Child Care Assistant
About the job
- A high school diploma or equivalency is required.
- The candidate must be able to communicate verbally and nonverbally with participants.
- The candidate must have competent interpersonal skills and basic computer skills.
- The candidate must demonstrate emotional maturity when working with children.
- The candidate must be able to work with children from 6 weeks through 10 years of age and communicate with them at an age-appropriate level.
- The candidate must be able to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance; assistance or patient handling equipment is required for heavier lifts in applicable patient-handling situations.
- The candidate must be able to stand, stoop, bend, carry children, and sit without back support for 15–20 minutes at a time.
- The candidate must be able to handle multiple tasks and complete work within short timeframes in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints.
- The candidate must be able to respond physically and quickly to unsafe conditions that may put children at risk.
- The candidate must be available for unusual and flexible work schedules, including room assignments.
- The candidate must demonstrate flexibility, understanding, and patience, and have skills to help children meet their developmental and emotional needs.
- The candidate must be available at least four hours per month.
- Use positive, respectful verbal and nonverbal communication with children, families, and associates, following program expectations and the supervisor’s or classroom teacher’s guidance.
- Engage with children at their eye level and within close proximity, listening and responding to them and modeling appropriate behavior.
- Nurture children and provide a safe, responsive environment, including appropriate physical comfort and verbal encouragement.
- Follow the Day Center’s child care discipline guidelines and use positive guidance techniques; discuss children’s behavior and development with the classroom team or supervisor, comply with DCFS regulations, and build understanding of each child to plan individualized activities.
- Implement primary caregiving plans for assigned children to maintain consistent positive relationships with children and families.
- Engage children in activities and learning experiences that support their growth and development.
- Assist classroom staff in developing and implementing positive behavior patterns for children.
- Contribute to daily activities and learning experiences, and assist with preparing and implementing curriculum activities aligned with the Illinois Early Learning Standards and NAEYC guidelines.
- Respond to children’s physical, psychological, and emotional needs in a timely and appropriate manner to support their healthy development.
- Use observations of children to support teachers in completing progress reports, developmental checklists, parent-teacher conference forms, daily notes, and portfolio documentation, including anecdotal records, work samples, and pictures.
- Participate in classroom and other assigned meetings, contribute to discussions, and continue developing knowledge of the program’s philosophy and goals.
- Work with classroom teachers and administrative staff to learn to observe children, objectively record their behavior and development, and use those observations to understand and meet individual needs.
- Attend early childhood training, read professional journals, and pursue continuing education; complete required annual in-service hours, apply and share learning, update the Professional Development Record, and document earned hours.
- Assist with Environmental Rating Scale completion for the assigned classroom.
- Complete required DCFS and Advocate online training and other training for the ExcelRate ECE Credential; work with Gateways to earn or maintain the ECE Credential.
- Communicate relevant ideas, concerns, and needs to coworkers and share information about children and families with program professionals in a timely manner.
- Share responsibility for daily routines, procedures, schedules, and center and classroom goals, helping maintain an environment that supports children’s growth and development safely.
- Stay aware of classroom information, including orientations, transitions, and schedule changes.
- Follow the Day Center’s written policies and procedures to maintain organizational quality and program safety.
- Understand and support center and classroom goals, and adapt to teaching teams, daily schedules, routines, and classroom assignments.
- Resolve coworker conflicts professionally and raise concerns with the team as they arise and in team meetings, following Advocate’s Behaviors of Excellence.
- Model appropriate behavior and a positive attitude, and offer suggestions or solutions when issues arise.
- Maintain awareness of the number of children in the assigned group and position oneself to observe children and intervene when needed to address safety hazards.
- Assist with child safety practices, including head counts, ratio sheets, name-to-face checks, sleep room and crib checks, and supervision.
- Interact with children to model and encourage positive social interactions, while avoiding distractions that interfere with supervision.
- Communicate daily with parents about children’s activities and accomplishments, and assist with written communications such as daily notes, progress reports, and the Today We Did board.
- Help create a welcoming atmosphere that supports daily communication with staff and families and integrates parents into the teaching team.
- Direct parent concerns to the supervisor or classroom teaching team and keep responsible staff informed of issues affecting children’s care, development, or center operations.
- Help organize and clean the classroom and center, store materials, and remove damaged or unsafe equipment.
- Assist with classroom health and safety checklists and other safety documentation, including bottle charts and ratio sheets.
- Follow hand hygiene procedures and help ensure staff, families, and children do the same.
- Follow Advocate’s Be Safe Behaviors and Tools.
