Behavior Support Volunteer (Mentorship, Advocacy, & Behavioral Health)

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Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/221036680970152

Are you interested in making a positive impact on a child's life? Are you a caring adult in Douglas County, KS, with a passion for advocacy and mentorship? Are you a college student in need of a practicum or internship? We're seeking individuals like YOU to join our mission of supporting K-12 students in attending school and engaging in learning. Together, we can unlock every student's full potential while contributing to a more just and equitable community.

The Center for Supportive Communities (CSC) is looking for undergraduate and graduate students, professionals, and community members to support K-12 students through advocacy, mentorship, and evidence-based behavioral interventions designed to increase school attendance and divert families from legal intervention. Our supportive and scientific approach cultivates healthy youth development and sustainable behavior change so all young people have equal opportunities to live fulfilling lives.

Note. This position could fulfill a course or degree requirement. Ask us about choosing CSC as your site placement!

Position Title
Behavior Support Intern

Position Dates
Spring 2025 opportunities are available
August 2025-May 2026 (full academic year with scheduled breaks)

Time Requirements
You may dedicate 5, 10, 15, or 20 hours each week. Your schedule will be flexible. Please read our FAQs below for more information.

Position Location
SupportEd serves K-12 truant students in Douglas County, Kansas, including the Lawrence, Eudora, Baldwin City, and Perry-Lecompton school districts. Weekly meetings with students occur in the community.

Position Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of 1-4 students (your caseload depends on your weekly time commitment)
• Facilitate an individual meeting in the community each week with each student on your caseload (each meeting must last at least 1.5 hours)
• Be a caring, supportive, stable, and positive role model
• Assist in homework completion, problem-solving, social-emotional development, goal setting, and career exploration
• Assist in administering functional behavior assessments
• Implement a reinforcement-based intervention and teach functional skills
• Monitor weekly attendance, grades, and behavior
• Maintain weekly communication with parents and schools
• Complete weekly documentation and progress reports
• Attend weekly and as-needed meetings with program supervisors
• Present at court hearings (if necessary)

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Strong interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, time management, and organizational skills
• Persistent in reaching out, patient in building trust, and consistent in communicating

Preferred Qualifications

• Background knowledge in a human-service field (e.g., applied behavior analysis, psychology, social work, social welfare, special education, or counseling) or juvenile law
• Proven experience in working with children, families, and schools
• Proven experience in tutoring or mentoring
• Cultural competence

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible schedule
• KU Service Learning Certificate
• Course credit upon agreement with university instructor
• Quality training, supervision, and hands-on experience in multiple service settings
• RBT, BCaBA, and BCBA supervision available upon request
• Career exploration, professional development, and networking opportunities
• Website and social media recognition
• Opportunity to work with a dedicated (and fun!) team of professionals
• Reference or letter of recommendation
• ...and more!

Application Process

1. Complete our online application here: https://form.jotform.com/221036680970152
2. Complete an interview with CSC
3. If both parties decide to move forward, you must complete additional paperwork, a health assessment and TB test, a comprehensive background check, and training.

Questions? Read our responses to frequently asked questions.

What is CSC?
CSC is a nonprofit organization in Lawrence, Kansas, founded by Kelsey Dachman, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, and Madison Graham, M.A. Dr. Dachman received her Ph.D. in behavioral psychology from the University of Kansas and is a licensed and board-certified behavior analyst. Madison is pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Kansas. Rock Chalk! Our mission is to use behavioral science to create equal opportunities and meaningful change for children, families, and communities.

What is SupportED?
CSC's SupportEd program functions as a diversion program for K-12 truant students in Douglas County, Kansas, and a training program for individuals studying behavioral science or a related field. SupportEd serves all schools in Douglas County, Kansas, including the Lawrence, Eudora, Baldwin City, and Perry-Lecompton school districts.

What does SupportED do?
SupportEd's innovative approach combines behavioral science with functional mentoring and community collaboration to increase school attendance and divert truant students and their families from the juvenile justice system. We work as a village to identify needs, coordinate services, and implement evidence-based individualized interventions to get kids in school and engaged in learning. We pair each student with a caring adult mentor who teaches adaptive skills, counteracts missed educational instruction, instills confidence, provides support and guidance, and expands opportunities. We also help students and families access community resources and services. SupportED blends the talents and knowledge of diverse partners and collaborators to deliver a community-based, rehabilitative approach to solving our nation's educational crisis.

Why is SupportEd needed?
The pandemic had devastating impacts on learning and behavior. Students are struggling to re-engage in school, and schools are struggling to effectively manage the increase in behavioral challenges leading to more suspensions and expulsions. Children who do not attend school regularly, for any reason, are at risk for social isolation, drug and alcohol abuse, juvenile crime, school dropout, and adult unemployment and incarceration. SupportED is designed to get students back on track and provide schools with the tools they need to effectively manage classroom behavior. Ensuring all children receive a quality education by removing barriers and implementing reinforcement-based strategies is a critical first step toward breaking intergenerational cycles of school dropout, undereducation, violence, and incarceration.

What will my schedule look like?
Each week, you are required to attend a 1.5-hr meeting in the community with each student on your caseload and a 30-min meeting with our Truancy Officer and Case Manager at Douglas County Criminal Justice Services. Meetings with students must occur after school hours (typically, students get out of school around 3:00 p.m.) at a time convenient for you and the family. Often, mentors will pick the student up from school and will drive them home after their 1.5-hr meeting. Meetings can occur on the weekends. Meetings with our Truancy Officer and Case Manager will occur during normal business hours at a time convenient for you and our Truancy Officer and Case Manager. All other weekly requirements (e.g., counting attendance, emailing schools, speaking with parents, writing progress notes) can occur on your own time and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. every Sunday.

If your student requires a truancy review hearing (which not every student does), the hearing will be approximately 20 minutes and will be scheduled on a Tuesday any time between 3:30 and 5:00. Hearings occur through Zoom. Additionally, you will be required to attend a brief feedback meeting twice each semester with your Volunteer Coordinator.

Where will I meet with students?
You can meet with a student at any public location including, but not limited to, the Lawrence Public Library, a park, a coffee shop, or KU’s campus. You are prohibited from meeting in your home or in the student’s home.

How many students will I have on my caseload?
The number of students on your caseload reflects your weekly time commitment.

• 5 hr/week = 1 student on caseload
• 10 hr/week = 2 students on caseload
• 15 hr/week = 3 students on caseload
• 20 hr/week = 4 students on caseload

What training will I receive?
You must complete asynchronous online training modules and attend an in-person orientation at the beginning of your service term and before you start meeting with students. Training topics include, but are not limited to, the SupportED program, compulsory education and truancy, basic counseling skills (e.g., active listening, empathy, communication, relationship development), behavioral interventions, ethics, confidentiality, professional boundaries, safety, responding to crisis situations, and mandated reporting. We will also provide booster training throughout your service period.

Need more information?
Contact us at info@supportivecommunities.org.