Behavioral Modification Specialist Job at Centers For New Horizons, Inc.
Position Title: Behavioral Modification Specialist FLSA Code: Exempt
Department: Violence, Intervention & Prevention Reports to: Program Manager
Department: Violence, Intervention & Prevention Reports to: Program Manager
Position Overview
Founded in 1971, Centers for New Horizons, Inc. (Centers) is a nonprofit organization that assists children, youth, and families to become self-reliant. With 200+ full-time staff, most of whom live in or near its service communities, Centers provides programs in seven locations throughout the Bronzeville and Riverdale communities of Chicago's Southside that reach over 1,000 individuals daily
Centers for New Horizons collaborates with Heartland Alliance, who coordinates READI (Rapid Employment and Development Initiative) Chicago, a network of community-based organizations on Chicago’s West and South Side that engage individuals at the highest risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of gun violence in an 18-month wage-subsidized transition job (TJ) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) program, followed by up to six months of follow-up case management and coaching support. The goals of READI Chicago are to: decrease shootings and homicides among those at the highest risk of gun violence; create new opportunities for those same individuals to change their life trajectory and decrease their involvement with the criminal justice system; and help build infrastructure at the community level to promote long-term safety and opportunity in Chicago’s most impoverished communities.
Position Description
Under the direction of the Program Manager, the Behavior Modification Specialist is responsible for collaborating across interdisciplinary teams to advise, develop, and guide staff practice to influence positive behavior change in READI participants. The position requires a strong familiarity with interventions for positive behavior change and crisis de-escalation strategies, along with strong self-management skills. The Behavior Modification Specialist will adhere to the READI Chicago model, philosophies and approaches, manuals and policies, exude a collegial nature that is rooted in authentic engagement, and relish in the opportunity to proactively collaborate with members across teams. This position requires a keen understanding of the environmental triggers that commonly impact men of color from communities with prevalent gang violence, criminal justice involvement, and substance abuse. The Behavior Modification Specialist must have experience working with frontline service workers that engage high-risk youth and adults in structured programming.
Duties:
Behavior Assessment and Staff Consultation
Founded in 1971, Centers for New Horizons, Inc. (Centers) is a nonprofit organization that assists children, youth, and families to become self-reliant. With 200+ full-time staff, most of whom live in or near its service communities, Centers provides programs in seven locations throughout the Bronzeville and Riverdale communities of Chicago's Southside that reach over 1,000 individuals daily
Centers for New Horizons collaborates with Heartland Alliance, who coordinates READI (Rapid Employment and Development Initiative) Chicago, a network of community-based organizations on Chicago’s West and South Side that engage individuals at the highest risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of gun violence in an 18-month wage-subsidized transition job (TJ) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) program, followed by up to six months of follow-up case management and coaching support. The goals of READI Chicago are to: decrease shootings and homicides among those at the highest risk of gun violence; create new opportunities for those same individuals to change their life trajectory and decrease their involvement with the criminal justice system; and help build infrastructure at the community level to promote long-term safety and opportunity in Chicago’s most impoverished communities.
Position Description
Under the direction of the Program Manager, the Behavior Modification Specialist is responsible for collaborating across interdisciplinary teams to advise, develop, and guide staff practice to influence positive behavior change in READI participants. The position requires a strong familiarity with interventions for positive behavior change and crisis de-escalation strategies, along with strong self-management skills. The Behavior Modification Specialist will adhere to the READI Chicago model, philosophies and approaches, manuals and policies, exude a collegial nature that is rooted in authentic engagement, and relish in the opportunity to proactively collaborate with members across teams. This position requires a keen understanding of the environmental triggers that commonly impact men of color from communities with prevalent gang violence, criminal justice involvement, and substance abuse. The Behavior Modification Specialist must have experience working with frontline service workers that engage high-risk youth and adults in structured programming.
Duties:
Behavior Assessment and Staff Consultation
- Gain insight into common practices employed by staff when delivering service to READI Chicago participants
- Observe crisis intervention methods employed by staff to redirect disruptive behavior exhibited by READI Chicago participants
- Engage directly with staff to share practice observations, encourage evidenced-based practice, strengthen facilitation practice, promote self-regulatory behaviors in participants, and enhance behavior management
- Highlight concerning behavior trends identified using site performance data, incident reporting, and observations of common practices deployed by frontline staff
- Use qualitative and qualitative data to inform staff consultation, develop behavior modification plans, measure behavior change, and establish standards of practice
- Work with participant facing staff and management to develop behavior modification plans, evaluate participant behavior change, develop relevant training for staff, and, in consultation with the Resource Coordinator, cultivate resource opportunities
- In partnership with the Director of Training, co-design and foster professional learning opportunities to address the developmental needs of READI Chicago partner staff
Rapport Building and Staff Engagement
- Provide ongoing feedback of observed behavioral patterns in participants to Senior Coaches, Crew Managers, and Outreach Managers
- Network with behavior change experts across other mission-related organizations, institutions, and coalitions
- Develop site-specific solutions to improve climate and culture
- Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with community partners and other organizations
- Exhibit the highest level of confidentiality at all times
- Develop and catalogue a robust listing of behavior modification techniques used to reinforce prosocial development in men at high-risk for violence involvement
- Communicate the importance of trauma-informed approaches to behavior modification in READI Chicago’s work to multiple audiences
- Ensures adherence to Centers for Disease Control and City of Chicago’s Department of Public Health’s guideline on managing public health pandemics including social distancing measures and wearing masks (self and participants)
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Commitment to the mission and values of READI Chicago, as demonstrated by a professional approach that is strength-based, trauma-informed, inclusive, and grounded in human rights
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field and two years of relevant experience
- Experience in mental health, violence prevention, or criminal justice fields preferred
- Commitment to align practices with READI’s priorities of:
- tackle root causes of violence and poverty
- encourage creativity and innovation
- use data for continuous improvement and progress monitoring
- apply an equity lens
- Partner with participants and others to achieve ambitious, shared goals
- Comfort with ambiguity; experience in a growing initiative, in a fast-paced environment
- Unwavering commitment to quality programs
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Ability to work with high-risk populations with complex needs
- Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects and activities
- Ability to work independently, initiate projects, and develop and implement social service and/or educational interventions
- Excellent writing and communications skills
- Computer literacy commensurate to complete job duties
- Individuals with criminal records and other lived experience are encouraged to apply
- No current gang affiliations; no pending criminal cases
EEO Statement
Centers for New Horizons, its partners, and subcontractors are committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation; and to making all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity.
Centers for New Horizons, its partners, and subcontractors are committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation; and to making all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
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