case manager

clinician

foster parent

therapist

educator

National Youth Advocate Program

Do not work here. They won't tell you this during the interview, but the job requires ridiculous amount of travel and paperwork which are not part of your monthly productivity targets. Productivity requirements are IMPOSSIBLE to reach no matter how much you try, but that is all they care about. NOBODY has EVER hit productivity in my department during the time I worked there, this is how unattainable it is. I worked long hours, often more than 40 a week, yet you can't get overtime pay. Their "flexible" schedule means you have to accommodate your time to the clients' needs and can be out til 9 pm at night during school season. They told me I could work hybrid remotely when I started,  and that I could work half Fridays during summer, but only people who hit productivity can utilize these benefits. I learned this after the interview, so basically nobody from my department could use these so called "benefits" based on the requirements. Yet some people got special privileges and I could see them working from home during meetings despite not hitting the productivity requirements.

The management is highly incompetent and don't know how to manage, some lack basic human empathy, yet they keep getting promoted. They pretend to care about you and the kids but it couldn't be further from the truth. They will micromanage you, gaslight you, and will throw you under the bus. The lack of transparency with the management was ridiculous. They would make decisions that would affect you and the kids you work with behind your back.The truth is that they wanted to sweep problems under the rug and workers always bringing them up annoyed them as they didn't actually want to address the issues. Issues about the kids' safety and well-being they are supposed to protect!!

Everyone working there is miserable except for the mangement. Many of my former coworkers have quit or are actively looking for other opportunities. They have ridiculously high turnover. Health insurance is very expensive and the mileage they pay you for driving constantly is nowhere enough for you to cover the cost of maintenance on your car. I could go on and on about the issues I have observed here, but just do yourself a favor and stay away. For the people that are supposed to be licensed therapists, the management sure knows how to create a toxic environment. BEWARE.

This job never ended. You lose time with your family. You get texts and calls during family time which makes it stressful to be with your family. My son had anxiety every time my phone went off or I opened my laptop. Flexibility never came. Very little support.  You never get compliments or encouragement, only complaints and scrutiny. I was lied to about my incentive pay and felt forced to agree to less in order to keep my job. Coordinators made more money than me, which is not an ideal situation for supervisors. Meetings are aimless. Don't bother sharing, because it doesn't matter. They do what they want at the end of the day. It only makes the meetings longer to share ideas and opinions. The program director does whatever the state director wants her to do. The state director does what the stakeholders want her to do, so when it comes down to it, it's a one man show with everyone running around bending over backwards to make that person happy- to the point that you question whether you are part of a "neutral party" as promised to clients. It doesn't allow collaborative sharing from different points of view when areas seem to be failing families or DSS to come up with initiative efforts to make positive changes. The coordinators had very little support due to lack of change and active listening from higher ups, leaving everyone feeling unappreciated and undervalued for their time. It certainly didn't allow me to be the supervisor I strived to be. The answer was to basically advertise the job and hire everyone who walked into a room and then "see who works out". This added more frustration and more stress having to supervise and train people who were inadequate for the position while the highly trained and adequate coordinators threatened to leave on a daily basis due to my increased unavailability, making retention of great contractors even harder and my stress level higher. The stress was unbearable and I regret that I wasn't able to offer more support and encouragement to the people who deserved it. Instead, they got a stressed overworked, and grouchy supervisor. For that, I am truly sorry.

