Child Care Worker-Courthouse Children's Center (Floater)

Founded in 1929, the YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester has been at the forefront of change for women and people of color.

We are dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Our work focuses on three signature areas:

Empowerment & Economic Advancement, Health & Wellness, and Racial Justice.

For more than 90 years, our YWCA has been making a difference in the lives of women, children and families in White Plains and Westchester.

Our mission is real, genuine, and authentically pursued by the entire staff. We are positioned for IMPACT.

The YWCA also offers the Retirement Fund, one of the first pension plans for women, predating Social Security.

If this sounds interesting to you, keep reading!

The YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester is looking to hire a qualified candidate for the position of Childcare Worker for our Courts Program in in White Plains, New Rochelle, and Yonkers.

Job Summary:

The Childcare Worker (Teacher) provides attentive, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate care for children aged six weeks to 12 years at the courthouse Children's Centers in White Plains, New Rochelle, and Yonkers. These Centers, operated in partnership with the New York State Unified Court System, offer a safe, literacy-rich environment for children while their caregivers attend court proceedings.

Centers operate Monday through Friday in alignment with Family Court hours, typically between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM. Staff are primarily assigned to a single site but may occasionally be asked to provide coverage at another location as needed. Support and collaboration across sites are encouraged to ensure consistent care and quality service.

This role is ideal for individuals who are warm, reliable, and committed to supporting the developmental needs of children in a trauma-informed and justice-adjacent setting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Child Supervision & Engagement: Ensure the safety and well-being of children through attentive supervision and by facilitating age-appropriate activities that promote social, emotional, and cognitive development.
• Activity Planning & Implementation: Develop and lead structured and unstructured activities, including arts and crafts, storytelling, games, and educational exercises, tailored to various age groups.
• Safety & Cleanliness: Maintain a clean, organized, and hazard-free environment, adhering to all safety and security protocols.
• Nutrition Support: Assist with the preparation and serving of snacks/meals, accommodating children with allergies or special dietary needs, and promoting healthy eating habits.
• Parent/Caregiver Communication: Greet and interact professionally with caregivers, providing updates about their child’s experience at the center and addressing any concerns.
• Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate attendance records, incident reports, and activity logs, ensuring confidentiality and compliance with program requirements.
• Compliance & Training: Adhere to all state licensing regulations and courthouse policies regarding childcare services. Participate in ongoing training and professional development as required.
• Program Support: Assist in organizing and maintaining childcare room supplies and equipment. Gather the monthly and annual program statistics as needed.
• Childcare Duties: Attend to children's physical needs, including diapering and changing clothes as necessary. Foster a safe space for play and model positive social interactions. Monitor and report any developmental or safety concerns.
• Family Resource Referrals: Identify and connect caregivers to community resources such as WIC, Medicaid, literacy programs, counseling, and other support services, in alignment with the Unified Court System’s commitment to linking families with essential services.

Qualifications:

Education: High school diploma or GED required; associate’s degree in early childhood education or a related field, or a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential (preferred)

Experience: At least one year of experience working with children in a structured setting, such as a licensed childcare center, preschool, or afterschool program. Two or more years of experience in early childhood education, particularly in environments serving vulnerable or justice-involved families (preferred)

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong grasp of child development and early learning principles.
• Excellent communication, observation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multitask, remain calm under pressure, and respond to emergencies with sound judgment.
• Experience working collaboratively in fast-paced, trauma-informed, or justice-adjacent settings.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to build trust with diverse families.
• Proficiency in verbal and written communication, with the ability to document clearly and provide caregiver updates.
• Comfort engaging with children through structured play, literacy activities, and socio-emotional learning.
• Familiarity with basic technology tools (e.g., Microsoft Office, scheduling and educational software).
• Bilingual (Spanish) a plus.

Benefits:

Vacation, Safe and Sick Leave, Personal Time Off, Company Paid Parental Leave, Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage, a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), Healthcare and Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 403b, pension and more for full-time eligible staff members!

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job.

Unless reasonable accommodation can be made, while performing this job the staff member shall:

• Lift and carry children and items up to 40 pounds to perform the functions of the job.
• Sit on the floor, bend, stoop, and engage in active play with children.
• Sit and stand for required periods of time.
• Tolerant of noise and activity typical of a childcare setting.
• Use close vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception along with the ability to focus vision.
• Communicate effectively in English and Spanish using proper grammar and vocabulary.

Environmental Demands

The environmental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive:

• Exposure to a variety of childhood and adult diseases and illnesses.
• Occasional exposure to a variety of weather conditions.
• Exposure to heated/air conditioned and ventilated facilities.
• Function in a workplace that is usually moderately noisy but that can be very noisy at times

Work Environment:

The courthouse Children's Center provides temporary care for children of individuals attending court. The environment is fast-paced, requiring adaptability, professionalism, and a child-centered approach to care.

General Acknowledgement

The employee is expected to adhere to all program policies, is expected to maintain ethical conduct and standards in accordance with the YWCA employee handbook and is to function as a role model in the adherence to the YWCA mission.

The Last Word…

The YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester is a dynamic organization on amission. Each week over 4,000 women, children and their families are served through our childcare, nursery school, after-school, summer camp, athletic and mission-based programs. In addition, the YWCA provides a home for 193 low-income women at our Residence.

The YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage people with disabilities, minorities, veterans, and women to apply. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity.

Compensation: $23.00 - $25.00 per hour

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Work Location: In person