About the company
Atrium Health is a nonprofit health system with over 1,400 care locations and 40 hospitals across the southeastern United States. It provides a full range of medical services, from primary care to specialized treatments like rehabilitation and cancer care, and uses the MyAtriumHealth digital portal for scheduling and payments. The system combines hospital and home-based care (including hospital-level services through Atrium Health Levine Children’s) to expand access beyond traditional facilities. Its goal is to deliver accessible, comprehensive healthcare across its regions by coordinating care across a large network and supporting patients with digital tools and employee-focused benefits.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$30M
Headquarters
Charlotte, North Carolina
Founded
1940
Get referred to Atrium Health
See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Wake County approved the WakeMed deal on September 21, 2026.
- Atrium committed $2 billion and $150 million for Wake County health programs.
- The Morehouse teaching hospital won approval August 21, 2026, expanding Atlanta access.
What critics are saying
- FTC and North Carolina Attorney General can still block WakeMed integration in 2026.
- Price-cap sunsets after five years, inviting backlash over Atrium’s higher negotiated rates.
- Failure on WakeMed turns Atrium into the South’s premier target for antitrust scrutiny.
What makes Atrium Health unique
- Advocate Health’s academic core links Atrium with Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
- Atrium spans 69 hospitals and 1,000-plus care sites across eight states.
- Levine, Sanger, and virtual care create a vertically integrated referral engine.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life Insurance
Flexible Work Hours
Paid Vacation
401(k) Company Match
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 28%1 year growth
↑ 28%2 year growth
↑ 28%Hyundai Hope on Wheels strengthens spiritual care at Atrium Health Levine Children's cancer & blood disorders. September 23, 2026 | By Atrium Health Foundation | In Contributor News Atrium Health Levine Children's has been awarded a $100,000 Impact Grant from Hyundai Hope on Wheels(R) to enhance whole-person care for children and adolescents facing cancer. The investment will support spiritual care services that help patients, families, and care teams navigate the challenges that often accompany a cancer diagnosis. Childhood cancer affects more than a patient's physical health. Children and families may have difficult questions about identity, beliefs, relationships, and the future. Spiritual care offers a space to explore those questions, process difficult emotions, and identify sources of meaning and strength. At Atrium Health Levine Children's, spiritual care is an integral part of the multidisciplinary approach to pediatric cancer care. "Our work is rooted in the belief that whole-person care can transform lives, and spiritual care is an essential part of that commitment," said Dr. Jennifer Pope, director of supportive medicine for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Atrium Health Levine Children's. "With the support of Hyundai Hope on Wheels, we can help close a critical gap by embedding dedicated spiritual care across the cancer journey. This investment will help us better support patients, families, and care teams as they make meaning of the realities of a cancer diagnosis, process distress, and build practical strategies that foster resilience, healing, and hope." Helping deliver that care is Amanda White, a pediatric chaplain at Atrium Health Levine Children's whose position is supported by the Hyundai Hope on Wheels Impact Grant. As a member of the pediatric cancer care team, White provides individualized support that reflects each family's unique needs, values, and culture. She also serves the healthcare professionals who care for children with cancer to help them process grief and reconnect with their sense of purpose. Layla and Liana, both undergoing treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia at Atrium Health Levine Children's, joined Dr. Jennifer Pope (center) and chaplain Amanda White (right) at the Hyundai Hope on Wheels Handprint Ceremony on September 22, 2026. "We are deeply grateful to Hyundai Hope on Wheels for advancing pediatric cancer care at Levine Children's," said Helen Kernodle, senior development officer at Atrium Health Foundation. "This partnership continues to help fuel discoveries that bring us closer to better treatments, improved outcomes, and more hope for children facing cancer. Just as importantly, Hyundai is reminding families that an entire community stands beside them on their journey." Hyundai Hope on Wheels is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Since its founding in 1998, the organization has provided grants to institutions across the country supporting pediatric cancer research and care. Levine Children's has received $1.3 million in support from Hyundai Hope on Wheels. About Atrium Health Foundation Founded in 1959, Atrium Health Foundation is one of the largest charitable foundations in Charlotte. As the point of contact for all contributions benefiting Atrium Health in the Charlotte market, the Foundation inspires transformational giving to improve health, elevate hope, and advance healing - for all. Through its current Giving Hope Campaign, Atrium Health Foundation is supporting Atrium Health's efforts to create the learning health system of the future by building healthy communities, outstanding education programs, preeminent research and exemplary facilities. About Hyundai Hope on Wheels Hyundai Hope on Wheels(R) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope on Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing critical research aimed at improving treatments and saving lives. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is one of the largest nonprofit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country. Primary funding for Hyundai Hope on Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 855 U.S. dealers. In 2026, Hyundai Hope on Wheels will reach a lifetime donation total of $303 million in support of more than 1,500 childhood cancer research grants to over 175 hospitals and research institutions.
