therapist

outpatient therapist

family advocate

special education teacher

registered nurse

Klingberg Family Centers

Klingberg provides a wide array of services for children and families, many of which I have at best a basic knowledge of having never worked in all of the services. Speaking from the specific perspective of my role as a permanency specialist, the work is very rewarding in that helping children find their forever family, seeing the love that is found for the child, and watching the child begin to flourish in the unconditional love and acceptance the family provides is heartwarming to say the least. There is a sense of pride and accomplishment when the child achieves permanency but there is also a sense of honor and humbleness in that I was able to be a part of the process.

The work is not easy, but no work in human/social services is. In my role though, there is variance in what a day can look like. Yes, there are meetings to attend, narratives/notes to document, and calls to make but there are also visits with the children to attend and research as you try to find resources for the child. 

In my specific position, there is not a lot of opportunity for advancement in the program however the program provides valuable experience to be able to advance in related areas.

A typical work day consisted of a meeting at the beginning of the day that was optional to attend, as long as it wasn’t Monday. Clinical rounds were on Thursday, that was mandatory.  I learned how to document all the daily notes and treatment reviews, but when I asked for formal training on some documents, I was told to “do my best” over being provided training. The hardest part of the job is writing an absurd three notes per child, per day. As well as being expected to balance any other documents due with having to observe three groups a day. You’re expected to write on groups you aren’t actively observing if you’re trying to get caught up. It makes zero sense. The best part of the job, far and away, was the kids and the non-supervisory staff. The pay is on the low end, even for someone having just received their LMSW and the sign-on bonus could be more in terms of money and length. If you’re looking for a place to get supervision hours to work towards more advanced licensure, don’t expect to get them every week. They’ll tell you it’s your fault if you were off/sick and not reschedule or ensure you get your supervision hours. The director was super helpful in terms of emergencies and all the things I had to deal with in my personal life.

Just focus on improving the employee safety. That's my only negative which I would describe about Klingberg. Most of the benefits were pretty good, aside from employer retirement contributions match which could have been better. But the most stressful part of the job was the unsafe behavior of the clients. I felt like the administration wasn't always supportive of their employees. Lots of times, the administration would take the clients sides instead of listening fairly and neutrally. Many of the clients took advantage of this and exploited it which made the job more stressful. That led to lots of unnecessary power struggles and then restraints. That's the one thing which needs to improve more than anything else: safety in this workplace.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Definitely the kids. Watching them learn and grow.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The staff especially the supervisors

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
They have hired more than 2 dozen employees from a friend group that all graduated from the same local high school together. 

It’s a bunch of older kids looking after only slightly younger students. The blind leading the blind. This opens the doors for all types of kaos.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
You wait for your kid outside to get off the bus. You then walk them to home room, let them eat breakfast and start their day. You shadow your assigned student and make sure their staying out of trouble, help them regulate.

Unfortunately, Klingberg Family Centers was one of the worst jobs I ever had. The culture was very counter productive, toxic and catty depending on who you work with. Management is not dependable or supportive. There is job security because you are considered an essential employee and there is much to learn in the human services field which can be rewarding, however burnout is very common. The pay is not commensurate with the amount of work you are required to do. Management does not advocate for employees and there is not a great deal of upward mobility. Your job can even be put at risk due to a clients actions resulting in essentially scapegoating of the employee. 

Working in the group homes gives great experience for anyone looking to work with youth, as most other jobs will seem easy compared to these clients' behavior.  In my 4 years working there I never felt supported by management, and often found myself in unsafe situations due to this.  Management will tell you what you want to hear, and then do the complete opposite behind your back.  Very cliquey due to being such a small workplace, and favorites are definitely given preferential treatment.  When DCF gets upset about how a situation was handle management will not hesitate to throw you under the bus.  Good experience but watch your back and don't let your guard down.

Overall I had a positive experience with the agency. In the end my direct supervisor did some pretty questionable things that ultimately pushed me to the decision to leave. The change over in long standing staff to newer people, kept me from really questioning or bringing forward concerns I ultimately had, and felt it was just better to leave on a positive note. Management at times was difficult, and could sometimes micromanage. I learned a lot in my time, and was able to eventually move up to a supervisor position. Though room for advancement in the agency is slim in certain departments.  Again overall I would say my time was positive, and for those starting out in the field it’s a great place for learning.

Klingberg is a great place to work if working with emotionally challenged children is something that you would find rewarding. At Klingberg I am giving a lot of freedom to fine tune my own work style without always being told what to do and how to do it. As a result I have learned a lot about myself and my work ethic. Most people working for Klingberg would agree that working with the children can be the most rewarding and the most challenging aspect of the job. Given the nature of working with children that had a wide varieties of emotional illnesses it has always been important to establish positive relationships with my coworkers in order to effectively understand and manage the behaviors of the children.

It's all about the students. Teaching them to regulate there emotions while getting an education.
Management changes, and communication issues are exhausting, but you have to push through.
The hardest part is the turn over. Many people go in thinking it's easy, and they can make tons of money easily, but it's not about money, it's about the students and helling them. 
My favorite part about the job is the connection with students and coworkers. After a student graduates and they see me out and about and remember I helped them, that's the best feeling 

A typical day at work entailed of visiting client's homes and educating them on parenting as well as case management. I learned techniques on how to work with children and parents with various disabilities. The managers and supervisors were always readily available to help and guide as needed. The most difficult part of the job was seeing children go through different types of abuse and witnessing the effects. Working as a social worker was very rewarding. Seeing the difference I made in the lives of the families I served was enjoyable.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Therapist 5 salaries reported	$60,000 per year
Outpatient therapist 5 salaries reported	$60,600 per year
Family advocate 2 salaries reported	$51,250 per year
Special education teacher 5 salaries reported	$65,500 per year
Registered nurse 5 salaries reported	$42.50 per hour

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