Time Commitment:
Child Watch Volunteers sign up for two weekly shifts with a maximum of 3 hours for each shift. Minimum 6-month commitment.

Location:
Shift support from the IRC office or at offsite Adult Education services’ location.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Volunteers in this position should be prepared for the following assignments:

  • Oversee child-watch activities
  • Care for and actively engage with toddlers and children whose parents are participating in IRC Education services within the same building.
  • Support age-appropriate activities.

 

  • Maintain a safe and sanitary environment for children, including set-up and clean-up activities

 

  • Ensure child welfare and safety
  • Maintain a positive environment. Facilitate activities that encourage collaboration and positive peer support.
  • Maintain open and effective communication with IRC adult education team members and volunteer coordinators. Report regularly on child status and any problems or concerns.

Skills & Qualifications:
The Child Support Volunteer must have:
Education/Work Experience:

  • Experience caring for children is required.
  • Relevant professional experience in education and/or human services strongly preferred.
  • Experience working with immigrants or refugees preferred.
  • Completion of a certificate as a Child Development Associate or in early childhood education or a related certificate is desired.
  • Certified in CPR / First Aid is desired.

 

Demonstrated Skills & Competencies:

  • Strong desire to support vulnerable individuals and families and enthusiasm for working in a multi-cultural setting.
  • Enthusiasm for early childhood education and language learning, with children and their families.
  • An ability to adapt to meet the needs of immigrant and refugee families.
  • Strong communication abilities, including the ability to oversee a group of children with mixed ages.
  • Comfortable working in a cross-cultural environment and with child language learners, sometimes with little or no English proficiency.
  • Ability to take initiative, work independently, and follow through on critical tasks.
  • Fluent in spoken and written English. Bi-lingual abilities in a language spoken by an IRC client group is desired.

 

Please note that volunteers must undergo a background check for which we ask a donation of $49

 

To Apply:

Please submit an online application here:  https://irc-global.my.salesforce-sites.com/volunteer    Qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.