For over 35 years, Youth Villages has transformed the lives of children and families nationwide through innovative, research-based programs focused on preserving and restoring families.
As a national leader in children’s mental and behavioral health, we serve more than 47,000 youth, young people, and their families annually across 29 states and Washington, D.C. Our proven treatment models drive long-term success in child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health systems. At Youth Villages, we do what works - partnering with others to expand our impact and advocate for meaningful, lasting change.
We're seeking purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about making a difference. With a dedicated team of more than 5,000 staff, Youth Villages is committed to investing in and supporting our employees by offering opportunities to build a fulfilling career through professional growth, personal development, and a mission that matters - helping children and families live successfully.
For more information, please visit www.youthvillages.org
Position Summary:
The Board Certified Behavior Analyst/Licensed Behavior Analyst (BCBA/LBA) provides direct, specialized, trauma-informed behavioral assessment and intervention services to children and adolescents receiving treatment within Youth Villages' residential programs.
This position focuses primarily on working directly with and supervising Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) who work directly with youth who demonstrate significant behavioral challenges, emotional dysregulation, difficulties with adaptive functioning, and other complex behavioral needs that interfere with their daily functioning and treatment progress that may be impacted by trauma in addition to intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Additionally, the position serves as a specialized behavioral resource to residential staff, offering consultation, modeling, and coaching to promote consistency in behavioral interventions across residential environments.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Behavior Analyst:
- Direct Trauma Informed Behavioral Intervention Services
- Provides individualized, direct behavior-analytic services to children and adolescents in residential treatment
- Implements evidence-based behavioral interventions to address challenging behaviors, emotional and behavioral dysregulation, aggression, self-injurious behaviors, deficits in adaptive skills, and difficulties with social functioning
- Works directly with youth to teach and reinforce appropriate replacement behaviors, coping strategies, communication skills, emotional regulation skills, and adaptive functioning
- Utilizes individualized reinforcement strategies, skill acquisition programs, and other evidence-based behavioral interventions
- Provides structured and naturalistic behavioral intervention opportunities within residential environments
- Assists youth in practicing and generalizing newly acquired skills across residential routines, social interactions, educational activities, and other daily living situations
- Monitors individual responses to intervention and adjusts strategies based on observable progress and clinical assessment
- Develops positive working relationships with youth while maintaining appropriate professional and therapeutic boundaries
- Behavioral Assessment and Treatment Planning
- Conducts Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs), direct observations, caregiver and staff interviews, and other appropriate behavioral assessments
- Identifies the potential functions of challenging behaviors and environmental factors influencing behavioral responses
- Develops individualized, function-based Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) and positive behavioral support strategies
- Establishes measurable behavioral goals and treatment objectives based on each youth's individual needs
- Collects, analyzes, and interprets behavioral data to monitor progress and evaluate treatment effectiveness
- Modifies behavioral interventions based on assessment findings, treatment outcomes, and evolving clinical needs
- Integrates behavioral treatment recommendations into the youth's comprehensive residential treatment plan
- Maintains accurate clinical documentation, behavioral assessments, progress notes, and intervention plans
- Behavioral Skill Development and Positive Behavior Support
- Provides direct interventions designed to strengthen problem-solving, frustration tolerance, communication, social interaction, and independent functioning
- Teaches and reinforces alternative responses to behaviors that interfere with treatment, safety, or daily functioning
- Supports youth in developing behavioral skills necessary for successful participation in residential programming
- Utilizes individualized, strengths-based approaches that recognize each youth's developmental abilities, treatment needs, and personal goals
- Promotes generalization and maintenance of acquired behavioral skills across settings and relationships
- Collaborates with treatment teams to support successful transitions to family, community, educational, or less restrictive treatment settings
- Behavioral Crisis Prevention and Intervention
- Identifies behavioral patterns, triggers, and environmental factors associated with escalation and other challenging behaviors
- Develops individualized prevention strategies designed to reduce behavioral crises and improve safety
- Provides direct behavioral support to youth experiencing behavioral escalation, when clinically appropriate
