family support worker

social worker

behavioral specialist

mental health therapist

family service counselor

Families First Counseling Services

I think this job is overall very flexible. You can make your schedule for the most part, just have to work with the availability of families and work partners for meetings. It’s very easy to take time off for appointments as you can work around them and move family sessions to accommodate your needs. You get holidays off and are encouraged to take additional time off and practice self care. Supervisors are easy to get ahold of when you need assistance, but otherwise, you work pretty independently which is nice. The supervisors are helpful with problem solving as most of them have worked in the field themselves and understand when frustrating situations come up. There are also opportunities for team bondings to get to know your coworkers as well. There are weekly team meetings with set agendas that include trainings or reminders that are relevant to the job. They often let you out early if all the material is covered. The agency is pretty well organized and there is always coverage lined up when supervisors are off or coworkers will usually cover meetings/court hearings when you take time off. I’ve been here a couple of years and genuinely feel it is a rewarding job with a great work environment. The support is huge on harder days and there’s always someone that’s been in a similar situation that can provide advice and support to get you through anything. 

Working in social services has always been one of my passions, but after starting a family I decided to focus on that instead. So after many years of being a stay-at-home mother and wife, I have finally decided to make my way back into the workforce and use my degrees. Not an easy task after 20-ish years! My first place of employment was horrid. Just awful. I decided to just forget it, until a friend suggested I give Families First a shot. He knew a supervisor there and he contacted her with my information. A few days later she called, we chatted, and guess what…she convinced the company to hire me (even though they weren’t hiring in my area at the time)! So long story short, I have now been employed at this fabulous company for a year now and I literally couldn’t be happier about it! They are so genuine, caring, helpful, and really like a family! I can’t believe how blessed I am to have been connected to Families First! I absolutely plan to stay here for as long as I continue working. It has everything I was looking for or could ever want….helping children and their families, feeling fulfilled and making a difference, wonderful co-workers and company employees, a family-feeling type atmosphere, decent pay, flexible schedule, ….the list just goes on and on. My advice to you would be to give Families First a try…chances are you won’t ever look back if you do!

A good chunk of your paycheck will go to benefits, gas, and car maintenance. No mileage reimbursement. Management is okay one on one but overall never knows what’s going on. Certain employees are favored and not held accountable for not doing their jobs. Clients are never taken seriously when they complain about workers when it’s clear worker are failing at their jobs. Work loads do not seem equal. Things are never transparent and always changing but then workers are told well this was always an expectation. They forbid you from working other social worker jobs to compensate for their horrible pay so you must find some low paying second job if you want more income. They would rather lose good employees than pay a livable wage. They put employees in danger when concerns have been expressed about certain homes and violent behaviors with parents. Some coworkers will completely ignore emails. Managers will pressure you to work more. Some managers will do what they can to help while you’re in the field like call a client where others just send an email and expect you to search an attachment for a client’s number and reach out while you’re driving and in the field. Seems a few have it pretty good while others get the short end of the stick regularly. 

Working with the Department of Human Services and the juvenile court system is stressful. It doesn't help when supervisors are incompetent and unavailable. There is zero accountability, integrity, cohesiveness or direction in the office from management. I worked all the time. If I wasn't at the office, I was doing paperwork or sending emails, responding to crisis's or making calls. There is no time off, no sick time, no mileage, benefits are expensive, they don't forgive/defer student loans because it is considered for profit, which makes zero sense that they are trying to make money off working with poor unfortunate families. In outlying areas I was on call almost all the time. We/staff are treated as disposable and replaceable. They/the agency offer training but very little of it is relevant to the actual job. They need safety training, de-escalation training, training in the area of substance abuse and domestic abuse, instead they train on parenting training, which is completely useless in working with these high risk high need parents.  The office culture is not inclusive. The most enjoyable part of the job is being able to "work at home" to be able to avoid the office, the hardest part of the job is being constantly "on the clock" and unsupported by management.

Working at Families First has been an incredibly fulfilling experience. The organization is deeply committed to its mission of creating positive change in the community, and it shows in every aspect of their operations.
The leadership team truly values their staff, offering open lines of communication and providing the tools and resources needed to succeed. They encourage innovation and respect input from every level of the organization.
The team here is second to none. Colleagues are passionate, driven, and supportive, which fosters an environment where everyone is motivated to give their best.
There is a clear focus on staff development, with access to training, and even a mentor/mentee specific staff and program. This commitment to professional growth is inspiring and empowering.
At the heart of it all, Families First prioritizes the well-being of the individuals and families we serve. Seeing the tangible impact of our work every day is incredibly rewarding.


