Pros
I cannot begin to express how highly I value this past year and a half at Allendale; I will miss working hard beside fellow coworkers/mentors and having a unique learning experience every day from the clients I truly care about and pray the best for. I am thankful for the immense amount of support and knowledge given to me during my time with this noble organization. I have recently been accepted into my preferred grad school's Masters of Social Work program. Working at Allendale confirmed that this is the career path I am most passionate to pursue, and I will always be grateful to Allendale for helping guide me to this stronger point of my life.
Cons
Going in as a Teacher's Aide or Mental Health Specialist, know that it's grunt work. It's definitely a necessity, but still grunt work nonetheless. There is a crazy amount of documentation, but one gets used to it after a while, just kind of part of the gig. However, it's extremely important to note that accurate documentation is crucial as your own reputation could be on the line if for whatever reason the related circumstance becomes of legal concern, so make sure to cover yourself!! There will probably be stressful times when it feels understaffed, so build a relationship with your team and count on each other: this is a must. I felt valued and never ran into any issues that altered my view of senior management one way or another, so I really don't have a say on that particular point. The population Allendale serves is tough and for sure will test one's limits. Be willing to persevere, admit your faults, and learn from your mistakes, and the learning opportunities are humbling and rewarding.