BEHAVIORAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST-F/C - 67072357 APD/ DDDP CHATTAHOOCHEE, FL

Requisition No: 879627 

Agency: Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Working Title: BEHAVIORAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST-F/C - 67072357 APD/ DDDP CHATTAHOOCHEE, FL

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 67072357 

Salary:  $1,386.00 - $1,492.26 BIWEEKLY 

Posting Closing Date: 07/29/2026 

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AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

 POSITION: Behavioral Program Specialist F/C- Career Service

POSITION NUMBER: 67072357

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

SALARY RANGE: $1,260.00 - $1,492.26 BIWEEKLY

This position is not a Telework position and requires reporting to DDDP in Chattahoochee. 

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for eligible employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits, including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits.
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year.
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options.
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com).
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Tuition waivers.
• And more! For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave.
• https://compcalculator.myflorida.com/
• For a more complete list of benefits, click https://mybenefits.myflorida.com/

APD’s Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program (DDDP) Overview

The Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program (DDDP) operates on the campus of Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee under the auspices of The State of Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). The Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program (DDDP is dedicated to empowering people with developmental disabilities charged with a felony crime to:

1. Acquire the skills and support that will prepare them for success in their future environments.
2. Acquire the skills needed to become competent to stand trial.

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities seeks team members who demonstrate the qualities of being humble, hungry, and smart and lead others to embody the same. This entails lacking excessive ego, sharing credit, being self-motivated, and exercising good judgment and intuition regarding the subtleties of group dynamics. Your work will impact the workplace culture, our community, and the population we serve as we continuously strive to achieve the Agency’s mission.

Our campus and facilities are tobacco-free.   

Position Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to plan, coordinate, and facilitate recreational, enrichment, and therapeutic programming for residents with developmental disabilities involved in the competency restoration process. The incumbent develops and implements structured individual and group activities that promote socialization, independent living skills, community integration, positive behavior, and overall wellness. Responsibilities include observing and documenting resident participation and progress, collaborating with the interdisciplinary treatment team, maintaining recreational equipment and activity areas, ensuring a safe therapeutic environment, and serving as a positive role model while delivering engaging, person-centered programming consistent with individual treatment goals.

Demonstrates, assists, and participates during leisure and recreational activities to ensure residents are engaged in structured and planned activities to reinforce training curriculum, minimize behaviors, and increase resident satisfaction. Works in partnership with the direct care staff to ensure that respective leisure and educational opportunities are timely and effectively deployed. Escorts residents as appropriate to ensure that their security, safety, and well-being are not compromised. 

Implements and deploys Behavioral Programs designed for residents in an appropriate, fair, and impartial manner. This includes but is not limited to adhering to all policies/protocols, maintaining ongoing updates of all program changes, and collecting and recording required data in a timely and accurate manner.

Ensures that all activities associated with residents are documented in chronological order in accordance with agency protocol, with all relevant facts which includes, who, what, when, where and why. Immediately notifies supervisor of any issues associated with residents which are unusual and/or may require additional follow-up and investigation. Files associated documents in the appropriate resident chart.

Functions as a role model for residents to reinforce the behavioral and social skills required to be successful in integrating into community and/or residential environments.

Attends all staff meetings and/or professional development courses. Maintains all required training.

Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• A high school diploma or its equivalent
• At least two (2) years of professional experience providing educational, recreational, rehabilitative, therapeutic, court education, trial competency, or related services in a group or individual setting. College education or technical training may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis (30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or 720 classroom hours equals one year of experience).
• A valid driver’s license.

Knowledge, skills and abilities for the position

• Knowledge of appropriate practices and protocols used in the treatment of developmentally disabled persons.
• Knowledge of classroom management skills and techniques
• Knowledge of recreational therapy principles, leisure education, and enrichment programming.
• Knowledge of person-centered approaches to recreation and skill development.
• Knowledge of developmental disabilities, mental illness, and the unique needs of individuals with cognitive impairments.
• Knowledge of group facilitation techniques and therapeutic activity planning.
• Knowledge of safety practices related to recreational activities and equipment.
• Ability to assist professionals in implementing prescribed treatment and rehabilitation programs.
• Ability to observe residents and identify and document changes and/or unusual events which could result in safety and well-being issues.
• Ability to motivate resident participation and foster engagement.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate activities and work assignments.
• Ability to develop and monitor self-care behavioral modification prescriptive treatment plans, activities, and programs.
• Ability to teach and apply behavior modification principles.
• Ability to evaluate client services for compliance with program objectives.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to maintain and update resident records and charts.
• Ability to work in a training capacity with people in individual and group settings.
• Ability to prepare and maintain records and other instructional materials.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to listen effectively.

Other job-related requirements for this position:

Certification in the agency-approved crisis prevention and intervention program is required.  Incumbent is required to submit to pre-employment TB screening and on an annual on-going basis as prescribed by DDDP.

Maintain confidentiality of employee and/or resident information.  This specific standard is mission critical as the Agency is entrusted with information about employees and residents, which is protected by HIPAA and other federal and state laws.  The Agency’s ability to maintain and protect confidential information has a direct relationship with our ability to gain and sustain public trust.

Based on the duties and essential functions of this position, incumbents will be required to spend a minimum of 75% of work time performing duties which involve direct contact with residents in a secure forensic facility.  This position requires lifting, pulling, and squatting.

Recruiting Contact     

Jodi NeSmith        

Recruitment Manager- Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program & Pathways    

Agency for Persons with Disabilities        

Telephone: (850) 793-7075 

Email: jodi.nesmith@apdcares.org       

Direct Deposit Program – As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in State government is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program.  

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT- It is the policy of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Agency. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for Statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.   

THIS POSITION REQUIRES A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION INCLUDING FINGERPRINTING, PURSUANT TO S. 110.1127(1), FLORIDA STATUTES.   

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE: Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.    

 WE HIRE ONLY U.S. CITIZENS AND THOSE LAWFULLY AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THE U.S. APD PARTICIPATES IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-VERIFY).  E-VERIFY IS A PROGRAM THAT ELECTRONICALLY CONFIRMS AN EMPLOYEE’S ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES AFTER COMPLETION OF THE EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION FORM (I-9).   

ALL APPLICANTS SHOULD COMPLETE THE ON-LINE APPLICATION PROCESS.  IF ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE CALL THE PEOPLE FIRST SERVICE CENTER AT 1-877-562-7287. RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. ANSWERS TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.  

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.