Summer Disability Inclusion Jobs in Montclair, NJ

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB CLASSIFICATION: Inclusion Coordinator / Floater - COMPASS Afterschool & Summer Program

REPORTS TO: Program Director

DEPARTMENT: Clinic / COMPASS

JOB TYPE: Limited Part-Time, Non-Exempt

RATE: $22.00 per hour

SCHEDULE: Limited part-time schedule based on program needs, including afterschool, school-holiday, summer, training, and special-event coverage

OBJECTIVES: Reporting to the Program Director, the Inclusion Coordinator / Floater supports Northside Center's COMPASS Afterschool and Summer Program by helping ensure that all students have equitable access to and meaningful participation in programming, regardless of disability, learning needs, language, medical condition, behavioral needs, or social-emotional support needs.

This limited-schedule position provides targeted inclusion support, coaching to paraprofessionals and direct-service staff, and floating coverage as assigned. The role helps strengthen the program's capacity to support students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 Plans, behavioral or developmental needs, medical considerations, and other individualized supports while maintaining a safe, welcoming, trauma-informed, and strengths-based environment.

The Inclusion Coordinator / Floater works collaboratively with the Program Director, Content Specialist, Activity Specialists, Group Leaders, Youth Workers, paraprofessionals, families, school personnel, and Northside clinical or educational staff. This position does not replace licensed clinical, medical, or special-education services and must follow all confidentiality, supervision, and referral requirements.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Inclusion Support & Student Access

• Help ensure that students can safely and meaningfully participate in all program activities, including academic enrichment, arts, recreation, meals, field trips, and special events.
• Review available enrollment and support information, as assigned by the Program Director, to identify accommodations, supervision needs, communication needs, triggers, strengths, and strategies that may support successful participation.
• Assist in implementing accommodations and support strategies reflected in IEPs, Section 504 Plans, Behavior Intervention Plans, medical plans, safety plans, and other approved documents within the scope of the afterschool program.
• Provide targeted one-to-one or small-group support when assigned, while promoting student independence, inclusion, dignity, and connection to peers.
• Support transitions, arrival, dismissal, meals, group changes, field trips, and other high-need times when additional assistance may be required.
• Observe student participation and communicate relevant strengths, concerns, patterns, and support needs to the Program Director promptly and objectively.
• Help ensure activity spaces, materials, routines, and events are accessible and responsive to varied developmental, behavioral, sensory, language, and learning needs.

Staff Coaching & Paraprofessional Support

• Provide practical coaching and modeling to paraprofessionals, Group Leaders, Youth Workers, Activity Specialists, and other direct-service staff on inclusive and strengths-based practices.
• Support staff with differentiated instruction, visual supports, structured choices, transition strategies, sensory supports, positive reinforcement, and developmentally appropriate redirection.
• Model trauma-informed care, restorative practices, relationship-building, co-regulation, de-escalation, and positive behavior supports.
• Reinforce consistency in approved student support strategies across staff, settings, and program activities.
• Help paraprofessionals understand assignments, schedules, boundaries, documentation expectations, and escalation procedures.
• Share observations and coaching needs with the Program Director while respecting supervisory roles and confidentiality requirements.

Floater Coverage & Direct Program Support

• Provide floating coverage for staff breaks, absences, transitions, high-need groups, special activities, and other operational needs as assigned.
• Support participant supervision and help maintain required staff-to-student ratios when qualified and assigned to do so.
• Assist with homework support, structured recreation, social-emotional learning, group activities, meals, arrival, dismissal, and field trips.
• Follow the lesson plans and directions of the assigned Group Leader, Activity Specialist, Content Specialist, or Program Director when providing classroom or activity coverage.
• Help maintain safe, organized, inclusive, and welcoming activity spaces.
• Respond flexibly to changing program needs while remaining within the position's training, assigned responsibilities, and supervision structure.

Family, School & Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Program Director and authorized staff to support continuity between the afterschool program, families, schools, and Northside services.
• Participate in staff meetings, case consultations, planning meetings, and family conferences when assigned.
• Communicate with families only within assigned responsibilities and in coordination with the Program Director.
• Refer medical, clinical, special-education, safeguarding, or other concerns to the appropriate supervisor rather than independently diagnosing or providing services outside the role.