National Youth Advocate Program is a disgrace to the child welfare system. The organization provides home-based services and foster care services that do not serve the best interest of the children. NYAP constantly violates state’s rules and regulations as it pertains to foster care. NYAP has several foster parents that have received multiple complaints in regards to licensing, which make it difficult to maintain children in these homes. NYAP will make TCs have caseloads that are over capacity and will not compensate TCs for any overtime worked The contract between NYAP and DCS states that caseloads for therapeutic case managers should be no more than 11, and  when I was employed there on TC had 17 children on her caseload at one time.  I also personal received 11 new cases in a 45 day period that I also put me over the 11 limit. NYAP managers are non-sympathetic and non-supportive to the needs of their employees; especially single mothers. They also seldom show staff appreciate or respect. While I was employed there, I received several emails from NYAP’s Indy regional manager that were disrespectful and unprofessional. NYAP’s management lacks any ethics or morals and they treat children as if they are expendable.  They will do ANYTHING to get a portion of the child’s per diem even if it’s not in the best interest of the child. In Addition NYAP's management lacks managerial skills; they make reactive decisions based on their emotions rather than logical decisions that will benefit the agency.  If you want to work in the child welfare system it would behoove to work with ANY other agency other than NYAP

NYAP is not your typical social service agency. They value their employees and the families and clients they serve. I've worked at different companies and I'm usually ready to find the next best thing, and stay for a max of 2 years. But at NYAP, I plan to retire here. They are true to their mission and values and extremely flexible about time off. You have access to upper management and opportunities to stay connected with leadership in other locations and possibly other states. I have access to my Executive Director and feel extremely supported by her.   I feel that my position is doable but offers challenges that help me grow as a leader. The schedule is also very flexible, my staff can still make their personal appointments and schedule sessions and appointments with their clients around them easily. Most of my coworkers and staff have children and can easily work from home or leave work when a family emergency arises. There were also a lot of single mothers working there as well and I noticed that they were well supported. The work is rewarding and NYAP takes an approach to the communities they serve unlike anything I've ever seen. I can't wait to be a part of the growth that is soon to come to NYAP in the Jacksonville area. I sing NYAP's praises every chance I get. Grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself and the ability to grow and advance in a company I respect and love.

This company is an absolute joke and a disaster. Management only looks out for themselves and is not afraid to stab others in the back or walk all over them to get to the top. HR Directors have a complete lack of understanding and empathy towards others and only go out of their way to do their jobs if it helps them look good. This company underappreciates the employees that actually work hard and put everything into their job, but are quick to promote those who are incompetent, rude, and demeaning. NYAP prides themselves on their company culture, but unfortunately the only culture here is cliques and unprofessional staff, especially upper level and corporate management. If you don't agree with them, you will never belong and they will go out of their way to make your life at work a nightmare until you quit or they find a reason to get rid of you. Completely unwilling to hear employees concerns and feedback- and when they do pretend to care about feedback, they will tell you what you want to hear and do absolutely nothing to change it. And if you want a pay increase forget it. Unless your favored or suck up to those on top, you will work yourself to the bone and have to fight for a few pennies, while others are handed out thousands of dollars in raises undeservingly. Don't waste your time, energy or mental well being on this place. Before you know it you will go from being an employee to needing one of their therapist to help you through the trauma this place brings to your life. 

I interned with NYAP and was offered position of treatment coordinator at a different location. I was very excited since this was my first job out of school. The new location was new and there was a lack of structure and supervision, understandably, but months passed and nothing changed. For the actual work itself, I shadowed this position at my internship site but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had a supervisor that insisted that I have my work phone turned on 24/7, even on weekends, and EVEN ON VACATION! I was told that, if I wanted to show that I cared about my foster parents and children, I should be available any time. I also had to tell my supervisor when I would be going out of town (on the weekends) so she would know where I would be. I had to drive out to homes weekly/monthly that were up to an hour drive away - not to mention, working with DCS as a fostercare agency was a nightmare. My supervisor did not care about the children, leaving it up to me to receive all the problems/complaints from foster parents regarding the kids. My supervisor was only concerned with her own advancement. There were absolutely no boundaries and I did not know how, or if, I could set them. I was talked down to constantly. I brought these concerns up to upper management, which was not in our office location, and they were sympathetic but totally unhelpful. I was too excited to put in my 2 weeks but was even used/abused during those last 2 weeks.