They will downplay the amount of travel and the distance of travel. They pride themselves on “build your own schedule” and flexible schedule but then constantly change your schedule. If you say you’re not available they will ask if you’re leaving the country. If you’re not, you’re available. People with children are favored with their time viewed as more valuable. Whistleblowers are gaslit and not taken seriously. Workers falsifying reports is acceptable. Encourage self-care but don’t actually support implementing it. Must drive your own car sometimes driving 500+ miles a week while taxiing children and parents around with no gas/car maintenance reimbursement. Must clean up after kids and parents when they trash your car. Online “trainings” that don’t translate to daily job description. Sink or swim training style. Paid holidays and PTO but you may or may not have to make time up for those days taken off. Pressure to work on the paid holidays without additional holiday pay. Unlivable salaries but they will tell you your salary is high as if you should be thankful for what you’re getting. 

I have had the pleasure of working with Families First for years, and it has truly been an exceptional experience. One of the standout aspects of working here is the flexibility and lucrative scheduling. The ability to create a work schedule that fits my personal life has been a game-changer, allowing me to pursue my passions and prioritize self-care without sacrificing my career.

The pay is competitive, and Families First goes above and beyond to ensure that employees feel valued. I’ve consistently felt supported by management and colleagues, and it's clear that the agency genuinely cares about the well-being and growth of its staff. It’s not just about the work; it’s about ensuring we thrive both professionally and personally.

What I love most is that, despite the flexibility and focus on self-improvement, I am still able to do meaningful work within the social work field. Families First provides an environment where I can continue to make a real difference in the lives of others, while also having the space to invest in my own personal growth and well-being. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of this team and excited to continue growing both in my career and as an individual.

A work day entails communication with clients and DHS workers about how cases are going, attending court hearings as needed, transporting clients to visits, supervising visits between children and their parents (with different levels of supervision being provided based on each case), checking in with clients regarding how things are going, and attending meetings about different cases as these arise. There can be a fair amount of driving from one place to another in your own vehicle to see or pick up clients. No two days look the same, and some flexibility is important due to changes to cases that occur frequently and quickly at times. The co-workers and management are very supportive and willing to assist in any way they are able to do so.  It is a difficult job at times due to the stress levels associated with the social work profession, so self care is incredibly important. Otherwise, it's very easy to burn out with this job. The reward of helping reunify and keep together families is incredibly satisfying!

Having just graduated from college, I was excited and nervous to enter the realm of the “adult workforce”. Getting a job with Families First could not have been a bigger blessing. This was the perfect job for me to have for a short amount of time (I’m attending graduate school soon) but would still offer me the chance to have amazing learning opportunities, gain so much experience in the field, and enjoy working again. I came to FF from a job that didn’t appreciate its workers or have a professional atmosphere. I was feeling burnt out. When I came to FF, I was met with a supportive management system, fun coworkers, and an overall sense of “this is where I’m suppose to be at this point in my life.” After graduate school I would highly consider coming back to work for this company. If you’ve ever thought about working for a group in this field, you should DEFINITELY consider working for Families First. 

I have been working at Families First for three years now. I absolutely love my job and my position in the company. I stand behind everything that Families First does. The work day goes by so fast. When I started I was eager to learn and thought that this would fade away, but it really hasn't. I am always trying to learn new things here at Families First. I also have some extra training in the Microsoft software and have been able to train some staff on new tips and tricks to work more time efficiently. We are always trying to help each other out.
The managing partners, executive team, managers, and supervisors are all so nice and helpful. Working at Families First I feel like I am making a difference in the lives of children and families in Iowa. At Families First, you are not just another employee or a number for some corporate business, you are a team member and we value each and every one of our employees. We have Administration staff that are always willing to help out, as we are here to help our workers succeed in their positions.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Family support worker 106 salaries reported	$43,610 per year
Social worker 2 salaries reported	$42,000 per year
Behavioral specialist 9 salaries reported	$40,500 per year
Mental health therapist 12 salaries reported	$70,000 per year
Family service counselor 9 salaries reported	$59,750 per year

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