If you are a current YAI employee, please click this link to apply through your Workday account. Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities: Supports individuals across assigned region(s) temporarily accessing crisis or planned services, implementing person-centered therapeutic interventions within their homes and across a variety of community settings including schools, hospitals or group homes and working with primary caregivers and circles of support to successfully implement these interventions and strategies to mitigate crisis or de-escalate behaviors while maintaining professional boundaries and following all applicable guidelines. Conducts regular coaching visits and observational assessments, providing feedback to START team about biopsychosocial factors influencing current functioning, effects of interventions and coaching outcomes. Participates in the identification and development of creative, appropriate therapeutic interventions and strategies based on individual needs for persons supported across assigned region(s) with a focus on positive psychology and stabilization and consideration of persons’ strengths, skills and interests. Plans, structures and prompts social and leisure time activities for persons supported during coaching sessions, including activities that build skills for positive supports, stress reduction, health and wellness, communication, adaptive and/or daily living. Assists individuals with successfully implementing strategies and completing daily activities, personal care, behavioral health needs and health, wellness and/or leisure activities within their homes or in the community. Provides consultation and hands-on education relating to therapeutic interventions, crisis stabilization and prevention for persons supported and their circles of support to create a safe, nurturing and meaningful home environment, using effective teaching methods. Secures and maintains appropriate recreational supplies for therapeutic interventions, scheduling use when necessary and transporting supplies to and from coaching sessions. Participates in development and implementation of Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention and Intervention Plans for persons supported, communicating responses to therapeutic coaching and interventions to support evaluation of progress and updates to plans or interventions. Participates in recurring consultation, staff and other meetings with START leadership, clinical team and START Therapeutic Coaching program. Maintains appropriate communication with persons supported, their caregivers, circles of support and other external parties (e.g. community, providers, etc.) to provide information, receive updates and enhance services and linkages. Completes and maintains all applicable documentation, paperwork and/or records, including resolution of concerns and reporting of incidents relating to assigned caseload. Accurately enters all required data into START Information Reporting System and other appropriate systems, as required by state, on a timely and contemporaneous basis. Responds appropriately to individual safety needs, including reporting significant changes in behavior and health in accordance with all requirements and escalates to clinical team and/or START leadership, when needed. Conducts regular outreach with community partners to maintain linkages and relationships. Completes and maintains all necessary trainings based on assigned program/region to ensure compliance with YAI policies, NCSS and applicable state regulatory agency (e.g. OPWDD, DDS, DDD) requirements. Complies with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Performs all other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualification Requirements including education, experience, licensure/certification, etc. and essential physical capabilities (e.g., lifting, assisting lifting, standing, etc.) Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work or other human services field; and At least two (2) years of experience working with the I/DD population and/or behavioral health needs; or Satisfactory combination of education, experience and/or training as authorized by START/NCSS and/or appropriate State regulatory agency (e.g. OPWDD, etc.). Highly flexible and creative, with the ability to incorporate personal interests, skills and strengths in the creation and implementation of impactful and engaging therapeutic activities or strategies for each individual. Ability to work collaboratively within START team and with people at all levels outside of the organization, including caregivers and circles of support. Independent and organized with a willingness to take initiative. Strong time management skills, including the ability to appropriately prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment to meet prescribed timelines and caseload needs. Ability to travel regularly across assigned region(s) to conduct in-person coaching sessions and visits as required by caseload and/or to facilitate discharges, which may include weekends and/or evenings for assignments in New York. Valid Driver's License required for California and New Jersey assignments; strongly preferred for assignments in New York, especially in areas with limited public transportation. Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including having the physical capacity to implement supports which includes using hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; ability to lift, carry and transport items needed for therapeutic interventions performed in a variety of environmental settings, weighing up to 25 pounds to/from sessions, as needed and ability to implement crisis intervention plan if/as needed, which may include running. Pay Rate: $31.25/hour Preferred Qualification Requirements (desired requirements beyond MQRs above) Familiarity with START program and services Experience working with families and/or social service providers Verbal and/or written fluency in Spanish highly preferred; fluency in other language(s) may be preferred based on assigned region(s) and caseload All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran. YAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To ensure fairness, safeguard transparency, and promote an equitable workforce environment, YAI Network prohibits the practice of nepotism in the workforce and hiring process. Our Roots YAI was launched in February of 1957 out of a small school in Brooklyn, New York. Initially staffed by Co-Founders Bert MacLeech and Pearl Maze MacLeech alone, their pilot program served just seven people. According to Bert, from its very beginning YAI has been dedicated to providing innovative services for the I/DD (intellectual and/or developmental disabilities) community. MacLeech envisioned a, “total life adjustment approach, emphasizing personal growth, social responsibility, employment goals, and the development of independence for the individual.” At a time when institutional living was the norm for people with I/DD, this vision was nothing short of revolutionary. YAI Today Today, YAI has a team of over 4,000 employees and supports over 20,000 people in the I/DD community. This extraordinary growth shows the ongoing need for these important services, and YAI’s success in offering them. YAI supports people with autism, Down syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy, among others. Operating throughout Downstate New York and Northern New Jersey, YAI now offers more than 300 programs for people of all ages. Better Together At YAI, we are driven by our mission of living, loving, working, and learning. This applies not only to the people we support, but to our staff as well. Commitment and passion for the work continue to unite employees and drive the organization forward. Empowering the people we support to reach their goals remains at the heart of our organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran. YAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To ensure fairness, safeguard transparency, and promote an equitable workforce environment, YAI Network prohibits the practice of nepotism in the workforce and hiring process. http://www.yai.org/

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3 Nov, 2026

yai.org

Direct Support Professional - DSP 1

Ozone Park - 9417 84th Street - 1, United States of America

Salary not listed

more at yai.org.

Direct Support Professional - DSP 1

Direct Support Professional - DSP 1

Direct Support Professional - DSP 1

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