Mental Health - Behavioral Specialist

About us

Yellowstone Academy

Our mission at Yellowstone Academy (YA) is to develop and share an exploratory-based approach to education that fosters creativity, promotes self-awareness, nurtures interpersonal relationships and inspires a growing passion for learning.

Yellowstone Academy provides educational programming to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch youth in residential care as well as Day Treatment for students needing support from surrounding school districts. We are sensitive to the educational needs of children and adolescents who are struggling with emotional and behavioral needs and offer a stable, emotionally supportive, educational environment.

Yellowstone Academy offers a dynamic range of academic services to assist children and adolescents, by integrating educational, behavioral, and clinical components into their scholastic experience. YA works in collaboration with school districts to offer Individual Education Plan (IEP) supported placement and credit recovery options for youth to get back on track with their education.

Yellowstone Academy is one of the only public schools associated with Residential Treatment in the western United States that meets multiple state accreditation requirements including but not limited to Montana, Illinois, and California. Yellowstone Academy is accredited by Montana Office of Public Instruction (K-8) and by Cognia (K-12). Yellowstone Academy is located on Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch’s scenic 410 acre ranch campus.

Mental Health Behavior Specialist
Purpose: This position is responsible for working with a diverse student population in need of consistency, structure, and emotional support. YA educates a population of youth in both Residential care and in a Day Treatment setting. The Behavior Specialist works solely with the Day Treatment population and together with a Licensed Therapist to implement the treatment plan. The hours of a Behavior Specialist are Monday through Friday 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and employees are expected to be present during all working hours. There is a minimum age requirement of 21 years old for this position.

Minimum Qualifications and Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work or a related field or 4 years equivalent experience working in the mental health field
• Ability to attain certification in Violence Intervention Prevention within 30 days of employment
• Valid Montana drivers license and good driving record
• Ability to work in cooperation and collaboration with treatment team and school personnel
• Ability to relate and build rapport with youth and families therapeutically
• Ability to facilitate group therapeutic interventions
• Ability to be flexible, accommodating and work independently
• Ability to plan and implement creative activities to meet needs and interests of youth
• Ability to remain calm and provide crisis de-escalation which may include physical restraints
• Ability and willingness to accept direction and feedback from supervisor
• Knowledge of and ability to maintain professional therapeutic boundaries and confidentiality with youth and families
• Ability to meet charting responsibilities and deadlines for billing
• Essential Functions of the Position:
• Provide multiple hours of direct face to face contact, behavioral intervention and guidance to students.
• Provide quality therapeutic behavior interventions within the youth's classroom, lunchtime, before school, after school and recess based on the needs of the youth.
• Provide input and work together with the Program Therapist to create/update and implement treatment plans for all youth on caseload.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with the Program Therapist. Meet weekly, at a minimum, with the Program Therapist for consultation regarding the youth and families being served.
• Complete, submit, and verify accuracy of paperwork, including but not limited to progress notes, intake paperwork, etc., while maintaining Performance Quality Improvement (PQI) standards as set forth by School Administration.
• Attend meetings in order to provide consultation in relation to student progress and planning.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with school administrators and school personnel, and engage in regular supervision.
• Intervene in crisis in a calm appropriate manner that maintains staff and youth safety.
• Work effectively with youth in groups and co-facilitate with the Program Therapist.
• Complete other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Responsibilities to the Organization:
• Contribute to the strategic goals and outcomes of the agency as measured by the development and achievement of individual, departmental, and organizational goals and outcomes.
• Deal constructively and helpfully with all other members of the organization.
• Fully support and model the mission and values of YBGR/YA.
• Adhere to all policies, systems, safety requirements, and procedures of the organization.
• Take the initiative to identify problems and seek out solutions.
• Be a professional representative of the organization to those outside it.
• Participate and engage in monthly supervision/coaching meetings with supervisor.
• Be aware of the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of persons served.
• Participate in required training as appropriate to the position and beneficial to Yellowstone Academy.
• Job Type: Full-time

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $18.25 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Associate (Required)

Experience:

• Mental Health: 2 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18