Behavioral Health Technician

Behavioral Health Technician

The primary functions of a Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) are intended to facilitate the development of social competencies and the overall emotional development of children, youth, and young adults ages 3-21. The goal is to help the child achieve maximum overall functioning, while preventing the need for out of the home or alternative school placement. BHT services are provided to children diagnosed with a psychiatric condition and who present with significant social, emotional, developmental or behavioral problems.

BHT services will be provided in an individualized manner, focusing on the child's strengths. A primary goal of the service is to build competencies that will allow the child to become more successful in their social, family and community settings. It will also be a goal to develop meaningful connections within the community in an effort to build resiliency and relationships that may have long term benefit to the child.

The interventions provided by the BHT may be in the form of therapeutic, supportive and competency/skill building and vary in method/modalities. These services will take place within various settings, including in the home, community or school settings. These services will take an eco-systemic approach to establish collaborative relationships with the family and within the community and utilize all possible resources for the benefit of the child and family.

The BHT will also work with all individuals to transfer skills and strategies learned back to the parents or other guardians.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate the ability to engage families in the treatment process through the use of reflective listening, collaboration, empathy and consideration of cultural, ethnic, and religious beliefs. Initial focus should be on building a therapeutic relationship in hope of engaging client and effect beneficial change
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the child's individual treatment plan and crisis plan by communicating to the Behavior Consultant/Mobile Therapist any strengths, coping skills and protective factors that will enhance the effectiveness of treatment
• Use strength-based approaches and a positive attitude in dealing with the child and family
• Provide effective one-on-one interventions with the child/family in all identified settings noted in the treatment plan. If interventions are not effective, BHT will communicate this to the Behavior Consultant/Mobile Therapist and seek consultation
• Show initiative by using their own ideas and working in conjunction with the Behavior Consultant/Mobile Therapist in developing therapeutic activities to be used with child and family in treatment
• Demonstrate the ability to teach child and family specific skills and competency development. This will be evidenced by willingness and comfortability in engaging the child and family in specific activities, therapeutic interventions and community-based activities
• Engage child/family in community activities and programs if indicated in the treatment plan. This includes exploring appropriate community activities available and communicating with the Behavior Consultant/Mobile Therapist and family
• Engage the child in specific interventions from the treatment plan during each session
• Request assistance in the implementation of therapeutic interventions, if unclear
• Engage parents or other extended family members in interventions with the child to transfer skills and foster positive child/parent relations
• Work in a team relationship with the Behavior Consultant/Mobile Therapist or other treatment providers in an effort to provide a highly collaborative treatment system. This will be evidenced by communicating on a regular basis with Behavior Consultant/Mobile Therapist the successes and failures of interventions, participating in supervision and being available for regular consultation
• Respect the rules and policies of the institutions where the treatment will be delivered (this includes schools, daycares, community programs and the family home)
• Build a positive and collaborative relationship with the teachers and appropriate staff in the schools and programs where they are providing service
• Engage teachers or other appropriate staff in interventions in order to transfer skills
• Utilize the input of teachers, principals, and other appropriate staff in the schools and programs where they are providing services and communicate this to the Behavior Consultant/Mobile Therapist
• Collect data as requested in the treatment plan. BHT will communicate with the Behavior Consultant/Mobile Therapist to ensure they are collecting the most appropriate data in a meaningful way
• Attend and participate in all required supervision sessions
• Attend and participate in all required training sessions in order to meet state guidelines
• Complete a daily progress report for each encounter with the child and turn in all completed paperwork within the time frames required by ACRP
• Maintain high quality records…