- Assists youth in developing safer, more effective behavioral responses during challenging situations
- Collaborates with residential and clinical staff to ensure interventions are consistent with approved safety and crisis management procedures
- Analyzes behavioral incidents to identify opportunities for improved intervention strategies
- Promotes proactive, least-restrictive approaches that preserve youth dignity and support long-term treatment progress
- Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Supervision and Clinical Oversight
- Ensures RBTs implement all services from the trauma informed lens
- Provides ongoing clinical supervision, guidance, and oversight to RBTs delivering behavior-analytic services to children and adolescents
- Ensures RBTs implement individualized Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), skill acquisition programs, and behavioral treatment strategies accurately, consistently, and in accordance with established clinical protocols
- Conducts regularly scheduled individual and group supervision sessions in compliance with Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) supervision requirements
- Observes RBTs providing behavioral intervention services to youth and evaluates trauma- informed practice, treatment implementation, professional competencies, and adherence to clinical expectations
- Provides immediate feedback, hands-on coaching, modeling, and behavioral skills training to strengthen RBT competency and intervention effectiveness
- Oversees the collection, documentation, and analysis of behavioral data gathered by RBTs to evaluate treatment progress and determine necessary intervention modifications
- Conducts or oversees required RBT competency assessments, as appropriately qualified, and supports continued professional development and certification maintenance
- Establishes clear clinical expectations and provides ongoing performance feedback to ensure the delivery of high-quality behavioral services
- Ensures RBTs practice within their authorized scope of competence and under appropriate supervision, with clinical assessment, treatment design, and treatment modifications directed by the BCBA/LBA
- Collaborates with residential leadership and clinical treatment teams to coordinate RBT services and promote consistency across residential programming
- Monitors RBT implementation of individualized behavioral interventions and addresses concerns related to model fidelity, professional conduct, ethics, and youth safety
- Maintains accurate documentation of supervision activities, direct observations, competency assessments, and clinical oversight in accordance with applicable BACB requirements and organizational policies
- Interdisciplinary Treatment Collaboration
- Collaborates with residential therapists, Occupational Therapist, psychiatrists, nurses, educational staff, direct-care professionals, and other members of the treatment team
- Participates in treatment planning meetings, clinical consultations, and case reviews
- Provides specialized behavior-analytic expertise regarding challenging behaviors and individualized treatment needs
- Coordinates behavioral interventions with existing therapeutic and educational programming
- Consults with families and caregivers, when clinically appropriate, to support consistent behavioral strategies and treatment continuity
- Communicates behavioral progress, treatment recommendations, and ongoing intervention needs to appropriate treatment team members
- Supports an integrated treatment approach that prioritizes the overall emotional, behavioral, developmental, and psychological well-being of youth
- Residential Staff Consultation and Coaching
- Provides guidance and consultation to residential staff regarding individualized behavioral interventions
- Models effective behavioral strategies during direct interactions with youth
- Supports staff in understanding the function of challenging behaviors and implementing proactive behavioral supports
- Assists staff in consistently applying individualized Behavior Intervention Plans
- Provides practical feedback and coaching to strengthen the implementation of behavioral strategies
- Collaborates with residential supervisors and clinical leadership when additional behavioral support or consultation is needed
- Facilitates targeted staff training when necessary to support individualized youth treatment needs
- Documentation, Professional Standards, and Compliance
- Completes required clinical documentation accurately and within established timelines
- Maintains active BCBA certification and Tennessee licensure as a Licensed Behavioral Analyst (LBA)
- Adheres to applicable BACB ethical standards, Tennessee regulations, and Youth Villages policies
- Ensures behavior-analytic services are individualized, clinically appropriate, and supported by evidence
- Maintains confidentiality, appropriate consent, professional boundaries, and ethical treatment practices
- Participates in continuing education, professional development, and organizational training requirements
- Provides formal supervision to RBTs only if assigned and qualified to do so under applicable BACB requirements
Additional Information:
Position effectiveness will be evaluated through:
- Improved youth comprehension and participation in individualized clinical and behavioral interventions
- Demonstrated progress in targeted educational, behavioral, social, communication, and adaptive skills
- Effective integration of educational accommodations and individualized teaching strategies into residential treatment
