family support specialist

early childhood specialist

early childhood teacher

home visitor

facilities technician

Southwest Human Development

When I started this job my predecessor couldn't wait to leave which left me to wonder why. In the four years the ADAPT shop has been open they have had 4 fabricators. The supervisors for the ADAPT shop have no manufacturing experience making it very difficult to explain a problem in production to them. What is worse is there are those who don't care with "just make it happen" thought process. One supervisor is verbally abusive in a phone meeting and then denying abuse. One supervisor feels a few minutes of observation in her new job leaves her with a full understanding of all operations and makes suggestions that are more time consuming and further made suggestions on product that would weaken structural integrity(due to he lack of manufacturing knowledge).  Safety and fire regulations are also disregarded by management. Being that management works in another location they are not there to see problems that might occur. Verbal explanations are not appreciate and demonstrating isn't an option either as they don't want to take the time to see it. This problem isn't exclusive to the shop fabricator but to the therapists who work with the fabricator at this location. In summation the supervisors of this department have absolutely no experience in the work of any of the people they supervise in this department. One would think that experience in the work of the therapists and fabricators would be a requirement but it only one more bit of testimony to how this company doesn't appreciate or understand the work to be done. Human resources was 3 times offered and declined a phone recording of a supervisors disregard of fire laws as well as other unprofessional behavior. I have 20 years fabrication experience and it was ignored.

The agency provides a lot of a good services to clients but it’s not a great environment for employees. 

The positive: Employees with good supervisors have a lot of flexibility in their schedule, which is nice. 

The rest: There isn’t nearly enough parking for employees at the main office and the overflow parking is a lot behind a hotel around the block. The location isn’t exactly the nicest part of town, so safety was really ignored. There are a few spots at the front of the building but employees are prohibited from parking there (and will be towed), but upper management parks there daily. The buildings are too small for the number of employees and there’s a lot of desk-sharing and office sharing. 

Pay is ok for the field but still objectively low. There’s no room for advancement. You either become a supervisor, make a lateral transfer, or you’re stuck in your same exact position year after year. The benefits used to be decent but they seem to be progressively going downhill (company subsidizing less and less so policies are getting more expensive with worse benefits). It’s a birth to five agency that doesn’t even offer any maternity leave benefits. 

Inter-office politics are terrible. Supervisors gossip about each other and about employees under them, and everyone knows it’s happening. Decisions are made with no input from the staff the decisions impact.

My experience with the Head Start department at SWHD has been increasingly disappointing. In my view, the leadership lacks clear direction, accountability, and a true focus on quality services. Decisions often appear influenced more by favoritism, personal relationships, and an inner circle than by qualifications or what would best support children and families.
There also seems to be very little emphasis on using data or actual program needs to guide training, planning, or priorities. Instead, choices often reflect what is easiest to provide or what aligns with certain individuals’ personal preferences, rather than what would meaningfully improve outcomes. Much of the energy feels directed toward maintaining a feel-good image rather than strengthening the program.
In my experience, the environment can become vindictive—especially toward staff who consistently perform well or who try to address gaps in practice. When capable employees raise concerns or demonstrate higher standards, it can unintentionally highlight favored individuals’ inability to meet expectations, and this often results in tension instead of improvement.
Overall, the department culture feels more focused on protecting certain individuals and maintaining appearances than on transparency, staff development, or delivering high-quality services for children and families.

I didn't feel that my safety traveling to homes in every type of neighborhood was the biggest concern of the company, and I had multiple occasions to feel unsafe. Additionally, they ask you do evening visits after dark. Emotionally, I didn't always feel safe in our work building either and had occasion to wonder if I was being discriminated against because of my religion. I would be cautious about working here if you have experienced trauma or are neurodivergent, because some leaders  lack the skill, understanding, ability to build rapport or transparency to support you in the way that you need. Some factors of the job were very unpredictable both on the part of SWHD and Healthy Families, adding to the rough dynamic. This was all unfortunate because they say that they are trauma- informed as an organization. The effect to my mental health was long- lasting after leaving. I do hope that the program will be able to reform itself, because the benefit to families served is very profound. I believe in lots of the methods and information given to families, but without support, Family Support Specialists struggle to carry out the program. 

