Credible Messenger Mentor

About the

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:

Under general supervision, the Credible Messenger Mentor provides an innovative approach to restorative justice by forming transformative mentoring relationships with youth within the Juvenile Justice System. Individuals in this position will be responsible for guiding, supporting, and advocating for youth, connecting them to services that address their unique needs, sharing lived experiences, and collaborating with other professionals to ensure the youth's successful reintegration into the community. In addition, being formerly incarcerated or been directly system-impacted is considered a valued asset in this position as it provides a unique, first-hand experience that can positively impact the youth's life trajectory. The Credible Messenger Mentor is expected to possess a passion and commitment to social justice reform, as well as effective communication, active listening, and conflict resolution skills.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Mentorship:

Works with youth individually and in group settings to help them modify and change their behavior by relating to their life experiences and challenges. This includes providing emotional and trauma-informed support, assisting youth in pursuing their interests and goals, modeling effective coping techniques, and offering self-help strategies based on personal experiences to aid youth in making better and safer decisions.

Youth Development & Support:

Provides positive youth development, educational/career guidance, and social and emotional support; facilitates accountability through individual interactions, as well as restorative justice and cognitive-behavioral group sessions. In addition, advocates for youth as they interact with the Juvenile Justice system's education, health, and supportive services.

Relationship Development:

Supports youth in developing and repairing relationships with family, community, and peer associations.

Collaboration:

Works closely with other professionals to provide case management, de-escalation techniques, and emergency support services to youth.

Department Support:

Participates in team staffing meetings and re-entry transition planning; assists with data collection for necessary reporting.

Event Coordination:

Coordinates and facilitates educational forums, family and group support sessions, trainings, and other events.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Develops relationships with partner organizations and builds a "warm referral" network for linkage. Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net

Education and Experience:

High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent from an accredited educational institution. Three (3) years of full-time documented experience working in mentoring, counseling, social work, community or group work in a social service, community, corrections, juvenile agency, or related field that deals with offenders or disadvantaged persons. Must possess lived experiences by meeting at least one of the following criteria : (a) formerly incarcerated individual, having successfully completed a period of parole or supervised release (e.g. was not discharged from supervision due to lack of compliance), and have not been re-arrested . OR (b) successfully completed a period of probation (e.g. was not discharged from supervision due to a lack of compliance) and have not been re-arrested . OR (c) have lived experience with own child or close relative advocating for youth involved in a mental health system, juvenile justice system, Child Protective Services, or similar agencies .

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of youth juvenile justice and related systems. Knowledge of warm referrals as a trauma & violence-informed approach to supporting clients' engagement with community services. Knowledge of computer programs required to perform job duties, including being proficient in Microsoft Office programs, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience developing and retaining relationships with people from various ethnic, economic, and educational backgrounds, both as colleagues and as clients. Excellent communication, listening, and conflict mediation skills. Highly empathetic, with great interpersonal and mentorship abilities. Able to work with troubled youth individually and in a group setting. Ability to guide and motivate at-risk youth to challenge and transform negative thinking, attitudes, and actions while promoting restorative justice, family involvement, community engagement, and supporting a re-integration plan to help youth engage in transitioning back to their communities. Able to work with other professionals at all levels of the juvenile justice system, including judges, attorneys, psychiatrists, psychologists, program administrators, probation officers, and youth development coaches. Ability to model positive behavior with staff, provide encouragement and support to youth during challenging and stressful situations, and equip them with the tools and skills they need to be successful.

Licensure:

Must possess a valid Texas driver's license with appropriate liability auto insurance cover.

Additional Requirements:

Must not have a disqualifying criminal history per Title 37 Texas Administrative Code Chapter §344.400. Upon receiving a conditional job offer, each applicant must undergo a criminal background check, a tuberculosis (TB) skin test, and a drug screening, as well as provide certified copies of their educational transcripts. In the event of a declared public emergency by the county, staff may be reassigned to different duties, facilities, or placed under the supervision of another county department. Applicants must be at least 21 years old. This position involves working with challenging youth where use of crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies may be necessary to ensure the safety of both youth and staff. Applicants must possess and maintain a valid Texas Driver's License and carry liability insurance that meets or exceeds the minimum legal requirements. §344.400

Disqualifying Criminal History:

(a) Applicants for Certification. An individual with the following criminal history is not eligible for certification or for employment in a position requiring certification: (1) deferred adjudication or conviction for a felony listed in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42A.054 (formerly known as "3(g) offenses" under former Article 42.12) or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD), regardless of the date of disposition; or (2) deferred adjudication or conviction for a sexually violent offense as defined in Article 62.001, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD), regardless of the date of disposition. §344.410

Other Criminal History:

(1) An individual with the following criminal history is not eligible for certification, employment, or otherwise providing service in a position requiring certification without prior review and approval by TJJD as provided in §344.420 of this chapter: (A) deferred adjudication or conviction for a felony other than those referenced in §344.400(a) of this chapter or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD) if the date of deferred adjudication or conviction was less than 10 years prior to the date the review is requested; or (B) deferred adjudication or conviction for any Class A or B misdemeanor in Texas or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD) if the date of deferred adjudication or conviction was less than five years prior to the date the review is requested.

NOTE :

Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications. About Harris County Juvenile Probation (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:

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

Regular Full-time Hours will be discussed during departmental interview.

Salary:

$ 42,785.60•$ 49,233.60 Annually Depends on Qualifications Based on 26 pay periods

Open Location:

JDC•1200 Congress St. Houston, TX 77002 HCYV•210 JW Mills Dr. Seabrook, TX 77586 Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.