The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking an Activities Specialist to join the team at the State Training School (STS) in Eldora, which provides supportive counseling and behavioral health treatment for young men, ages 12-18, who were adjudicated delinquent. This is a full-time opportunity with a 5-day, 8 hours per day, work week and variable shifts including some weekends and evenings. We also offer a strong opportunity for advancement, growth, and development. Read carefully. How to apply below!
Salary: $48,505.60 – $72,508.80 Annually
Location: Eldora – 50627 – Hardin County, IA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 24-04166
Agency:405 Health & Human Services – State Training School
Opening Date: 06/06/2024
The Activities Specialist plans, organizes, and delivers a comprehensive program of activities, physical education, and recreation and promotes student rehabilitation by including a wide range of activities. Some job responsibilities of this position include:
- Supervising, instructing, and guiding students in various activities according to established and accepted rules of the activity.
- Encouraging and assisting students in developing and building self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-improvement through participation in individual and group activities.
- Monitoring, setting goals, and providing opportunity for students to change behavior through specific tasks.
- Helping students realize the importance of functioning, participating, and competing as a part of a large cohesive group.
- Instructing students in activities according to official rules of the game, individual and group needs.
Ensuring full utilization of available facilities, equipment, and personnel.
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If you enjoy rewarding yet challenging work, helping young men find stability in their lives and security in their future, this is this the right job for you. Your work at STS has the potential to help pull these young men together and change their future.
STS offers a holistic social, behavioral, psychiatric, academic, and vocational program that utilizes evidence-based practices to provide a secure setting, rooted in treatment for males, ages 12 to 18 years old who have been adjudicated delinquent. STS provides individualized treatment plans and offers comprehensive education, with the goal of successfully transitioning young men back into the community.
Working at STS comes with a special perk! This location offers access for staff to the impressive on-campus gym during off student hours. This includes 3 full size basketball courts, two fully stocked weight rooms with machine and free weights, showers, and lockers. We also provide a cardio room for staff only featuring exercise mats and advanced treadmills and stationary bikes. Usage of these resources is completely free for all STS staff.
We have a great total compensation package, including:
- Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) (Employee contributes 6.29%/State of Iowa contributes 9.44%)
- Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan) (State of Iowa matches up to $75/month)
- Health, Dental and Vision Insurance (See below for additional information)
- Vacation Leave (96 hours/year to begin, and increases with years of service)
- Sick Leave (144 hours/year)
- Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life Insurance ($20,000 paid for by the State of Iowa)
- Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Free On-Campus Workout Facilities
Eldora Highlights
STS is located in Eldora, a quaint community with a population of approximately 2,800 residents, located in north central Iowa. Eldora is an Iowa River Greenbelt Community and the Iowa River Greenbelt Scenic Drive winds through a picturesque landscape of valleys, woods, and streams. With easy access to the Iowa River and Pine Lake, outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking, kayaking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing, as well as the many educational opportunities, cultural activities, and entertainment events nearby, including a picturesque 9-hole golf course surrounded by Pine Lake State Park.
Eldora is 45 minutes away from Ames and Cedar Falls, 30 minutes from Marshalltown, and only 20 minutes from Iowa Falls. Des Moines, Iowa’s capital, is just 1 hour and 15 minutes away.
- Ames, Iowa is the home of Iowa State University, featuring one of the nation’s premier Engineering schools and leading Veterinary and Agricultural programs. https://www.iastate.edu/
- Cedar Falls is the home of the University of Northern Iowa. https://uni.edu/
- Iowa Falls is the home of Ellsworth Community College. https://ecc.iavalley.edu
- Des Moines has one of the nation’s finest State Fairs and is home to the Iowa Cubs, Wells Fargo Arena host site of NCAA Basketball, premier concerts, and Lauridsen Skatepark, the nation’s largest skatepark.
The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer
HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).
Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in art, the behavioral/social sciences, industrial therapy, music, occupational therapy, physical education, recreation, rehabilitation, therapeutic recreation, or other closely related fields;
OR
Experience at a level comparable to Activities Assistant or above may be substituted in any equivalent combination for the required education on the basis of one year of experience for each thirty-semester hours of education to a maximum of four years;
OR
Employees with current continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to two years of full-time work as an Activities Assistant.
Additional Qualification Requirements
Designated positions in this job class require applicants to obtain the required Commercial Drivers License and endorsements within a period of time as determined by the appointing authority at the time of hire.
At the time of interview, applicants referred to Glenwood and Woodward State Hospital-Schools will be assessed to determine if they meet federal government employment requirements as published in the Federal Register, Volume 39, No. 12, Thursday, January 17, 1974, Section 20-CFR-405.1101.
How to apply
Mail your resume and cover letter to the following email. DASHRE.info@iowa.gov
If you have questions regarding our online application process, please email DASHRE.info@iowa.gov
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