Community Behavioral Aide

Position Summary

The Community Behavior Aide will provide behavioral support and intervention for youth with SED and their families within the Keeping Families Together department. Behavioral intervention is targeted at youth at risk of school intervention, juvenile justice involvement, out-of-home placement, etc., or transitioning back into the community after experiencing out-of-home placement and in need of support to ensure safety and community integration. The Behavior Aide will support youth and families by implementing safety and behavior management plans and skill building in coordination with the Wraparound team (Care Coordinator and Therapist). This position requires scheduling flexibility as it is expected that the Behavior Aide will maintain either evening or weekend availability to provide youth and families support at times in which behaviors are typically problematic.

Role and Responsibilities

The primary duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Maintain an understanding of the minimum standards for the specific program(s) under the Keeping Families Together Department
• Provide skill building and behavior management in the community in coordination with the therapist and care coordination
• Support identification, with the consumer or family, of strengths that may aid in achieving resiliency, as well as identify and brainstorm around barriers that impede the development of skills necessary for age-appropriate functioning in school, with peers, and with family
• Support and facilitate enhanced natural and age-appropriate supports
• Providing coaching to caregivers around parent education, trauma, behavior management strategies, etc.
• Assist in the development of interpersonal, community coping and functional skills (including adaptation to home, school and healthy social environments)
• Encourage the development and eventual succession of natural supports in living, learning, working, and other social environments
• Assist in the acquisition of skills for the consumer to self-recognize emotional triggers and to self-manage behaviors related to identified stressors or symptoms
• Assist with personal development, school performance, work performance, and functioning in the social and family environment through teaching skills/strategies to ameliorate the effect of behavioral health symptoms;
• Assist in enhancing social and coping skills that ameliorate life stresses resulting from the stressors or behavioral symptoms
• Assist consumers and other supporting natural resources with illness understanding and self-management;
• Support the consumer/family in managing or preventing crises; Notify the appropriate clinical staff or agency before, during, or after crises
• Use preventive intervention techniques when needed to prevent injury (to self or others)
• Provide service and resource coordination to assist the consumer and family in gaining access to necessary rehabilitative, medical, social, and other services and supports
• Monitor the provision of services provided and report back to the care coordinator and/or therapist for any needs identified
• Collaborate and communicate with an assigned care coordinator, therapist, caregiver, daycares, schools, courts, and other entities involved with the plan related to the family
• Participate in team meetings for all youth assigned to caseload
• Coordinate services taking into consideration the family’s scheduling needs as well as cultural, religious, and social preferences

• Respect the privacy, routines, and authority of the parent/caregiver, unless there is suspicion of abuse, or neglect which must be reported

• Develop and maintain a basic clinical understanding and knowledge of the fundamental concepts of mental health issues that pertain to severely emotionally disturbed children
• Develop and maintain knowledge of general characteristics of normal human growth and development or the ability to learn this knowledge quickly
• Demonstrate a willingness and ability to learn clinical skills, or to improve existing skills

• Specific services to consumers.

• Contact must be made with the consumer receiving services in accordance with the wraparound plan of care
  • Demonstrate exceptional engagement skills in providing trauma-focused mental health treatment to a target consumer population
  • Manage a caseload of up to 10-12 clients; The number of consumers on the caseload is based on the frequency of sessions and typical direct service hours per week is 22 hours
  • Must be willing to work in the community neighborhoods, the home, school, and public housing communities
  • Traveling to home and/or schools is required, with sessions being held face-to-face in the community at a minimum of 75% of the time; telehealth sessions are allowed for certain situations after being discussed with and approved by the supervisor
  • 50% of sessions must be done in the home to be able to model learned skills, interventions, etc. with caregivers

• Documentation Requirements;
  • Timely documentation of all case activities in accordance with policy
  • Maintain detailed files and other documentation in 100% compliance with standards
  • Complete all fidelity expectations within designated timeframes
• Practice Requirements;
  • Adhere to the organization's policies and procedures
  • Attend group and individual supervision sessions
  • Participate in clinical consultation and training as needed
  • Review case studies
  • Provide feedback for hard-to-manage cases
• Performance and Conduct;
  • Maintain confidentiality of consumer information
  • Maintain appropriate professional boundaries (written, verbal, physical)
  • Follow CHRIS 180 dress code
  • Follow the CHRIS 180 Code of Ethics
  • Follow the mandated reporting requirements of GA Code
  • Support and maintain an environment of emotional and physical safety for consumers, staff and other stakeholders at all times
• Demonstrate customer service;
  • Promote a positive image of CHRIS 180 programs at all times
  • Work as a contributing and collaborative team member
  • Respond to consumer, referral, and peer needs in a timely fashion
  • Answer telephone calls and emails accordingly
  • Respond to requests for information from stakeholders in a timely fashion
• Maintain Personal Information and Training;
  • Attend and participate in staff meetings as scheduled
  • Attend and participate in required training as scheduled
  • Maintain required certifications
  • Review, understand and respond to program policies
  • Provide documents in a timely fashion to Human Resources

• Other duties as assigned

Salary: $34,000.00 - $37,000.00

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the social sciences with 1-2 years experience working directly with youth and families with youth having a severe emotional and/or behavioral diagnosis (SED);
• OR at a minimum a high school diploma with five years of direct experience

Additional Requirements

• Required dependable vehicle as the program requires travel and insurance converge
• Required valid driver’s license
• Required flexible schedule to provide support when most appropriate, respond to a crisis, and regularly meet with caregivers, assigned care coordinator and therapist, and other team members such as school personnel or daycare staff
• Required organization skills to manage scheduling and service coordination
• Preferred knowledge of Mental Health Disorders

Schedule

This is a full-time position, and the Community Behavior Aide will work an average of 80 hours bi-weekly, which may include weekdays, weekday evenings, and weekends. The hours will vary from week to week depending on the needs of the youth and families being served. It is expected that the Community Behavior Aide maintain either weekend or evening hours for services.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and move up to 20 pounds.