JTDC - Recreation Specialist

Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois•Chicago, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) provides safe and temporary housing for youth ages 10 – 18 with pending legal action in the Cook County Courts. The JTDC is dedicated to providing its youth with leadership, structured care, and supervision through a balanced approach of creative programming and services that teach responsibility, accountability, and sensitivity. Each member of the JTDC staff is actively encouraged and supported in pursuit of creative participation, personal well-being, and professional development. As the largest juvenile detention center in the nation, the facility contains five major departments and various offices consisting of 600+ employees who serve an average daily population of 280+ residents. The Recreation Specialist is responsible for providing residents with creative and diverse structured programs. The Recreation Specialist will be a part of a residential unit comprised of a minimum of 56 residents and subordinates.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
A degree in Physical Education, Recreation, or related field from an accredited college OR at least two (2) years full-time experience developing, creating, scheduling and supervising organized recreational activities for adolescents.
United States citizenship.
21 years of age at the time of application submission.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual communication skills preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops and facilitates diverse structured activities and programs (recreational, educational, etc.)
Instructs and supervises residents in recreational activities (e.g. exercises, calisthenics, art, music, drama, sporting activities) and instructs on appropriate rules and regulations of games, acting as a referee, umpire, or coach when necessary.
Designs, sets up and implements recreational or related educational programs that adhere to different ages and various skill levels
Administers behavior management programs such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Pro Social behavior and social skills.
Provides for the safety and general health of residents by maintaining the recreational areas, equipment, and supplies.
Keeps facilities clean and reports damaged or broken equipment to Center Management and/or Supervisor in Charge
Submits requests to purchase new equipment, as needed, to Center Management
Maintains accurate inventory, ensuring equipment is in good/safe condition and clean
Maintains a safe and secure environment for both residents and staff by upholding and implementing JTDC policies, procedures, protocols and BMOD (may include physically restraining juveniles and conducting searches of juveniles and personal effects).
Observes and reports behavior and progress of residents during programs
Reports all observances of ill mental or physical health to the medical department for proper attention.
Supervises and escorts youth in transit throughout the facility; escorts family members and other visitors on visitor’s days and during special programming.
Oversees the distribution of commissary
Assists outside organizations or individuals with programs or activities conducted at the JTDC.
Assists juveniles during programs by tutoring and/or using educational games.
Effectively communicates verbally, in writing or electronically (email, incident reports, rule violations, etc.).
Works in a team environment to ensure programs run smoothly and all goals are met
Successfully completes required training
Must be able to work overtime-based on departmental needs.
Performs other duties as assigned.