Child Development Specialist- Sub Acute Stabilization (Tuesday-Saturday)

The Village For Families & Children; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Employer matched retirement savings

Tuition assistance

Student loan repayment

Job summary

The Village for Families and Children seeks a Sub-Acute Crisis Stabilization Child Development Specialist in Hartford, CT. The role supports children 5–18 during behavioral health crises, focusing on safe, therapeutic interventions within a multi-disciplinary team.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree preferred, three years in human services, a driver’s license, and required certifications. The program emphasizes family-focused, trauma-informed care and rapid stabilization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree strongly preferred; associate's or high school diploma considered.
• Three years in human services or with special needs children.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to obtain PSL/V Endorsement, TCI, First Aid/CPR, Defensive Driving, Safe Food Handling.

Responsibilities

• Maintain child safety using supervision and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.
• Maintain a safe, clean milieu and serve as a positive role model.
• Demonstrate problem-solving techniques and communicate with parents and professionals.
• Document critical information promptly and participate in team meetings.

Skills

Team collaboration

Stress management

Crisis intervention knowledge

Pro social skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associates degree

High school diploma

Tools

Windows XP

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Job description

The Village for Families and Children

Job Details

Location: Hartford, CT

Contract Type: Full-Time Regular

Work Hours: 40

Salary: $20.50

Starting Date: ASAP

Job Description

About us: The Village was one of the first agencies in the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, we continue to achieve our mission “to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children” by providing a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance use treatment and support services for children, adults and families in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut region.

Named a Connecticut Top Workplace for six consecutive years with national distinction for workplace culture and diversity, equity and inclusion practices, you can be sure you’re joining an organization that’s just as committed to your success as we are to those we serve.

Tuesday-Saturday 1st Shift.

Starting hourly rate $20.50

Sub-Acute Crisis Stabilization Child Development Specialist

The Subacute Crisis Stabilization program (SACS) serves youth/young adults ages 5-18 years of age who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, requiring more than 24 hours for full stabilization and no more than a 14 day stay. Trauma informed treatment through the SACS program is designed to support youth who are experiencing challenging life stressors (disruptive behaviors within the home/community, suicidal or homicidal thinking or are at high risk for using substances). Holistic family focused treatment will be provided to address such mental health stressors and support youth in transitioning back to their homes, schools and communities while reducing the need for hospitalizations/re-hospitalizations or emergency department use.

JOB SUMMARY

The Child Development Specialist I participate as a key member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team in the treatment and/or education of children with significant emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities. This staff ensures that the children’s physical and emotional needs are met daily and supports the children’s academic learning by focusing on the enhancement of their social, recreational, and behavioral functioning.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain the safety of children in all situations using supervision and the implementation of various therapeutic techniques, including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.
• Maintain a safe, clean and dignified milieu environment.
• Serve as a healthy role model.
• Demonstrate techniques that enhance problem solving abilities and enable growth and maturity.
• Understand and relay relevant information.
• Record and document critical information in a timely matter.
• Communicate with parents/guardians in a professional and timely matter.
• Communicate with coworkers in a professional and timely matter.
• Communicate with external professionals (e.g. Teachers, DCF Workers) in a professional and timely manner.
• Manage and assist in the modification of child behavior.
• Maintain appropriate certifications (see Licensure Requirements below).
• Provide safe transportation to and from program activities.
• Conduct oneself in a professional, courteous manner in all job-related interactions.
• Interact with children in a positive, nurturing, therapeutic manner.
• Facilitate or co-facilitate therapeutic groups.
• Participate in program meetings, agency meetings, supervision and training events as deemed appropriate by supervisor.
• Conduct any other related work to ensure that the physical and emotional needs of the children are met and that the program continues to operate effectively.
• May be required to work in other programs as needed.

Experience and Skills

• Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree strongly preferred; Associates Degree or High School diploma considered.
• Licensure/Certification Requirements: Valid driver’s license and the capacity to attain or maintain a Public Service License, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Certification, American Red Cross First Aid and CPR Certification, Defensive Driving Certification, Safe Food Handling Certification.
• Experience Level: Three years in human service field or experience working with special needs children.
• Specific Skills, Knowledge and Ability Requirements: Knowledge of basic child development, issues related to the effects of abuse and neglect.
• Must be able to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Must be culturally competent to serve a diverse population.
• Must have the ability to manage stress and to respond to emergency situations safely and calmly.
• Proficient with word processing and spreadsheet applications. Possess solid general computer skills, including ability to work in a Windows XP environment. Familiarity with specific applications used by the Village a plus.
• Physically able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations, i.e. must be able to supervise groups of children and perform physical intervention if required; must be able to move freely from place to place without restriction.
• CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• All Regular Child Development Specialists in the Residential and Extended Day Treatment programs are required to obtain and maintain the following certifications:
• All Child Development Specialists in the Residential and School programs are required to obtain and maintain the following certifications:

Certification Timeframe

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) Within 2 months of hire

First Aid / CPR Within 2 months of hire

Public Service License (PSL)/V Endorsement Within 2 months of hire

DCF Medication Certification Within 6 months of hire

Job Benefits

Our benefits package supports your whole life with comprehensive health coverage, generous paid time off, and employer matched retirement savings. We also invest in your growth through tuition assistance (Loan Forgiveness Program – NHSC, tuition reimbursement and Student Loan Repayment). https://thevillage.org/careers/our-benefits/

The Village for Families and Children is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.