Therapeutic Child Development Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

Therapeutic Child Development Teacher

Social Services – Therapeutic Childcare

At Father Joe’s Villages, early childhood support is more than care and supervision. It is an opportunity to help children feel safe, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to grow. Many children in our Therapeutic Childcare Program have experienced homelessness, housing instability, trauma, or other challenges that can affect learning, behavior, and development.

Our Therapeutic Child Development Teachers play an important role in creating a structured, nurturing, and trauma-informed classroom where children can learn through play, consistent experiences, and positive relationships. Every day, this team supports children’s cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and behavioral development while partnering with families and multidisciplinary teams to support each child’s individual needs.

What Success Looks Like

This is a hands-on, child-centered role within a State-licensed Therapeutic Childcare Program. Successful teachers are patient, dependable, and comfortable supporting children with a wide range of developmental, behavioral, and social-emotional needs. They create calm, consistent classroom routines while responding with flexibility, compassion, and good judgment.

Success in this role means creating a safe and engaging learning environment, building positive relationships with children and families, completing accurate observations and documentation, and working closely with team members to support each child’s growth. You'll help children build resilience, strengthen developmental skills, and feel supported during an important stage of learning and development.

The Role

• Provide direct care, supervision, and developmental support to children enrolled in the Therapeutic Childcare Program.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and learning activities that support children’s growth.
• Create a safe, structured, nurturing, and inclusive classroom environment that promotes learning, resilience, and positive behavior.
• Support children’s daily routines, including meals, toileting, classroom activities, and other age-appropriate experiences.
• Observe and document children’s developmental progress, strengths, and needs.
• Complete developmental screenings, progress reports, service notes, attendance records, and other required documentation within established timelines.
• Identify developmental, behavioral, or social-emotional needs and collaborate with supervisors and multidisciplinary team members to support appropriate interventions.
• Build positive partnerships with parents and caregivers through regular communication about children’s progress, milestones, classroom activities, and needs.
• Maintain accurate documentation in C-Star and other required systems while following program, licensing, confidentiality, and safety requirements.
• Collaborate with clinicians, case managers, supervisors, volunteers, interns, and other team members to support coordinated services for children and families.

Desirable Candidate Profile

• Associate’s degree in Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Human Development, or completion of at least twelve (12) semester units in Early Childhood Education/Child Development that meet California Community Care Licensing requirements.
• Minimum two (2) years of progressively responsible experience working in a licensed early childhood education, preschool, or therapeutic childcare setting.
• Experience supporting children with developmental delays, behavioral challenges, trauma histories, homelessness, or other specialized needs preferred.
• Current Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification, or ability to obtain within the required timeframe.
• Valid California Driver’s License

Key Competencies

• Knowledge of child growth and development, early childhood education, and developmentally appropriate classroom practices.
• Ability to plan and implement learning activities that support cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and behavioral development.
• Understanding of developmental observation, documentation, progress monitoring, and individualized support planning.
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed care, positive behavior support, and strategies that promote children’s social-emotional development.
• Ability to maintain a safe, structured, and engaging classroom while remaining calm, flexible, and responsive to children’s needs.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with children, parents, caregivers, coworkers, and service providers.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and respond appropriately to challenging situations.
• Strong organization, documentation, classroom management, and follow-through skills.
• Commitment to serving children and families with compassion, respect, empathy, empowerment, and dignity.

Work Schedule

This is a part-time position within a State-licensed Therapeutic Childcare Program serving children and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The role combines classroom instruction, developmental support, family engagement, documentation, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Work is performed in an active childcare environment and requires flexibility, close supervision of children, and responsiveness to changing classroom and program needs. Schedule and hours will be determined based on program needs.

Compensation & Benefits

The anticipated starting pay range for this role is $22.00 to $25.30 per hour, paid out bi-weekly. Final placement and starting pay rate will be determined based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, certification status, and internal equity considerations. 

Father Joe’s Villages offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plan options, paid time off, and professional development opportunities. Employees also have access to wellness programs and employee assistance resources to support work-life balance and overall well-being.

Why Join Father Joe’s Villages

Join an organization deeply rooted in Compassion, Respect, Empathy, Empowerment, and Dignity. Make a meaningful impact by helping children experiencing homelessness build confidence, resilience, and developmental skills. Work alongside a collaborative, mission-driven team committed to trauma-informed care, child development, and family-centered support. Grow your skills in therapeutic childcare and early childhood education while helping children and families move toward greater stability and well-being.

Conditions of Employment

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of applicable pre- and post-employment requirements, which may include background checks, health screenings, license or certification verification, fingerprint clearances, driving record review, and other requirements relevant to the role. These checks are conducted following a conditional offer of employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Father Joe’s Villages is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.