Child Care Substitute - Contractor

Joint Initiatives for Youth & Families; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Career advancement

Job summary

Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families (JI) seeks dedicated Child Care Substitutes to provide high-quality care across licensed centers and family homes in Colorado. Substitutes step into various roles ensuring compliance with licensing rules and JI policies while maintaining a nurturing, safe environment for children.

Responsibilities include supervising children, following developmentally appropriate activities, and adhering to PDIS trainings and emergency procedures.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• High school diploma or equivalent; ECE or related field is a plus.
• Minimum six months of experience in licensed child care preferred.
• Must complete all required Colorado PDIS trainings before placement.
• CPR/First Aid certification must be current.
• Adhere to Colorado licensing rules and JI policies.

Responsibilities

• Fill in at various childcare centers and homes when staff are absent.
• Ensure constant supervision and maintain proper child-staff ratios.
• Maintain a safe, clean, organized environment and follow safety procedures.
• Follow proper safety and emergency procedures per state licensing rules.
• Conduct regular headcounts and safety checks to prevent injuries.

Skills

Age 18+

Child care experience

CPR/First Aid certification

Safety procedures

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

ECE or related field preferred

Job description

Description

JOINT INITIATIVES FOR YOUTH + FAMILIES (JI) – An Equal Opportunity Employer

Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families (JI) is a nonprofit organization established in 1989 specifically for the purpose of bringing together agencies that serve children and youth to drive collective impact and ensure higher impact services for young people ages 0-21 and their families in El Paso and Teller Counties.

JOB SUMMARY

Joint Initiatives recently launched an Early Learning Substitute Placement Agency (ELSPA) and is seeking dedicated and flexible Child Care Substitutes to provide high-quality care and supervision for children in licensed child care centers and family home settings. Substitutes will step into various roles as needed, ensuring compliance with all Colorado child care licensing rules and regulations and JI’s policies and substitute agreement while maintaining a nurturing, safe, and developmentally appropriate environment for children.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; higher education in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or a related field is a plus.
• Minimum six (6) months of experience working with children in a licensed child care setting preferred.
• Must complete all required Colorado Professional Development Information System (PDIS) trainings prior to working. Trainings can be completed after contracting with JI—trainings must be completed prior to placement.
• Safe Sleep
• Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma Prevention
• Standard Precautions (Universal Precautions & Infection Control)
• Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (Mandatory Reporting)
• CPR/First Aid Certification (must remain current)
• Playground Safety
• Injury Prevention
• Child Development Training
• 3 Hours of Social Emotional Development Training
• An additional 15 clock hours of professional development annually, which may be completed through:
• Department-approved PDIS training
• Joint Initiatives’ Early Learning Substitute Placement Agency’s training courses
• College coursework in Early Childhood Education

Requirements

DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES

Child Supervision + Safety

• Fill in at various childcare centers and homes when childcare workers are absent.
• Ensure constant and active supervision of children at all times, following proper child-staff ratios.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized child care environment.
• Implement proper safety and emergency procedures as required by state licensing regulations.
• Conduct regular headcounts and safety checks to prevent injuries or incidents.

Proper Guidance + Behavior Management

• Use positive guidance techniques to support children’s emotional and social development.
• Implement redirection, positive reinforcement, and problem-solving strategies to manage behavior.
• Maintain a nurturing, non-punitive approach when guiding children’s actions.
• Follow individualized behavioral plans for children as needed.

Daily Routine + Classroom Support

• Assist with lesson implementation and developmentally appropriate activities.
• Support meal and snack times, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Follow diapering/toileting procedures and assist children with personal care as needed.
• Engage children in structured and unstructured play activities that support their learning and development.

Professionalism + Compliance

• Follow all policies and procedures set forth by ELSPA.
• Adhere to all Colorado child care licensing rules and regulations.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding children, families, and center/home operations.
• Complete all required training and professional development hours annually.
• Arrive punctually and prepared for each shift, demonstrating reliability and flexibility.

Mandatory Reporting

• Recognize and appropriately respond to signs of child abuse and neglect.
• Immediately report any suspected abuse or neglect to the proper authorities in accordance with Colorado mandatory reporting laws.

WORK SCHEDULE + AVAILABILITY

• Flexible, on-call position – hours will vary based on center/home needs.
• Substitutes must be willing to work in different child care environments as needed.

COMPENSATION + BENEFITS

• Competitive hourly pay range of $20-25 based on experience and qualifications.
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement in ECE.
• Gain valuable hands‑on experience in a variety of childcare settings.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED DURING INTERVIEW PROCESS

Selected candidates will be asked to provide the following documentation prior to final consideration:

• Resume outlining child care experience and qualifications.
• Proof of required training and certifications (if completed).
• Contact information for three professional references (preferably from child care settings).

Contract with Joint Initiatives’ Early Learning Substitute Placement Agency and make a difference in the lives of young children while gaining flexible, rewarding work experience in the field of Early Childhood Education!