- Increased consistency of staff implementation of established educational and behavioral supports
- Demonstrated staff growth in understanding and responding to diverse learning and developmental needs
- Effective collaboration between educational, clinical, behavioral, and residential treatment teams
- Timely and accurate documentation and communication of youth progress
- Contributions to improved treatment engagement, skill generalization, and successful transitions to less restrictive settings
Key performance expectations will be evaluated through:
- Quality and timeliness of individualized behavioral assessments and treatment plans
- Measurable improvements in youth-specific behavioral and adaptive functioning goals
- Effectiveness of direct behavioral interventions
- Reduction in targeted challenging behaviors and development of appropriate replacement behaviors
- Successful generalization of behavioral skills across residential settings
- Effective collaboration with residential clinical teams
- Consistency and accuracy of clinical documentation
- Contributions to youth safety, treatment progress, and readiness for less restrictive environments
- Consistent compliance with BACB supervision standards and documentation requirements
- Demonstrated competency and continued professional development among supervised RBTs
- Accurate and consistent implementation of individualized behavioral treatment plans by RBTs
- Effective clinical oversight that promotes treatment fidelity, ethical practice, and positive behavioral outcomes for youth
- Timely identification and resolution of concerns related to RBT clinical performance and intervention implementation
Qualifications:
Required:
- Master's degree or higher in Applied Behavior Analysis, Psychology, Education, Special Education, or another qualifying field
- Current Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board
- Current or in process of acquiring Tennessee Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA)
- Demonstrated competency in behavioral assessment, direct behavior-analytic intervention, and individualized treatment planning
- Knowledge of evidence-based interventions for children and adolescents with complex behavioral needs
- Ability to work directly with youth who may display aggression, self-injurious behaviors, emotional dysregulation, or other significant behavioral challenges
- Strong clinical judgment, communication, documentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills
Preferred:
- Three or more years of professional experience providing behavior-analytic services to children and adolescents
- Experience in residential treatment, psychiatric treatment, intensive behavioral health programs, or similar settings
- Experience providing direct behavioral intervention to youth with emotional and behavioral disorders
- Familiarity with trauma-informed treatment approaches and positive behavioral support
- Experience collaborating with mental health professionals and interdisciplinary treatment teams
- Experience supporting youth with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, or complex behavioral presentations
- Experience coaching direct-care staff in the implementation of individualized behavioral interventions
- Collaborative Problem Solving trained and certification
RBT Supervision:
- Completion of the BACB-approved 8-hour supervision training prior to providing RBT supervision
- Demonstrated knowledge of BACB requirements governing RBT supervision, competency assessment, ethical conduct, and clinical oversight
- Ability to effectively supervise, evaluate, coach, and provide constructive performance feedback to RBTs in a residential treatment environment
- Ability to balance direct clinical services to youth with the supervision and oversight responsibilities necessary to ensure appropriate RBT service delivery
Physical Demands:
This position requires a candidate to:
- Frequently remain in stationary position for periods of time
- Regularly move throughout office to access file cabinets and office machinery
- Constantly operate a computer and other office machinery such as calculator, copy machines, and printer
- Frequently move, ascend/descend, and traverse
- Communicate, detect, converse with, discern, and exchange information with clients and families regarding their therapy and care
- Frequently need to be able to recognize, judge, and observe youth behavior and safety of surroundings
- Have good distance vision and the ability to read normal size print with or without corrective lenses
- Have normal hearing ability with or without aid
- Manage physically threatening youth and be prepared to be responsible for own safety and the safety of others
- Provide supervision and treatment of youth which requires prolonged periods of walking, standing and physical agility as well as running and climbing flights of stairs
- Occasionally participate in physical intervention and restraint of youth, being able to hold 40+ pounds for a minimum of 15 minutes
Youth Villages Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision
- 401(k)
- Time off:
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- 2 week paid vacation (full-time) / 1 week paid vacation (part-time)
- 12 paid sick days per year
- 11 paid holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- Mileage & Cell Phone Reimbursement (when applicable)
- Tuition reimbursement and licensure supervision
- Growth & development through continuous training
- Clinical and administrative advancement opportunities
*Benefits are excluded for variable status employees.
Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.