group manager

cook

office specialist

youth coordinator

support specialist

Oregon Youth Authority

You get out of the job what you put into it.  98% of the time the work experience is worth while.  Management is always out for itself.  Very few help the employee.  Being a union rep for over 15 years I fought for employees rights.  Always show up at least 25 minutes before you start your work and get a shift report to help you through the day.  ALWAYS  give a shift report to oncoming staff.  Know your medications, rules and regulations, student rights and employee rights.  Do Like I did and volunteer after work in counseling, (SO), A & D, Anger management.  I always stayed for an extra 2 to 4 hours a day to help the clients in counseling.  It is rewarding to help the youth and their problems.  Security is of the top priority for the safety of others.  For 26 years there I always helped new staff and supported them.  Go out of your way for security, doors, windows, and items that may used to hurt others. Security, Security, is top of the list.  2 to 10% of the time as a union Stewart defending those who do not know the rules and laws, fighting for their rights was very rewarding.  RESPECT: for others, clients, staff will earn you much in rewards, seen and unseen.  Remember always what you give to your work environment will help you in the long run.  Volunteer for assignment, work, and helping is very rewarding.  as a leader never talk down to an employee in public, take that person away from the group and point out what was done wrong and help them to put things right.  I was a GLC  and counselor for youth and new employees.  The most rewarding thing in working there is seeing a client make it through the program assigned to him.  Always keep eyes open and open in the back of your head.  Know your working environment  I dealt with Murder,  violent crimes against others.  Very high profile clients in the system.  Most of them went on to OSP to finish their time.  Some had over 105 years of time to serve.   The Clients, Its their home, for the years spent there until age of 25.  Then its time for them to move on.  
    OVERALL:  It's what you put into the employment the more you put into it the more you get out of the employment.  20 of the 26 years there I always put in more than 8 hours.  2 to 4 extra hours a day.  Learning.  10/10/1978 to June 2003 I made the workplace a good place to work.  Take as many classes as you can offered to you.

Regardless what the title is, you are a prison guard. The facility is a prison that houses youth criminals.

Pros: pay, benefits

Cons: no management support "us vs them mentality" 
"Veteran staff vs. New staff mentality"

During my tenure with OYA it seemed like a revolving door for newer staff. I was hoping to make it a career however on my last day of my trial service I didn't make the team. Basically I'd management likes you and or your father or uncle has worked there for 20+ years not only will you be greater with open arms but you will move up the chain and get promoted.

The training Academy was good to an extent. The Cadre seemed to generate from two make facilities and a lot of it was rainbows and unicorns and everything nice which created a false sense of security for the unknowing.

When you first get hired on your suppose to get a "coach". Mine did not know our job as a GLC. She was some organizer and only spent most of her time in her office on her computer. When she did have to work the floor, personally it was like a deer in headlights and I never felt safe around her. 

Get to know the youth however if you do follow the new policy the organization is trying to implement then you are not going to last.

Good luck

I don’t recommend working here unless you’ve worked some type of corrections already. Current staff are mandated daily and work 16 hour shifts and then a couple days later are forced to work 16 hours again. Management from administration is out of touch with what happens on units. Unit managers are hit or miss in support depending on unit. Stressful, chaotic, and not worth the mental breakdown that you will eventually have. I guarantee you 90% of staff hate working here because the higher ups are so out of touch with what actually happens when they leave campus. The overall direction OYA has taken has gotten softer on the youth inmates, so now they take advantage of that. Punishment is a slap on the wrist for them which makes the Staff job stressful and unbearable. Your mental health is not worth the trade-off from working here.

Working for the state is great with great benefits however as a GLC Working with the youth can be difficult at times when having to break up fights, or redirect youths that are in a crisis state, but that's how it is working in lockup. 
Promotion is difficult as you have to have a number of years with OYA to be promoted so if you think you can gain Promotion within 5 years look somewhere else. However every year you get a pay increase as the job is union. Max GLC salary is 66k after 10 years. There is ample opportunity for OT. Management can be a bit conservative as this is consider a police and fire job. 
If you're looking to be a QMHP I'd say that you'll have a large case load as there are about 18 youths to a unit and some facilities and only 1 therapist per unit. But pay is good for a Q and benefits are also great 

The youth are the best part of the job.  Contributing to a therapeutic style of corrections is rewarding.  However, this agency had taken it too far.  The youth receive minimal consequences without any consequences for severe behavior.  The youth know it and therefore feel that they can attack & disrespect staff at will.  Floor staff's safety is seriously jeopardized daily.  

Promotion is very unlikely unless you play the political game and know the right people.  A lot of promotions are happening without proper education or experience.  Wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy!

You have to be able to mentally decompress from work and separate your work life from your personal live or it may become hard. In other words, definitely take the time during your weekends to do something you enjoy so that when you do come back to work, you feel fresh. Your schedule may be all over the place until you become a full-time and actually commit to a set schedule. Other than that, this agency has been very helpful and supportive. You just have to be honest and always communicate. 

The actual job is not complicated, and most of the youth are manageable if you show respect. Usually, that respect is returned. The real problem is management. With the number of lawsuits the agency faces, leadership appears more focused on avoiding liability than consistently backing staff or enforcing policy. That makes it difficult to do the job the right way. Coworkers will usually support you, but the environment is still risky. You need to watch yourself, document everything, and stay prepared, because staff can easily end up being blamed or thrown under the bus.

OYA is one of the most enjoyable and supportive agencies I have had the pleasure to work for. 
This agency allowed me to grow with it, and offered numerous development opportunities.
The management team was a solid cohesive unit that demonstrated its commitment to its employees, the youth, and the community on a consistent basis.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Being able to make a postive impact in some youths lives. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
No upper management support when needed. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Everyone for themselves. It was very toxic. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Trying to manage 20+ troubled youth boys with little activities with only 3 staff if you were lucky. It was very stressful.

Stressful by nature, executive management is clueless to the realities of the job, but they shake hands and kiss babies very well. Initiatives change on paper, not in practice, which is great because initiatives change all the time. Climate creates victim mentality in youth rather than empowerment. Without solid coworkers, pay, and benefits, job would be awful. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Group manager 1 salary reported	$30.41 per hour
Cook 1 salary reported	$4,910 per month
Office specialist 2 salaries reported	$4,076 per month
Youth coordinator 1 salary reported	$31.53 per hour
Support specialist 1 salary reported	$4,496 per month

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