Community Activities Officer

Cameron County•San Benito, TX

About The Position

The Community Activities Officer provides direct supervision of youth participating in community programs, maintains their safety and accountability, and supports their educational, behavioral, and personal development. The role includes facilitating cognitive skills and teamwork activities, providing mentoring and tutoring, using verbal de-escalation and approved physical restraint when necessary, and helping deliver fitness and wellness activities. The officer may transport participants, visit families, and recruit participants, and works with school administrators and other staff to support participants’ school attendance and behavior. The position also maintains participant information and statistics for grant reporting and implements the Overcoming Obstacles evidence-based curriculum. The officer must comply with applicable PREA, TJJD, CCJJD, Cameron County, and other legal and departmental standards, including zero-tolerance requirements concerning sexual abuse and harassment and cooperation with abuse, neglect, and exploitation investigations. The position requires professional conduct, confidentiality, attendance at required meetings and training, and performance of other assigned duties. Employment is contingent on federal, state, local, and/or grant funding availability. This is an at-will, non-Civil-Service position. The work environment is tobacco-free. Electronic devices and cell phones are prohibited in the facility while on or off shift, subject to limited authorized work-related exceptions for social media use. Moderate travel with little or no notice may be required, including emergency transportation, additional hours beyond a scheduled shift, or overnight stays. The job may involve exposure to communicable diseases, hazardous waste, human fecal matter, foul odors, and high noise levels. Uniform requirements include county T-shirts and tennis shoes during programming; sandals are not allowed. Visible tattoos must be covered, and personal appearance and jewelry are subject to stated standards. Physical demands include lifting or carrying 50–100 pounds; standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, and squatting. The position requires visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand-eye coordination, and manual dexterity for computer and office-equipment use. The officer may work in a stressful environment with residents for extended periods and must be able to run to an emergency-response location when needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Must be over 21 years of age.
Current Texas driver’s license and current automobile insurance.
Ability to communicate effectively in English, including reading, writing, and understanding.
Basic computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to work a flexible, rotating schedule to meet program needs.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team; reason, make judgments, and make decisions.
Ability to maintain resident and program confidentiality.
Ability to deal effectively with mentally disturbed, hostile, and aggressive individuals.
Ability to manage time, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and impartial written documentation.
Ability to perform effectively and courteously in stressful environments while maintaining professionalism.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, outside agencies, county employees and officials, juvenile justice representatives, and the public.
Must submit to and pass a pre-employment drug urinalysis and criminal background check. Any criminal record must be cleared under Texas Juvenile Justice Department requirements.
Must obtain CPR and First Aid certification and Handle With Care (HWC) state-approved restraint technique certification after hire.
Must comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and department policies and standards.
Physical ability to lift or carry 50–100 pounds and meet the described physical demands, including running to an emergency-response location when needed.

Nice To Haves

Some college education in Criminal Justice, Corrections, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field.
Bilingual communication ability.
Knowledge of court-system policies, practices, procedures, and legal terminology.
Knowledge of applicable Juvenile Justice System standards and procedures and standard practices in the area of assignment.
General knowledge of trauma-informed care, appropriate relationship-building, and social adjustment.
Knowledge of safety and security techniques and standards and physical restraint techniques for preventing self-injury, assaultive behavior, and escape.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise participants’ daily activities and maintain the safety and order of youth.
Maintain accountability for youth and equipment and ensure the environment is safe, clean, and secure.
Facilitate cognitive skills groups and teamwork activities.
Provide individual support and crisis-coping techniques.
Transport program participants to and from activities when needed.
Conduct home visits with families and recruit program participants.
Communicate with staff to ensure the safety and supervision of youth.
Use verbal de-escalation techniques to manage situations and apply Handle With Care physical restraints when necessary to address self-harm or harm to others.
Supervise program participants during activities.
Maintain participant information and statistics for grant reports.
Implement the evidence-based Overcoming Obstacles curriculum.
Work with local school administrators to support participants’ school attendance and behavior.
Provide mentoring and tutoring to program participants.
Assist with fitness and wellness activities and presentations.
Follow PREA, TJJD, ANE, CCJJD, Cameron County, safety, professional-conduct, and ethical standards and policies.
Attend required staff meetings and training.
Perform other duties assigned by the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer or designee, including reassignment in the department’s best interest.