case manager

clinical supervisor

substance abuse counselor

program director

administrative assistant

Comunilife, Inc.

My tenure at Comunilife, Inc. has been a valuable learning experience for me and has positively influenced in my life and my career.  I have learned about the roles of the Staff in Administration, Case Managers and other Departments. 

On July, 2015 it was as my 19th Anniversary at Comunilife, Inc. I started working with the Agency in 1996 when it was HIRE. I worked with Transitional Programs for two years. I also worked at Congregate Housing and also assist with the Projects of other Programs. I love and respect my residents for me they are no clients they are part of my family.  I was always there for them when they needed it something or they wanted to talk or were feeling lonely or down or to see their faces happy when the Program did any activity for them or celebrated the Holidays or birthdays to see their expressions in their faces, always looking forward to the next activity.  They made you feel pleased because we as employees of Comunilife, Inc. we were there for them for support and to assist them in anything they need.   

Two years ago  I received news from HRA that I was been transferred to another Program within Comunilife, Inc. that day I cried and I even told the Person in charge of the HRA Department that  I was willing to take a demotion or a decreased in  my salary but to please let me stay with that Program.  I didn’t want to leave my co-workers but specially my clients the ones that I love and respect.  I was told that they need me in another program to assist them with other projects. 

I started working with Scatter Site where I respect my co-workers and is like a family.  Even though the clients don’t reside at the Program they come and we still assist them with their daily needs. I enjoy working with them at Comunilife and continue serving the population that is the reason why we are here for them to help them and to follow their dreams and achieve their goals.  
I help my co-workers as much as I can even if is not my department. I am a team player, I enjoy completing projects and making sure that everything is all right. I do so much in my position and I love what I do even multitasking. The most enjoyable part of working at Comunilife is receiving phone calls and emails from people that have used our services and expressed that they are pleased with our services. 

With every job/work you will have your ups and downs, disappointments, etc. that happens everywhere you go no job is extraordinary.  If you are someone that is looking to work at an organization that sincerely has an interest in serving people I strongly suggest you look into the positions available within Comunilife, Inc. Organization and decide for yourself. Is this organization perfect, no it’s not nothing is perfect in life, however in my 19 years of working I have never found any organization to be. In a world where employment is hard to find I feel privileged to be working at an organization where I actually love the work that I am doing and appreciate the team I work with.  Comunilife, Inc. is my family.

If you believe for one second your current job situation is bad, any position you take in this company will be worst! 

Yes, the company has been around for 25 years due to politics. The company use to be called H.I.R.E. Inc. Do your research if you do not believe me, ask questions to former and current employees, there are somethings one just cannot lie about. The management starting the CEO is needs to CLEAN HOUSE. They do not care about their employees, you are expendable to them and they make it very known through their verbal threats. The turn over rate is outrageous and retention is non-existent because even if someone had agreed to stay for transfer or $1 pay raise you end up resigning again months later. It is simply not worth it. It is the client's who suffer due to the inconsistency of staff and it is a set back on their path to independent healthy living. 

The pay sucks, competitive salary is nonsense. Even if they start you off with $30,000 yr, note that will be your salary until you seek employment elsewhere. You are consider "LOW INCOME" it looks good but not when you are trying to build a life for yourself. They do not give merit pay or contribute to 401K unless they have the extra budget for it, which is NEVER. There is no room for growth, if you get a promotion it does not mean your pay changes. 

Please understand that I am a current employee, I have worked for the company for about 3 years and I am leaving on my own good terms. After awhile the turn overs get to you and you get a new supervisor, PD or VP who wants to revamp everything only to turn around a resign too. After going through this 5 times in 3 years with no acknowledgement of all the work you put in to help keep the program up float through understaffed pressure, it is time for someone else to do it all. You do not just apply to one position, you are apply to all the vacant positions, you are expected to "pitch in" through their turmoils which never ends! You are not compensated or applauded however, if you chose not to do so then it is used against you. Job security? There is none! Just so you know, you are an AT WILL employee! You can be let go for anything and I mean anything!

The company is ran by females which one would hope this is a GREAT thing, but in this case it is not. They are inconsiderate, unappreciative, inhumane, unethical and unprofessional. 

A positive note, you'll love your clients and some of co workers. You'll gain experience in the field if you have none but you also experience everything wrong along the way. 

Get in and Get out, if you consider this company. I get it, desperate times and it's hard to find a job. Just milk it until something descent comes along. 

Remember, you are interviewing the company too, so ask questions!

