The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (“The HARRIS CENTER”) is looking for a Applied Behavioral Specialist (ABA) to join our team. Coordinates and provides services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Duties include but are not limited to maintaining consumer charts, scheduling and making recommendations to refer consumers to other programs to meet individual needs. This position also monitors and assesses consumer behavior, prepares treatment plans and teaches consumers social, communication, and coping skills. Duties also include demonstrating and teaching applied behavior analysis techniques to consumers and family members. Travel to consumers’ homes is required as necessary. This position may require flexible hours.

Your role in action:

• Facilitates and provides training in ABA techniques, including shaping, prompting, fading, chaining, errorless learning.
• Conducts parent training in ABA techniques.
• Ability to complete preliminary functional analysis, collect and graph data.
• Monitors, documents, and maintains records of consumer activities and progress.
• Communicates information about consumer progress to treatment team and participates in interdisciplinary team planning to assist with treatment plan formulation and implementation.
• Complies with all safety and health requirements and regulations in accordance with all applicable standards (i.e., HHSC, State licensing boards, programs, etc.).
• Performs duties in a manner consistent with the Agency’s commitment and ensures that consumer’s and employees’ multicultural differences are respected.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What qualifications you will need:

Education:

• High school diploma or GED non-degreed paraprofessional with training in Behavioral, Social Sciences or Human Services.
• Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral, Social Sciences or Human services preferred.

Experience:

• One (1) to two (2) years related experience in mental health or intellectual/developmental disability setting.
• Two (2) years of behavioral intervention experience in an intellectual/developmental disability setting and five (5) years of mental health experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• The person must have well-developed interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills, and be a team player with a desire to provide a high level of customer service. Possess strong verbal and written communication skills and interact effectively at all levels within the organization.
• General working knowledge of basic behavior principles.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Should have excellent written, verbal and communication.
• Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of all work-related matters and ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with all levels of the agency.

What we have to offer:

The HARRIS CENTER offers competitive salary, excellent benefits package, retirement plans with company matching, prior service credit towards generous PTO accrual, outstanding wellness programs and professional development.

Employees can also take advantage of business casual dress code, corporate discounts, and gym memberships. Discounts are also available on an optional basis. These include mobile phone service, fitness centers and other wellness amenities.

What else you should know:

• This posting is associated with position #3008,#3009, #3010, #3011, #3012, #3013, #3014, #3016,#3017, #3022
• This position is located at 440 Harrisburg Rd, Houston, TX 77074.
• This position is funded through a specific grant and is subject to the availability of these funds. The employment term is tied to the duration of the grant, with potential for extension depending on future funding.

About us:

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The HARRIS CENTER provided care to over 79,000 people in fiscal year 2019 and has an annual budget of over $275 million.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 42 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,300 employees, The HARRIS CENTER is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.