TJJD Program Specialist IV-Family Liaision (MCL)

Texas A&M International; Mart (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Juvenile Justice Department in Texas seeks a senior-level consultant to plan, develop, and enhance family reintegration efforts for youth and their families—starting at commitment and guiding transitions. The role emphasizes proactive, strengths-based approaches and collaboration with parole officers and community providers.

The position involves facilitating services to incarcerated youth and families, coordinating with multiple agencies, and applying Motivational Interviewing to engage

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, family relations, criminal justice, or related field.
• Five years of full-time experience in rehabilitation or related youth services.
• Master's degree in related field preferred.
• Degrees must be from an accredited institution.

Responsibilities

• Provide planning and development of family reintegration goals for youth and families.
• Outreach and service provision to youth and families during incarceration.
• Lead or train others and coordinate with parole officers and service providers.
• Teach Motivational Interviewing and engage youth and families in services.
• Plan Family Days and coordinate campus activities and resources.

Skills

Interviewing

Counseling

Case management

Family engagement

Communication

Trauma-informed

Education

Bachelor's degree in psychology/social work

Master's degree preferred

Job description

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We are committed to transforming lives and building safter communities by working collaboratively, communicating openly, and upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Our team models accountability, transparency, and respect, taking proactive steps to ensure the physical and emotional safety of youth, staff, and the community. We strive for excellence through continuous growth, thoughtful decision making, and mission driven collaboration, supporting one another while embracing challenges that lead to meaningful, long-term impact.

Job Description

Performs highly complex (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance work that involves planning, developing, and enhancing the agency¿s family reintegration goals. Facilitates a proactive, strengths-based, and holistic experience created with, and for, youth and their families, which begins at the time of commitment and sets up appropriate transitions supports.

Work involves providing outreach and service provision to youth and families and increase meaningful connection while the youth is incarcerated. Work involves visitation support, orientation to TJJD services, providing support for families of youth who have needs beyond what can be addressed through the agency¿s standard case management and treatment practices. Such needs include but are not limited to family reunification services to address familial discord, parenting skills classes, education for the family regarding the youth¿s intellectual and physical disability, mental health issues, and supports for situational crises like funerals, memorial services, and other needs that may arise while the youth is incarcerated. Teaches assigned youth and families to navigate systems (medical, behavioral health, educational, workforce, human service agencies, community resources, housing, transportation, recreational/leisure) and to appropriately advocate for themselves within these systems. Works in partnership with the youth¿s identified family members, treatment team members and assigned parole officer to provide support and enrichment approaches to bridge gaps and address areas of need identified such as: family advocacy, empowerment, academic achievement, vocational and employability skill development, and a connection to community resources and supportive relationships. Collaborates with parole office staff, case managers, community resource personnel, local and state mental health authorities, local and state rehabilitative service agencies, local and state child placement agencies, and private residential providers.May train, lead, and/or prioritize the work of others.

Provides DBT skills groups and resources, parenting education and support through the Family Reunification Series, specialized services and comprehensive case management to incarcerated and their families.

Plans and coordinates campus Family Days. Collaborates with facility leadership to ensure appropriate training and support for staff occurs. Teaches assigned youth and families to navigate systems (medical, behavioral health, educational, workforce, human service agencies, community resources, housing, transportation, recreational/leisure) and to appropriately advocate for themselves within these systems; and assists coordinating community resources and application processes.

Raises agency personnel awareness on family dynamics, and the impact that separation and incarceration have on the family unit; addresses these issues at the family level as needed; and advocates for ¿family voice¿ within the agency.

Utilizes ¿Motivational Interviewing¿ as a strategy for engagement and intervention, and assists family members in participating in Youth Service Team meetings.

Collaborates with division management in the development of program-specific goals, objectives, procedures, policies, standards, and quality control tools.

Performs all duties in compliance with agency safety policies and procedures:

• Reports safety hazards and corrects hazards when possible.

Will be required to travel up to 10% of the time.

Actively embody and support the Texas Model by demonstrating its core values in daily tasks and interactions with others.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor¿s degree with major course work in psychology, social work, family relations, criminal justice, or other related social science or behavioral science field.

OR

Five (5) years of full-time wage earning experience that may be any combination of the following:(1) supervising or providing rehabilitation/treatment services to juveniles in a residential setting, treatment program, parole setting or correctional program; (2) experience involving development and implementation of individual rehabilitation or treatment case plans, assessment of treatment needs, development and coordination of treatment services, or individual counseling; or (3) working with at-risk families in a social services program or juvenile correctional agency.

Preferred Qualifications

Master¿s degree in psychology, social work, family relations, criminal justice, or other related social science or behavioral science field.

• One year of appropriate experience may substitute for one year of college (30 course hours) on a year for year basis.
• Completed course hours of graduate study may substitute for up to two years of experience on a basis of 12 graduate course hours for one year of experience.

Note : Any degree, diploma, high school equivalent, or course hours required to meet minimum qualifications must be from an accredited educational institution.

Requirements for Continued Employment:

Failure to maintain required certification will result in termination of employment.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Knowledge or ability to acquire the knowledge of TJJD programs, policies, and procedures.

Knowledge of interviewing and assessment techniques and procedures.

Knowledge of local, state, and federal guidelines, regulations, policies, and procedures relevant to the program area.

Knowledge of resources available through medical, behavioral health, educational, workforce, and human service agencies; and community resources.

Skill in conducting interviews and counseling others.

Skill in operating computers and using applicable computer software.

Ability to maintain a good driving record.

Ability and willingness to adapt to change.

Ability to work effectively with youth.

Ability to maintain a safe and secure work environment.

Ability to physically restrain youth, when necessary, in a manner consistent with instructions received; and to transport youth.

Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with the public.

Ability to promote reentry services to youth and the youth¿s family members.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to work in more than 40 hours per workweek, be on-call, and travel occasionally.

Physical Requirements

The following physical demands and working conditions are representative of those encountered when performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing

State of Texas Benefits and Retirement Information can be found at https://www.ers.texas.gov .Benefits include: Retirement plan, paid group health & life insurance for employee, paid holidays, paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, longevity pay, educational assistance program, employee assistance program. Optional add-on benefits include: Dental, Vision, Optional Life Insurance, Voluntary AD&DD Insurance, Dependent Health & Life insurance, Health & Dependent care flexible spending accounts, etc. Additionally, certain designated positions are eligible for hazardous duty pay, and career ladder advancements.

In order to receive veteran¿s preference, a copy of your DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), VA disability rating (if applicable), or a DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty) must be attached to your application.

If you are scheduled for an interview and require any reasonable accommodation in our interview process, please inform the hiring representative who calls you to schedule your interview. Whenever possible, please give the hiring representative sufficient time to consider and respond to your request.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls.

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services

Thank you for considering employment with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

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SPONSORSHIP

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship.