Early Childhood Behavior Support Specialist

Inspired by the work we do every day, the JCC is an organization centered by Jewish values and focused on creating meaningful experiences and opportunities to enrich, connect, and positively impact our community.

We pride ourselves on our inclusive and welcoming workplace and celebrate the diversity of our employees.  We value all members of our team in a supportive environment in which everyone is treated with appreciation and respect and positioned to do their best work every day.

SUMMARY:

The Early Childhood Behavior Specialist is a trained and certified member of the Stoler Early Learning Center team dedicated to supporting the needs of the children in the school.

The Early Childhood Behavior Specialist will provide behavior, social, and emotional services to children by assessing and evaluating their individual needs, curriculum needs, and staff training in order to increase positive, safe, pro-social behaviors and relationships among children, solve problems, and facilitate the delivery of professional services. This position will model and implement prevention and intervention strategies and training to facilitate the highest quality of Jewish Early Childhood experiences and support to the Stoler ELC students, educators, and families.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Specific duties include but are not limited to:

Building of Program

• Conduct classroom observations to identify and assess children with behavioral, emotional, or developmental issues and develop/provide resources and referrals for internal and external program participants and families as needed.
• Provide interventions to ensure high quality care, learning experiences and accessible physical classroom environments that create a solid foundation for children socially, emotionally, physically, cognitively, and spiritually – promoting future learning success. 
• Responsible for maintaining records and documentation of assessments and interventions and oversight of the documentation that is requested of teachers and directors to document behaviors and use of interventions.
• Support the implementation, scoring and interpretation of the Ages and Stages Developmental Screening, follow up with families, and continued tracking of the children’s progress.
• Create in school programing regarding social emotional learning and social skills (social skills groups) which incorporate preventative skills for the children so they have the tools to proactively process and manage strong emotions, anxiety, future stressors, etc.
• Work with specialists to incorporate healthy behavioral choices or “healthy for me” choices into their existing curriculum for carry over and reinforcement into all essential areas
• Responsible for the coordination with Jewish Community Services for their grant funded social/emotional and mindfulness programs, such as Be Well, ONE, Ezra’s Backpack, and What do you do with a Problem? etc.
• Review incoming applications and children’s student and camper profiles and follow up with family and educational teams as necessary.
• Assist with the scheduling of 1:1 family/school conferences with parents, teacher, administration as they arise.
• Monitor progress of specific children’s goals and objectives and meet with teachers regularly to share information and develop action plans.
• Coordinate appropriate participation in IEP and IFSP meetings with the children’s county/home school as they arise.
• Maintain ongoing and timely contact with therapists, specialists and community agencies serving children in our program.
• Maintain a current list of approved therapists for access into the ELC (liaison between families, agencies, Human Resources, and our Security Team). 

Building of Team

• Participate in the planning and implementation of early childhood staff orientation and ongoing training to provide educators with tools to help model appropriate social/emotional skills for their students and support those who are in need of additional supports. 
• Participate in family orientation and help parents navigate big changes or transitions, such as the first day of school, death in the family, educational or behavioral concerns, the referral process, etc.
• Work with the Curriculum Coordinator to support educators in preparation of annual Parent/Teacher Conferences.
• Review documentation for Parent/Teacher Conferences; participate in conferences when appropriate.
• Provide resource materials for JCC staff and parents.  Participate in the creation of communication including but not limited to: Family Newsletters, e-mails, Brightwheel, etc.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL EARLY CHILDHOOD STAFF:

1. Provide for the health and safety of all children in the school.
2. Provide nurturing, responsive, quality care, addressing each children’s needs.
3. Create a positive, warm, individualized, nurturing, environment for children; encourage inquiry and open-ended thought.
4. Consistently treat children with dignity, respect, and compassion.
5. Create a safe, healthy, and secure environment for all children and faculty members.
6. Maintain confidentiality.
7. Promote the equitable, fair and consistent treatment of all staff members, parents, and children.
8. Promote and support the organization’s goals, philosophies, policies and mission statements.
9. Participate in all training programs, conferences, seminars, courses and other aspects of professional growth and continuing education provided by the JCC and other outside resources to meet the MSDE licensing requirements.
10. Communicate effectively and regularly with the ELC Senior Director, members of the Leadership Team, Parents, Teachers, Therapists, and other professionals.
11. Report challenges and/or concerns promptly to the ELC Senior Director.

1. Attend supervisory conferences, faculty meetings, and in-service training programs as required.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in special education, social work, psychology, or related field required.
2. Experience providing psycho-educational services to children and their families required.
3. Early Childhood experience and knowledge of child development and age-appropriate milestones preferred.Ear
4. Experience utilizing behavioral management techniques required.
5. Experience developing and facilitating group training required to support staff and families.
6. Experience with Early Intervention.
7. Knowledge of school systems and community resources.

1. Familiarity with Jewish cultures and customs or willingness to learn.
2. Must be CPR and First Aid certified or have the ability to obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification within three months of employment. The position must also obtain medical administration certification.

PHYSICAL SKILLS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment is usually fast paced.  This job requires high energy and positive interactions with staff as well as with members, other agency staff, community leaders, and outside partners, vendors, others.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer, talk and hear, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel and crouch.

 During the summer, this position requires spending at least 5 hours each day on their feet, and the ability to run to opposite ends of the camp facility to address crisis situations.

The employee must have the physical strength and ability to lift, carry and/or move children or other objects up to 25 pounds. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Salary (or Salary Range): $35,000 - $45,000

Benefit & Perks: The JCC offers a comprehensive benefits package including generous time off, paid holidays, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) employer match, life insurance, complimentary membership to the Jewish Community Center, discounts on programs including preschool and summer camp, and wellbeing programming

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and incumbent will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by supervisor or other management, as required. The JCC reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the needs arise. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In keeping with our Jewish values, we are dedicated to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, citizenship, veteran's status, physical or mental disability that does not prohibit the performance of essential job functions (with or without reasonable accommodation) or any other basis protected by federal, or applicable, state or local law. We welcome everyone interested in our mission to join us. If you require accommodation, please contact us and we will make every effort to meet your needs.