Salary: $30.00 Hourly

The Cross Island YMCA is seeking an Inclusion Camp Specialist who will be responsible for creating a safe, positive environment for school-age children with special needs, and for providing opportunities for learning, interaction, and academic or personal growth.

Summer Camp programs operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., July through August.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of participants in the program by providing appropriate supervision at all times.
  
• Understand, maintain, and ensure that participants follow Risk Management and safety procedures.
  
• Keep the immediate supervisor informed daily of any concerns regarding participants, staff, or the facility.
  
• Develop and implement creative, inclusive outreach strategies to connect with and engage individuals who may face extra barriers to participation, including physical barriers.
  
• Manage participants’ Individualized Accommodation Plans, student behavioral support plans, and logs.
  
• Support the implementation of systems for tracking student behaviors and collaborate with staff, caregivers, and teachers to identify individual behavior support techniques for students experiencing challenges.
  
• Partner with the Camp Director to ensure social-emotional development and behavior management are infused into programming.
  
• Guide staff on how to effectively implement behavioral strategies in the learning environment.
  
• Support the planning and implementation of all camp activities, including, but not limited to, summer learning initiatives, field trips, in-camp events, and culminating performances.
  
• Promote an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful environment that embraces the diversity of all staff and participants.
  
• Create and maintain a strength-based, youth-focused atmosphere that is consistent and sensitive to the needs of participants with learning, emotional, or behavioral differences.
  
• Ensure staff are familiar with common mental health support needs (i.e., depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, etc.) and a trauma-informed programming approach to support all participants and families.
  
• Support the creation of a resource center for stakeholders to ensure ongoing support for topics and issues as they arise. Provide reliable information about available resources and make relevant referrals for mental health services and additional services as needed.
  
• Respond appropriately when time-sensitive mental health services are needed, such as suicide prevention, grief, and loss due to the death or incarceration of a family member.
  
• Implement lessons and training on how to provide additional support and services to enable full participation for those with special needs, both physical and cognitive. Conduct technical assistance with YMCA staff in programming related to behavior challenges, engagement, and social-emotional development.
  
• If applicable, provide task management with Social Work Interns to provide purposeful roles that support the behavioral, emotional, and physical needs of the participants.
  
• Understand and communicate the YMCA’s core values and the goals of the Summer Camp program to staff, participants, and caregivers.
  
• Attend all required pre-camp training. Actively participate in training sessions, designated meetings, and special events.
  
• Adhere to all Department of Health, YMCA of Greater New York, and funder standards, expectations, and regulations.