Recreation Assistant

We are growing our team and seeking an experienced Recreation Assistant!

• Do you have experience with therapeutic engagement?
• Do you have experience assisting clients with behavioral needs?
• Do you have working knowledge of CMH/TBI residents?

If so, we invite you to consider a career at Eisenhower Center! Below are more details before you decide to apply:

• Location: onsite in Ann Arbor, MI
• Position: Recreation Assistant
• Hourly: $19.50
• Benefits start after 30 days: Health, Dental, Vision and many more!

*All offers of employment are contingent upon all applicable background screens*

The Recreation Assistant advances Eisenhower Center's commitment to becoming the premier neurobehavioral and rehabilitation organization in the country by creating meaningful experiences that promote resident well-being, independence, behavioral stability, social connection, and community inclusion.

Working under the direction of the Recreation Manager and in collaboration with Recreation Therapists and the interdisciplinary clinical team, the Recreation Assistant implements structured individual and group activities, community outings, and therapeutic engagement opportunities consistent with each resident's person-centered plan, preferences, abilities, behavioral supports, and identified goals.

Role and Responsibilities:

Extraordinary Resident Care

• Provide compassionate, respectful, trauma-informed, and person-centered recreational support.
• Promote resident choice, dignity, independence, self-determination, quality of life, and meaningful participation.
• Develop supportive professional relationships while maintaining appropriate therapeutic boundaries.
• Facilitate engaging individual, small-group, campus-wide, and community-based activities.
• Adapt activities to residents' interests, abilities, communication styles, sensory needs, and support requirements.
• Encourage residents to participate as independently as safely possible.
• Promote opportunities that build confidence, meaningful relationships, community participation, and lifelong leisure skills.
• These priorities align closely with Eisenhower Center's internal clinical framework.

Behavioral Management & Emotional Wellness

• Follow individualized service plans, behavioral protocols, safety plans, and clinical recommendations.
• Use proactive engagement, positive behavioral support, redirection, and approved de-escalation practices.
• Recognize changes in resident behavior, engagement, functioning, or emotional well-being and communicate observations promptly to appropriate team members.
• Create predictable, safe, respectful activities that reduce barriers to participation.
• Support recreation as a meaningful component of coping, emotional regulation, social connection, and behavioral stability.
• Eisenhower Center's clinical framework specifically incorporates positive behavioral supports, emotional regulation, resident engagement, crisis prevention, de-escalation, and interdisciplinary behavioral planning.

Therapeutic Recreation & Community Integration

• Collaborate with Recreation Therapists and clinical staff to implement individualized recreational programming.
• Support on-campus, off-campus, one-to-one, group, and organization-wide activities.
• Assist residents in developing greater independence during recreational and community experiences.
• Safely transport residents to approved activities and appointments when assigned.
• Encourage access to inclusive community resources, social opportunities, and adaptive recreational experiences.
• Bring creativity and innovation to programming while ensuring activities remain clinically appropriate and resident centered.

Clinical Observation & Documentation

• Document resident attendance, participation, response, progress, and relevant observations accurately and within established timelines.
• Communicate meaningful changes or concerns to the appropriate clinical team member.
• Protect the confidentiality and integrity of resident information.
• Support collection of participation and outcome information to help evaluate program effectiveness.
• Complete required reports, activity records, transportation documentation, and other assigned records accurately.
• Eisenhower Center's existing Recreation Assistant materials already establish measurable expectations around utilization, outings, groups, scheduling, and timely documentation.

Safety, Quality & Regulatory Excellence

• Make resident health, dignity, rights, and safety the first consideration in every activity.
• Follow applicable organizational policies, emergency procedures, transportation expectations, infection-prevention practices, resident-rights requirements, and individualized clinical protocols.
• Maintain confidentiality consistently with HIPAA requirements.
• Participate in required training, competency assessment, quality-improvement activities, audits, and regulatory-readiness activities.
• Support Eisenhower Center's commitment to applicable CARF, CMS, CMH, Medicaid, MDHHS, LARA/state licensing, HIPAA, and other federal, state, and local requirements, consistent with the organization's established clinical framework.
• CARF describes accreditation as including continuous improvement, responsiveness to feedback, performance enhancement, risk management, and services focused on the person's unique needs.

Interdisciplinary Excellence

• Work collaboratively with Recreation Therapists, nursing, behavioral services, therapy, case management, direct-care teams, and other disciplines as appropriate.
• Communicate professionally across departments to support continuity of care.
• Consistently implement agreed-upon interdisciplinary approaches.
• Participate in meetings, training, and quality initiatives assigned.
• Contribute ideas that improve resident experiences and strengthen recreation programming.

Fiscal Responsibility & Stewardship

• Use recreational supplies, vehicles, community resources, and organizational funds responsibly.
• Help minimize unnecessary waste while preserving quality and resident choice.
• Assist with proper care, organization, and maintenance of recreational materials and equipment.
• Identify practical community resources and creative programming opportunities that expand resident experiences while using resources responsibly.
• Support efficient scheduling and productive use of assigned work time.
• Fiscal responsibility, resource stewardship, productivity, operational efficiency, and value-based care are established elements of Eisenhower Center's Clinical Excellence Framework.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least one year of experience working in a structured recreation, behavioral health, rehabilitation, human services, residential, or similar setting preferred.
• Experience supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual/developmental disabilities, neurobehavioral needs, or related populations strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated compassionate and person-centered approach.
• Ability to lead and facilitate structured individual and group activities.
• Strong organization, communication, and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to respond appropriately to changing resident needs and behavioral situations.
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record when driving is an assigned responsibility.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in healthcare, neurorehabilitation, behavioral health, residential services, or therapeutic recreation.
• Coursework or postsecondary education in recreation therapy, psychology, social work, behavioral health, education, human services, or a related area.
• Experience with community-based recreation and adaptive activities.
• Relevant CPR/First Aid and organizationally required safety certifications.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Ability to stand, walk, and move through residential, clinical, recreational, and community settings for extended periods.
• Ability to bend, stoop, reach, and lift or carry recreational supplies, activity materials, and equipment as needed.
• Ability to set up, organize, and clean up recreational activities, groups, and events.
• Ability to actively participate in and facilitate recreational activities, including games, crafts, outdoor activities, and community outings.
• Ability to maintain awareness of resident locations, activities, and safety needs while providing supervision and support.
• Ability to respond promptly to changing resident needs, safety concerns, and emergency situations in accordance with established training, protocols, and organizational procedures.
• Ability to perform tasks requiring effective verbal communication, observation, documentation, and interpersonal interaction.

Schedule

• Sunday to Thursday. Specific shift hours will be determined based on departmental and resident programming needs.

Eisenhower Center is 100% employee owned and offers an excellent benefit package including:

• PTO
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan
• 401(k) plan eligible to participate after 1 year & 1,000 hours of employment
• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account for Medical and Dependent Care
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Voluntary Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability available
• Student Stipend
• Employee Discount Program
• Continuing professional development opportunities

Eisenhower Center Commitment Eisenhower Center is committed to delivering innovative, evidence-based, trauma-informed, and person-centered rehabilitation services that empower individuals to achieve their highest level of independence and quality of life. All team members are expected to uphold our core values of safety, dignity, collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement while supporting compliance with CARF accreditation standards and all applicable federal, state, and payer requirements.

Eisenhower Center is an EEO employer – Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories – and is a 2019 Bronze Veteran-Friendly Employer, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

Eisenhower Center endeavors to make this website accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us at (734) 677-0070. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do.