| Location | Columbia, MD |
| Salary | $17–$24 Per Hour |
Inclusion Companion for Before and After Care
Salary
$17.00 - $24.00 Hourly
Location
Recreation & Parks, 7120 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD
Job Type
Contingent
Job Number
9995-10202026
Department
Recreation & Parks
Opening Date
10/21/2026
POSITION SUMMARY/CLASS DESCRIPTION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Individuals with disabilities may be provided an inclusion companion to assist them in social inclusion opportunities in a licensed childcare setting. Inclusion companions will work in the before and after school Recreational Licensed Childcare programs and/or Early Learning Centers.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Actively and responsibly supervise the person/persons (1-3 individuals) to whom you are assigned. Coordinate with the program director/leaders to adapt activities when necessary; assist the individual with the disability to access all facets of the program; maintain and adhere to behavior protocols when necessary; assist with activities of daily living; communicate daily/weekly with the parents, onsite staff, and supervisors. If the individual with the disability does not require one-on-one attention during the entire activity, the companion shall then assist in basic program duties. Complete all necessary paperwork such as but not limited to incident reports, communication with supervisor and timecards.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
Ability to communicate effectively with individuals with various types of disabilities; ability to advocate for individuals with disabilities to promote social inclusion within the program; work well with large and small groups; be aware of safety concerns regarding the individuals, and communicate them with the program director/leaders, ability to enforce behavior intervention strategies when necessary; possess an attitude of enthusiasm and commitment in providing recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Must be 18 years old or older. Applicants must meet Office of Childcare requirements and qualifications guidelines. Must have reliable transportation.
Expected Hours: 10-25 hours per week
Before and Aftercare:
Monday-Friday with the exception of school holidays (hours may vary depending on school start and dismissal times)
AM: Hours are typically: 6:45am-9:30am
PM: Hours are typically 2:45pm-6:15pm
Early Learning Center:
Monday-Friday with the exception of school holidays - 8:15am - 4:45pm
Possible Work locations (based upon need and demand):
EXPERIENCE:
Level I: No experience or less than one (1) year experience working with individuals with disabilities; will work with individual with mild disability.
Level II: More than one (1) year experience working with individuals with a disability; experience working with mild to moderate disabilities.
Level III: More than two (2) years experience working with individuals with disabilities with mild to severe disabilities. Course work in recreation, psychology, special education or a related field required.
Level IV: Bachelor's degree or higher, or extensive course work in psychology, sociology, recreation, special education or related field. Two years or more working with individuals with mild to severe disabilities; specific expertise in behavior management, sign language or other specialty; will work with more severe disabilities.
EDUCATION:
Depends on the specific placement regarding level of disability, specific accommodation needed and level of independence that the individual with the disability possesses.
CONTINGENT RATE OF PAY:
Salary commensurate with experience and on specific skills needed.
RANGE:
Level I: $17.00 to $18.50/hour Contingent/Paraprofessional
Level II: $18.50 - $19.50/hour Contingent/Paraprofessional
Level III: $19.50 - $20.50/hour Contingent/Paraprofessional
Level IV: $20.50 - $24.00/hour Contingent/Paraprofessional
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
TO APPLY: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.
Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.
At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).
Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at HiringPreference@howardcountymd.gov. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.
Employees in this category may not be eligible for all County benefits.
01
Your application, which includes any associated supplemental questions, must be complete at the time of submission and must clearly articulate the required work experience relevant to the position for which you are applying. The submitted electronic document must outline accurate dates to include (month and year) in association with each work history entry. Vague descriptions of experience will not be considered. Please include all pertinent experience in your application to include, full or part time, volunteer, military, acting capacity, or any other such work history that is applicable to the position for which you wish to be considered. Descriptions of duties that state "see resume" will negatively impact your candidacy as resumes cannot be substituted in lieu of a completed application. Applicants will not be contacted for clarification or additional information. I have read and understand the language outlined above.
02
Do you meet all qualifications and requirements as specified by the Office of Childcare?
03
Can you work:
04
What shifts are you able to work? (Please select all that apply)
05
What locations are you willing to travel to? (Please select all that apply)
06
Please tell us about your work experience with individuals with disabilities:
07
What do you believe the role of an inclusion staff member is during before and aftercare programs?
08
What does inclusion mean to you?
09
How do you promote independence instead of doing everything for a participant?
10
How would you balance one participants needs with the safety of the entire group?
11
How do you communicate concerns about a participant to your supervisor?
12
How do you handle proactive feedback from supervisors?
13
Before and after care can be busy and unpredictable. How do you manage stress and changing responsibilities?
14
Are you comfortable following safety procedures, documenting incidents, accidents, behavior and communicating with families? Please provide detailed responses and examples.
15
I understand I am responsible for maintaining the accuracy of my contact information, including my street address, my e-mail address, and my contact telephone numbers. My failure to maintain accurate contact information may result in my not receiving information regarding this job announcement and/or may result in my not being further considered for this employment opportunity. To update this information visit www.governmentjobs.com, click on the "career seekers" link, and follow the prompts.
16
I certify that the information submitted in this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that providing false, erroneous, and/or misleading information may result in elimination from the hiring process and termination of employment if hired.
Required Question
Employer Howard County Government
Address 3430 Court House Drive
Ellicott City, Maryland, 21043
Phone 410-313-2033