General Activities Therapist 2

Ohio Department of Youth Services; Highland Hills (OH); On-site; USD 46,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ohio Department of Youth Services is seeking an Activity Therapy Occupation Specialist to plan, organize and coordinate recreational and therapeutic activities at the Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility in Highland Hills, OH. The role involves leading group and individual activity therapy sessions and coordinating special events to support rehabilitation goals.

Qualified candidates will have significant experience in activity therapy or recreation, plus related education.

Qualifications

• 30 months of experience with coaching, personal training, and/or fitness instruction or 30 months of experience directing and training incarcerated youth.
• Or completion of an associate degree in recreation with related experience.
• Or completion of an undergraduate core program in recreation with related experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct, organize, coordinate and administer recreational and therapeutic programs.
• Run specialty therapy programs such as occupational, adaptive, movement, music/art therapies.
• Plan, implement and monitor general recreational and therapeutic activities like sports and arts.
• Attend meetings, conferences and training sessions.

Skills

Therapy

Adaptability

Coaching

Motivating Others

Teamwork

Time Management

Education

Associate degree in recreation

Undergraduate core program in recreation

Job description

The Purpose Of The Activity Therapy Occupation Is To

• Conduct, organize, coordinate & administer recreational programs (e.g., physical education, arts & crafts)
• Conduct medically approved specialty area programs (e.g., occupational, structured therapeutic, pre-vocational, vocational, adaptive sports activities, interactive computer access, card games, adapted aquatics, music therapy, art therapy, movement therapy, animal-assisted therapy (AAT)
• Run or organize special events, outings, performing arts, evening group programs, or video viewing for specific therapeutic &/or goal reaching purpose.
• Have considerable knowledge of activity therapy operations in order to plan, organize & conduct individual &/or group classes in activity therapy program.
• Plan, conduct, implement & monitor general recreational, personal development, structured therapeutic & entertainment activities (e.g., softball, basketball, volleyball, ping-pong, pool, arts & crafts, weight lifting & exercises)
• Participates in & attends meetings, conferences &/or training sessions.
  

30 mos. exp. with coaching, personal training, &/or fitness instruction or 30 mos. exp. providing work direction to incarcerated persons & training &/or development.

• Or completion of associate degree in recreation; 12 mos. exp. in activity therapy or recreation.
• Or completion of undergraduate core program in recreation; 6 mos. exp. in activity therapy or recreation.
• Or 6 mos. exp. as General Activities Therapist 1, 44211.
• Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.
  

Job Skills: Therapy/Therapeutical Services
Organization
Youth Services - Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility
Agency Contact Name and Information
[e-mail]
Unposting Date
Oct 4, 2026, 11:59:00 PM
Work Location
Cuyahoga Juvenile Correctional
Primary Location
United States of America-OHIO-Cuyahoga County-Highland Hills
Compensation
$22.59 per hour
Schedule
Full-time
Work Hours
40 hrs per week
Classified Indicator
Classified
Union
OCSEA
Technical Skills
Institution Attendants/Therapists
Professional Skills
Adaptability, Coaching, Motivating Others, Teamwork, Time Management
Agency Overview
JOIN OUR TEAM! CHANGE LIVES WHILE BUILDING YOUR CAREER!
We are transforming and saving lives at DYS!
A safer Ohio: one youth, one family and one community at a time.
About Us…
Our mission at the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) is to improve Ohio's future by habilitating youth and empowering families and communities. We believe that all youth will be given an opportunity to live up to their greatest potential and staff are our greatest resource.
DYS is the juvenile corrections system for the state of Ohio. DYS is statutorily mandated to confine felony offenders, ages 10-21, who have been adjudicated and committed by one of Ohio's 88 county juvenile courts. During their stay with DYS, youth are engaged in programming that is designed to address their criminological and behavioral needs. DYS reaches thousands of youth in facilities and those on parole.Our Guiding Principles…

• Demonstrate staff are our greatest resource
• Treat everyone with respect
• Cultivate a trauma responsive environment for staff and youth to thrive
• Provide the best support and services for youth and families
• Advance our culture of inclusion through understanding and appreciating staff and youth differences
• Commit to and encourage collaboration and continuous improvement to produce better outcomes for those we serve
• Celebrate collective successes and support one another through opportunities to improve
  

To learn more about DYS, please visit our website by clicking here.