Community Activities Officer

Cameron County•San Benito, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Activities Officer provides direct supervision of all program participant's daily activities, ensuring the safety and order of all youths. This role involves maintaining accountability of youths and equipment, facilitating cognitive skill groups and teamwork activities, and providing individual and crisis coping techniques. The officer will also provide transportation for program participants, conduct home visits to meet with families and recruit participants, and maintain communication with other staff for safety and supervision. Responsibilities include using verbal de-escalation techniques, applying physical restraints when necessary, supervising participants during activities, and maintaining program participant information for grant reports. The officer will implement evidence-based curricula, work with school administrators to monitor participant progress, and provide mentoring, tutoring, and fitness/wellness assistance. Adherence to professional conduct, ethical behavior, and all relevant policies and procedures, including those related to PREA, TJJD, and Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department (CCJJD), is mandatory. This includes a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse and harassment, and cooperation with Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (ANE) investigations. The role requires being a good role model and attending required staff meetings and trainings. Employment is contingent upon grant availability, and CCJJD is an At-Will employer.

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 and 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.
Knowledge of policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to court system.
Knowledge of applicable Juvenile Justice System standards and procedures.
Knowledge of standard practices in area of assignment.
Knowledge of providing trauma-informed care, establishing appropriate relationships, and social adjustment.
Knowledge of safety and security techniques and standards.
Knowledge of physical restraint techniques to prevent self-injurious and assaultive behavior and escape.
Skills in monitoring and responding to resident behavior.
Skills in problem solving and decision making.
Skills in both verbal and written communication.
Basic Computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
Ability to work a rotating schedule in order to meet the needs of the program.
Ability to work efficiently both independently and as part of a team.
Ability to reason and make judgments and decisions.
Ability to maintain resident and program confidentiality.
Ability to deal effectively with mentally disturbed, hostile and aggressive individuals.
Ability to manage time well, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
Ability to submit written documentation clearly, accurately, and impartially.
Ability to perform effectively and courteously in a stressful environment while maintaining a professional manner.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other county employees and officials, representatives of the juvenile justice system and the general public.

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.

Responsibilities

Provide direct supervision of all program participant's daily activities and maintain safety and order of all youths.
Maintain accountability of all youths and equipment and ensures that the environment is safe, clean, and secure.
Facilitate cognitive skill groups and teamwork activities.
Provide individual and crisis coping techniques.
Provide transportation to program participants to and from program activities when needed.
Do home visits to meet with families and recruit program participants.
Maintain communication with other staff to ensure safety and supervision of all program youths.
Use Verbal De-escalation techniques to maintain control of situations.
Properly apply a physical restraint as instructed by Handle With Care, when a program participant is physically harming themselves or others.
Supervise program participants during Program activities.
Maintain program participant information and statistics for grant reports.
Implement the evidence based Overcoming Obstacles curriculum.
Work closely with local school administrators to ensure that program participants are improving in school attendance, and/or behavior.
Provide mentoring and tutoring for all program participants.
Assist in fitness/wellness activities for program participants and presentations.
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 with 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.
Abide by all federal, state, and local laws; the nature of our profession requires being a good role model and setting a good example at all times.
Attend staff meetings and trainings as required.
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.