AFTERSCHOOL COUNSELOR

**Department:** Youth Development **Reports To:** Afterschool Site Director / Program Coordinator/Before school Director **Status:** Part-time ### Position Summary The Before and/or Afterschool Counselor supports the YMCA’s mission by providing a safe, engaging, and nurturing environment for children during afterschool hours. Counselors lead activities, supervise participants, and serve as positive role models while promoting youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. ### Essential Functions - Supervise and ensure the safety of children at all times - Lead age-appropriate activities including homework help, games, arts & crafts, and enrichment programs - Build positive relationships with participants, families, and staff - Maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment - Follow YMCA policies, procedures, and behavior management guidelines - Assist with set-up, clean-up, attendance, and daily documentation - Communicate effectively with site leadership regarding participant needs or concerns Model YMCA values of **Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.** **PRAESIDIUM CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION VERBIAGE** *Employees* *and* *volunteers* *who* *directly* *supervise* *consumers* *will:* - Adhere to policies related to boundaries with consumers. - Attend required abuse risk management training. - Adhere to procedures related to managing high-risk activities and supervising consumers. - Report suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations. - Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements. #### Employees and volunteers who do not directly supervise consumers will: - Adhere to policies related to boundaries with consumers. - Attend required abuse risk management training. - Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations. - Follow mandated abuse reporting requirements. - Adhere to job specific abuse risk management responsibilities. - Maintenance employees and volunteers—ensure unused rooms and closets remain locked; routinely monitor high-risk locations (locker-rooms and bathrooms), etc. - Front desk personnel—ensure consumers are properly signed in and signed out, ensures only authorized adults are allowed inthe facility, etc. #### Supervisors and administrators will: - Follow employees and volunteers screening requirements and use screening instruments to screen for abuse risk. - Provide employees and volunteers with on-going supervision and training related to abuse risk. - Provide employees and volunteers with regular feedback regarding their boundaries with consumers. - Require employees and volunteers to adhere to policies and procedures related to abuse risk. Respond quickly to policy and procedure violations using the organization’s progressive disciplinaryprocedures. - Respond seriously and confidentially to reports of suspicious and inappropriate behaviors. - Follow mandated reporting requirements. - Communicate to all employees and volunteers the organization’s commitment to protect their consumers from abuse. - Report essential abuse risk management information to the board of directors. ### Qualifications - Age 18 or over preferred - High school diploma or equivalent preferred - Experience working with children in a group setting preferred - Strong communication and interpersonal skills - Ability to supervise children and manage groups effectively - CPR, First Aid, and other required YMCA trainings (or ability to obtain) - Willing to submit to an annual background check ### Physical Demands - Ability to stand, walk, bend, and actively participate in activities - Ability to lift up to 25 pounds - Ability to work both indoors and outdoors ### Work Schedule - Monday–Friday during the school year - Afternoon hours aligned with school dismissal times. Before school hours align with school entry times. ### YMCA Competencies - **Relationships:** Builds authentic, supportive relationships - **Communication:** Listens and communicates effectively - **Inclusion:**…