Recreation Therapist, Correctional Facility - Calipatria State Prison (CAL)

About the role

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.

CDCR and 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. Across our organization, our programs work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR and CCHCS mission.

This advertisement is for a Recreation Therapist, CF position(s) located at Calipatria State Prison in Calipatria, Imperial County.

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

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and evaluates therapeutic recreation programs for patients within California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation institutions.
• Instructs and motivates patients in individual and group recreation therapy.
• Monitors and documents treatment progress.
• Works with other health care providers to share recreational therapy assessment information and incorporate therapeutic recreational activities into treatment plans.
• Maintains order and supervises the conduct of patients to protect and maintain the safety of persons and property.

Benefits

• Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) provides 5 leave credits monthly through June 2027 for full-time employees (prorated for part-time and permanent intermittent).
• Eligible employees may receive a $10,000 one-time recruitment and retention stipend after six months of employment with CCHCS.
• Eligible employees may receive a monthly recruitment and retention differential during the first year with CCHCS, totaling up to $5,000.
• CDCR/CCHCS employees may be eligible for a $5,000 referral bonus if the referred candidate is hired and remains employed with CCHCS for 90 days.

Pay

The authorized Hiring‑Above‑Minimum (HAM) rate for this classification is $9,159 per month. Note: Salaries do not reflect the recent PLP 2025 changes, which reduce base salary by 3 percent for full‑time employees (prorated for part‑time and permanent intermittent).