CORRECTIONS LEISURE ACTIVITIES SPECIALIST I

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice is seeking a motivated candidate to step into a rewarding role as a Corrections Leisure Activities Specialist I (UMP), at our IYC Chicago facility. This position contributes to youth development and rehabilitation every day and has meaningful impact on the youth we serve by planning, organizing, and leading engaging recreational and leisure programs that promote positive behavior, teamwork, and personal growth. As a mentor to the youth, this role models pro-social skills and creates a structured environment that supports emotional and physical well-being.  The ability to use creativity and leadership to design activities that reduce idleness and encourage constructive use of time provides endless opportunities for a creative and motivated applicant. Do you enjoy being part of a successful team? Come collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to support individualized treatment goals of youth in our care. If you are passionate about making a difference, this position offers hands-on experience in behavior management, program coordination, and youth engagement. Join a team of professionals where your energy, creativity, and commitment can truly change lives.  IDJJ encourages all interested and qualified applicants to apply!

Essential Functions

• Under direct supervision, provides instruction in skills and techniques, and supervision for youths engaged in leisure activities.
• Provides direct supervision to youth participating in activities and youth workers.
• Provides recreational programming for special units.
• Plans activities in conjunction with the facility schedule.
• Secures and inventories all equipment and supplies.
• Monitors special events and entertainment.
• Participates in youth staffing meetings, evaluations, and assessments of youth treatment needs.
• Reports unusual incidents.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four years college, with a bachelor's degree in leisure studies, recreation, physical education, art education, fine arts, studio arts, graphics, color and design, therapeutic recreation, music, theater, or speech and communications.

*This title is included as an Upward Mobility Program credential title.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance)

• Prefers working knowledge of the methods, techniques, and purposes of leisure activities.
• Prefers elementary knowledge of leisure activities programs and skills development tailored to individual needs.
• Prefers working knowledge of arts and crafts instruction.
• Prefers elementary knowledge of corrections regulations, policies, and proper channels of communication as applied to the leisure time programming.
• Prefers elementary knowledge of the attitudes, problems and behavior of individuals and groups in a correctional security setting.
• Prefers ability to prepare pertinent records and reports.
• Prefers ability to stimulate interest of institution residents in leisure time activities.
• Prefers ability to carry out leisure activities and teach leisure skills.
• Prefers ability to work effectively with individuals and groups.
• Prefers ability to express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires ability to pass the IDOC/IDJJ background check.
• Requires ability to pass a drug screen. The use of unauthorized drugs by an employee, regardless of the position held, is prohibited.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The mission of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) is to build youth skills and strengthen families by promoting community safety and positive youth outcomes. Over 900 staff members from across various departments—security, programming, education, mental health, and more—collaborate with the understanding that youth are physically, emotionally, and cognitively different from adults. The department provides extensive services to young people through a developmental, treatment-focused model of care that builds youth resiliency, engages families, and promotes community safety at the five youth facilities it operates across the state. IDJJ serves and houses approximately 150 youth and is responsible for approximately 500 youth on Aftercare in various Illinois’ communities.