case manager

mental health technician

foster care worker

counselor

foster care case manager

Gulf Coast JFCS

Appeared extremely open and welcoming initially. Also job security and advancement seemed promising since the agency is successful in other counties in Florida. Advancement is available despite whether one is truly qualified for a higher position which is of dis-service to the agency. It wasn't long before it became apparent that the agency would need to shape up or risk losing many good people. Needless to say this occurred and is still occurring because the poor management/leadership is constantly driving case managers away. Nearly 2 people resign weekly. There is very little consideration for case managers who are expected to do everything. There is also very little case management support. Since 1/2015 there has been 3 supervisors to leave, 1 upper management demotion, and about 15 case managers resign. Management's primary concern is that of the contract metrics and numbers.Not only are current employees overwhelmed and in search for other employment but the Dependency Judges, lead agency Our Kids, GAL program and service providers appear extremely dissatisfied. The concerning and unfortunate issues are that permanency, safety, and well being of the families being serviced are being delayed. This agency is failing the Miami Dade County community mainly due to the ignorance and inexperience of higher management as well as poor structure and low employee moral.

My time at GCJFCS was a great experience but also a learning experience.This job is perfect for someone who is just graduating from college and needs experience under their name. Bare in mind, you will have to do some recruiting (it’s all about reaching numbers and hitting monthly goals). Before COVID, 1-3 days out the week, it was required that you go to child support court to recruit clients to join the program. From there, you would follow-up with client on a weekly basis until program completion. When COVID came, things changed tremendously, The pressure to get numbers was insane. The nature of the job was ever changing before but had gotten worse and you weren’t always given the proper training to succeed. Reacing  out to a coworker for help was a norm when unsure since the supervisor wasn’t always available. It’s not a horrible job but it can get super stressful especially if you aren’t trained properly. The supervisor was amazing but again, wasn’t always available for assistance. The clients were okay but some were full of it and sometimes left you feeling drained. The constant comparison between an office that wasn’t even in the same county was super annoying and made you feel like you weren’t doing enough or your best. Overall, I would recommend someone to work here but not to stay long term. Only to gain experience. 


Management appeared welcoming in the beginning. Advancement is available, however it didn't matter if you were qualified for the position or not because the need was greater. Within the first week, good people were leaving or so stressed out they were not coming in. My first week there, I was told to "sink or swim" and then given several cases without knowing what I was doing. There were many instances where there were clear indications of lack of support, consideration, and much needed training for the case managers. The more case managers left the more the cases and clients are left in limbo in waiting for a new one to replace them. 

 Within the first week of being there, new employees show clear signs of being overwhelmed and in search on their own for the proper resources to do their job effectively. On a daily basis, Dependency Judges, lead agency Our Kids, GAL program and service providers voice the dissatisfaction via emails, calls, and in person. At the end of the day, I left exhausted, confused, and elated that I found employment outside of this organization. 

I do agree that this agency is doing Miami Dade County community a huge disservice in how they treat the employees mainly due to the ignorance and inexperience of higher management as well as poor structure and low employee moral.

I got hired at GCJFS straight out of college and eager to begin case management. That was a mistake. Being paid $14 / hour to use my own car (paid for my own gas and mileage paid back was under the federal minimum) plus using my own money to buy my kids on my cases foods and other necessities when they’re with me with a $5 reimbursement. There was such a lack of support from management that you basically needed to just figure it all out on your own-regardless of how trying the situation is. I understood the whole “anything can happen” feel of the job, however when everything did happen you are left to your own devices and really struggled to get by. You testify on your own behalf in court without guidance and they threaten you to be held in contempt if you do not meet judges standards. HOW CAN YOU WORK AT A JOB WITH THE THREAT OF BEING JAILED FOR TRYING TO DO YOUR JOB? There is 0 work life balance as you are trying to create a schedule to transport your 15+ kids all over the state of Florida while creating a weekly schedule for visitation plus needing to make eye contact with every child weekly. Turnover rate was extremely high. This company deterred me from case management entirely. Office is also on 6th floor and the elevator never works. There’s absolutely nothing good about this job. Look for one of the sister agencies for a job (you’ll get low pay but maybe better supervisors).

My immediate supervisor and her supervisor were very difficult to work with. Your experience there kind of depends on who you're under... management in general is understanding but if you get stuck under someone difficult, good luck. There were a lot of cool folks there who really cared about the kids. I made attempts to transfer to a different unit which were ignored until I put in my notice... Just as well I suppose, as my current job is pretty great.

