youth worker

case manager

clinician

shift manager

childcare provider

VisionQuest

You must first understand the industry and how "budgetary" things dictate how things work.  With that being said, the position that you end up with will determine how bad things can really be.  The rule of thumb at this company is: how much do you really want to deal with for the amount of pay you get?  Because management will burn you out in a hurry.  Being short staffed is a common battle in the industry, but here you are expected to cover overnights, 16+ hours shifts- for the same amount of pay you can get at a fast food joint.  I get it, this job is about what you can give vs. what you get- but don't expect much of a home life while here.  And if you choose to say "no" to working OT, overnights- you will feel guilted into their "family" blueprint.  And all of these things take place before you really even have to deal with the actual agencies that place the kids in the homes.  Certain companies, certain homes carry certain reputations- which influences the kids that are placed.  I'm not saying it's favortism, because at the end of the day, it's a business that is predicated on keeping the beds full.  So you have no say-so, because you're at the bottom of the totem pole.  If you're just needing a quick job, this place will hire you because they are desperate 99% of the time.  But the catch now becomes: you will be expected to already have a $75-$100 piece of plastic before you even start.  And management will expect you to be ready to be thrown into a training class on 2 days notice.  50% of the time, after training, you will probably be asked to do an overnight.  You constantly have to remind yourself that it's about the kids- but it's hard to overlook the fact that management has ZERO intentions of helping out.  Guaranteed they will NEVER do an overnight.  Oh, and most of upper management has/had kids that are next in line in some sort of fashion.  Most of them all know each other, so if you're not in that inner circle- you are not safe.  This company is really into gobbling up new contracts for new programs, but have a tendency to neglect the people who got them there.  So in summary, if you want to see the wheels fall off, go for it!

VisionQuest is the most mismanaged, dysfunctional work place I have ever encountered besides the youth and certain staff members. I hear that the new director only lasted about 5 months and could not handle her job and made absolutely no changes when issues were given to her almost everyday to fix and she didn't fix NOT ONE thing, what does that tell you.
I have also crossed paths with many trained individuals who have tried to get a job there with no luck. How unfortunate because they need the help I here, even when I worked there they were understaffed. Interview processing needs work because after I was hired all those hired after myself no longer work due to "unforeseen" reasons (lazy in my opinion) but also the complaint of upper management being so horrible, in which I agree hundred percent. I know of one great employee who wanted to go back and work there and she was denied, in my personal opinion she was not hired back because she had so much to bring to the table that it may have seemed threatening to upper management. Again what does that tell you about this company, they only look out for number one and if it does not benefit them as an individual then it won't make sense to them. Stay away from this company, all of them for that matter, because I hear they all have some upper management issues.

I worked at VisionQuest for a short period back in the mid 90's.  I learned quickly that this was not the place for me.  Not due to the kids but due to Management and the work structure.
I remember my first day showing up for the training and none of the managers had a clue what was going on.  The Manager at the time said go set up your sleeping bag in any of the empty trailers.  Needless to say the first 3 days it poured and everything turned into a muddy swamp.  I eventually found my way into an empty camp house with a few dead rats as roomies.  Most of my co-workers at the time I would have to say were "questionable".  A few were great and I wish I had the time to build a relationship with them.  Most were ex military that just got out of the Army and had no where to go.  VisionQuest paid for their transportation so in a ways they became indentured servants.
One of the main things that was the coffin in the nail for me was when one of the trainers said that if a youth ever accused a staff member of inappropriate behavior VisionQuest would not support you.

The kids are kids so nothing suprised me there. Corporate management were the most lying, shady, secretive, dishonest, UNSUPPORTIVE, self-involved, small minded, rude, and underqualified/unqualified people I've ever met in my life. Corporate management was so unsupportive that it was sickening. Corporate sees the kiddos as dollar signs, which is so sad and pitiful. The company as a whole is easily the most unorganized company I've ever worked for... And paper checks are the only way you're getting your money. 
I was on a salary and staff were hourly. My paychecks were less than staff many times even though I averaged 70 hours per week (not by choice).

This job for me started out great and I loved going. The kids you work with are the best part of the job regardless of challenging they can be sometimes! But then things went downhill very quickly. And I realized that corporate management (And management in general) is TERRIBLE! They DO NOT provide the staff or youth what they need in order to do well at the group home. There is a lot of favoritism!!! I got more support from fellow youth care workers and FORMER employees than from management. Also the pay sucks for the hours you’ll end up working. And they always somehow make YOU feel guilty when you’re just trying to make the best of it. You can take your chances and roll the dice with this company but I would advise to STAY AWAY.

I eorked here 8 years ago for 2.5 months and just recently went back for a PRN position to help out. I just resigned when a Youth who is Autistic was tjreatened by 2 older kids and management was more concered about Chain of Command when the kid was still in Crisis. Management does not support staff. The pay is horrible and they will just try to overwork you and get what they can out of you. Working with the kids can be fun, but overall this job is not worth it. In Tucson this agency use to be a powerhouse, but bad press due to incidents with the kids and law enforcement this agency has become a joke and has had to close down homes and programming. The staff are not trained well and VQ pays so low they only attract bottem of the barrel employees. Dont work here. McDonalds is better.

A typical day for me as Supervisor was arriving to the house (work place) have a recap with the night shift employee, and set the goals of the day.

Check on the kids if they need something and if they have meds or lawyers appointments.

Instruct my staff of any new change and update, and do all duties that daily we do to maintain the house on compliance. 

Working at VisionQuest Philadelphia has been by far the worst experience of my professional life. This has to be the most mismanaged, dysfunctional, toxic work environment I have ever seen. No one knows what they are doing. There are fights everyday at this job to the point where people have literally brought in weapons because they do not feel safe. The upper management sits in their offices all day and do nothing while the hourly staff are running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Supervisors are verbally abusive to other staff and routinely curse out those whom they do not like. If you're thinking of applying to Visionquest look elsewhere. This is not a good company to work for.

All I can say is stay away. The company is finished. Maybe once they cared about the children they are to take care of but somewhere along the way, that changed. All they care about is making a profit. 
There is no one there who is trustworthy. My supervisor terminated my employment over the phone the day before I was to return to work from leave for a heart attack. That was about 2 weeks before Christmas. 

The few who have been with the company for 25+ years live in the past and tell old cowboy stories reveling in the past instead of doing anything positive for children today. It's time to close the storybook VQ. You're not cut out for Texas.

I worked for VisionQuest just a little over 2 years. Great company. Great opportunity if you are determined to help children in need. I was a Youth Care Worker that helped out in many of the homes and programs VisionQuest has. You must be mentally and physically able, to fit the needs of the children. If you are a dedicated individual who wants to make a difference in a child's life, you will be satisfied in knowing, this is your chance to help lead the children of our future down the right path. With the right tools, guidance and training you will be successful in completing your duties as a Youth Care Worker. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Youth worker 62 salaries reported	$21.23 per hour
Case manager 31 salaries reported	$25.34 per hour
Clinician 15 salaries reported	$84,287 per year
Shift manager 37 salaries reported	$54,693 per year
Childcare provider 9 salaries reported	$17.12 per hour

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