Wake commissioners vote 5-2 for Atrium-WakeMed merger. September 22, 2026 The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 at its meeting on Monday in favor of the merger between Atrium Health and Wake Med. State Treasurer Brad Briner released a video Tuesday afternoon criticizing the deal. The commissioners voted on the Articles of Incorporation and the Transfer Agreement, but not before protestors disrupted the voting process numerous times and were then escorted out of the room. The more than five-hour meeting included nearly two hours of comments from both supporters and opponents of the merger. Those against it said that the community would lose the type of care they have come to expect from WakeMed, as well as affordability, local accountability, and transparency. Those for the merger said it was a positive step in the right direction, making the Raleigh-area hospital system stronger and helping fund much-needed renovations. County attorneys said that despite the merger, WakeMed will continue to operate as a nonprofit community general hospital. The revised agreement includes the following: * Atrium Health will invest $2 billion over the next 15 years, a change from the original agreement, in an effort to modernize and expand WakeMed's facilities, including upgrades to WakeMed's Raleigh Campus on New Bern Avenue. The revision specifies that Atrium, rather than WakeMed, will fully fund the investment. * Atrium will also pay $15 million a year over the next 10 years for the new Wake County Whole Health Program, which will focus on addressing access to affordable care, mental health, placement of foster youth in crisis, supportive housing, homelessness, food insecurity, senior healthcare, and other issues. * WakeMed will increase its minimum annual indigent-care commitment from 4.8% to 8% of adjusted revenue. * Eight of WakeMed's 14 board members will be appointed by Wake County commissioners and must reside in Wake County. The remaining six will be appointed by Atrium. * Price increases will be capped at no more than 1.5 times the annual increase in Medicare costs for the next five years. * Debt collection practices, including their reporting, will not be as stringent. * Atrium will be named as a third-party beneficiary under the Transfer Agreement. * Atrium will have the right to dismiss WakeMed's CEO. Some changes were made to the agreement last week after Democratic Gov. Josh Stein sent a letter to Atrium and WakeMed on Sept. 17, according to a press release he issued on Sunday. Commissioners who were in favor said that WakeMed needed the partnership with Atrium to support the necessary upgrades and that initiatives like the Wake County Whole Health Program would be a true benefit to the community. District 4 Commissioner Susan Evans, one of the commissioners who voted in favor of the merger, said that although she was very pleased with the agreement, she had concerns about Atrium having the right to dismiss WakeMed's CEO. "I will say that one of the things I was concerned about was understanding that Atrium would have the ability to unilaterally dismiss the WakeMed CEO, and that made me uncomfortable," she said. But after talking with numerous people, including former corporate CEOs and the county manager, she said she had to accept that the agreement made sense in this environment. The two commissioners who voted no - Tara Waters of District 5 and Vickie Adamson of District 7 - voiced their concerns about the agreement and the process. Waters said she was concerned that many could not attend the meeting to voice their concerns because of the 2pm start time and the fact that it was Yom Kippur, which is considered the holiest day for people of the Jewish faith, a concern that was repeated several times earlier in the meeting. "I feel like today will go down in history as a very sad day in Wake County, when we turned our taxpayer-built community hospital over to a corporate conglomerate," Adamson said. "We were initially told what the agreement was, and after having to go to the press and throw a public fit, I finally got to see it. And it was very different than what we had been told." She said she also spoke with people who said Atrium hasn't lived up to its promises. Additionally, she said she felt the process was rushed and not how the commissioners normally do business as a board, adding that she was trying to process documents she had received on Thursday. "This is all about raising prices," Adamson said. "I can't vote for it." Board Chair Don Mial, who represents District 1, said the merger would make WakeMed stronger and shape healthcare for years to come. A joint statement from Atrium and WakeMed said that over the past few months, officials spent countless hours listening to county leaders, community organizations, faith leaders, employees, care providers, and residents who wanted to understand what this combination would mean for Wake County. "Through it all, one thing was clear: people care deeply about WakeMed, its caregivers, its patients, and the future of this community," the release said. "We greatly appreciate everyone who took part in that conversation and helped make it stronger." The organizations said the vote "brings us to the next chapter of the process, and important work remains ahead... We recognize that trust is earned, and our focus now is to follow through on what we've outlined, continuing to listen to the community and demonstrating, through our actions, the value this combination will create for the people of Wake County and beyond." Gov. Josh Stein also released a statement after the vote. "Today the commission voted to approve the Atrium-WakeMed merger," he said. "I thank the commissioners for their work on patients' behalf, and I am pleased that Atrium and WakeMed agreed to my request to protect families by capping price increases at