Behavior Specialist, MPTN Child Development Center

TVCCA - Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc.; Mashantucket (CT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

TVCCA - Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Inc. is seeking a Behavior Specialist to provide behavioral strategies to strengthen children’s social-emotional skills and learning abilities, while supporting families and staff with developmentally appropriate practices.

You will collaborate with families in home and classroom settings, develop individualized behavior plans, and refer to outside agencies as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field plus 2 years of experience.
• Behavioral health training and/or experience preferred.
• Must be flexible with hours to accommodate program and client needs.
• Provide TVCCA staff health clearances and required documentation.
• Must have access to reliable transportation.
• Strong computer and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and develop individual behavior plans with families and staff.
• Monitor and analyze data to evaluate social emotional practices.
• Provide training for parents and staff on positive discipline.
• Offer home-based support and classroom coaching as needed.

Skills

Early childhood experience

Behavioral health training

Flexible hours

Computer skills

Transportation access

Education

Bachelor's degree in ECE

Job description

Behavior Specialist is responsible to provide behavioral strategies to help strengthen the children’s social emotional skills and improve their ability to learn, and to provide support and coaching to the families and staff working with those children utilizing developmentally appropriate practices. Work collaboratively with the family and staff to refer, develop and implement individual behavior plans, and make referrals to outside agencies as necessary. Coordinate with the Early Childhood Services Manager and paraprofessionals as necessary. Work with families in the home environment to support the implementation of individual behavior plans. Support teaching staff in the establishment and maintenance of positive and productive relationships with children and families. Monitor, collect and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of social emotional/behavioral health practices. Participate in meetings and trainings as assigned. Must have compassion and understanding for the needs of children and families from all backgrounds.

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field plus 2 years professional experience observing, assessing, planning and implementing individual and group activities for young children, including those with disabilities, mental health and behavior issues; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Behavioral health training and/or experience preferred.
• Must be flexible with hours to accommodate program and client needs.
• Provide a TVCCA staff Statement of Good Health signed by a physician, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner within twelve (12) months before the date of employment and every thirty-six (36) months thereafter.
• Must have access to reliable, insured transportation.
• Strong computer and communication skills.

Required Experience

• Handle all behavioral health referrals and maintain proper paperwork, reports, and files on suspected and documented children with behavioral health concerns; including data collection, analysis, monitoring, feedback and parent collaboration.
• Guarantee and maintain confidentiality.
• Must have computer literate.
• Provide technical assistance and consultation when needed to staff and/or parents, both on-site and in homes.
• Set up and give training for parents and staff upon request.
• Support classroom staff in the knowledge of and implementation of positive discipline strategies within the classroom.
• Participate in family case reviews.
• Ensure services/supports are provided to children, families, and staff.
• Be available for home visits, as necessary.
• Work in classrooms as scheduled.
• Be able to work on several projects concurrently in a deadline-driven environment.
• Participate in workshops, formal courses, and training as assigned.
• Demonstrate teamwork, leadership, a positive attitude, and ability to develop working relationships with staff, managers and other professionals.
• Interface with administration, managers and staff in various program projects.
• Exhibit understanding of and compassion for the needs of low-income children and families from economically and culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally through both oral and written communication with staff, parents, managers and other professionals.
• Take on additional tasks, as required to maintain program and agency operations and quality.
• Apply decision-making, creative problem-solving, leadership and organizational skills.
• Adhere to TVCCA and regulations, policies and procedures to ensure overall program quality.
• Move and react quickly when necessary to ensure safety of children.
• Lift and/or carry a child in order to provide assistance and/or to respond to an unsafe situation.
• Ability to travel.
• Carry up to 50 pounds.
• Work as scheduled.