I am writing this review as a current and former employee of Comunilife Vida Guidance Center. I have worked with Comunilife in different capacities since 2006. I was the Clinic Director from 2006 thru 2008. In 2008 I was in the process of moving out of New York State so I stepped down from my duties. However, I continued with the Vida Guidance Center until Feb. 2010, as a clinical consultant and a part time therapist. When I moved back to NYC in 2013 I can say I had the opportunity to work with several wonderful organizations that were seeking to hire me. I made the decision to come back to the Vida Guidance Center as the Clinic Director in February 2013 because I truly believe in the mission of Comunilife Inc, and how this agency is deeply invested in improving the lives of children, adults and families in New York City. I also have the priviledge of working with an amazing staff. Our Vida Guidance Center staff is a team of bilingual and multi-cultural professionals and we are deeply committed to helping our clients improve their lives. The staff is professional, kind, compassionate, caring, friendly and very dedicated to the community and the clients we serve. This clinic provides a true family atmosphere and a caring environment for the clients.  I wake up every day excited to go to work and at least 2-3 times per week I see a client that remembers me as the director in 2006-2008, or as their therapist from 2009- 2010. The clients provide feedback that they continue to attend Vida Guidance Center because they feel cared for and that they are being helped with their problems. 

I want to share about the many exciting changes that are happening at the clinic! We are trained and specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which is an evidenced based therapy designed to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use, smoking, family conflicts and behavioral issues in as little as 10-12 sessions. We have groups that provide therapy to treat depression/anxiety, Trauma and PTSD, ADHD in children, parenting skills/ parent support, couples/ relationships issues, substance abuse recovery, and wellness & health management. Our psychiatrists are trained in psychotropic medications, and in holistic (natural) alternatives for health management. The clinic continues to partner with Comunilife’s Life Is Precious program, which is a latina teen suicide prevention program servicing the Bronx and Brooklyn.

Comunilife is a great agency to work for. There are growth opportunities and it is a family atmosphere. I highly recommend this agency.

There are simply no words to describe Vida Guidance Center. During my employment, I witnessed more than four Clinic Directors resign as well as countless clinicians and staff. Everyone I came in contact with was EXTREMELY unhappy, voicing their concerns about how poorly staff was treated and how incompetent supervisors/administrators were. I completely agree with the previous review. There is something seriously wrong with this organization! From the beginning, I was never properly trained but expected to know how to handle a caseload of 75 clients w/o any issues, being verbally threatened by licensed professionals if I did not organize my paperwork to perfection and increase my productivity (and don't expect a raise if you do meet these unrealistic expectations or pass your licensing exam-you'll be told how much of a deficit the clinic is in and how they do not foresee it open in a year). When I spoke up about my concerns, I was treated poorly and told "we can't have you here if you can't produce." Apparently, proving services for the clients was not the main concern but funding the pockets of supervisors/administrators was. I can honestly say working at Vida Guidance Center was like being in an abusive relationship (constant negativity about your performance). The worst part was the movement to implement CBT (12 week program) with a population suffering from severe psychosocial issues (otherwise known as how can we maximize state funding and produce the most revenue). I truly feel sorry for the clients that are invested in their treatment (the turnover rate is so high that there are clients who have only been there a year and have seen 8 different therapist). Administration says they "care" about the client but in the end only care about making $$$. Of course, I'm no fool! Every business has to pay the bills but saying you care about the client and then having a staff meeting only about making profit is another thing. The most disappointing thing for me was watching how poorly two educated Latinas ran this organization, treating fellow Latinas/Latinos as tough they were beneath them! How truly sad for those who continue to be apart of such a toxic and negative place. How truly sad administration has chosen to continue being such a poor example! Shame on you Vida Guidance Center-Comunilife! Shame on you!

I have read all the reviews posted on this site and I can honestly say that I have never personally experienced what these reviewers are claiming. I have been working at Comunilife  for over 4 years; although challenging at times have provided opportunities for me  to grow professionally.  People who work in this field know that when one chooses to work at a nonprofit organization you will have to make sacrifices. I came into this organization knowing that there was work to be done and that there would be days that I would need to put in extra time, again I did it knowingly. 

From day one I was given the support and opportunity to implement my ideas and my vision and merge them with the organization’s mission. Currently in the position I hold I am able to work directly with the participants of the program as well as the organizations executive management team. My supervisor has played a vital role in my professional development  and has been instrumental in helping me achieve program goals. 

If you are someone that is looking to work at an organization that sincerely has an interest in serving people I strongly suggest you look into the positions available and decide for yourself. Is this organization perfect, no it’s not, however in my 20+ years of working I have never found any organization to be. In a world where employment is hard to find I feel fortunate to be working at an  organization where I actually love the work that I am doing and appreciate the  team I work with.