Be warned that the child welfare situation in Hillsborough County is very difficult and not for the weak. There's a lot of room for upward movement in that regard I suppose, not just in the agency but in the system in general. Stats wise, Gulf Coast is doing better than most, but the situation for these kids is still pretty grim. If you want to be a force for positive change, aren't afraid to speak your mind, don't mind sitting in court all day and have a spine of steel, this might be a great job for you.

The company has a lot of different programs and values a diverse and inclusive workforce which I appreciated. They practice what they preach when it comes to forward-thinking values and genuinely care about their clients.

Helping people is a great purpose and there are great programs within the company. The problem is each program runs independently. In the program I was in, I was micromanaged. Our caseloads were ridiculously high and we were regularly expected to work for free on our own time because no OT was allowed and our hours were always used up. There is no ‘team’ just orders from afar to complete redundant tasks that were useless in the first place. No one will care about you or what is right or wrong. Work till you drop or at least hide well and fake your work. The trainer is knowledgeable, but incapable of communication or honesty. Turnover has increased remarkably and will continue to be problematic. The few older staff still there like to gossip and tear people down, even spying on new people and texting the trainer privately to rattle like children, pathetic. The supervisors rarely ever show up in the office and have no relationship with their staff members. Most of the staff avoid the office because of its toxic nature and no one completes all of the assigned work according to the new expectations. There’s no way to know if the work was even completed legitimately. So if you survive the training, vanish and draw no attention. 

When coming in to work we would take report for the day. Medication was passed to clients and then after  dinner was served. The clients would clean up the kitchen and then the MHT would transport the clients to a AA or Na meeting. We would always support the clients.I learned that know one is perfect and we all make mistakes in life . The managment was also a wonder group to work under as well. They always listen to you when you had something to say and would always try to back you up. The co-workers was a wonder team to work with. My hardest part of the job was to see some of the clients leave knowing in your heart they were not ready to face the world. And they came a part of your life working with them and listening to there problems and being there and picking them up when they would fail at the program  I enjoyed working at the rehab knowing  I was there for our clients and letting them know that I beleaved in them and they would make it. Sometimes a person just needs to know that someone really care;s about them and beleave in them. Your there to teach them social skills and document objectivly on behavors.

What is the best part of working at the company?
An agency committed to Jewish values and to refugees and holocaust survivors. I think they are too stretched thin for child welfare

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Lack of support for frontline staff, lack of support for supervisors. Lack of communication, empathy and professionalism 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Poor, based on favoritism and not professional 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
You will work 12-16 hours with no break, you will be putting 1000 miles a month on your car. You will be expected to babysit angry and many times violent youth with severe mental health issues alone and with no backup. You will be expected to be on call 24/7. You will be addressed in condescending and sometimes profane language. It is relentless. You are expected to meet deadlines with caseloads far outside what is best practice or even safe numbers.

Im so glad i left his job. Do not apply. Run as far away from this as possible. You are lied to during the hiring process and you are tricked into accepting this job. You get out of training after 2 months and you realize you are completely unprepared to do the job. Management is not helpful. You are told to talk to your supervisor but mine was unhelpful and didnt know what he was doing. I felt like i was ripped off and offered a bad supervisor. The expectations are too high for people gdtting out of training. No to mention the court dates, meetings, kids in the office that you are solely responsible for. Do not apply unless you enjoy giving your entire life to this company & getting nothing in return because the pay is LOW. Mielage reimbursment is LOW. HR is a JOKE and not helpful. On call is A nightmare and people are cliqued up and friends and not willing to help unless they like you!!

I receive a lot of support and help from my team and supervisor when needed. When needed we step in and cover court, home visits, placement break downs, etc. for each other. As a case manager I learned to think quickly and effectively in emergency situations. There will be times where you will not be to get in contact with someone or get back up and you have to make immediate,appropriate decisions. The most difficult part of being a case manager is trying to balance work and your personal life. Sometimes in this field the job can become your life and sstress you out. If you allow the job to consume your life, you will burn out quickly. Myself and my team mates ma,e our work environment enjoyable. We laugh a lot when needed and provide a shoulder for each other when needed.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Case manager 35 salaries reported	$23.51 per hour
Mental health technician 20 salaries reported	$15.09 per hour
Foster care worker 25 salaries reported	$52,280 per year
Counselor 9 salaries reported	$53,722 per year
Foster care case manager 21 salaries reported	$50,214 per year

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