Behavior Specialist

Andrus Childrens Center; New York (NY); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Andrus Childrens Center is seeking a Behavior Specialist to oversee behavioral interventions for adolescents with ASD in a residential program. The role collaborates with clinical staff and direct service providers to implement ABA/CBT, trauma-informed approaches, and PBIS.

The position emphasizes adaptive skill development, assessment of ADLs/ILS, and data-driven planning to reduce problem behaviors and advance independence, within a supportive, inter-disciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, counseling, education, or a related field.
• At least one year of experience in behavior-related settings.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and implement behavioral interventions for adolescents with ASD in a residential setting.
• Develop and update FBAs and BIPs integrating ABA, CBT, and trauma-informed care.
• Collect and interpret behavioral data to inform treatment planning and adjustments.
• Facilitate social skills and emotion regulation groups, and support PBIS initiatives.
• Collaborate with residential staff, clinicians, OT, and program managers to ensure alignment of practices.

Skills

FBAs & BIPs

PBIS implementation

Data collection

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Counseling, Education

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Job Overview of Behavior Specialist

This role entails overseeing and executing behavioral interventions for adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or co-occurring conditions in a residential environment. The behavior will collaborate closely with the designated care team, comprising clinical personnel and direct service providers. Our program adopts a comprehensive therapeutic model integrating Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, and sensory/body regulation. Responsibilities include conducting adaptive skill assessments, identifying priority intervention areas, delivering effective interventions to enhance Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and fostering progression from dependency to independence in ADLs and independent living skills (ILS). Additionally, the behavior therapist will implement Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS) strategies within the residential facility to facilitate learning and mitigate problem behaviors. Data collection on resident behaviors and evidence-based decision-making on intervention strategies are integral components of the role. Proposed interventions align with developmental stages, are evidence-based, and contribute directly to Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs).

Schedule for Behavior Specialist: Sunday thru Thursday from 10:00am until 6:00pm

Essential Duties of Behavior Specialist

Key duties of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Understanding and supporting the agency’s mission & treatment philosophy; Supports overall strategic plan of the organization.
• Treats all children, families, and co-workers with respect & courtesy; Demonstrates & models’ sensitivity to cultural background of children, families, and co-workers; Honors Sanctuary Commitments in all day-to-day activities.
• Effectively manages behavioral interventions for residential children:
  1. Completes and implements comprehensive Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) integrating principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and trauma-informed care.
  2. Collects/records behavioral data, interprets results, and updates/modifies BIPs accordingly.
  3. Learns and coaches students in social skills, emotion regulation, and body regulation strategies.
  4. Supports interdisciplinary care team to understand behavioral data and implement BIPs effectively.
  5. Identifies target behaviors for children and collaborates with interdisciplinary treatment team to address them through interdisciplinary interventions.
• Assists Residence Manager in developing effective Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS) interventions.
• Helps team collect, maintain, and interpret data for effective treatment planning.
• Facilitates and collaborates with the residential team to conduct social and life skills groups, weekly residential groups, and restorative circles.
• Works effectively with interdisciplinary team members and families:
• Collaborates respectfully with parents and family members, holding restorative conversations to rebuild relationships and understand the impact of incidents.
• Works closely with psychologists, Occupational Therapists (OTR), clinical social workers, and program managers to ensure methodologies align and support each other.
• Completes documentation requirements timely and ensures reporting is clear, accurate, and timely.
• Tracks, communicates, and documents integrity checks of BIPs and target behaviors systematically, in conjunction with the treatment planning team.
• Utilizes technology to track positive changes in behavior.
• Integrates self-regulation antecedent and consequence strategies into BIPs.
• Documents services and programs related to Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and tracks ADL data over time.
• Ensures program-wide material is visual, clear, and developmentally appropriate.
• Supports the overall strategic plan of the organization;
• Ability to adhere to the organization’s core values and commitments.

Minimum Qualifications of Behavior Specialist

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Counseling, Education, or a related field
• At least one year of exper