WakeMed for the next five years. Now that the commission has voted, I welcome the Attorney General's review of the proposed transaction and his office's independent assessment of it." The merger has been controversial since it was announced this past spring. Talks between the two hospital systems began in 2022, when WakeMed put out a request for proposal (RFP) looking for a partnership in oncology. According to Dr. Thad McDonald, chairman of the board for WakeMed, Atrium was the only system that replied, noting that WakeMed is "almost a mirror image" of Atrium. "In January of 2024, this concept of a combination was presented to the executive committee of the board," he said. "Our initial response as an executive committee was much the same as some of you here and members of the community: What? Give up our autonomy? We've always been fiercely proud of our independence; however, looking at the future of health care and especially the challenges facing safety net hospitals like ours, we felt it would be irresponsible not to give it vigorous due diligence." Advocate Health, the health system that includes Atrium, resulted from the merger of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health in December 2022. In May, state Treasurer Brad Briner, among others, voiced his concerns about the proposal. "There is a simple business principle that when suppliers consolidate and competition is reduced, it is the consumers who suffer," Briner said in a prepared statement. "This has been proven to be true time and again in the health care landscape, where prices continue to rise and patients are left with mounting medical debt." In his video message on Tuesday, the treasurer said he remains profoundly concerned about the deal, adding that nothing has fundamentally changed from the original proposal, and that WakeMed's CEO, Donald Gintzig, said in an interview last week he hoped costs would go up if the merger went through. Briner also said it will make it harder for Stein's Health Care Affordability Commission, of which he is co-chair, to be successful, and it will make it even harder to keep the State Health Plan and other employer plans solvent. He is calling for North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, along with federal regulators, to conduct a thorough assessment of prices, competition, and access, and that it isn't too late to back away from the deal. Tom Friedman, executive administrator of the State Health Plan (SHP), said at SHP board meeting in June that Atrium is anywhere from 15-40% more expensive in aggregate than WakeMed, and if WakeMed were to apply those rates based on State Health Plan utilization, it would be on average between $7-$11 more per member per month. The merger still needs approval from the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice before it can be completed. Topics on this page.
Wake County commissioners voted 5-2 to approve a merger between Atrium Health and WakeMed following months of negotiations. The agreement includes capping price increases at WakeMed for five years at no more than 1.5 times the annual increase in Medicare costs, creating a $150 million community fund, and granting Wake County access to financial information. Atrium Health committed to investing $2 billion in WakeMed over 15 years. Wake County will appoint eight board members, whilst Atrium will appoint six. The decision faced opposition from patients, state employees, and advocacy groups who argued the merger would increase healthcare costs. Deputies cleared the public from the room before the vote after disruptions. The deal now requires regulatory review by the Attorney General's office.
Wake County commissioners green-light wakemed-atrium merger. After four months of public deliberation and some additional concessions from the state's largest hospital system, commissioners voted 5-2 for changes that will allow the deal to go through. In a 5-2 vote Monday evening, the Wake County Board of Commissioners gave its blessing for a $2 billion merger between WakeMed and the state's largest hospital system, Atrium Health. The vote allows the systems to amend WakeMed's articles of incorporation and governing documents to transfer control away from the county commissioners to a 14-member board that both Atrium and county leaders would select. Board of Commissioners Chair Don Mial asked sheriffs' deputies to clear the chamber before the vote after spectators, some of whom had been watching for more than five hours, became disruptive. "I believe my vote protects WakeMed's legacy," said Commissioner Safiyah Jackson before giving an affirmative vote to the merger. "It protects our most vulnerable neighbors, and it guarantees great care for our children and grandchildren." WakeMed announced late last week that it had secured a revised agreement with Atrium that brings an additional $150 million to the county over the next decade. The agreement increases WakeMed's requirement for providing indigent care to a minimum of 8% of its annual adjusted revenue, gives commissioners more control over board appointees, and gives Atrium less power to change WakeMed's governing documents. The revised agreement also firms up the language around the $2 billion in capital expenditures that Atrium intends to make in Wake County over the next 10 years, which includes half a billion dollars to WakeMed's flagship campus in Southeast Raleigh and funding for a new Whole Health Campus that includes a 150-bed mental health hospital in Garner. Before the vote, Commissioner Cheryl Stallings praised the changes in the deal. "We have worked diligently over the past couple of weeks to secure a stronger agreement," Stallings said. "The $2 billion in capital investments will be coming from Atrium, and not WakeMed. There are sound financial assistance policies in place that have already been presented."
