Behavior Support Specialist (355)

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.

LSF is seeking a talented Behavior Support Specialist who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.

Purpose and Impact:

The Behavior Support Specialist performs professional work in behavior management of pre-school children, training and coaching for staff and parents, case management including referral for psycho-educational and mental health services. Responsible for developing and modeling interventions, and monitoring the child’s progress and linking parents/families to mental health and/or psycho-educational services. Successful experience working with pre-school age children with behavioral concerns. The work involves linking parents/families to community services, providing support, making referrals and following up on referrals, designing and implementing classroom behavior support plans, providing mental health and behavioral management education to parents and staff, planning and consulting with the contracted mental health professionals. This work is performed under the supervision of the Mental Health Manager and is reviewed through conferences, reports and evaluations of program effectiveness. Participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.

Essential Functions:

• Provides parents support to access necessary resources and conducts in-home follow-up, monitoring and training to assure consistency between parents and teachers as needed Teaches effective parenting skills.
• Participates in the multi-disciplinary team meetings, individual and staff conferences, health and mental health services advisory committee meetings, team meetings and other appropriate meetings, as necessary.
• Performs case management services when appropriate through referrals to mental health service providers, psycho-educational services and other appropriate community agencies and resources.
• Assists the teacher with understanding and implementing the Behavior Support Plan.
• Conducts appropriate individual observations and assessments of enrolled children as necessary.
• Conducts classroom level observations at least twice per year (Fall and Spring) as needed. Analyze observation data to monitor improvement in social-emotional learning and behavior management, and plan effective respond to improve child and family outcomes.
• Provides coaching support to teachers in implementing the Trust-Based Relational Intervention Model (TBRI) with fidelity.
• Performs crisis intervention activities when necessary.
• Writes, reviews and supports Behavior Support Plans for children with behavior concerns.
• Assist with behavior management training and on-site technical assistance to the centers.
• Assists with processing internal referrals to Mental Health Manager and /or contracted Mental Health Provider.
• Assists with monitoring services facilitated by the Mental Health Treatment Counselor and/or contracted Mental Health Provider.
• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by immediate supervisor and the Executive Director
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to Head Start/Early Head Start children, families and staff in accordance with HIPAA standards and established program policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Other Functions:

Note: The duties above are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Depending on assigned area of responsibility, incumbents in the position may perform some or all of the activities described above.

Health and Safety:

LSF is committed to providing a safe work environment while also focusing on staff wellness. An essential part of all employees’ job is the development of safe working practices and adherence to safety rules, including:

• Following safety warnings and directions at all times.
• Using personal safety devices or PPE when required.
• Reporting any unsafe conditions to their supervisor.
• Following process for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
• Ensure active supervision of assigned children.
• Following procedures when pulling out children for behavior intervention services or therapy.
• Reporting unsupervised children, after ensuring child’s safety.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to frequently move about the classroom, playground, and other program areas to observe children and staff, engage in activities, and ensure safety.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, and reach overhead for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, including lifting children when necessary.
• Capable of responding quickly to emergency situations, including running or moving swiftly across various terrains (e.g., playgrounds, indoor areas).
• Must have adequate vision and hearing (corrected or uncorrected) to monitor children’s activities and ensure their safety.
• Ability to use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and to write or type reports and documentation.
• Must be able to drive or travel to multiple program locations as needed.
• Able to maintain energy and stamina to support children with behavioral needs throughout the day.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Mental Health, Marriage and Family Counseling, Human Services or related field from an accredited college or university. Master’s degree preferred.
• Must be willing to complete Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner if available within two years of hire. Cost of these training will be covered by the agency with understanding that employee must remain in the position at least two years after completion of training.

Experience:

• Minimum of one year of experience in mental health services for children; or working with pre-school age children with mental or behavioral disabilities; or experience implementing Behavior Support Plans for pre-school children; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience.
• Bilingual preferred: English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area.

Also required:

Certification in First Aid and CPR within six months of the date assigned to this position; and successful completion of a Level II background screening, local criminal record check and drug screening prior to hiring.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of behavior management techniques for the classroom.
• Knowledge of child developmental stages.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse parents, staff and community residents.
• Ability to express ideas clearly, both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of mental health and psycho-educational services.
• Understanding of low-income families, cultural differences and group dynamics.
• Exceptional organization skills and attention to detail are required and the candidate must be able to meet designated deadlines.

Other:

Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Team player with co-workers and central service office staff.
• Cost effective program operations.
• Adherence to agency policies and management practices.
• Effective staff management and leadership.

Why work for LSF?

LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization.

Amazing benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Telehealth (24/7 online access to Doctors)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer paid life insurance (1X salary)
• 13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday
• Generous PTO policy (starting at 16 working days a year)
  • Note: Head Start employees paid time off and holiday schedule may differ
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match OR 3% student loan repayment reimbursement
• Tuition reimbursement

LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Lutheran Services Florida is mandated to perform background screenings for employment in accordance with the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse as outlined in Section 435.12, Florida Statutes. Additionally, pursuant to House Bill 531 (2025), Lutheran Services Florida must ensure that all job vacancy postings and advertisements include a clear and conspicuous link to the AHCA Clearinghouse website and its requirements. For more information on background screening requirements please visit:

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.