Program Aide Palm Beach Head Start / Early Head Start (3156)
Located at West Palm Beach Head Start Center
40 work week / M-F

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong and communities are vibrant. Since 1982, Lutheran Services Florida has been providing and sharing solutions to protect Florida’s most vulnerable. Today, we are one of the largest nonprofits in Florida touching 1 in 50 Floridians with a wide range of services, including:

• early childhood education
• refugee and immigration
• mental health and substance abuse
• juvenile justice
• child welfare

LSF is looking for a talented Program Aide who wants to make an impact in the lives of children and families.

Purpose & Impact

A Day in The Life of a Program Aide

• Assists classroom staff in all classroom activities, field trips and outdoor activities included in lesson plans.
• Assists in developing materials and providing activities related to the cultural background of the children and families served.
• Helps supervise at mealtime, eating with the children to encourage good nutrition and social skills.
• Helps keep the classroom and its contents clean and orderly.
• Assists the teacher in any aspect of the program as needed (i.e. at family nights, copying newsletters, making phone calls, preparing classroom materials, etc.)
• Serves as a temporary substitute in the periodic absence of the teacher assistant or teacher.
• May work with assigned children with disabilities, supporting the work of the classroom staff, managers, specialists and/or mental health consultant in carrying out the individual plans for children with special needs.
• With direction from professional staff, follows IEP/IFSP.
• Sanitizes surfaces, picks up and stores materials in the classroom or kitchen to maintain a safe environment.
• May assist with janitorial services in the absence of the regular custodian or janitor.
• May assist in the preparation of food, logging meals/snacks following USDA/CACFP required documentation for food purchased, prepared and served.
• Participates in food service cleanup, inventory and other food service tasks as requested.
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to HS/EHS children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Attends all workshops and training's as directed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education: High school diploma or G.E.D. Within 90 days of employment, must obtain and continually maintain basic first aid and pediatric CPR certification. Must have the 40-clock hour plus 5-hours of literacy training upon hire. For those hired during the grant transition, staff must register for the 40-hour training plus 5-hours of literacy training within 6 months of employment and successfully complete within 15 months of date of hire.

Qualifications

Experience: This is an entry-level position. Current and former Head Start/Early Head Start parents will receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.

Also required: Certification in First Aid and CPR within 90 days from the date of hire and successful completion of a Level II background screening, local criminal record check, health, TB and drug screening prior to hiring. Bilingual preferred: English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate both written and verbally.
• Ability to follow directions.
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions, short correspondence and memos.
• Ability to communicate with families and children in a positive and helpful manner.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide.

Why work for LSF?

Ability to Make an Impact in Multiple Areas

LSF offers several programs, spanning across a wide range of populations in need. This gives our team members an opportunity to learn and potentially work in programs outside of their direct area. Either way, members of the LSF family will play a part in transforming the lives of those in need.

Community

A career at LSF means working and learning alongside talented professionals in a dynamic and inclusive environment. The values of our organization – OPEN-MINDED, COMPASSIONATE, GENEROUS, VISIONARY and HONESTY – drives each one of us.

People working at Lutheran Services Florida treat each other like family. Whether you work on the front lines or work in an office, you share a common bond that is felt throughout the organization.

Growth Opportunities

Because of the variety of programs we offer throughout Florida, team members have the option to explore areas of interest in other programs or grow within their existing program/department.

Amazing benefits package including:

• Medical, dental and vision
• Teledoc (24/7 access to doctors via phone and video)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term disability
• Employer paid life insurance (1X salary), AD&D
• Health and dependent care FSA
• Paid holidays
• Generous PTO policy
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match
• Tuition reimbursement
• Additional voluntary benefits:
  • Short-term disability
  • Group life insurance
  • Accident, critical illness/Cancer and hospital policy
  • Legal Shield coverage

Lutheran Services Florida Children & Head Start Services

West Palm Beach Head Start / Early Head Start

EOE/DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE