Child Development Specialist (Sun-Thurs 2pm-10:30)

The Village for Families & Children; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 23,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Coaching & development

Staff recognition programs

Job summary

The Village for Families & Children in Hartford invites applications for a Child Development Specialist at Eagle House, a 24-bed psychiatric residential treatment facility for ages 6-12. You will join the multidisciplinary team to support trauma-informed care, teach coping skills, and supervise daily routines, while fostering safety and emotional regulation.

Responsibilities include implementing behavior management, facilitating group activities, coordinating transportation, and maintaining

Qualifications

• High school graduate required; associate or bachelor degree preferred in a related field.
• Valid driver's license required for transportation of clients.
• Experience in human services or with children who have special needs is a plus.
• Knowledge of trauma impact on child development and behavior.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team with diverse populations.
• Calm under stress and able to respond safely in crisis situations.
• Physical ability to supervise children and perform holds if necessary.

Responsibilities

• Be a key member of the multidisciplinary treatment team supporting treatment and education for trauma-impacted children.
• Implement therapeutic behavior management strategies and teach healthy coping skills.
• Oversee daily routines including hygiene, meals, and structured activities.
• Facilitate and participate in recreational group activities.
• Provide continuous supervision to ensure safety for children.
• Build therapeutic relationships to support emotional regulation and social skills.
• Transport clients to appointments or community activities as needed.

Skills

Valid driver's license

Human services experience

Child development knowledge

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Cultural competence

Crisis intervention

Safety supervision of children

Education

High school diploma required; assoc/bach preferred

Job description

Our Mission

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

Starting hourly rate

$20.50 per hour with differential pay given for hours worked between 3 PM-7 AM.

Shift schedule: Sun-Thurs 2:00-10:30 (scheduled for 8.5 hours with a .5 break)

About Eagle House

Program Overview

• 24-bed psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) serving children ages 6-12
• Functions as a step-down or diversion from inpatient hospitalization
• Serves youth with severe emotional and behavioral challenges related to significant trauma
• Average length of stay: ~4 months
• Goal: stabilize youth and prepare them for transition to community-based care, family, or foster placement
• Provides intensive, trauma-informed care focused on relationship-building and skill development
• Services include:
• Psychiatry and nursing evaluations
• Individual, group, and family therapy
• Case management
• Therapeutic recreation
• Special education services
• Emphasis on helping youth build emotional regulation, coping skills, and positive interactions with peers and adults

Position Overview - Child Development Specialist

• Key member of the multidisciplinary treatment team
• Supports treatment and educational needs of children with trauma-related challenges
• Implements therapeutic behavior management strategies
• Teaches and reinforces healthy coping skills aligned with treatment goals
• Oversees daily routines (e.g., hygiene, meals, structure)
• Facilitates and participates in recreational group activities
• Provides continuous supervision to ensure physical and emotional safety
• Builds therapeutic relationships to support emotional regulation, prosocial skill development, and overall behavioral functioning
• Transports clients to appointments or to and from community activities

Employee Benefits & Engagement

• Staff recognition programs, including awards and incentives for staff of the month, perfect attendance, and appreciation events throughout the year
• Tuition reimbursement
• Ongoing coaching, training, and professional development opportunities

Required Experience

Qualifications & Skills

• High school diploma required; Associate\'s or Bachelor\'s degree in a related field preferred
• Valid driver\'s license required
• Experience in human services or working with children with special needs preferred
• Knowledge of child development and the impact of trauma, abuse, and neglect
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Strong cultural competence and ability to work with diverse populations
• Ability to remain calm, manage stress, and respond safely in crisis or emergency situations
• Physically able to supervise children and perform job duties, including physical interventions (holds) when necessary (with or without reasonable accommodation)

Required Certifications (or Willingness To Obtain)

• Medication Administration Certification
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)
• First Aid & CPR (American Red Cross)
• Defensive Driving
• Safe Food Handling
• Situational Awareness
• Risking Connection

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/

Keyword: Human Services, Child Development, Special Needs, Trauma-Informed Care, Abuse & Neglect, Behavioral Health, Case Management, Team Collaboration, Multidisciplinary Team, Cultural Competency, Crisis In