I began my career in this organization in 1992 in the scattered site housing program for severe mentally ill individuals.  I received educational training in-house and out of the organization as well as extensive supervision that allowed me to be promoted to higher positions, up to Executive Deputy Director.  I left the agency in 2009 to pursue my own business. As my family and professional needs changed; I decided to come back in a new role, clinical supervisor, to repay agency  and to serve the community to which I am fully committee.  
 Agency  has a long history of serving homeless, mentally ill individuals and people living with HIV with a profound commitment to serve a multicultural population. The entire agency and the Guidance Center offer services in an systemic and multicultural relational approach where individuals are not consider  a “number” but a human being in need,  deserving of high quality  care  as they  integrate to their communities.

This agency is a solid institution where staff can grow and develop their potential while serving our communities; as I was given the knowledge as well as the opportunity to develop a vertical movement during my prior 17 years of service within this agency. I highly recommend this organization to those individuals in the mental health and social services fields that want to make a difference as well as to grow professionally. This is what I believe and this is why I rejoined the agency with pride.

A look at a Monday starts with check-in with clients at the residence who are always roaming the hallways. Review the front desk log to see if there were any incidents over the weekend. Urgencies always arise because there may be a resident in a bad mood so be prepared to get cursed at, specially if its the beginning of the month and they used the money to buy illicit substances vs pay the rent. The supervisor may be in later and the Director but don't rely on them to hold residents accountable for any behavior against residential rules--- unfortunately, they lack understanding of how these clients are housed in their program. (because NYC's HRA is responsible for the rent as well as Section 8 program they cannot be evicted. Also, this may reduce the vacancy in the residence and they agency is focused on those numbers. Therefore, you will be fired before anything happens tot he client.) You are responsible for the residents needs and actions, including overall hygiene as well as escort to appointments and unit inspections. 
The end of the day is calm and you will be the last one standing. Reports and reviews are due along with progress notes and there's always work due because there is an open door policy and the clients are always in and out of your office and you will work through lunch--- this population can be needy and this client's have a need of manipulation to get money from you to supply their needs.

Expect to do way more than just your job description. As case manager, you will be required to do intakes and outreach (both specialist positions that they can easily hire for). Management is inconsistent in that they never stay on the job or they can't keep up with all locations. Administration is even worse. They will listen to feedback, but they won't take any of it into consideration, especially if employees are providing said feedback for the sake of their clients. Clients are easy to work with, and you are part of a good team of fellow case managers/therapists/part-timers. Work environment varies, depending on the  location you are sent to work in. It's difficult to decide whether working for Comunlife would be recommended because it goes both ways: the experience is actually very rewarding, and it's perfect for anyone fresh out of college, looking to get their foot in the door with their psych/socio/education/social work degree IF they are willing to put in the extra work and put up with a heavily disorganized administration. Definitely not something permanent if you seek higher prospects. Or, maybe you can be the one to fix it all, move up within management/admin, and restructure the entire program.

On 10/23/13 I will mark my one year anniversary working as the Vocational Counselor at Comunilife, Inc.  I am very pleased that this organization is dedicated to providing trainings to the employees.  I am gratified that I am able to start the first resource room for the organization under the leadership of the Senior Vice President of the organization.  
  
On a typical day, I run workshops, meet with residents individually and speak with my supervisor.  

Of course, there could be more money.  Who would ever say they wouldn't like to be paid more.  I look forward to showing my value to this organization and them rewarding my hard work.  

There is a lot of turnover right now, but I am fine with that because it means the organization is getting stronger in my opinion. Those who wish to leave here are justified in their choices.  

My co-workers are pleasant people that I think I will maintain relationships with regardless of our working situation.  

I love coming to work every day to work with this population.  I really enjoy helping my residents follow their dreams, achieve their goals and have hope that they are able to create the future of their dreams.

I process all purchase requisitions (janitorial, furniture, starter kits) for the entire organization, property registration, parking permits, office supplies, vehicle registration and inspection, manage all cell phone list (113 lines), DOB Category 1 inspection for the elevators and wheelchair lift at our facilities; I process metro cards for our programs, gas cards, home depot acct and t-mobile. I also handle the panty and janitorial inventory. I learned a great deal in my position. We have a team of 4 plus our VP of Property and Asset Management.  We all work well as a team and independently.  There would be good days and some bad days. I learned all aspect of permits, inspections and violation working at Comunilife. I help everyone as much as I can that is not in my department. I am a team player and appreciate some acknowledgement. I enjoy completing my projects and making sure that everything is okay. I do so much in my position and I love what I do but I don't see any advancement in my position after being here 7 years this coming February. I know that I can do more if given the opportunity.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Case manager 66 salaries reported	$48,591 per year
Clinical supervisor 41 salaries reported	$72,389 per year
Substance abuse counselor 21 salaries reported	$58,952 per year
Program director 11 salaries reported	$84,749 per year
Administrative assistant 11 salaries reported	$18.06 per hour

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