VitalCore Health Strategies logo
VitalCore Health Strategies
Wilmington, Delaware

Behavioral Health Activity Technician

Behavioral HealthFull-Time

Listed compensation

$20-$22/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Join the VitalCore Team in Delaware! We're people fueled by passion, not by profit!

VitalCore Health Strategies, (VCHS), an industry leader in correctional healthcare, has an opening for a Behavioral Health Activity Technician at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington, Delaware for Full-Time.

At VitalCore we pride ourselves on retaining and acquiring compassionate, dedicated individuals who are committed to providing quality services. Join our team and experience first-hand how VitalCore Health Strategies promotes a positive work environment that is based on respect and appreciation of the hard work and dedication of our staff.

Behavioral Health Activity Technician Benefits Package

  • Holiday Pay: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Health Savings Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Short Term/Long Term Disability
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Pet Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program and Discount Center
  • 401K & Plan Matching
  • PTO
  • Annual Incentive Bonus
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Behavioral Health Activity Technician Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Activity Technician plays a vital role in supporting the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of individuals within a correctional facility. Under the supervision of licensed behavioral health professionals, the technician facilitates therapeutic, educational, and recreational group activities designed to promote positive coping skills, reduce behavioral issues, and support overall mental health.

Behavioral Health Activity Technician Essential Functions

  • Lead group therapy activities
  • Work with the behavioral health team to plan treatment goals for specific clients
  • Assist in coordinating and implementing recreation therapy
  • Observe patients’ progress and program involvement
  • Write clinical notes to be included in electronic health records
  • Notify Behavioral Health Director/Clinical Supervisor in a timely manner of problems requiring attention/intervention
  • Attends training and meetings as required
  • Other duties, as assigned

Behavioral Health Activity Technician Minimum Requirements

  • High School Diploma or GED (preference for an associate degree in human services, or working towards a degree in human services)
  • Two (2) years of experience in therapeutic recreation or related field providing programming for persons who have a mental illness is preferred.
  • Experience working in a correctional mental health setting preferred.
  • Must be able to pass a background investigation

VitalCore Health Strategies is an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

Key Responsibilities

The technician facilitates therapeutic, educational, and recreational group activities to support the mental health of individuals in a correctional facility. They also document patient progress in electronic health records and collaborate with the behavioral health team to implement treatment goals.

Requirements

Candidates must have a high school diploma or GED, with a preference for an associate degree in human services. Two years of experience in therapeutic recreation or a related mental health field is preferred.

Key Skills

Clinical DocumentationMental Health SupportTreatment PlanningPatient ObservationCrisis InterventionRecreational Therapy

Behavioral Health Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Delaware is 99.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$44k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $44k in an average-cost state. 63.5% of Delaware clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Behavioral Health pay on WeekdayDoc is down 17.2% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

What does the Behavioral Health market look like in Delaware?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$42k–$46kBehavioral Health median $46k (middle half $42k–$51k)108 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$44k in purchasing powerDelaware index 99.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Behavioral Health listings in Delaware9 active2,090 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
New Behavioral Health listings856 in the last 30 days594 the 30 days before (+44%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Behavioral Health pay trend−17.2% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-life snapshot

1.5/ 10
Listing-based score
VitalCore Health Strategies logo

About VitalCore Health Strategies

Hospitals and Health Care
Topeka, Kansas
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Holiday Pay
Medical
Dental
Vision
Health Savings Account
Life Insurance
Short Term/Long Term Disability
Identity Theft Protection

Living in Wilmington

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$296k
Typical market rent
$1,757/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
102.6
State income tax
Up to 6.6%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.