Behavioral Support Specialist

Hourly Salary: $28.76/hour - $30.21/hour

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Director of CFTSS, the Behavioral Support Specialist provides behavioral health support services to children, adolescents, and their families through home- and community-based services. Using a strengths-based approach, this role delivers psychoeducation, skill-building interventions, caregiver support, and care coordination to promote emotional well-being, personal independence, and positive outcomes for children and families.

Reporting to the Director, the Behavioral Support Specialist manages a caseload of approximately 12-14 clients and collaborates with families, providers, and community partners to support treatment goals. This position requires travel throughout the Bronx and Manhattan, flexibility schedule to meet the needs of children and families, and the ability to exercise sound independent judgment while delivering services in accordance with organizational and regulatory requirements.

Children's Aid Mission

To help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive support to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Children's Aid annually serves children and their families at over forty sites in New York, as well as through three national program models. Children's Aid is concentrating its efforts on creating cradle-through-college pathways in high-need neighborhoods, with a focus on children's health, family stability, education, and social and emotional development.

Culture and Values

We put children, youth, and families first: We listen to and incorporate the voices of children, youth, and families in all that we do.

We seek equity and transformation in our communities: We courageously work within and outside systems to create opportunities for children, youth, and families.

We strive for excellence: We hold ourselves to the highest standards and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

We are powered by collaboration: Our work is stronger when we trust, partner, and respect each other and the communities we serve.

We are driven by compassion: We lead with kindness, care, and empathy and believe in the endless potential of the people we serve and our team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Behavioral Health Services & Client Support

• Provide psychoeducation to children, youth, and families regarding behavioral health diagnoses, treatment options, and available supports.
• Utilize a strengths-based approach to assist children, youth, and families in identifying individual strengths and community supports to address behavioral health needs.
• Deliver skill-building interventions that promote personal independence, emotional regulation, social and interpersonal development, and healthy coping strategies.
• Provide support and education to family caregivers to strengthen their ability to support treatment goals and child well-being.
• Carry a caseload of approximately 12-14 clients while delivering services in home and community-based settings.

Care Coordination & Service Delivery

• Collaborate effectively with families, professionals, and community partners from a wide range of cultural, social, and economic backgrounds to support coordinated care.
• Monitor client progress, treatment timelines, and established goals to promote positive outcomes.
• Communicate client progress, barriers, and service needs with appropriate staff and stakeholders to support coordinated service delivery.

Documentation, Quality Improvement & Compliance

• Complete progress notes and required clinical documentation accurately and within established timeframes.
• Submit billing encounter forms in a timely manner.
• Utilize best practices to support quality service delivery and continuous improvement.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable privacy laws, including HIPAA, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree in social work (MSW) preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working in children's mental health, addiction services, foster care, child welfare, juvenile justice, or a related behavioral health setting required.
• Experience providing home- and community-based services preferred.
• Experience utilizing evidence-based practices or intervention models preferred.
• Knowledge of trauma, violence, and their impact on children, adolescents, and families.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with children, adolescents, families, professionals, and individuals from diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple responsibilities effectively.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Ability to travel throughout the Bronx and Manhattan to provide home- and community-based services.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule based on program and client needs.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.