Youth Development Officer

About Harris County Juvenile Probation (HCJPD)

About HCJPD The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) provides supervision and services to youth between the ages of 10 and 17 who are under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. HCJPD is the largest juvenile probation department in Texas with approximately 1,100 employees and over 3,500 youth referred to the department annually. HCJPD programs and services operate under the direction of the Harris County Juvenile Board.

The Administration building is located in Downtown Houston, Texas, with several field offices throughout the County and three secure residential facilities.

Make an impact:
Working for HCJPD gives you the opportunity to continue to serve your community and be a positive role model for young people. Our pace of work enables fast learning and fosters an environment where you can make a positive impact.

Professional Growth:
We are committed to growing the capabilities of our staff. We are building a learning community where you can work with diverse individuals, explore new ways of thinking, and expand your capabilities. Our employees are Juvenile Justice Practitioners who share their knowledge to enhance each other’s growth.

Harris County Juvenile Probation Department - Be an Agent of Change

About Residential Services

The Residential Services Division consists of a Juvenile Detention Center and two post-adjudicated facilities. The facilities house youth who are awaiting court and youth who are placed into the department’s custody by the juvenile courts. The facilities provide direct care and supervision for all youth placed with the department along with providing mental health and behavioral treatment programs.

About the Position

The Youth Development Officer (YDO) provides direct supervision, safety, and security to youth in a 24-hour residential facility. Supervises around the clock youth activities, including structured programs designed to reduce recidivism, enhance self-esteem, social skills, increase academic performance, job skills, and improve mental and physical well-being. Redirects the thinking and behavior patterns of youth through building healthy relationships and mentoring in order to remove barriers for successful transitions to their homes and communities.

Promotes and maintains a safe environment conducive to healing while at the same time intervening and deescalating crisis situations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for the care, safety, security, reporting, observation, supervision and guidance of youth in a secured residential facility while adhering to all departmental policies & procedures, Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) standards, federal, state, and local statutes always. This includes direct supervision of youth, establishing supportive relationships with youth, actively encouraging participation in assigned activities and developing activities for youth on the units.
• In accordance with policy and procedure, provides safe redirection of negative and aggressive behavior, which includes the use of verbal and physical de-escalation.
• Assists and instructs youth with daily living skills, including personal hygiene and maintenance of living areas in the entire facility, especially in the units, dorms, rooms, classrooms, recreation areas and hallways, etc.
• Completes reports, daily logs at random intervals not to exceed the allotted time when documenting youth behavior and progress.
• Responsible for monitoring youth's behavior and documenting both behaviors and interventions in the department's electronic monitoring system.
• Communicates noteworthy information to unit and shift supervisors, treatment plan members and the administration.
• Escorts youth within the facility and externally as directed. This may be to accompany youth during hospital visits, funerals, off-campus educational activities and appointments at various social service agencies.
• Operates or provides supervision in departmental vehicles.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

If you need special services or accommodations, please call  or email

Education

• High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent…