Children’s Program Assistant

Supervised By: Per Diem Support Specialist // Children’s Program Facilitator

Hours & Status: Part-time, non-Exempt;
Tuesdays & Thursdays 5pm-8pm with potential for additional hours as needed.

Salary & Benefits: $16.00/hour

The Children’s Program Assistant works alongside the Children’s Program Facilitator to lead children’s activities during children’s group. The Children’s Program Assistant will have the opportunity to support the activities implemented throughout children’s group. This includes helping organize and facilitate trauma-informed, age appropriate activities for children ranging from newborns to teens.

Safe Haven Ministries—a nonprofit organization located in Grand Rapids, Michigan—believes in a multi-faceted approach to serving victims/survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Safe Haven offers comprehensive residential and non‑residential services; confidential emergency shelter for individuals and families fleeing domestic violence and human trafficking; housing support; psycho‑educational support groups; individual case management and advocacy; and primary prevention training and outreach for the entire community.

• Help with the implementation of age‑appropriate activities for children and youth that help to promote healthy identification and expression of feelings.
• Prepare the room and toys before and after group.
• Strive to create a caring and safe environment marked by empathy, understanding and acceptance.
• Clean, organize and maintain the toys and room where children’s activities are held.
• Ensure appropriate and timely collection of client registration and data entry.
• Review client documentation to ensure compliance with VAWA/VOCA standards.
• Observe professional confidentiality; protect the rights of clients and their families and observe the Safe Haven Ministries Code of Ethics at all times.
• Provide on‑the‑job training and coaching for children’s programming volunteers.
• Engage in onboarding training, ongoing training and maintaining of required First Aid and CPR certifications.
• In the event that there are not children present for group, this role will have an opportunity to organize activities for children within shelter or end their shift early.

• Experience providing childcare or children’s programming support for children and youth.
• Must be able to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to work with minors of various ages and backgrounds.
• Understanding of trauma‑informed practices when supporting children and youth strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of the dynamics of domestic violence and/or human trafficking; previous work with domestic violence preferred.
• Active listening, crisis intervention, and problem resolution skills.
• Ability to work independently and as a team.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to communicate with individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Reliable transportation.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and/or qualifications of employees assigned to this job. Employees are required to perform other duties as requested, directed, or assigned.

Safe Haven is an equal opportunity employer and dedicated to a policy and culture of non‑discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants. People with disabilities, people of color, indigenous people and LGBTQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.