BREAKING NEWS ... Low Wages High Turnover for Workers at Pr

[Anonymous]

Well, it's official.  The owners/operators are making bank while their staff is qualified for public assistance (food stamps).  And people wonder why kids are getting shortchanged in these facilities?  

Private-run teen detention workers paid less
By Kathleen Chapman

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Workers who guard and mentor teens in privately run programs for teen offenders make so little that some qualify for food stamps and other aid, according to a state report released Friday.

The typical worker in a private residential center for troubled teens makes $18,663 a year, thousands less than employees in similar state-run programs. But the executives who run private programs under state contract are doing fine ? taking home higher salaries on average than their counterparts in state government, the study found.

Read Article Here (under Breaking News)

http://www.teenadvocatesusa.org

[Anonymous]

This isn't breaking news, that's for sure.

Everyone who has been through a program knows the bottom of the barrel types that get those jobs. Parents pay tens of thousands of dollars to employ people who make less than fast food workers. Strange, isnt it?

[Nihilanthic]

I am fucking astonished  :roll:

With soap, baptism is a good thing.
--Robert G. Ingersoll, American politician and lecturer

[Anonymous]

The lower the wage, the higher the risk of abuse of power.

Glad the article is "out there" ... maybe some parents will think twice about the high potential for abuse in these places.

[Anonymous]

On 2005-09-18 18:23:00, Three Springs Waygookin wrote:

"When I started at Eckerd Youth Alternatives I was paid 20,000 a year. This included automatic medical benifits, room and board at work, housing at no cost off work, and a clothing allowance on a quarterly basis.



Three Springs we got 21,000 dollars a year housing for 6 months and medical benifits after 3 months. It wasn't till recently when they bounced up everyones pay grades meaning everyone got a 2000 dollar raise no matter what level of pay they were at. It was nice for me I went from C2 at 22,000 to C3 the same day the cost of living increases came through getting a 3,700 dollar raise in one day. I was not complaining at all.



However, its not so much the lack of money that causes abuses. Its the culture of the facility. Either its a good healthy caring program, or its a sick ass place full of wierdos. EYA where I was paid less was a caring program filled with dedicated staff. Three Springs where I was paid more, at least in the end was most definitely not a very caring place.

There go the people. I must follow them for I am their leader.
--Alexandre Ledru-Rollin

"

Well, I think we can all agree that the ones laughing all the way to the bank are the owners of these private programs AND the ed cons and parent referral services who prey upon desperate parents to put "heads in the beds".

Remember, none of these programs and facilities could make a dime if not for the children who pay with their blood, sweat and tears for those fancy cars, homes, airplanes and boats registed to the fat-cat owners.  It's downright disgusting!

[Anonymous]

Do a google on Mike Watson the founder of Three Springs. He made out like a bandit.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, well, I think I'm turning into one of those cynics.  I've worked at EYA for 16 months now - this shit's emotionally hard, pay is low, and the scheduling sucks (5 days in the woods with maybe 15 minutes total away from group a day when breaks are available, up to a month if on a river trip) - at least other people get to go home at night to recoup from their jobs/have a life of their own.  
  I've definitely got better at my job but there is so little reward.  I'm basically in the woods 24/5, most of the time alone with a bunch of delinquet youth, only 2 days a week actually working with another counselor.  I swear I think my mentality has detiorated to that of a middle schooler's considering they're my primary social interaction!

[Troll Control]

Where I have worked 90-100% turnover every year was typical.  HLA fired or let go over 20% of their staff in the past three months alone.  This is after stripping health benefits, overtime and their "guaranteed" raises.

[Anonymous]

On 2006-05-14 16:49:00, Anonymous wrote:

"I'm basically in the woods 24/5, most of the time alone with a bunch of delinquet youth."

And they let you live because...  ::

[Anonymous]

Don't get me wrong, I do care for the kids and think its a good program (it actually has a 3 week training program compared to other programs' couple day things before even working full out with the kids as well as ongoing trainings) it's just DRAINING.  Come on, what parent even spends that much time with their kid once they start kindergarten? (BTW this job is VERY effective birth control).  It definitely takes a certain kind of person to make it here (caring and/or slightly crazed for even taking on the feat - everyone else is weeded out rather quickly!).

I don't even really see how we are a wilderness therapy program.  Sure, we live and sleep in the woods in "tent"ish type structures (a wee bit more permanent than those things people take camping - almost cabinish); but there's still alot of time spent indoors.  We only actually cookout once a session (every 5 weeks - used to be 2 days a week), river trips about 1-2 times a year.  Maybe I'm just getting bored and therefore cynical.  I definitely want a job with little responsibility next as compared to being responsible for the physical/ social/ emotional/ medical/ psychological/ blah blah blah wellbeing of 12 teens at a time (can I make a living off off - say fingerpainting!!??)

[Anonymous]

Well, you must be helping run a good, or at least a not-terribly-abusive program. If such a thing can be said to exist.

Otherwise, 12 teens on one counselor would have fragged you by now, especially on a river trip. "He fell in! No, I don't know what those marks around his neck are..."

Or maybe I'm just thinking wishfully. Sorry, you'll get that attitude here.

Why don't you tell us a little bit more about what you do and what EYA is currently like?

[TheWho]

On 2006-05-14 17:16:00, Anonymous wrote:

"Don't get me wrong, I do care for the kids and think its a good program (it actually has a 3 week training program compared to other programs' couple day things before even working full out with the kids as well as ongoing trainings) it's just DRAINING.  Come on, what parent even spends that much time with their kid once they start kindergarten? (BTW this job is VERY effective birth control).  It definitely takes a certain kind of person to make it here (caring and/or slightly crazed for even taking on the feat - everyone else is weeded out rather quickly!).



I don't even really see how we are a wilderness therapy program.  Sure, we live and sleep in the woods in "tent"ish type structures (a wee bit more permanent than those things people take camping - almost cabinish); but there's still alot of time spent indoors.  We only actually cookout once a session (every 5 weeks - used to be 2 days a week), river trips about 1-2 times a year.  Maybe I'm just getting bored and therefore cynical.  I definitely want a job with little responsibility next as compared to being responsible for the physical/ social/ emotional/ medical/ psychological/ blah blah blah wellbeing of 12 teens at a time (can I make a living off off - say fingerpainting!!??)"

Hey, hang in there you are doing great work.  I remember 3 of my daughter?s wilderness counselors by name and remember the amazing work and patience you guys had for her and the others, too bad you don?t get to see the out come (down the road) when they are doing well.  I know the pay stinks for the entire industry.  Social work is another area that is grossly under funded.  Until people smarten up and see the service you people provide and the results/effects you have on others I don?t see much of a change, though, counseling/social work has always been tough on the wallet.

[Anonymous]

LOL!  "He fell in! No, I don't know what those marks around his neck are..."  Sorry I find that statement amusing - I have never known any actual instances of abuse.  Though I did have a camper shit her pants on our way to showers one day.  She tried playing some bs abuse card saying we didn't get her to her needs fast enough (we were actually held up b/c of her behaviors) and complained she had to walk in her poo (we were on our way to showers!!!)

[Anonymous]

I really wish I did see the results way down the road.  I have few graduates who keep in contact but most that I here about isn't because of their success

[Anonymous]

By the way, review trips ALWAYS have a minimum of 3 staff to ensure safety.  I envy the days when so many are working together...