Community Activities Officer

Cameron County; San Benito (TX); On-site; USD 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Life Insurance

Paid Holidays

Sick Leave

Annual Leave

Retirement System

Job summary

Cameron County is seeking a Community Activity Officer to supervise program participants, ensuring safety and order while maintaining detailed participant records for grant reporting. The role requires handling crisis situations, mentoring youths, and coordinating with local schools and families.

The ideal candidate will have a HS diploma, basic computer skills, and the ability to work a flexible schedule. Certification in CPR/First Aid and HWC may be required after hire, with a commitment to

Qualifications

• Must have a High School Diploma or GED.
• Some college in Criminal Justice, Corrections, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or related field preferred.
• Basic computer skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint; must work a flexible schedule.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision of all program participants daily activities and maintain safety and order.
• Maintain accountability of youths and equipment and ensure a safe, clean, secure environment.
• Facilitate cognitive skill groups and teamwork activities.
• Provide individual and crisis coping techniques.
• Provide transportation to program participants as needed.
• Do home visits to meet with families and recruit participants.
• Maintain communication with staff to ensure safety and supervision.
• Use verbal de-escalation techniques to maintain control of situations.
• Apply physical restraints as instructed when necessary under procedures.
• Supervise programming activities and maintain participant information for grant reports.
• Follow PREA, TJJD, CCJJD, and Cameron County policies and procedures.

Skills

English Proficiency

Basic Computer Skills

Flexible Schedule

Crisis Handling

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Some college in Criminal Justice or related field

Tools

CPR Certification

First Aid (FA)

Handle With Care (HWC) Certification

Job description

COMMUNITY ACTIVITY OFFICER

Salary: $32,475.00

REPORTS TO:

Assigned Supervisor and/or designee

SUPERVISES:

N/A

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education and Experience:

Must have a High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Some college education in Criminal Justice, Corrections, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or a related field is preferred, but not required; Basic Computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Must work a flexible work schedule.

Licenses, Certificates, and Experience

• Must be over 21 years of age;
• Current Texas Driver's License and must have current automobile insurance;
• Ability to communicate effectively (reading, writing, and understanding) in English; bilingual is preferred;
• 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;

After Hire Licenses or Certificates

• Cardio- Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification and First Aid (FA);
• Handle with Care (HWC) State Approved Restraint Technique Certification

TYPICAL DUTIES

• 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
• Prevention/Intervention staff will be responsible in supervising program participants during Program activities.
• Prevention/Intervention staff will be responsible in maintaining 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.
• Employment is contingent upon federal, state, local and/or grants availability.
• CCJJD is an At-Will employer; the department has the right to terminate your employment for any legal reason, or no reason, at any time either with or without notice.
• 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.

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to court system.
• Applicable Juvenile Justice System standards and procedures.
• Standard practices in area of assignment.
• General knowledge of providing trauma-informed care, establishing appropriate relationships, and social adjustment.
• Safety and security techniques and standards.
• Physical restraint techniques to prevent self-injurious and assaultive behavior and escape.

Skills In:

• Monitoring and responding to resident behavior.
• Problem solving and decision making.
• Both verbal and written communication.
• Basic Computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages

Ability To:

• Required to work a rotating schedule in order to meet the needs of the program
• Work efficiently both independently and as part of a team.
• Reason and make judgments and decisions.
• Maintain resident and program confidentiality.
• Deal effectively with mentally disturbed, hostile and aggressive individuals.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
• Submit written documentation clearly, accurately, and impartially.
• Perform effectively and courteously in a stressful environment while maintaining a professional manner.
• 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.

WORK ENVIORNMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work Environment:

• Tobacco free environment.
• Absolutely no electronic devices or cell phones allowed in the facility while either on/off shift.
• Moderate travel with little or no notice (emergency transport) requiring additional hours after scheduled shift and/or overnight stays may be required for transports or training.
• Subject to contact with communicable diseases, hazardous waste, human fecal manner and foul odors.
• Must be able to work in high noise level environment.
• At no time, will the review or use of social media be allowed while on duty, and/or on County provided electronic equipment, except in limited situations where such activity is work related and is authorized by the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer or designee.

Physical Demands:

• Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 50-100 pounds, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and basic office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, repetitive motion, and squatting to perform essential functions.
• Subject to stressful environment and resident contact for extended periods of time.
• When back-up emergency response is needed, must be able to run to the requested location.

Work Uniforms:

• Will use county t-shirts and tennis shoes during programming hours at all times. No sandals.
• If visible tattoos, sleeves or cover ups must be worn.
• Sets the example regarding personal appearance with regards to hair being neatly trimmed and combed and tied back daily (women).
• Only jewelry allowed is a watch, wedding band and stud earrings for females. Necklaces may be worn inside your county issued shirt.

This is not a Civil Service covered position.

BENEFITS:

Cameron County Offers Excellent Fringe Benefits, Including: Health and Life Insurance Protection, Sick and Annual Leave, Retirement System, and Paid Holidays. Cameron County has a mandatory direct deposit payroll program.

AA/EEO/MFD EMPLOYER