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Behavioral Health Jobs: Why Consider a School-Based Role
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, awareness surrounding mental and behavioral health challenges, and how to offer support to those impacted, has grown. As a result of this awareness, there has also been a growth in demand for professionals for behavioral health jobs, especially those who work as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), school psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, special education teachers, and behavior technicians. In this blog we will discuss why these professionals should consider working in the school setting.
Why Choose a School-Based Behavioral Intervention Role?
The school setting offers a unique and rewarding opportunity for behavioral health professionals to make a significant impact on the lives of children and adolescents. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider behavioral health jobs in a school:
- Make a difference: Schools are where young people spend a significant portion of their time, making them an ideal setting to identify and address mental health concerns early. By working in a school, you can help children and adolescents develop coping mechanisms, build resilience, and improve their overall well-being.
- Work in a collaborative environment: School-based behavioral health professionals work closely with teachers, administrators, parents, and other community members to provide comprehensive support for students. This collaborative approach allows you to share your expertise and make a more significant impact than you could working alone.
- Provide preventive mental health support: School-based mental health programs can help prevent mental health challenges from developing in the first place. By providing early intervention and support, you can help children and adolescents avoid the negative consequences of untreated mental health challenges.
- Experience a variety of job duties: School-based behavioral health professionals wear many hats. You may be involved in individual counseling, group therapy, crisis intervention, psychoeducational workshops, and more. This variety can keep your work interesting and challenging.
- Enjoy a flexible work schedule: School-based behavioral health professionals typically work during school hours, allowing you to have evenings, weekends, and summers free for personal time. This can be a good option for professionals who value work-life balance.
School-Based Behavioral Health Jobs to Consider
- BCBAs: BCBAs help students struggling with disruptive behaviors, social skills deficits, or learning difficulties. They analyze challenging behaviors to understand their causes and develop strategies to modify them. They create behavior intervention plans (BIPs) with positive reinforcement strategies and data collection procedures, and oversee their implementation with the help of behavior technicians. Board certified behavior analyst jobs in schools are in high demand.
- Behavior technicians: Behavior technicians support BCBAs in implementing effective behavior interventions for students with challenging behaviors. They work directly with students to implement specific interventions outlined in BIPs, using positive reinforcement and data collection strategies. They report observations and progress to BCBAs, and assist them with assessments and implementation.
- School psychologists: Psychologists in the school setting help students facing a variety of challenges, including learning disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and bullying. They provide individual and group counseling, develop programs for social-emotional learning and conflict resolution, and collaborate with teachers and parents to support students’ academic and social-emotional needs. School psychologist jobs are an excellent way to make a difference in students’ lives.
- Social workers: Social workers help students facing social-emotional challenges, such as family conflict, poverty, homelessness, or trauma. They assess students’ needs and connect them with appropriate resources in the community, offering individual and group counseling. They advocate for students’ rights and well-being, provide crisis intervention, and connect families with essential social services.
- Mental health counselors: Mental health counselors assist students facing various mental health concerns who need confidential support and guidance. They provide therapy for students experiencing mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or substance abuse. They educate students and parents about mental health, teach coping mechanisms, and collaborate with other professionals to develop comprehensive treatment plans.
- Special education teachers: Special education teachers provide support for students who have disabilities that require specific accommodations. They develop and modify curriculum to meet the individual needs of these students, ensuring that they reach their full academic potential. They also provide specialized instruction and support, collaborate with teams to develop and implement individualized education programs (IEPs), and monitor progress.
Partner with Amergis to Find Your Next School-Based Opportunity
Amergis Staffing brings over 30 years of staffing experience to the Education Space. We have more a large network of offices in 32 states across the country, meaning we can find you the perfect job fit no matter where you are located. We also give all our professionals access to a dedicated recruiter who takes the time to get to know your needs, and has the resources available to find you behavioral health jobs that meets all those needs, whether you are new to the school setting or looking for a change.
In addition, Amergis Educational Staffing offers a wide range of benefits for prospective employees, including:
- Competitive pay with weekly paychecks
- Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
- 401(k) Savings Plans
- Awards and recognition opportunities
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