NYAP was a great experience. The people that work there are all very supportive and understanding when it comes to helping out new people. I enjoyed working with both the supervisors I had during my time there. There were some concerns about not receiving adequate supervision, but it seemed like the supervisor of this position had to pick up all the slack from being short staffed so it made it difficult at times. The pay wasn't amazing, but they do pay a decent amount, plus you will get mileage reimbursement for driving to visits. 
The only thing I disliked about this position was the overwhelming amount of paperwork involved. No one really prepared me for all the things I would have to be responsible for doing, and often times missed deadlines because there was just too much to do and not enough time to do it. NYAP does allow you to work from home or outside of the office to complete these things, which helps. Being in the office can become quite a distraction when everyone is in at the same time. 
They will also pay for you to get a work cell phone, which I wish I would have done. They give out stipends for either a new phone, or to go towards your current phone bill. I wish I would have gotten a separate phone as the calls and texts from foster parents after hours was extremely frustrating, but that isn't the fault of the company. 
Overall, I did not have a bad experience with NYAP and would consider returning in the future.

NYAP Dayton is a fast-paced environment that provides dependable peers and a positive, friendly environment. It is expected that you put your best foot forward to be an active and positive contributor to this field. Allow yourself to learn new skills and learn from the many  knowledgeable staff at this office. It's important to be proactive instead of waiting around for someone to tell you how to complete your day-to-day. Each day is different with home visits, meetings, communicating with other professionals, and coordinating services for the kids in foster care. It's important to remain organized and be able to make concise, logical decisions in a timely manner. NYAP has done a wonderful job at allowing me to expand my role here and learn many different aspects of a social worker in the foster care field.  I would say I've changed for the better in the 2+ years I've worked at this office. NYAP in general have shown recent increased efforts to improve the wholesome team mindset in all the regions. I'm excited to see where my future with my NYAP Family leads me!

Working here a NYAP has it can be very challenging at times. When you have to deal with so many different youth from different walks of life. Person always changing in and out. Taking in the disappointments  when you know a youth need help and right when things are looking promising for them it's time for them to relocate in a different placement or even get sent back home. Or you see this youth just don't want to change, nor try. To look at our tomorrow in these youth eye can be frightening.  Trying to learn each on of them and there triggers, needs, abilities, and disabilities. Making sure they all are treated the same. The hardest part is not allowing yourself to get to comfortable and relax with the children. Making sure you keep your boundaries as a staff. When you see what the youth needs are and working as a team to see that they are meet. Teaching the youth how to care for and love themselves. Trying to in still in them, they are important and this is why they need to make better choices for themselves, and the start if finishing school. 
Its nice to see the children go to group home settings when they want that life and sad to see them go when they are not quit sure. Its complicated trying to explain to the youth why they not granted weekend pass when other youth are given the chance. Sometime you wander are we helping or just providing a safe shelter for the youth?

What is the best part of working at the company?
The flexibility to work your schedule that suits your lifestyle

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Not having the support of the other areas that are under the umbrella of NYAP. You are left to do the work of many and when your documentation is not kept up that's what's pushed to get done in spite of all of the other mounting work that you as one person would have to do. At the end of the day the work has to get done, so you are either going to do it or it just won't get taken care of because no one takes accountability. The lack of real support is the most stressful part of working for this company 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Everyone for themselves!  The teamwork and camaraderie is no longer the culture at the company. If you enjoy working on your own with flexible hours and very little support then this company will be a good fit for you. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Speaking with foster parents, youths, case managers, coordinating visits, court hearing visits (face to face, and virtual), putting out fires (emergency situations). And documentation, documentation, documentation.... And did I say mounting of documentation! And if you don't understand lots and lots of computer paperwork documenting.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Case manager 1 salary reported	$54,400 per year
Clinician 1 salary reported	$59,500 per year
Foster parent 2 salaries reported	$51,750 per year
Therapist 6 salaries reported	$64,633 per year
Educator 1 salary reported	$46,000 per year

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