Early Childhood Assistant

The Early Childhood CARES program is a department within the College of Education. Early Childhood CARES stands for Early Childhood Coordination Agency for Referrals, Evaluations, and Services. Early Childhood CARES provides Early Intervention (EI) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services to infants, toddlers, and preschool children in Lane County with developmental delays and disabilities. Early Childhood CARES is funded by the Oregon Department of Education and is one of nine programs in Oregon delivering EI/ECSE services across the state.

The purpose of this position is to assist Early Childhood CARES Specialists in preparing and using appropriate curriculum to promote growth and learning in all developmental areas for children receiving EI/ECSE services. The Early Childhood Assistant will help implement individualized goals and objectives and facilitate integration into community preschools. The Assistant may observe and record specific behavioral data as well as targeted goals and objectives, and communicate with program staff, consultants, related service providers, and parents.

This position reports to the EC CARES Program Coordinator. The Assistant will be working with children birth to school age with disabilities.

Physical demands:
• Frequent lifting of children.
• Sitting on the floor for extended periods of time.
• Bending down to the child's level often, following safety measures in bending and lifting.
• Performing caregiving activities for children if needed; diapering, toileting, feeding, and arrival/departure routines.

Work Conditions:
• Frequent exposure to childhood illnesses.

Special Requirements:
• Position is subject to background checks, including criminal record checks and fingerprinting.
• Current enrollment in the Oregon Employment Department Child Care Division Central Background Registry is required for employment.

• A minimum of twenty semester hours (thirty quarter hours) of college courses in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or Special Education; OR
• A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential; OR
• One year of full-time experience in a certified day care center or comparable child care program.