Southwest Human Development has many challenges that make it a difficult place to work. I have noticed a significant drop in quality since I began working there a number of years ago. Management has changed a lot thanks to the quick firing and hiring of a lot of people, they often have little regard for the time and effort of its employees. Staff meetings have noticeably gone down in quality, deadlines are unrealistic, and feedback often feels critical, contradictory, and dismissive rather than constructive.

Favoritism appears to be a big trend in the company, with certain staff members receiving preferential treatment, when really, they should have been fired a long time ago, while others are criticized and ultimately fired for the smallest of things despite their dedication and hard work.

Teacher assistants, watch out, they are overworked and underappreciated. While they take on most of the responsibilities of running the classroom, their lead teachers who gets paid more are often disengaged and contribute a lot less because they can get away with it as they are the ones with a degree.

I would not recommend Southwest Human Development to anyone who values their peace of mind and self-integrity. 

Work-life balance
For managers and higher ups, work life balance is much easier. However, for those who are lower on the totem pole, it’s still very tough.

Pay & benefits
Sick days are great, vacation is okay. Unfortunately, salary is a little low, taking into account how much benefits cost.

Job security and advancement
In certain programs, advancement is encouraged. In others, it depends on who’s in charge. There’s a lot of nepotism at the company, promoting certain people and not others based on connections or favoritism.

Management
Who your manager is May determine how good or bad you have it. Some managers are flexible and understanding, others have impossibly high expectations and micromanage way too much. All in all, managers need more training on how to communicate with employees and how to supervise effectively.

Culture
A lot of micromanaging goes on here, especially if you’re in administration, almost like they don’t trust you to make judgment calls.

Overall
It started off well, but quickly worsened over time. a lot of micromanaging, difficulty with work life balance, and toxic work interactions between coworkers. Anything you say can and will be used against you in some way. Maintaining firm boundaries is a must.

What is the best part of working at the company?
My best part working with southwest human development. Was working with kids, parents & staff  it was my priority. I loved working for this company is a great company and I miss it a lot. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Individual goals 8 or 9 domains per child every week it was hard for me but not impossible 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
They honor each culture and respect 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day at work, saying hello to kids families and co-workers then start your day if you are the morning teacher set up the class to be ready for the kids and if you are the afternoon teacher get things ready for your day work on lesson plan, portfolios, individual goals, have a weekly meeting and talk about each kids goals and get activities ready for the day

Southwest Human Development/Healthy Families is a great company to work for, overall. The pay is better than most places; and the flexibility with the schedule is amazing. One big downfall is that they do not have specific areas that workers service anymore which makes the job expectations a lot harder to accomplish. Management tries to be supportive but their hands are tied for most complaints workers have about the company; and the HR worker I had to deal with when I had a family medical issue that affected my job (when I had been with the agency for 8 years) was basically a robot who had no empathy and no flexibility. I would likely still be with them if I hadn't had to deal with the HR robot.

It is not an easy place to work if you do not fit into one of the accepted cliques. There is a lack of individuality, authenticity, and creativity in some departments. Upper management is not open to new ideas. They are also not very friendly. You can be on the elevator with them and they will not even acknowledge you. HR is not your friend either. They will side with management. The families and the kids are really fantastic! I loved my caseload. There is great continuing education. I had a lot to give to the organization and my families, but some petty and jealous co workers made the job unbearable.

unclear expectations, burn out work, not enough pay, great vacation time, not enough understanding from management of the needs and challenges that the people on the ground face, focus way too often is on the many rules and limits, little room for grace for the emotionally challengiing and draining work that we do, good peer support, no room for flex time, feel suffocated and bound up and alone in the tough work in the field.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Family support specialist 4 salaries reported	$20.21 per hour
Early childhood specialist 2 salaries reported	$21.35 per hour
Early childhood teacher 2 salaries reported	$16.50 per hour
Home visitor 2 salaries reported	$19.50 per hour
Facilities technician 4 salaries reported	$20.00 per hour

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