youth counselor

human resources coordinator

family therapist

outpatient therapist

maintenance technician

UMFS

I had ok interactions with corporate. They were supportive when I needed an accommodation via ADA. They were also receptive when I had issues with their insurer. However, I did take exception when they pushed down a new employee manual right before the holiday break and care was not taken to ensure we had actually read and understood policy changes—they were just demanding our signature. I fear that this may have played a role in the policy violation that brought an end to my time there. 

If you’re applying, though, ask around about the specific site. Management was very supportive and hands on in the beginning—but then COVID hit, the manner of IEP management changed, and the site leadership had issues that completely colored my experience there—and I, admittedly, my own. 

But overall, I was poorly supervised—I had maybe two observations in my time there, and one was for the DOE on a video call (again, COVID). I was CONSTANTLY being moved around and then not particularly being supported in the move and criticized when things inevitably piled up. And ultimately—the manner in which I separated and the dodging on policy when other professionals said they didn’t get how what I had done violated any professional ethics. I think ultimately, I tried REALLY hard to support every last one of my students—but the site didn’t like how I painted them when they just weren’t providing what I needed. It happens in public schools too—but here, there’s REALLY complex interplay between the public sector (which we serve—the localities use tax dollars to send students) and what’s ultimately a private employer. 

Just know what you’re getting into, ask around about the current state of the site, and good luck—but most importantly, please look after these students who can be extremely challenging yet rewarding at the same time (but make sure you’re butt is covered—which can be difficult at times) 

What is the best part of working at the company?
The kids are the best part of working at UMFS. When they are shown that they are seen and heard and that their voice matters it opens up a world of new opportunities for them that they may not previously thought possible. Not everyone who works there understands how important it is to talk with the kids not at them but there are enough people who are invested in trauma informed care that the kids know what's up.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Not enough staff. Especially staff trained to work with the population of clients. Also there is too much of a top down approach and those who spend the most time with clients have the least amount of say. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Mostly it’s a good environment where everyone pitches in and helps each other. Some departments don’t understand how important teamwork is and make it hard for everyone else. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
There is no typical day. It’s all about going with the flow of the kids.

The company is okay for to gain skills with regard to training in microsoft office, medicine technician, behavior de-escalation, recreation managing, and data entry. The issue is when management does not come in when someone is not at their shift, people don't fill in their paperwork which the company is audited for, the kids refuse to bathe and the clinical team does not come up with a plan to make them, which makes the kids a health risk, when the kids leave the premises multiple times and the clinical team does not do proper covid testing or std testing, and some kids don't need to be here due to their mental capacity or physical capacity to possibly hurt staff (if they easily are easily agitated and can easily become violent). Some days were great, and I learned a lot, but I'm not coming back to this company unless I move back the area and easily need a job. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
The benefits as in what you get for working there. Was local and easy to get to. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The population dealing with. Also management. No real policies for many things.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Initially interviewed and thought would be working with that person. Immediately quit and my new supervisor was an upper level person who was difficult to deal with. Lack of respect from that person. Disorganized set up. Use of non-medical people to do medications dispensing. Very unprofessional site. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Worked 3 days for total of 32 hours. Had to walk all over spread out campus. No continuity of staff. one day these staff and another day others and not sure what role would entail and who were on site that were qualified to do anything.

As an intern for United Methodist Family Services, I was able to apply the knowledge I acquired through my education as continue my education through the assistance of the UMFS case workers and other employees. The employees were more than willing to let me engage and be active in their work world giving me the opportunity to both shadow and take responsibility for a variety of tasks, including writing post-home visit reports and scheduling doctors visits and other appointments for clients. I was also responsible for transporting children to and from school and home. 
The hardest part of this internship was the short time-span. Just as I had learned the ropes, it was time to leave (given my internship was only one month long, based on my school schedule). The most enjoyable part however was learning a great deal of information at a quick and steady pace. 
I learned that no day is the same in social work or foster care and this is exactly what I am made for.

With any job like this, the worst thing to deal with is the parents. 
Moving on, the leaders were mostly really great and caring people. I was attacked and had my eyes, cheek, nose, and gums scratched up pretty bad--on top of having two chunks of hair pulled out, my jacket zipper broken off, and my glasses bent up--and the assistant principal made a point to personally come make sure I was okay. The principal on the other hand saw me immediately after it happened and didn't offer much more than a glance at me. I am a little disappointed, especially as my glasses are still bent and crooked. I thought they would at least pay to fix that (needless to say, I had to be tested for various diseases after having been scratched up like that).
I'm indifferent as to if I would recommend this company or not.

The workers at UMFS were always very helpful when I had questions and always jumped at the chance to help someone else out; whether that be a fellow co-worker, a family, a child, or anyone else. The Harmony system that is used is very specific to UMFS and learning how to use it was no easy task. However, the staff is always willing to answer questions. Working with the biological families and the foster care families was the hardest part of the job because it is important to include both parties for the child's sake. I worked in Treatment Foster Care and collaboration with other professionals and with families was not always easy and made some of the paperwork quite difficult. I enjoy coming to UMFS as an unpaid intern because I love the people and the environment, and, most especially, the children and families I work with.

Very poor work environment. Youth counselors work 65 hours one week and 15 the next. By the time you get done with your busy week you're toast! The same complaints come up over and over again but nothing seems to change (program managers and directors lack of management skills, schedule, unstructured schedule for youth and floor staff). I would not recommend this place to work for my worst enemy! Worked there for over a year and the turnover rate was insane. I'm pretty sure about 15 people quit while I was there and we only have about 25 all together. This place is disorganized and I would not be surprised if the place shuts down in the next couple years- especially if they don't get new people in management roles!

There is no clear lines of communication and there is no clear message from administration. They don't prioritize human resource advancement, UMFS feels like a placeholder career/job. They keep their "payscale" secret, they don't value providing adequate, paid vacation time and they are ok with letting good employees quite without trying to keep them. It feels like a disconnected company far too often. Most employees are gone after a couple of years due to increase of job responsibilities, support staff shortages (due to lack of living wages), lack of resources and lack of consistency enforcing work place policies. Safety doesn't feel like a priority when the clients are the ones that create the safety threat.

*BIG RED FLAG*-the wage scale is "secret", and it will take "years" to evaluate and adjust.
I worked at the Edinburg location for several years, in a variety of positions. Things were never great, but after Covid, the situation became much worse. Pay is atrocious, no merit increases, only a 2% COLA (and not always that). Last year they increased the cost of insurance so much that I brought home less than the year before. Of course, workload and expectations increased much more than 2%. Add to that an increase in student behaviors, lack of support due to staffing shortages, and its a recipe for burnout.
If you're desperate, and/or need to burnish a resume, it's ok for a year. UMFS makes it obvious they don't really want you there beyond that.


Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Youth counselor 5 salaries reported	$15.60 per hour
Human resources coordinator 2 salaries reported	$43,000 per year
Family therapist 3 salaries reported	$54,000 per year
Outpatient therapist 1 salary reported	$55.00 per hour
Maintenance technician 1 salary reported	$21.00 per hour

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