Behavior Support Specialist

About New Life Residential Treatment Center

Many of the girls arriving at New Life after experiencing severe abuse or neglect. These courageous young women are between the ages of 11-17, and they grow and heal through in-depth clinical therapy, personal development activities, and spiritual care in a safe setting. Girls typically stay an average of six to eight months and begin to feel a restored sense of hope in their futures – thanks to the support of New Life's staff and therapists specializing in Trauma-Informed Care. Often during the healing process, girls discover special interests and talents and begin to live a healthy lifestyle. Many girls are either reunited with biological family or connected with a loving foster family after living at New Life.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key member of the interdisciplinary and treatment teams, providing trauma-informed behavioral and academic support to students with diverse diagnoses and special needs.
• Collaborate with teachers, clinical staff, and volunteers to align behavior support strategies with educational and therapeutic goals, ensuring a consistent and supportive learning experience.
• Provide direct care to youth outside the classroom and on campus, ensuring supervision and support within the required staff-to-youth ratio.
• Maintain a structured, positive, and trauma-informed classroom environment by implementing behavior support strategies, reinforcing positive behaviors, and using de-escalation techniques when necessary.
• Monitor and follow assigned schedules, demonstrating strong time management skills while attending and participating in required meetings, supervision sessions, and training to meet licensing and program requirements.
• Accurately document student behaviors, interventions, and incidents in the system before the end of each shift, ensuring all reports are clear, concise, and timely.
• Observe and respond to student behavior by setting appropriate limits, proactively intervening to prevent or de-escalate crises using verbal redirection and agency-approved interventions based on individualized treatment plans.
• Model and reinforce positive behavior, social skills, and emotional regulation while guiding students in developing essential life skills such as problem-solving, self-advocacy, and classroom engagement.
• Provide transportation assistance and backup support to dorms as needed, ensuring continuity of care and supervision.
• Supervise and support students on Refusal when they choose not to attend class, maintaining structure, reinforcing academic engagement, and implement behavior support strategies to encourage a return to the classroom.
• Provide behavioral support in dorm settings, particularly on weekends and holidays, by maintaining structure, reinforcing positive behaviors, and assisting with life skills development to ensure continuity of care and supervision.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older per licensing requirements.
• Completion of Two (2) years of higher education (48 semester hours or associate degree).
• One (1) year experience in child welfare or educational setting.
• Familiarity with basic computer skills, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong communication skills, with demonstrated ability to enter information into a computer in a concise and understandable manner.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Ability to work both in a team environment and independently.
• Ability to use good judgment, think and react rationally and calmly in difficult and stressful situations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with a diverse staff and resident population.
• To provide conflict resolution and de-escalation methods and techniques to ensure the well-being and safety of youth.

Perks

• Competitive PTO & paid holidays.
• Health, dental, vision insurance & more.
• 403(b) Plan.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Discounted Gym Memberships.