Behavior Support Specialist

Supervisor:Health &Education and Disability Supervisors

Department:Head Start& Early Head StartProgram

Classification:Full Time

Monday-Friday8 am – 4 pm,8:30 am – 4:30 pm, or9 am – 5 pm

Position Qualifications:

• Bachelor'sdegreeor higherinbehavior science/studies, social work,special education,orBachelor’sdegree in a related field with courseworkin social work and behavioral health.
• Minimum of two years of direct experience in abehavioral supportsetting providing preventionand interventionservicesto children(0-5 years old).

JobDescription:

• Thebehavior support specialist (BSS)isresponsible forproviding early childhoodmental health (MH)support to Head Start staff, children, and families.
• Thebehavior support specialistwillprovidea broad range of services, including early childhoodMHobservations and supportin classrooms; training andmodeling forstaff; screening, assessment, and referral services; and providing familytraining.
• Theposition requires you tocollect data,maintainrecords, and support compliance in allfacetsof Head Start Program Performance Standards and state regulations.

Duties and Tasks:

General Consultation andBehavior Support:

• Collaborate with staff to explore child development information related to social and emotional development,mental health, and wellness.
• Implement positive strategies to support children’s well-being and prevent and address challenging behavior
• Provide guidance to staff on selecting, implementing, and interpreting social and emotional screening and assessment tools and findings.
• Answer questions about developmentallyappropriate activitiesfor children and effective ways to work with and support young children, including children with disabilities.

Programmatic Consultation:

• Participate inmonthlyreflective supervision and consultationmeetingswith the mental health consultant.
• Participate in monthly reflective supervision with Health and Education Supervisors.
• Participate in the development and implementation of the mental health program and policy.

Staff &Family Training:

• In partnership with the mental health consultant, support, coordinate, and provide staff trainings related to social and emotional andwellnessat least three times per year
• Coordinate andfacilitatetrainingfor familiesduringparent meetings.

Individualized Child Observations:

• Conduct observations and assessments of individual children as assigned or referredforobservation.
• Participate in teammeetingswith families to consult on child and family needs and create or follow upon plans to support these needs in conjunction with center staff.
• Individual Child Screening, Assessment, and Referral
• Review standardized developmental, behavioral, and social and emotional screens and assessments for individual children as assigned or referred forobservation.
• Provide child and familyreferralsand follow-up to community services.

Knowledgeand Skills:

• Demonstrate understanding of infant and early childhood mentaland behavioralhealth(0-5 years old).
• Demonstrate understanding of differences in mentaland behavioralhealth services and concepts across cultures.
• Demonstrate knowledge of child mentalandbehavioral health services system.
• Experience formulating and writingfunctionalassessments andbehavior support plans.
• Experience with evidence-based practices and curricula to promote early childhood mentalandbehavioralhealth desirable (e.g.,Active Parenting).
• Knowledge of Head Start programs is desirable.
• Build andmaintainstrong, collaborative relationships withstaffand families.
• Partner withmental healthproviders as a member of a team.
• Lead andfacilitateprovider training and family education groups.
• Conduct standardized screens and assessments.
• Use results of screenings and assessments to guide work with families, set goals, and develop individualized plans.
• Referstaffand families toappropriate communityservices.
• Communicate effectively with groups both verbally and inwritingincluding case notes and collaborations.
• Organize tasks and manage time effectively.

Other Requirements:

• Mustadhere to the Standards of Conduct.
• Maintain the confidentiality of children and families asset forth inSHORE UP! Inc.’sHead Start policies.
• Ability to manage physically active children ages0to5.
• Adhere to federal, state, and local child abuse and neglect reportingrequirements.
• Attend trainings as assigned.
• Ability to occasionallylift upto 50 pounds.
• Must have valid driver’s license and proof of insurance, or must have acceptable alternative transportation.
• Maintain first aid and CPR certification.
• Maintain compliance withbackground checks.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Benefits:

• Paid Leave (personal, vacation, sick, funeral, 13 paid holidays).
• Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription plan).
• Short-term Disability.
• Life & Supplemental Insurance.
• Liability Insurance.
• Workman’s Compensation.
• Maryland State Retirement and Pension System.
• 403(b) Option.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Direct Deposit.
• Payroll Deduction.