direct support professional

instructor

program instructor

community support specialist

family support coordinator

MDH Network

● Work-life balance
They are flexible, but trainings are not offered on a flexible schedule.

● Pay & benefits
No pay increases unless minimum wage goes up. Some people have been working here for years and the only reason their salary goes up it’s because the minimum wage does.

● Job security and advancement
Advancement is based on favoritism, not on job performance.

● Management
Management has poor communication skills and they never maintain an open line of communication amongst themselves.

● Culture
Not a lot of team players in this company.

● Overall
This is a company that runs on favoritism. There is no growth opportunity if management doesn’t like you. Management constantly fails to have an open line of communication between themselves and instructors pay the price. They are never held accountable for their mistakes, but instructors are always punished for the smallest things. This company does not care about their employees if they are not from management, instructors are taken for granted and treated as if they have no life outside work. Supervisors would schedule instructors and make them drive a long distance, all to send them home because they always make scheduling errors. They think that instructors live right next to clients. Instructors have little to no support from supervisors, supervisors are supposed to be on call 24/7 in case of emergencies, but when one does occur they never answer calls right away. Their trainings are not offered on a flexible schedule so not every instructor has the proper training. Some supervisors do not even care about their clients, they go as far as calling them to “check on them”, some never even do field visits. It’s sad that a company that prides on servicing others treats its employees so poorly. Do not even get me started on salary. There are instructors that have been working at this company for years and the only salary raise they see is when the minimum wage goes up. They do not offer direct deposit, if you don’t live in Whittier then you’re pretty much without pay for 2-5 days. Employees should not have to drive and wait in a long line just to get what they’ve been working for.

Where to begin. First, this job made me realize what I have a passion for. Working with adults who have developmental dissabilities. Some days are hard with behaviors; however, you really get to know the individuals. The hardest part about leaving was leaving them. Other than that, I would not recommend this company. The management does not seem to care about the individual and what they want. The schedules for the individuals are not made by them but for them. This causes a lot of unnecessary behaviors when they get a task that they do not want to do. It can be very stressful. Management seems to forget to communicate certain information, and then expect staff to do the same (communicate). I do understand that sometimes management does not have a choice; therefore, it is harder to make changes. There is also a lot of unnecessary drama between staff, management, and field trainers. In conclusion, working with the individuals was truly a gift and so many of them made my days great and full of laughter. I truly wish management would have been better. It was extremely dissapointing. I would not take back the time I spent here because it introduced me to great people and showed me what I am passionate about. It has opened doors and given me the experience I need to expand my knowledge and put my purpose to good use. Im grateful for the good, but definitely wont miss the bad.

At MDH Network, formerly known as Mercedes Diaz Homes, the employees assist in providing the best quality care to individuals with developmental disabilities. I have seen first hand what employees will do to supersede expectations and provide for the consumers with developmental disabilities. I know that the company provides exceptional trainings to staff in order to promote proper care. I truly value the family-like environment that the company has. Each employee goes the extra mile to ensure that the work being done is being done well in order to elicit great services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. I have been with the company 2 years now and I've notice the detail and dedication from a number of different staff. I have not met a staff member that did not enjoy working for a thriving company. In the two years I have been with the company, I have seen much growth. I am aware that this company likes to honor their own employees, show appreciation, and provide them with the trainings to help them continue growing. Unlike many companies within the same field, MDH Network allows employees to get take courses to obtain state recognized certifications and move up within the company. Along with continuing education trainings, the company also likes to evaluate individuals and give them tools for further growth.

If you have a genuine calling for helping people with developmental disabilities and if you can meet their minimum requirements, then you are likely to be offered a position. The good thing is that professional experience is not required which is great especially if you are a newbie in this field; but if you have experience then I’m assuming it’s even better. 
Nonetheless, they provide training even before hiring you.  
They have many homes in the Whittier area, there is a lot of room for growth, especially if you are reliable and work hard. 
They encourage you to get DSP trainings done ASAP but it’s all for good reason. Once you have DSP 1 and 2 MDH not only gives you bonuses but you get referred  by upper management to their “specialized homes,” which by the way pay more. If you really are serious this can happen in a matter of 6 months. From there you can grow to Assistant Manager to then Manager. 
I’ve only been here for a year and have climbed up twice already, not bad if I must say so. 
The only bad thing is that sometimes the work culture might not be the best, there are people that quit here and there, most of the times to go to other places. Funny enough, they end up trying to come back! 
Overall I’m glad I’m here and can recommend MDH as a great place to work long term.

