Recreation Therapist Senior​/Recreation Therapist

Job Class:
Recreation Therapist Senior / Recreation Therapist

Agency:
Direct Care and Treatment

• Job : 91399

• Location :
  Bemidji

• Telework Eligible :
  No

• Full/Part Time :
  Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary :
  Unlimited

• Who May Apply :
  Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 01/14/2026

• Closing Date : 01/20/2026

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit :
  Direct Care and Treatment / DCT MAPE State Operated Svcs

• Division/Unit :
  Mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment Services / CBHH Bemidji Rehab Services

• Work Shift/Work Hours :
  Day Shift / 8:00am-4:30pm

• Days of Work :
  Monday – Friday; occasional Saturday

• Travel Required :
  No

• Salary Range:

• Recreation Therapist Sr – $28.26 – 41.43 / hourly; $59,007 – $86,506 / annually

• Recreation Therapist – $25.67 – $37.26 / hourly; $53,598 – $77,798 / annually

• Classified Status :
  Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 – MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

• FLSA Status :
  Nonexempt

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities ( (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./connect
  700/ ) :
  Yes

Direct Care & Treatment (DCT) is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DCT does not participate in E-Verify.

The work you’ll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This position may be eligible for up to a $2,500 hiring incentive and relocation reimbursement

The Community Behavioral Health Hospital (CBHH) in Bemidji is seeking a Recreation Therapist to join our team of dedicated individuals helping to make a difference in the lives of others. CBHH is a small, 16-bed, inpatient psychiatric facility for adults experience acute mental health episodes. The length of stay is typically less than 60 days, during which treatment focuses on rapid assessment, stabilization, patient education, and discharge planning involving community support resources, with the overall goal of preventing future episodes.

The Recreation Therapist is responsible for a comprehensive range of clinical and administrative duties, including completing comprehensive assessments of a patient’s physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual needs to inform the development of treatment plans. Based on these assessments, they design and implement goal-oriented therapeutic interventions and facilitate opportunities for meaningful recreation participation. To ensure the effectiveness of their work, they must also evaluate the outcomes of services and adjust treatment plans as needed.

The Therapist is ultimately accountable for the safety and effectiveness of all recreation therapy services. Beyond direct patient care, they also contribute to broader program management, which can include quality improvement projects and the management of equipment and supplies.

Primary

Responsibilities Include:

• Apply recreation therapy service delivery models and theories in the recreation therapy process including assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, and documentation (APIE-D)

• Provide group and individual recreation therapy interventions using a variety of evidence-based modalities to improve leisure functioning

• Develop and communicate leisure-based interventions for multidisciplinary treatment planning that support symptom stabilization and discharge planning

• Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, Park/Recreation & Leisure, Physical Education, Social Work, or Psychology, or a highly related field.

OR

• 2 years of clinical experience working in a mental health, substance use disorder, and/or sex offender specific treatment setting. Experience should include at least 4 of the following:
• Patient Assessment
• Patient Treatment/Intervention Planning
• Patient Outcome Evaluation/Tracking
• Group Facilitation
• Adaptation…