintaining the cleanliness of the classroom. Serves as a substitute for classroom staff in the event of teacher absence.
• Execute our workplace core capabilities of: accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people and clear priorities. Independently work on multiple tasks effectively in support of department.

Bus Monitor

• Prioritize and ensure the health, safety and well-being of children being transported to and from the program and on field trips in vehicles used by the program; visually observe the health of each child on the bus.
• Ensure that each child is delivered to the care of a responsible adult (authorized list) over the age of 18, upon leaving bus. Ensure that the responsible adult signs for the child upon leaving the bus.
• Complete daily sign on & off sheets, accounting by name all children getting on and off the bus.
• Assist children with entering and exiting the bus; ensure that children are properly positioned and restrained; and ensure harnesses are secured and remain fastened at all times while the vehicle is in motion.
• Maintain bus safety and positively guide children to follow all bus rules. Conduct a walkthrough of the bus before and after each use, checking each seat and space beneath following the established "all clear" procedures for ensuring the bus is empty of children.
• Ensure that no children are left unattended on the bus at any time.

Other Functions: The organization may assign other functions to the job at its discretion.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job 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.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: High school diploma or general education degree (GED). One to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Six or more college credits in early childhood education or child development preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Current Illinois Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire. Current First Aid and CPR certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.

This position will work in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. IL Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer.

Salary: $16.17/hr. Plus $1,000 Hiring Bonus (50% after 90 days of employment and 50% after one yr of employment)

While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.

---