this company makes you feel like you are on;y there to keep the clients busy and that is what they refer to the individuals as: clients. they dont care If you tell them things are going wrong. Especially if you tell them about the favored staff. THey only care that they look good to other companies and that they are making more money. I worked for a week and came to realize everythign I learned in training wasn't true. It all starts when they called me saying they taught I would be a good fit and when I went in the lady that interviewed me didn't even have the schedule they told me over the phone. then  they gave me a schedule that worked but it was 21 miles away.  I accepted because I needed a job and theu told me all this about caring and that they have been in business for a long time.  I got hired then wen to do a training with a man  that seem nervous like he wasn't sure and staff there were telling him that is nit how the training is.   I started working at one of the group homes and it was just nasty drama.  the house manager clearly had favorites and the staff are awear.  they told me to watch my back  or my hours would be cut. finally gave my notice when I started to see shady things. do not apply. all they care about is money and  the office staff are not friendly and feel above you. I was going to recommend my neighbor but I quit. it not worth it. plus you pay for your cpr class.

Working as a behavior aid for MDH Day Program has been an incredible experience for me. I came from a retail paced environment, and this job has been a welcomed change to person focused care of others. I typically have a relaxed day, taking the activities at the individual's pace. My favorite part of my job is helping plan activities that I think will be most beneficial to my individuals. My supervisors are supportive of ideas I think will be helpful. I enjoy learning about our individuals, and building relationships with them. Of course, there are challenges in figuring out what works and what doesn't. I do feel that management is responsive to any problems, and willing to offer support when needed. The most rewarding part of this job is when watching individuals grow in their skills, and participating in activities that they enjoy. 

I have been with this company for around 2 years plus. I'm finally getting out of here. This place is literally a joke. People don't take the job seriously. Also have fun picking up your check every other Friday because there's no direct deposit and they change payout banks like they change clothes. This job requires you to use your own car and put miles on it. Keep in mind that when I 
worked here my individuals were high functioning but very last and wanted you do everything for them. Showing them how to better their lives always seemed to be a bad thing here, because then they would complain. It was a lose to lose situation. I had a bad experience here. Not only with a terrible manager who got her title and did little to no work after she assumed it.., but also with administration. Admins are always very biased and do very weird things and want to get away with it. You'll always hear stories of admin most of which are very true as crazy as they sound.

time and time again the management made calls about the clients and did not inform staff. this program has a lot of potential but due to great staff loss and misinformation from management, we are unable to move forward. the program ran so well when we had a reliable field trainer that kept the team informed. now, all we have is a program manager that doesn't include everyone in meetings and plays FAVORITISM. if we had a better leader we wouldn't lose good staff and we would be able to keep clients in program. this is a tough position not because of clients but because we don't have reliable management. 

it is difficult to leave on a good note because of what the program manager writes on the evaluations and calling us out for any little thing because she isn't fit to lead others. they always praise how well the program is in whittier but it is because they have much more support and it is led by professionals.


The onboarding and training experience for this program was truly exceptional—an easy 11/10. The recruitment team at the Whittier center was outstanding; some of the most welcoming and supportive individuals I've encountered in any workplace.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the training phase, my experience at the assigned facility in Burbank was quite different. The environment there was governed by strict policies, but unfortunately, those rules were not applied consistently or fairly. Favoritism was evident, and it often felt like advancement or leniency depended more on personal connections than performance.

Additionally, I was one of the few male employees in the entire region and experienced inappropriate behavior/ remarks from some female staff members, which made the workplace uncomfortable and unprofessional. 


Working for MDH has brought many new experiences and lessons. Before working here I had no idea the impact that caregiving had on individuals participating in programs or their staff. Working here has taught me many new things; patience, empathy, quick thinking, problem solving, and many more things that help me prosper in my every day life. Management and team members are always hit and miss in any job but I feel if you have any issues at MDH they fully listen and come up with appropriate solutions for your comfort within the company. The hardest part I find in this field is mainly learning your individual, but it also ties into the most enjoyable. Meeting such amazing staff and individuals while at this company makes me want to keep growing with them and continue to make a difference.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Direct support professional 197 salaries reported	$21.32 per hour
Instructor 80 salaries reported	$20.86 per hour
Program instructor 59 salaries reported	$21.33 per hour
Community support specialist 96 salaries reported	$22.13 per hour
Family support coordinator 60 salaries reported	$27.10 per hour

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