Documentation, Safety & Compliance

• Complete objective observation notes, incident documentation, support logs, or other assigned records accurately and on time.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding student records, diagnoses, accommodations, family information, behavior, and medical needs.
• Follow DYCD COMPASS requirements, School-Age Child Care regulations, mandated reporting laws, health and safety procedures, and Northside Center policies.
• Maintain active supervision and immediately report safety concerns, suspected abuse or maltreatment, injuries, missing participants, medication concerns, or serious behavioral incidents according to established procedures.
• Use only approved behavior-support and de-escalation practices; physical punishment, humiliation, threats, unauthorized restraint, seclusion, or isolation are prohibited.
• Participate in required orientation, training, supervision, emergency drills, and professional development.
• Perform other related duties consistent with the scope of the position and program needs.

SPECIFIC SKILLS PREFERRED

• Knowledge of inclusive youth development, differentiated support, and elementary-aged programming.
• Experience supporting children with IEPs, Section 504 Plans, autism, ADHD, developmental differences, behavioral needs, social-emotional needs, or medical considerations.
• Ability to build trusting relationships while maintaining clear, professional boundaries.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, positive behavior supports, restorative practices, co-regulation, and de-escalation strategies.
• Ability to coach staff respectfully through modeling, feedback, and practical problem-solving.
• Strong observation, communication, collaboration, organization, and documentation skills.
• Ability to remain calm, flexible, and solution-focused in a fast-paced program environment.
• Cultural responsiveness and the ability to work effectively with children, families, and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and electronic documentation systems preferred.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Commitment to Northside Center's mission, values, and 'Each Child...First Chance' principle.
• Student-centered, strengths-based, and inclusive practice.
• Patience, empathy, sound judgment, and emotional self-regulation.
• Equity, diversity, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness.
• Teamwork, adaptability, and reliability.
• Professional ethics, confidentiality, and accountability.
• Clear communication and respectful relationship building.
• Safety awareness and active supervision.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in Education, Special Education, Child Development, Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Youth Development, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience working with children under age 13 in an educational, afterschool, summer, behavioral-health, childcare, or community-based setting preferred.
• At least one (1) year of experience supporting children with disabilities, behavioral needs, developmental needs, social-emotional needs, or individualized accommodations strongly preferred.
• Experience as a paraprofessional, behavior support staff member, teaching assistant, youth worker, or inclusion support professional preferred.
• CPR/First Aid certification and Mandated Reporter training required or willingness to obtain within the required timeframe.
• Ability to complete all required background checks, clearances, medical documentation, and training requirements.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

PHYSICAL & SCHEDULING REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work a limited, flexible part-time schedule based on student and program needs; hours are not guaranteed and may vary by week.
• Availability during afterschool hours, school-holiday sessions, summer programming, staff training, field trips, and occasional evening or weekend events as scheduled.
• Ability to move throughout indoor and outdoor program spaces, remain attentive during active supervision, accompany participants on trips, and respond promptly during emergencies.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and lift or carry program materials weighing up to 25 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.

COMPENSATION

Hourly Rate: $22.00. This is a limited part-time, non-exempt position.

ABOUT NORTHSIDE

Northside Center for Child Development serves more than 5,500 children and families across New York City each year through high-quality, outcome-driven behavioral health, early childhood education, and enrichment services. With over $34 million in annual funding, Northside provides the comprehensive support children and families need to overcome adversity, build resilience, and pursue their dreams.

Founded in 1946 in Harlem, Northside has been a cornerstone of the community for eight decades, leading the way in integrating education and mental health to support children's development. Several of Northside's innovative programs were the first of their kind in Harlem, setting standards of care that continue to influence social service agencies throughout the United States today.

Northside's founders, Drs. Kenneth B. and Mamie Phipps Clark, were renowned, pioneering psychologists whose groundbreaking research was instrumental in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education landmark Supreme Court decision that declared school segregation unconstitutional. Their belief in the worth, dignity, and potential of every child continues to guide Northside's mission and inspire its work today. Northside is driven by its vision and principle, 'Each Child...First Chance.'

For more information on Northside Center for Child Development, please visit www.northsidecenter.org.