Developmental Behavior Specialist - Early Childhood Program

Primary Function:

Responsible for providing social-emotional and behavior support across LEO early childhood programs. The Developmental Behavior Specialist works with the Social Emotional Behavior Manager and the Mental Health Team to provide social-emotional and behavioral support for children, including classroom observation, social-emotional skill instruction, behavior intervention, crisis management, and behavior plan implementation. This position provides training, coaching, and support for staff and caregivers around healthy social-emotional development and implementing positive behavior support (Pyramid Model) in the classroom and at home.

Operations and Monitoring:

• Provides direct behavior support in center-based and community-based settings, including behavior intervention, crisis de-escalation, 1:1 intensive support, behavior intervention plan development and implementation
• Provides observation, intervention, and instruction to support children's healthy social-emotional development and successful peer interactions
• Provides education and modeling for educators on positive behavior support, promoting effective trauma-informed classroom management and behavior intervention
• Works with teaching teams to develop and implement individualized support plans, including integrating visual tools, structuring the classroom environment to support behavior goals, and implementing core Pyramid strategies
• Provides social-emotional education and support to families through parent consultations, team meetings, Parent Center Meetings, and parent education groups
• Conducts parent education workshops on topics including healthy social-emotional development, effective limit-setting, managing challenging behavior, and other parenting needs
• Works with the LEO Pyramid Team as a behavior specialist committed to implementing Pyramid Model across LEO early childhood programs
• Participates in case management and other team meetings as needed
• In conjunction with the Social Emotional Behavior Manager, reviews and tracks social-emotional developmental screenings and provides follow-up on concerns with classroom observation, teacher and parent consultation
• Maintains a relationship-based and trauma-informed approach, and works with the Social Emotional Behavior Manager to enhance understanding and evidence-based practice across LEO's early childhood programs
• Develops a cooperative relationship with other staff members to support implementation of social-emotional learning and behavior intervention strategies
• Maintains timely and accurate records of services provided, ensuring accurate documentation, follow-up and reporting
• Assists SEBM is documentation and reporting of behavior incidents
• Attends meetings, trainings and conferences as needed
• Completes regular federal and state reporting requirements

Additional responsibilities:

• Works with all staff as needed regarding classroom management and program planning
• Ensure confidentiality of children's records
• Works both on-site and remotely as needed, providing consistent services and support in the event of physical site closure or limited access
• All other duties as assigned

Enhance Personal and Professional Growth:

• All members of the Mental Health Team are expected to work towards attaining Infant and/or Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement credential appropriate for their education and experience level
• Attend all trainings required by Head Start Performance Standards and EEC Regulations
• Attend trainings, conferences and workshops as determined appropriate

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Social Work, or related field
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) Preferred
• Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of experience working with children 0 - 5 years old
• Experience using data based reporting system
• Work experience with culturally and linguistically diverse populations
• Ability to write reports and correspondence, and read and interpret data
• Knowledge of various software programs such as MS Word, Excel, Power-Point, and Publisher software or equivalent a plus
• Ability to effectively engage and communicate with community members and groups, managers, regulatory agencies, and families both individually and in group settings
• Ability to organize and manage time effectively
• Ability to participate in community meetings to represent, lead, advocate, educate and/or negotiate on behalf of Head Start programs
• Candidates must have a car and valid driver's license as travel throughout Lynn is required