Joint statement from WakeMed and Atrium Health following Wake County Board approval of proposed combination. 09.21.2026 Atrium Health News RALEIGH, N.C. and CHARLOTTE, N.C. (September 21, 2026) - Following the Wake County Board of Commissioners' majority vote to approve amendments to WakeMed's Articles of Incorporation and the Transfer Agreement related to the proposed combination between WakeMed and Atrium Health, the organizations issued the following joint statement: Today, the Wake County Board of Commissioners voted to approve this proposed combination, marking a historic milestone for both organizations and the communities Atrium Health Enterprise serve. Over the past several months, Wake County has engaged in critical conversations about the future of healthcare in this region - with strong opinions, tough questions and differing perspectives. Through it all, one thing was clear: people care deeply about WakeMed, its caregivers, its patients and the future of this community. Atrium Health Enterprise greatly appreciate everyone who took part in that conversation and helped make it stronger. Atrium Health Enterprise spent countless hours listening to county leaders, community organizations, faith leaders, employees, care providers and residents who wanted to understand what this combination would mean for Wake County. That's a fair question, and Atrium Health Enterprise believe the additional commitments included in the final agreement are a meaningful answer. The $150 million Wake County Whole Health Program is a significant long-term investment in the health and vitality of Wake County, building on its track record of investing in community well-being and addressing needs that extend beyond the walls of hospitals and physician practices. The amended Transfer Agreement includes a strengthened charity care commitment establishing a higher minimum threshold for caring for patients in need, providing additional assurance around a level of support that already exceeds that threshold today and helping ensure access to care regardless of a person's ability to pay. These enhancements build on Atrium Health's commitment to invest $2 billion in WakeMed, supporting continued investment in people, facilities, technology and services needed to meet the needs of one of the fastest-growing communities in the country. This combination will expand access to affordable, nationally leading care, strengthen mental health and other critical services, grow local jobs, increase investment in nonprofit and community-based organizations, address social drivers of health, catalyze innovation and improve the health and well-being of Wake County for generations to come. This vote brings Atrium Health Enterprise to the next chapter of the process, and important work remains ahead. As the proposed combination now moves to the regulatory review process, Atrium Health Enterprise look forward to fulfilling its commitments. Atrium Health Enterprise recognize that trust is earned, and its focus now is to follow through on what Atrium Health Enterprise has outlined, continuing to listen to the community and demonstrating, through its actions, the value this combination will create for the people of Wake County and beyond. About WakeMed Serving the community since 1961, WakeMed is a not-for-profit health care system founded and based in Raleigh, N.C. WakeMed exists to improve the health and well-being of its community by providing outstanding and compassionate care to all. WakeMed's 973-bed system comprises a network of facilities throughout the Triangle area, including three full-service hospitals, a mental health & well-being hospital, eight emergency departments, a dedicated Children's Hospital and Rehabilitation Hospital, two exceptional Trauma Centers - a Level I Trauma Center in Raleigh and a Level III Trauma Center in Cary, and more than 175 physician and physical therapy practice offices. WakeMed's mission-driven team includes more than 12,800 employees, 1,300 volunteers, and 1,300 affiliated physicians along with a network of 900+ primary care and specialty providers with WakeMed Physician Practices - all representing the best minds and the biggest hearts and the finest quality in health care and community health. For more information, visit www.wakemed.org or follow WakeMed on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. About Atrium Health Atrium Health is advancing clinical care and research across the communities it serves by redefining care for all. The care network is anchored by Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, an academic medical center in Charlotte that includes Levine Children's Hospital, Levine Cancer Institute and Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, along with 11 hospitals, more than 900 care locations and over 1,400 physicians serving communities across the greater Charlotte region. It is part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States. Advocate Health is a preeminent academic health system at the forefront of clinical excellence, innovation and research, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as its academic core. Nationally recognized for expertise in heart and vascular, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, Advocate Health is also a pioneer in the delivery of virtual health care. It's accelerating discovery by making research participation part of the standard-of-care through its one-of-a-kind National Center for Clinical Trials. Advocate Health has one of the nation's largest graduate medical education programs, with an experiential learning focus and specialized residencies to help protect the long-term sustainability of rural health care in America. Each campus of the school of medicine has an affiliated life-sciences focused innovation district: The Pearl, in Charlotte, and Innovation Quarter, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. With more than 165,000 teammates serving patients at 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations across eight states, Advocate Health reinvests over $6 billion each year to improve community health, making it one of the nation's largest providers of community benefit.