Behavior Support Specialist

Overview

At Upbring, our team is united by a shared mission: to break the cycle of child abuse and advance the wellbeing of children, families and communities, empowering them to thrive. As servant-leaders, we lead by example, working passionately to create a brighter future for those we serve. Every day, we strive to embody our core values:

• We are Warriors: Fierce, resilient, and courageous, we face challenges head-on with unwavering loyalty and passion.
• We are Servants: We dedicate ourselves to serving others, empowering those around us to thrive.
• We are Family: We work together as a supportive, caring community, creating a sense of belonging and strength.

Joining Upbring means becoming part of a family of passionate individuals who are fearless in their pursuit of lasting change. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

About New Life Residential Treatment Center

Many of the girls arrive at New Life after experiencing severe abuse or neglect. These courageous young women are between the ages of 11-17, and they begin to grow and heal through in-depth clinical therapy, personal development activities and spiritual care in a safe setting. Girls 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.

Your Mission in Action

Behavior Support Specialists collaborate with interdisciplinary and treatment teams to provide trauma-informed behavioral and academic support to students with diverse diagnoses and special needs. They use a positive, proactive, and innovative approach to promote skill development, academic success, and life skills while employing de-escalation techniques to support emotional regulation. Additionally, they provide direct care to youth outside the classroom and on campus, ensuring supervision and support within the required staff-to-youth ratio.

$600.00 Sign On Bonus (paid in 3 installments)

Responsibilities

• Supervise, interact with, and support students in the classroom, ensuring their safety, engagement, and adherence to individualized treatment and behavior support plans; provide behavioral support in dorm settings as needed when students refuse to attend school
• Assist in maintaining 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
• Maintain professionalism and ethical standards by fostering positive relationships with students, staff, and interdisciplinary teams, ensuring clear, strength-based communication and teamwork
• 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
• Collaborate with teachers, clinical staff, and volunteers to align behavior support strategies with educational and therapeutic goals, ensuring a consistent and supportive learning experience
• Assist in maintaining a clean, safe, and organized classroom environment, upholding safety and behavioral expectations while ensuring an inclusive and supportive space for learning
• 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
• Other duties and projects as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum 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
• Ability to work extra shifts on business need

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Social Services, Human Services, Special Education, or closely related field
• Two (2) years of experience in the child welfare field working with children and/or adolescents
• Trauma Informed Care training and understanding of effects on trauma on development
• Knowledge of behavior modification and therapeutic settings
• Ability to provide conflict resolution and de-escalation methods and techniques to ensure the well-being and safety of youth

Travel

• This position may be required to travel up to 40%

Perks at Upbring

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

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• This position requires sitting and looking and using a computer for long periods of time
• Position works in a child facility and has constant exposure to children
• Position requires frequent standing, walking and time in units/cottages which are areas where children reside
• Lift, push, pull, move up to 125 lbs.

The physical requirements for this position with or without reasonable accommodation are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. While performing this position the employee with or without reasonable accommodation should have the ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, speak, and hear with aid, see, read, reach with arms and hands, lift and/or move up to specified weight, and use equipment that is essential to performing the job, such as a computer, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile, if applicable. Specific vision requirements of this position may include color vision, seeing things close up, and the ability to adjust focus.

Upbring is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.