Community Activity Officer (Driver/Teacher Assistant JJAEP)

Cameron County•San Benito, TX

6h•$32,475•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Activities Officer (Driver/Teacher Assistant J.J.A.E.P.) is responsible for supervising program participants/juveniles to ensure compliance with all court-ordered programs and services. This role involves assisting in the transportation and supervision of youths to and from J.J.A.E.P. and school-related activities. The officer will also assist teachers in creating a positive classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social, and emotional development of students, while maintaining professional behavior. Key duties include communicating and interacting appropriately with students and staff, instructing students, managing their behavior, assisting with classroom assignments, following up on truancy, serving meals, supervising during state testing, and redirecting youths with behavioral problems. The officer must take necessary precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities, and work cooperatively with JJAEP teachers to provide behavioral support according to IEP guidelines. Responsibilities also include writing behavioral infraction reports, collaborating on behavioral strategies, performing pat-down and campus/van searches, assisting in program activities to promote growth, serving as a role model, utilizing evidence-based curriculum, coordinating operations with supervisors, and maintaining conduct consistent with county and department standards. The role requires compliance with all Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) standards and Code of Ethics. The officer may be required to assist in investigations and testify in court, monitor indirect supervision cases, and be available for emergencies. They are responsible for reporting suspected abuse or unprofessional conduct and attending required meetings and trainings. The position involves escorting and transporting juveniles, submitting reports, conducting urine drug testing, and adhering to professional conduct and ethical behavior standards, including those related to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), TJJD, and Cameron County policies. This includes zero tolerance for sexual abuse and harassment, cooperation with Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (ANE) investigations, adherence to safety programs, verbal de-escalation policies, standards for restraint use, suicide prevention policies, disciplinary procedures, and trauma-informed care. The role must abide by all federal, state, and local laws and serve as a role model. Employment is contingent upon grant availability, and the position is at-will.

Requirements

High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
Basic Computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
Must work a flexible work schedule.
Must be over 21 years of age.
Current Texas Driver's License.
Must have current automobile insurance.
Ability to communicate effectively (reading, writing, and understanding) in English.
Able to submit to a drug urinalysis pre-screening exam.
Able to pass a criminal background check.
If the candidate for employment does have a criminal record, it must be cleared through the requirements as set forth by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Nice To Haves

Some college education in Criminal Justice, Corrections, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or a related field is preferred, but not required.
Bilingual is preferred.
Knowledgeable and be able to perform physical training but not required.

Responsibilities

Supervise program participants/juveniles to ensure compliance with all juvenile court ordered programs and services.
Assist in the transportation and supervision of program youths to and from J.J.A.E.P. and/or school related activities.
Assist teachers in creating a classroom environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social and emotional development of students while maintaining a professional behavior at all times.
Communicate and interact appropriately with all students and staff.
Instruct students and manage their behavior.
Assist teachers in supervising the juveniles during classroom instruction/activities.
Assist students with classroom assignments as needed.
Assist with follow up on students who are truant by conducting phone calls and/or home visits.
Assist with serving breakfast and lunch meals to students.
Assist with supervising youths during state testing.
Redirect youths who are having behavioral problems during programming hours.
Take all necessary precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities.
Work cooperatively with the JJAEP teachers to provide behavioral support for students according to the guidelines established in their IEP's.
Review and write behavioral infraction reports related to student behavior.
Collaborate with instructional staff to provide behavioral strategies.
Perform pat-down searches in accordance to CCJJD policies and procedures.
Perform campus and van searches as directed.
Assist in program activities which will promote a level of social, cognitive, emotional and behavioral growth of youths referred to the program.
Serve as a role model to youth and assist them in developing coping skills in order to refrain from re-offending.
Utilize evidence-based curriculum when assigned to do group activity for community-based programs.
Perform duties and coordinate with supervisor the operations, activities and supervision of probation matters that is consistent with the philosophy and objective of the Juvenile Justice Department.
Maintain conduct consistent with standards expected of Cameron County employees as specified in the Cameron County Operations Employee Handbook and that of the Cameron County Juvenile Probation Department.
Comply with all Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) standards and Code of Ethics requirements.
Assist in any investigations when required and be able to testify in court.
Monitor and oversee Indirect Supervision cases by making monthly phone calls to juvenile(s) home, school, place of employment and adult correctional institutions to inquire about their status quo.
Be available for all emergencies to include, but not limited to; inclement weather, taking children into custody, transporting probation children to placement or emergency release facilities, doctor(s) office(s) as directed by supervisor.
Responsible for reporting any and all suspected cases of abuse or unprofessional conduct on the part of another employee, to include supervisors.
Attend staff meetings and trainings as required.
Assist in escorting juveniles, transportation of juveniles.
Submit reports to probation officers and /or supervisors as needed.
Conduct urine drug testing on juveniles as requested by juvenile probation officer(s).
Adhere, maintain, and comply with professional conduct and ethical behavior consistent with the standards and policies and procedures expected by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), TJJD, Cameron County, and Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department (CCJJD) at all time, both on duty and off duty.
Adhere and comply with all PREA standards and will follow zero tolerance towards all forms of sexual abuse and sexual harassment.
Adhere and comply with all TJJD standards to include Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (ANE) standards and cooperate with all ANE investigations.
Adhere and comply CCJJD's and Cameron County's policies and procedures and know how to keep abreast of any changes to said policies and procedures, including maintaining a effective safety program as established by Cameron County.
Adhere to verbal de-escalation policies, procedures and practices.
Adhere to standards regarding use of personal and mechanical restraints, include prohibited techniques and criteria for use.
Adhere to suicide prevention policies, including the suicide prevention plan in residential facilities.
Adhere to TJJD disciplinary procedures.
Adhere to trauma-informed care.
Abide by all federal, state, and local laws.
Perform any and all other duties as assigned by the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer and/or designee to include reassignment which is in the best interest of the department.