Community Support Associate – The Beacon Learning Center

Function: 

The Community Support Associate(CSA) provides direct support to students within the Beacon Learning Center, a short-term, intensive behavioral health and educational program serving elementary-aged students with moderate to severe behavioral health needs. The CSA plays a vital role in supporting daily program operations, reinforcing therapeutic interventions, and maintaining a safe, structured, and supportive environment to promote student success and stabilization. 

Organizational duties & responsibilities: 

1. The primary responsibility of all staff is to ensure the safety and well-being of all Ramey-Estep/Re-group (RE) clients. 

2. Supports the mission, vision, and values of RE.  Facilitates and adheres to the agency’s code of ethics, policies, and procedures. 

3. Supports all functions that attain and maintain accreditation and compliance with regulatory agencies. 

4. Supports and facilitates positive interaction with clients and staff by exhibiting both in-office and in-public when carrying out job duties: individual maturity, respect for others, a team-centered approach, maintenance of confidential information, and awareness and sensitivity to cultural and other differences in clients and staff. 

5. Exhibits effective communication skills, including proper use of agency communication systems. 

6. Participate in appropriate professional development programs to attain and maintain competency. 

7. Effectively manages financial and physical resources to achieve the mission of RE. 

8. Reports incidents of abuse or potential abuse involving clients to the appropriate authorities and RE. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

1. Provide continuous supervision and support to students throughout the therapeutic school day. 

2. Assist in maintaining a structured, safe, and therapeutic environment. 

3. Build positive, supportive relationships with students to promote engagement and trust. 

4. Reinforce behavioral expectations, coping skills, and social-emotional learning throughout daily activities. 

5. Implement and support individualized behavioral interventions as directed by clinical and educational staff. 

6. Assist students in developing and practicing emotional regulation, coping strategies, and problem-solving skills. 

7. Provide redirection and support during challenging behaviors using trauma-informed approaches. 

8. Maintain active certification in Safe Crisis Management (SCM) and implement approved de-escalation and intervention techniques. 

9. Respond to behavioral crises in collaboration with clinical and educational staff to ensure the safety of students and staff. 

10. Participate in post-incident debriefings and follow all incident reporting protocols. 

11. Support educational staff during academic instruction by assisting with transitions, engagement, and behavior management. 

12. Assist with daily program activities, including check-in, group transitions, structured breaks, and dismissal routines. 

13. Provide support services in the home or community setting when appropriate and directed by the treatment team. 

14. Assist families in reinforcing behavioral strategies and skills learned in the program. 

15. Complete required documentation accurately and within established timeframes (e.g., service notes, incident reports). 

16. Communicate effectively with the treatment team regarding student progress, concerns, and observations. 

17. Maintain confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA and organizational policies. 

18. Work collaboratively with clinicians, educators, case managers, and other team members. 

19. Participate in team meetings, trainings, and program activities. 

20. Support a positive team culture focused on quality care and student success. 

21. Participates in supervision regularly. 

22. Promotes a positive view of RE to the public and outside agencies.  

23. Perform other duties as assigned. 

Working conditions/environment: 

1. Shift is generally dayshift, Monday – Friday, 9-5. 

2. Holidays, weekends, and extra hours may occasionally be required. 

3. Office setting with extensive computer usage. 

4. Intense, unpredictable population with the possibility of verbal and physical aggression. 

5. Fast-paced environment with the need for quick decisions to deal with any crisis that may arise.  

6. Environment is both indoor and outdoor.  The environment is, at times, loud and stressful. 

minimum job requirements:

Education: 

High School Diploma or GED required.   

Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited school is preferred. 

Experience: 

Experience working with children, preferably in behavioral health, school, or residential settings. 

Experience supporting individuals with behavioral challenges preferred. 

Specific Skills and 

requirements: 

Must be at least 21 years of age. 

Technical requirements include proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and any other applications used by the organization or regulatory agencies. 

Excellent attention to detail and ability to work independently. 

Must be able to demonstrate a high degree of flexibility and be able to coordinate multiple priorities effectively. 

Capability to effectively handle confidential data promptly.  

Must be able to interface well with all departments in a highly professional manner. 

Ability to understand and relate to the needs of clients from diverse backgrounds. 

Ability to read, write and converse in English. 

Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen. 

Successful completion of a background screening. 

Successful completion of a TB skin test or proof of a negative chest x-ray or other documentation. 

Specialized Licenses or training: 

Successful completion of Excellent Foundations. 

Maintain SCM certification. 

Maintain 40 hours of annual training. 

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk, hear, and smell.  The employee frequently is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb stairs.  The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, or run.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds or more.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.   

Supervisory Requirements: 

N/A