Mixed - frustrating but very educational. Generally a good experience.
Pros
Relatively competitive pay, for entry level positions Generally positive coworker atmosphere You get experience working with a wide range of populations A wide range of problems to address with clients Decent insurance and other benefits They are very generous in providing CEUs and trainings They help with the panelling process when the time comes They try to generate a positive atmosphere; for some reason it seems to not hit the mark but when it does it's good and lasting You get to work primarily with kids aged 7-12; occasionally older teens and every so often an adult The agency is generally well regarded - word of mouth is important and happy clients tell their friends
Cons
Dependence upon antiquated equipment and billing systems A huge amount of paperwork and case work is handled by clinicians Feels like management has little respect for knowledge, experience and learning of employees - newbies or not The scheduling structure makes it hard to meet expected production when things go wrong for clients (i.e. often) Clients are assigned at random with little understanding of clinician orientation or abilities Close knit community means that you'll often have clients who know each other and/or are relatives It feels as if the organizational problems are often placed on the shoulders of entry-level employees who by their very nature cannot provide high levels of insight into these issues Consultations with experts about positive changes to make seem fruitless Lack of strong and reliable funding sources means the agency is staffed by new clinicians who will seek more lucrative employment immediately upon gaining full licensure Lack of funding impacts almost every area; protocols, morale, facilities, attitude, outlook, and clinical philosophy A general feeling of desperation pervades Long commutes are likely - rents in the rural community around these areas are still pretty high Traffic around the main office and satellite offices can be bad at times (common in the Baltimore/DC region) The politics of the area are fairly conservative - the satellite offices are in rural farming and fishing communities and the main office is in a bedroom community for DC. This might not be a "con" for some readers. It feels like there is a high turnover, here, and people seem to leave unhappy Poverty is not just a problem in the clientele
