City of Baltimore, Mayor's Office of Employment Development

Leader Breeders is seeking a Youth Crisis & Behavioral Support Specialist to serve as the primary responder for behavioral incidents and high-need student situations within our after-school programs.

This role is responsible for real-time deescalation, behavior intervention, and family communication, ensuring that situations are handled calmly, consistently, and effectively. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments, builds trust with youth, and can navigate challenging conversations with both students and families.

This position will also support the development of a peer mediation model to build long-term conflict resolution skills among youth participants.

Key Responsibilities:

Crisis Intervention & Behavior Support (Primary Focus)
- Respond to behavioral incidents including conflicts, fights, theft, and emotional escalations
- De-escalate situations in real time using appropriate intervention strategies
- Provide short, structured interventions with youth following incidents
- Assess risk and determine next steps to prevent further escalation
- Ensure the safety and supervision of all participants during incidents

Documentation & Reporting
- Complete timely, objective incident reports for all major situations
- Maintain accurate records of behavioral patterns and repeat incidents
- Communicate relevant information to leadership in a timely manner

Family & School Communication
- Serve as a point of contact for parent communication related to behavioral concerns
- Conduct follow-up calls or meetings with families as needed
- Coordinate with school-day staff (administrators, counselors) to align on student support and expectations

Staff Support & Training
- Provide guidance to interns and program staff on appropriate responses to behavioral situations
- Support consistency in behavior management across sites
- Model effective communication and deescalation strategies

Peer Mediation (Secondary Responsibility)
- Identify and support a small group of student leaders for peer mediation
- Facilitate weekly sessions focused on conflict resolution, communication, and accountability
- Support low-level peer mediation opportunities as appropriate