Childrens Recreation Therapist

LITTLE CITY FOUNDATION•Palatine, IL

7d•$43,000 - $54,000•Onsite

About The Position

Provides individual and group recreation and fitness programming for individuals served by Little City. The Recreation Therapist coordinates on-campus and community activities that help youth develop the fitness, recreational, and leisure skills needed for independence and preparation for adulthood. The role serves youth in the children's residential program and school, and includes creating person-centered plans, guiding participants and supporting staff, documenting progress, and promoting health and wellness.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Recreation Therapy.
Certified Recreation Therapy Specialist (CTRS) certification from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification.
Meet DCFS and DHS background and driver's clearance requirements.
Professional Rescuer/Lifeguard certification, or ability to obtain it during the first year of employment.
Valid driver's license and auto insurance.
Ability to perform CPR and CPI.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience working with children with autism, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities.

Responsibilities

Develop and facilitate programming using varied interventions and therapeutic techniques to address the physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and leisure needs of youth.
Work with youth and their families, and train staff, to improve health and develop daily-living and community-involvement skills, knowledge, and behaviors.
Plan and implement summer camp, afterschool, and weekend recreational and leisure activities in coordination with the residential management team.
Assess assigned clients' needs, abilities, and interests using standard measures; develop person-centered recreation and fitness plans and use assessments to track progress.
Direct and guide participants and supporting staff during recreational activities.
Train residential staff in fitness techniques and recreation activities to use outside scheduled recreation programming.
Supervise the Center for Recreation and gymnasium while youth are present.
Support youth in Special Olympics programming and develop athletes for participation in a variety of sports.
Prepare timely individual and summary reports documenting participation and progress; record activity details and enter fitness and recreation hours in the agency's case management system.
Work with home staff to develop and demonstrate strategies that motivate residents to participate in recreation and fitness programming.
Complete required documentation, including Unusual Incident Reports and Non-Violent Physical Crisis Intervention Reports, in a timely manner.
Stay current on fitness innovations, research, equipment, and recreational interventions, particularly those relevant to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Promote health and wellness in all environments and with all stakeholders.
Protect the confidentiality of people served by the agency.
Represent the agency positively in the community and interact cooperatively and constructively with staff and residents.
Promote workplace safety and promptly report accidents and safety hazards to a supervisor.
Maintain American Heart Association First Aid and CPR certification.
Complete required Little City Foundation training and retraining, as well as additional training assigned by the supervisor or required by agency policy.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.