Behavioral Health & Disabilities Support Spec
About The Position
The Behavioral Health & Disabilities Support Specialist supports the social-emotional, behavioral, and developmental well-being of children ages 0–5 enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start. The position assists in implementing services aligned with the Head Start Program Performance Standards related to mental health, disabilities, and family partnership services. This non-clinical, supportive role focuses on behavioral and developmental observations; supporting behavior and individualized support plans; tracking mental health and disabilities referrals; and collaborating with staff and families to promote school readiness, inclusion, and positive child outcomes. The specialist works in partnership with Mental Health, Disabilities, Education, and Family Services content areas. Staff are expected to support the Head Start mission of promoting school readiness and supporting the comprehensive development, inclusion, and well-being of children and families.
Requirements
- Minimum of 2 years of experience working with children ages 0–5.
- Experience supporting children with disabilities and/or mental health or social-emotional needs.
- Experience supporting IEP/IFSP implementation or early intervention services.
- Experience coaching or guiding adults, such as teachers or parents, in implementing developmental or behavioral strategies.
- Knowledge of child development ages 0–5, including developmental milestones.
- Understanding of disabilities, early intervention, and special education processes.
- Knowledge of social-emotional development and positive behavior support.
- Strong observation, screening, and documentation skills.
- Ability to build relationships with families and staff.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Strong organization and follow-up skills.
- Understanding of inclusive classroom practices.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Psychology, Social Work, Behavioral Science, Special Education, or a related field.
- Experience in early childhood settings.
- Head Start experience.
Responsibilities
- Conduct systematic classroom and home-based observations to support children’s social-emotional and developmental growth.
- Observe and document developmental milestones, learning, behavior, and adaptive functioning.
- Assist with developing and following up on behavior support plans and individualized child support strategies.
- Support implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) in classroom environments.
- Collaborate with teaching staff to implement inclusive practices for children with suspected or diagnosed disabilities.
- Support teaching staff in implementing positive behavior support, trauma-informed care, and social-emotional learning strategies.
- Model appropriate guidance, co-regulation, and developmental support strategies for children.
- Support coordination of mental health and disabilities referrals.
- Assist with developmental screenings and follow-up processes as needed.
- Track and monitor referrals for mental health, early intervention, and special education services.
- Maintain communication with families regarding referral status, evaluations, and services.
- Coordinate with Disabilities, Mental Health, Education, and Family Services teams to ensure continuity of care.
- Participate in case conferencing, IFSP/IEP meetings, and multidisciplinary team meetings.
- Partner with families to support children’s social-emotional and developmental needs.
- Provide education and resources related to child development, disabilities, and early intervention services.
- Support families in understanding evaluation results, services, and school readiness goals.
- Share resources that strengthen protective factors, resilience, and inclusive parenting practices.
- Collaborate with Family Service staff to support family partnership goals related to behavioral and developmental needs.
- Support staff in understanding behavior and development through a relationship-based and inclusive lens.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation in program data systems, including behavioral, developmental, and referral follow-up services.
- Support compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards.
- Assist during federal, state, and internal monitoring reviews.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
