Childcare Specialist

Join a Legacy of Hope and Empowerment at Covenant House New York!

For over 50 years, Covenant House New York (CHNY) has been at the forefront of transforming lives by providing comprehensive shelter, housing, and wrap-around support services for vulnerable homeless, runaway, and exploited youth. As the largest provider of these essential services in New York City, CHNY impacts the lives of over 1,500 young people aged 16-24 every year.

At CHNY, our doors are open to all young people in need, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. Our dedicated team offers various services, including shelter, housing, education, employment, health, mental health support, youth development, and anti-human trafficking initiatives. We operate with harm reduction and trauma-informed principles to ensure the best care for our youth.

But our mission goes beyond immediate support. We are passionate advocates for systemic change, influencing public policy, and raising awareness of the critical issues surrounding youth homelessness. Our ultimate goal is to provide a safe refuge and empower young people to build a brighter future founded on compassion, unconditional love, and absolute respect.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of countless young people. Join a team that inspires long-term transformation and hope.

The Mother/Child Shelter Program (MC Shelter) Childcare Specialist provides childcare services to the childcare of up to 12 young women aged 16-21, either pregnant or with a baby/toddler, living in our Mother/Child Shelter at a standalone site in the Bronx. Reporting to the Child Development/Childcare Coordinator of the MC Shelter site, the Childcare Specialist is an energetic, warm and creative member of a team that includes case managers and a cadre of specialty staff including employment/education specialists, housing specialists, youth development staff, and credentialed mental health staff.

The MC Shelter is a residential program funded by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, where young women and their babies may reside for up to 4 months. Childcare is provided onsite as a support to the young mothers who reside within. The Childcare Specialist provides caring, compassionate and developmentally-appropriate care to babies as young as six weeks and young children, usually up to five years old (but sometimes older).

As some of the children at our site may have experienced significant trauma, the Childcare Specialist must be well-versed in, and/or participate in training in order to provide trauma-informed services to children. This site will also use evidence-based and other proven models. The Childcare Specialists may be required to participate in training for these social service models.

As this site is new to CHNY, the Childcare Specialist will need to be comfortable in a rapidly changing environment where processes and protocols are being developed and refined as the program is operating. Additionally, this position requires independent judgment and proactivity, as the Childcare Specialist will be working within a newly opened, stand-alone site. Flexibility and excellent communication and problem-solving abilities are critical to successfully fulfilling the requirements of this position.

(Responsibilities to include but not limited to the following)

• Provides trauma-informed care for children as young as 6 weeks, such as setting schedules and routines, grooming, feeding, changing diapers, cleaning play areas, and organizing and cleaning toys.
• Interacts with babies and children to encourage development and socialization.
• Reads, talks to, teaches, and plays with children. Helps children to discover new interests by introducing them to art, music, sports, science, math, and other concepts.
• Develops and encourages age-appropriate learning and socialization to ensure children learn basic skills and concepts, such as communication and sharing.
• Helps children potty train as appropriate.
• Interacts with the young mother residents to ensure appropriate care of their children and to help them develop safe and nurturing…