Behavioral Health Technician
Listed compensation
$20-$24/hr
Listing transparency2 of 6 stated
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and weekend coverage.
- Employment & setting
- Full-Time
- Call expectations
- Not specified
- Weekends
- Not specified
Job Description
Join the VitalCore Team in Mississippi! We're people who are fueled by passion, not by profit.
VitalCore Health Strategies (VCHS), an industry leader in correctional healthcare, has an opening for a Behavioral Health Recreational/Activity Therapist at Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi!
Looking for a rewarding career in the field of healthcare with competitive wages, annual incentive payment, and excellent benefits package?
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 Recreational/Activity Therapist 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 Insurance
- 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
Behavioral Health Recreational/Activity Therapist Position Summary
To perform this job successfully, the Behavioral Health Recreational Therapist must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and provided routine care for behaviorally impaired and emotionally disturbed patients under the direction of licensed behavioral health staff and provide purposeful, goal-oriented activities that teach and facilitate skills in assertiveness, independent living, interpersonal and social skills, and promoting individualized interest and pursuits.
Behavioral Health Recreational/Activity Therapist Minimum Requirements
- Degree in therapeutic recreation or related field, Certified Therapeutic Specialist (CTRS) preferred.
- Can be filled by CNA or CMA with patient experience
- Subject to initial and ongoing security clearance requirements.
Behavioral Health Recreational/Activity Therapist Essential Functions
- Leads, instructs and encourages inmate patients in a program of individual and group activities of a physical, social, and cultural nature.
- Work with the behavioral health team to plan treatment goals for specific patients.
- Assist in coordinating recreation therapy with other therapeutic programs.
- Observe patients’ reactions and progress.
- Record clinical notes to be included in medical files and prepare reports.
- Regular monitoring of inmates' program involvement.
- Notify Behavioral Health/Clinical Director in a timely manner of inmate problems requiring attention.
- Attends training and meetings as required.
- Other duties, as assigned.
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.
Keywords: Behavioral Health, Behavioral Health Technician, Recreation Therapist #indmississippi
Key Responsibilities
The Behavioral Health Recreational Therapist provides goal-oriented activities to facilitate social and independent living skills for behaviorally impaired patients. They also collaborate with the clinical team to plan treatment goals, monitor progress, and maintain accurate clinical documentation.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a degree in therapeutic recreation or a related field, with a Certified Therapeutic Specialist (CTRS) credential preferred. Alternatively, the role can be filled by a CNA or CMA with relevant patient experience and the ability to pass security clearance.
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Behavioral Health Technician at VitalCore Health Strategies a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,933 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc.
Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 56% are remote, 32% have no call, 76% require no weekends.
Counselor pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).
The cost-of-living index for Mississippi is 87.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$46k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $53k in an average-cost state. 61.9% of Mississippi clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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