counselor

adoption specialist

support specialist

staff accountant

specialist

Safe-Children-Coalition

A Typical Day at Work:

A typical day in my role as the Director of Child Welfare Prevention and Diversion Services is both dynamic and rewarding. My responsibilities involve overseeing the development and implementation of programs aimed at preventing the need for foster care placements and diverting children and families from the child welfare system when possible. My day often begins with team meetings to discuss the status of various cases, assess community needs, and ensure all staff members are supported in their work.

Throughout the day, I interact with a wide range of stakeholders, including social workers, community partners, law enforcement, and healthcare professionals, to create a holistic approach to the welfare of children and families. I also allocate time for reviewing case files, responding to emails, and developing plans to improve our services. Additionally, I make it a point to regularly check in with team members, ensuring that they have the necessary resources and support to be successful.

What I Believe I’ve Learned:

Through my years of experience, I've learned that effective leadership in child welfare is built on a foundation of empathy, transparency, and collaboration. It's critical to recognize that every family is unique and requires a tailored approach. I've gained a deep understanding of the importance of community partnerships, as well as how essential it is to be adaptable and solution-focused in this ever-evolving field. I’ve also learned that while the work can be challenging, the impact we make on children and families is deeply fulfilling.

Management:

As a director, I focus on leading by example and ensuring that my team is empowered to make decisions. I believe in a hands-on management style, which includes providing guidance and support, but also allowing staff to take initiative and grow in their roles. Effective communication is key; by maintaining open lines of communication, I ensure that everyone on the team feels heard and valued. I strive to create an environment where the team feels supported and confident in their decision-making. My role also involves strategic planning and policy development to enhance the overall effectiveness of the department.

Workplace Culture:

I believe in cultivating a positive and inclusive workplace culture where mutual respect and collaboration are the cornerstones. The work we do can be emotionally taxing, so it's vital to create an environment where employees feel supported, valued, and have access to professional development opportunities. We also emphasize work-life balance and mental health, offering resources for staff to manage stress and prevent burnout. Encouraging an open-door policy and regular feedback sessions helps maintain a transparent and trusting environment.

The Hardest Part of the Job:

One of the hardest parts of my role is witnessing the challenging situations that families face. It's never easy making tough decisions, especially when it comes to children’s safety or well-being. Additionally, the emotional toll of supporting staff through difficult cases can also be draining. While we do our best to prevent the need for child removal, there are times when it's necessary for the child's safety, and the emotional weight of that decision is something we all carry.

The Most Enjoyable Part of the Job:

The most enjoyable part of my job is seeing the positive impact we make on the lives of children and families. It's incredibly rewarding when we can help a family stay together, provide resources that improve a child's well-being, or prevent a child from entering the foster care system. I also find joy in seeing my team thrive, grow, and develop professionally. The success stories, both big and small, remind me why we do this work and reinforce the value of prevention and diversion services.

SCC will welcome you in with open arms and dangle the benefits over your head. They do look shiny compared to the other companies that offer similar services. They tell you that your schedule will be flexible, but they don't mean that. If you think you are going to work from 8 to 5, you will be highly disappointed. Often you will be driving to a home visit, sometimes at 8pm or even 6am in the morning to work with the family's schedule. If you are not in the office because you intend to flex your time, you will be called and micromanaged, and the supervisors never believe anything you say. Management are friends with each other and travel in their cliques. The pecking order will be apparent soon after you start. Many of the supervisors, managers, and the higher ups, spend a good amount of time behind closed doors talking, laughing, and not actually working. I have witnessed a lot of foul language as well, even when others are involved with phone calls, court hearings... ect. 

You can be really good at your job, but it's never enough, if you are doing well, they will throw more at you. If you have managed your time, you will be told to make an adjustment, because they just got reamed out for not doing their job. They are concerned more about numbers and looking good on paper, than the actual children. I have seen kids taken away from very loving homes, because of their judgmental attitudes.

After you get rolling you will have about 10-15 different name/passwords to all the different sites they use. impossible to efficiently look up the information you need. If you ask your supervisors, they seem lost many times too. Time wasted for sure. 

The pay rated is the same for someone that has 20 yrs experience as someone just graduated from college. if you want to get advanced, you are on probation until they have made the decision if you fit into their clan. Then it will be quite a few years of constant stress, no real balance of home/work, as you are constantly working in your head at home to be ready for the next day. You are not allowed to work off the clock, but most people I got to know said they had to.

The best part about the job was working with the families on my cases, but was always overran with negative attitudes from management about how much they hated these would be parents. 
JUST ANOTHER CM REVOLVING DOOR.

Working at Safe Children Coalition has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career. This isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to make a tangible impact on the lives of children and families in our community. If you’re passionate about child welfare and enjoy working with a dedicated, mission-driven team, I can’t recommend this agency highly enough.
	•	Meaningful Work: Every day, our team directly contributes to building a safe and supportive network for foster families across Manatee, Sarasota, and Desoto counties. It’s incredibly fulfilling to be part of an organization that creates such positive change.
	•	Supportive Team Environment: The culture here values growth, accountability, and collaboration. You’ll work in a setting where team members support each other, learn from one another, and are encouraged to innovate and improve.
	•	Collaborative Partnerships: One of the best parts of this role is the opportunity to work closely with licensing, recruitment, and case management teams, as well as partner agencies. Together, we’re all focused on making a difference and supporting one another to achieve that shared goal.
	•	Exceptional Benefits: SCC offers a benefits package that’s hard to beat. Five weeks of PTO in the first year, 12 paid holidays, robust health benefits, and retirement plans make for a balanced, supportive work experience that truly values its employees.
Safe Children Coalition’s mission—TO PROTECT CHILDREN, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, AND BUILD COMMUNITY—resonates deeply throughout the organization. 

