Recreation Therapist: Rehab & Reentry Advocate

California Correctional Health Care Services; California; On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Recruitment stipend

Retention differential

Referral bonus

Job summary

California Correctional Health Care Services (CHCS) seeks a Recreation Therapist at California Health Care Facility (CHCF) in Stockton, CA to develop and oversee therapeutic recreation activities for patients. You will supervise group sessions, document progress, and coordinate with medical staff to integrate therapy into treatment plans.

The role emphasizes safety, teamwork, and assisting patients in rehabilitation through structured recreation programs within a secure environment.

Qualifications

• Education: Graduation with major in recreation or recreation therapy with supervised field work.
• Senior registration may admit applicants to the examination; evidence of graduation/field work required before appointment.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and evaluate therapeutic recreation programs for patients within CDCR institutions.
• Instruct and motivate patients in individual and group recreation therapy.
• Monitor and document treatment progress and share information with care teams.
• Collaborate with health care providers to integrate recreation therapy into treatment plans.
• Maintain order and supervise patient conduct to ensure safety of people and property.

Skills

Therapeutic recreation

Education

Recreation therapy degree

Job description

Department Information

Vision

We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.

Mission

To facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

Commitment

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) are committed to transforming the correctional landscape to create safer, more professional, and more fulfilling environments for our employees, the incarcerated population, and those supervised in our communities. Through systemwide improvements grounded in proven and emerging practices, we aim to strengthen rehabilitation, enhance workplace satisfaction, and support successful reentry into the community through our institutions, parole, and community partnerships. Our shared mission is to promote safety, wellness, and human dignity while fostering positive change for all those who live and work within our institutions and communities.

CDCR and CCHCS are committed to building an inclusive respectful workplace. We are determined to attract and hire candidates from all communities and empower employees from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts at all levels of the Department.

CDCR and CCHCS strive to collaborate with the community to enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs. Incumbents establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within the department, other governmental agencies, health care partners, and communities.

CDCR/CCHCS values all team members. We work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population, which includes medical, dental, nursing, mental health, and pharmacy. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR/CCHCS mission.

This advertisement is for a Recreation Therapist position(s) located at California Health Care Facility (CHCF), in Stockton, CA, located in San Joaquin County.

Please write the position number on your application: 140-220-9286-XXX.

Please Note: Main communication for this position will be through email. Please ensure to have a valid email address on your application.

Department Website: https://cchcs.ca.gov/careers/

Job Description And Duties

This is a limited term position which may be extended or become permanent.

This Job Control is listed Until Filled. Applications will be reviewed after the following cutoff dates: 8/27/26, 9/10/26, 9/24/26, 10/8/26, 10/22/26, 11/5/26, 11/19/26, 12/3/26.

Effective July 1, 2025, in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented. PLP 2025 requires each full-time employee in Bargaining Unit 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, and related Excluded, Exempt and Statutory Exempt employees, will have their base salary reduced by 3 percent and will receive 5 PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Salaries do not reflect the recent changes. Part-time employees are subject to the same conditions as full-time employees, on a prorated basis equivalent to their time-base. Permanent intermittent employees are subject to the same condition as full-time employees, based on the number of hours worked in the pay period.

Please see the below link to the Recreation Therapist specs:

Recreation Therapist, Correctional Facility (9286) - CalHR

This classification is subject to Section 5, Hiring-Above-Minimum (HAM) Authorization of the California State Civil Service Pay Scales. The authorized HAM rate for this classification is $9159.

• Please note: Individuals may be eligible to receive a $10,000 one-time recruitment and retention stipend should they meet the eligibility criteria, including but not limited to remaining employed with CCHCS for six months. Additionally, individuals may be eligible to receive a monthly recruitment and retention differential during their first year with CCHCS (totaling $5,000), should they meet the eligibility criteria.
• IMPORTANT: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) employees may be eligible for a $5,000 referral bonus should you be selected for hire, and remain employed with CCHCS for 90 days. For a CDCR/CCHCS employee to be considered, a questionnaire must be completed to the best of your knowledge, including the referring employee’s name , classification , PERNR , and work location . The questionnaire will be provided to the selected candidate during the pre-employment process.
  
  
  

Under the general direction of the Senior Psychologist, Correctional Facility (CF) (Supervisor) or Supervising Psychiatric Social Worker I, CF, the Recreation Therapist (RT), CF develops, implements, and evaluates therapeutic recreation programs for patients within California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation institutions. The RT, CF instructs and motivates patients in individual and group recreation therapy, monitors and documents treatment progress, and works with other health care providers to share recreational therapy assessment information and incorporate therapeutic recreational activities into treatment plans. The RT, CF maintains order and supervises the conduct of patients to protect and maintain the safety of persons and property.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a recognized college with major work in recreation or recreation therapy. The major must have included supervised field work. (Registration as a senior will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent and completion of the required field work before they will be considered eligible for appointment.)

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Please note: A Training and Development (T&D) assignment will not be considered at this time.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.