Juvenile Probation Officer

Therapeutic Connections Unit (TCU) Juvenile Probation Officer

About Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD):
Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) is the third-largest juvenile justice agency in the country and the second-largest department in Harris County, employing over 1,200 professionals dedicated to youth justice transformation and reform. HCJPD is committed to improving outcomes for youth, reducing racial disproportionality, and ensuring a safe environment for both staff and residents. We continuously innovate by implementing systemic changes to lower detention populations and promote positive youth development.

Division Overview:
The Youth Diversion and Development (YDD) Division provides services and supervision to justice-involved young people in the community, rather than placement out of the home. Community supervision and rehabilitative services for young people and their families are provided by Community Unit Probation Services (CUPS) located throughout Harris County. In addition, there are numerous satellite offices utilized to provide more convenient locations for families.

YDD also seeks to divert young people from further involvement in the juvenile justice system by providing informal alternatives to formal court proceedings and diversion programs to young people and their families.

Position Overview:

The Therapeutic Connections Unit (TCU) Juvenile Probation Officer works to increase the availability of effective services to youth with mental health and other therapeutic needs. The TCU officer provides effective mental health and supervision services to youth with mental health and other acute needs to prevent their removal from the home, reduce their juvenile justice involvement, and link them to community-based supports.

The TCU officer works in cooperation with designated mental health and other providers to deliver therapeutic services to youth and families. The primary objective of the TCU officer is to rehabilitate youth through comprehensive, coordinated community-based mental health and therapeutic services.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serves as a casework coach, counselor, and broker of services for youth and families. Knows community partners and utilize community-based services for clients.
• Collaborates with youth and the family to develop strength-based case plans.
• Fosters family engagement by involving the family in decision-making opportunities, educational workshops, and organized family events.
• Helps develop skills that will help youth be productive members of their community by providing programs designed to reduce recidivism, enhance self-esteem, social skills, increase academic performance, job skills, and improve mental and physical well-being.
• Partners with the youth and family to identify and respond to service needs by maintaining regular contact with the youth and family and conducting post-court interviews, home visits, office visits, and visits in the community.
• Staff cases with service providers, community partners, supervisors, and any appropriate party to triage and/or discuss continuum of care for youth. Maintains contact with other departmental personnel and placement facilities as required.
• Communicates, transmits, and receives information effectively in both written and oral form and maintains accurate and timely data entries.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualifying applicants must complete the HCJPD Standard Basic Spelling & Grammar assessment with a minimum score of 80%.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree conferred by a college or university accredited by an organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, plus
• Demonstrated competence in Motivational Interviewing as defined by the MITI clinician ratings.
• Have a minimum of 40 hours of training in the specialized area (12 of the 40 hours must be taken within the last 12 months).

Licensure:

• Must possess a valid driver's license and have available transportation for use on the job with vehicle insured to comply with the liability limits required by statute.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of YDD/departmental policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Working knowledge of adolescent mental health, diagnosis, interventions, and other acute therapeutic needs.
• Knowledge of casework standards in accordance with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
• Knowledge of computer programs required to perform the job.
• Knowledge of community resources and program…