I worked at the Coalition for over two years. What keeps you going is your co-workers. I have never experienced such an awesome environment of co-workers. Can’t speak to the environment now since none of those people work there anymore. But it was truly amazing. That being said, there are always a few bad apples in the bunch and it can also be very toxic at times. Towards the end of my time there, I saw a lot of drama. Nothing I was directly involved in, but nonetheless it was not something you wanted to see. Management can be very kind and helpful depending on who it is. Unfortunately there are others who will tell you to come to them if you ever need anything and when you do, there is little to no support. As for work life balance, it just depends on how you manage things. Your head will spin off of your neck for about the first 2-3 months you’re out of pre service. But then it becomes easier. Yes there will be things you cannot control, like how long a mediation goes and you might work from 8-6:30 that day. But then you will have very manageable days where you can leave at 3:00 if you have put in your hours for the week and nothing is left on your schedule. That is the awesome part, most case managers who are experienced in their job are able to flex out and leave fairly early on Fridays. And the company does not care as long as your work is completed. I do miss that. You won’t find that almost anywhere else. Honestly it is the defense attorneys and how management handles their employees that will get you down. It is going to court and working your butt off just for the judge to make you feel like a careless moron that will weigh you down. If job flexibility is your main concern, this is the perfect job. But it does not offer much else

Most enjoyable part of the job is working with the caregivers and being a support for them.

What I have learned is that you have to be independent and be prepared to self-learn. Must be able to be firm with the supervisor when you feel uncomfortable licensing a home or approving a home study.  Management is more focused on numbers instead of safety and stability of placements. If you work hard and are good at engaging with families, then you will get the bulk of the work while others get less.

Work culture is very toxic.  Some workers act like mean girls, everyone gossips about everyone. Morale is low, there's no recognition & no bonuses.  I was employed 3 years and everyone in the unit before me except for 2 left and everyone after me expect for 2 left (9 people in total resigned) most stayed less than a year.   No room for advancement. Management will create a position specifically for someone, not allowing others the opportunity to apply and interview. 

The VP of Out of Home is super nice and supportive.  Supervisor has different rules for different employees.  The supervisor is a micro manager, very forgetful, never available by phone/email when she works from home and can't make a decision without consulting her admin assistant.  

Hardest part of the job was watching other sit and talk for more than 50% of their shift, being distracted by the noise level, and on call when the supervisor for that night doesn't answer your call. One supervisor was always great to work on call with, but she was the Level 2 Initial Licensing Supervisor.  


You will need to go through 2 months of pre-service training and pass a test in order to get certified and have a caseload. Very low pay for a job that requires a college degree and the amount of work involved. Terrible management and horrible communication specifically with supervisors in the licensing department. No job security at all. This agency and department is dominated with females, therefore there is a lot of cattiness and gossip that occurs in the office, rather than people actively working. Non existent transparency with management. Lack of support as a whole. There are many people that work at this agency that are not parents themselves, therefore have very negative biases regarding children and families and they are very vocal and open about them. Working in this field can be very rewarding and meaningful, but I would be mindful as to what department you will be working for as some case manager/worker positions may not be a great fit for a good work/life balance if you are a parent and have small, young children yourself. 

Working in the field of child welfare has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences of my life. Every day, I have the opportunity to help families in need and support children through some of their most challenging moments. Knowing that the work I do can help create safer, stronger futures is incredibly fulfilling.

Beyond the purpose driven nature of the work, I’m grateful to be part of an organization that truly values its people. The flexibility allows me to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and there are constant opportunities for growth and professional development. I've grown so much in my role and continue to learn every day.

What truly sets this workplace apart is the culture. The staff is compassionate, collaborative, and supportive....it feels like a family. We lift each other up and work together toward a common goal: making a real difference in the lives of others.

If you're passionate about helping others and looking for a career where you can grow, be supported, and make an impact, I can't recommend this field enough.

I started right before the employee appreciation week.  It is apparent that SCC does what they can to ensure it is a supportive work environment.  There are other events throughout the year.   

SCC has a Wellness Director who brings various events and trainings to all staff who wish to participate.  Examples include free water bottles, trainings on nutrition, discounts on 5ks in the area, free lunches and fitness challenges.  This year, a dermatology bus will also be made available for the yearly checkup.  

SCC also provides leadership and growth training opportunities.  It has been revamped over the past year.  

Basic insurance is offered free to employees who wish to take advantage of it.  

SCC offers 13 paid holidays.  

The work has always mattered. The environment no longer does.
What was once a collaborative, mission-driven organization has become a toxic, leadership-heavy system where growth is limited and opportunity is often tied to favoritism rather than integrity or impact.
My first ten years were defined by teamwork, mutual support, and colleagues who truly believed in protecting and uplifting children and families. Since then, this organization has lost countless long-tenured, dedicated professionals—people whose experience, compassion, and commitment made a real difference in the child welfare system.

When institutions fail to protect the people doing the work, the mission suffers. And ultimately, so do the children and families we claim to serve.

SCC has been a great place to work. I've never worked for a company that strives so hard to make sure staff feel supported and appreciated. Leadership is always doing something for the direct care staff, which means a lot to us. The leadership team also has a very open door policy. I feel I can go to any level of leadership for anything without anyone feeling I've crossed a line. I am fortunate to have found such a great work family.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Counselor 3 salaries reported	$51,833 per year
Adoption specialist 5 salaries reported	$52,300 per year
Support specialist 1 salary reported	$19.00 per hour
Staff accountant 6 salaries reported	$51,500 per year
Specialist 2 salaries reported	$23.50 per hour

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