Employee Testimonials

Zach Defran
Therapist, NPS
San Diego Center for Children Academy

Hello, my name is Zach Defran and I'm a Therapist at the Non-Public School, San Diego Center for Children Academy.  I joined SDCC about six years ago as a Child Development Counselor (CDC) at the Jack and Carol Clark adolescent center. I worked as a CDC for about three year's total. I have returned as an intern Marriage Family Therapist (MFT), and have been here almost a year and a half now.  Initially I came here looking for work experience in the field of mental health. At that time, I was pursuing a Bachelors degree in Psychology at San Diego State University. I was considering a career as a therapist and wanted to see if mental health was a good career for me. My mother, who is a huge inspiration to me, suggested that I check out the San Diego Center for Children.  She worked at the Clark building in the past when it was under different ownership.  My mother is also a therapist and has a lot of experience in her field. When mom recommended San Diego Center for Children, I put my faith in her and looking back now I am happy I did. I really enjoy being here. SDCC has played a big role in my development as a mental health worker, I have grown here and really love being a part of something so meaningful and positive. I love the challenge and have never felt bored or stuck here; there is a lesson in every shift if you are looking for it.  When I was previously working here as a CDC, I remember watching a certain therapist take a child to her office for individual therapy. I would often think to myself, "I want to be that person". A few years later I enrolled in a graduate program at National University and obtained a Masters in Counseling Psychology. Once I completed my formal education I returned to SDCC to find a job. When I returned I came across the very therapist who had sparked my vision. I ended up getting hired and training with her to take her position as she was moving on. It's funny how some things happen in life!  I really enjoy the team I work with here at the center. This campus is filled with people who really care and enjoy what they do. As I spend a lot of my time with these individuals, I am happy to report that I really enjoy going through this experience along with them. My relationships with my clinical supervisors and my boss have been very rewarding.  One of my favorite things about being here are the hours I spend in clinical supervision, learning and growing, professionally and personally. In my profession, personal and professional growth is very much interconnected.  I have always called friends and encouraged them to apply when positions have opened up here as I trust that others will enjoy their time here as well.

Amanda Bates
Lead Child Development Counselor
Discovery Hills Day Treatment

I work as a supervisor for the Discovery Hills program in Vista. I joined the organization 3 years ago when a colleague told me about it. The location was convenient for me and SDCC has a great reputation among the professional mental health community. SDCC offers great benefits and I love the supportive staff. I love being part of a team that has made a difference in the lives of children. At SDCC I have always received encouragement and opportunities for professional growth and leadership development. Being able to attend trainings and working with people from different programs throughout the county has allowed me to develop a well rounded network amongst professionals in the field. We are a young and energetic team that brings new ideas and who are not afraid to try something new in the best interest of the children we work with. I have chosen to stay at SDCC due to the opportunity and encouragement to grow personally and professionally and to think outside the box. I would recommend SDCC to anyone who wants to accept the challenge of making a difference in a child's life.

Nancy Adams
Recreational Therapist
Clark Adolescent & Children’s Residential Program

In college I got an internship here and when it was over I ended up getting hired. I started working here as a Child Development Counselor and later moved into my role of Recreational Therapist. I have been here for 21 years now. I always knew I wanted to work with kids and I saw that the program was helping the kids. When I considered employment here SDCC had better benefits than other places. I also liked the doctors here. SDCC was ahead of the game in treatments. I felt valued here and when I had developed the recreational program I didn't want to leave it. I have grown a lot here as far as creativity and they allowed me a lot of flexibility. My philosophy is community integration. I help with improving the kids self esteem. I have the Road Dogs and Bull Dogs running team. When the kids are active they feel better and it helps to reduce depression. Other great new programs have also been added here in the last five years. I work with the Clark Adolescent Program, the Children's Program and the Development department. The people who work here are great and they really want to help these kids get better. The best thing about working here is seeing the success with the kids. I have brought quite a few people to work here over the years. The benefits are good and there is a lot of great support here.

Christy Gordon
NPS Administration Manager
San Diego Center for Children Academy

I joined the San Diego Center for Children 15 years ago when a friend told me about the Center and how excited she was to work for the SDCC. We both worked together for a competitor previously and she told me about the great programs at SDCC. I actually knew four people who had moved over to SDCC and they all had very positive things to say about the programs. I started here as a Child Development Counselor working directly with the kids in level 12 and did that for about five years. Then I transferred to medical records for a year but I missed the direct contact with the kids so I transferred to the school and have been here for nine years now and I love it. The school faculty is a tight knit team and we work under a great principal who is making this the best program. We interface ideas at weekly meetings and there is a lot of training offered here. The management team is great and they go out of their way to make us feel valuable. It is important for me to be part of providing great service to the kids and we offer that here. I have seen the organization grow and change over the years and that is exciting. I have also learned a great deal from working with the kids. We have the best interest of the kids and it shows. The staff is here for the right reason. They want to do something good for the kids. I would definitely recommend SDCC as a great place to work. The environment is really positive. The pay and benefits have been improved and there is room for professional growth and development to keep learning and moving up. 

Heidi Henson
Child Development Counselor
East County Day Treatment

Hi, my name is Heidi Henson and I've been working at the San Diego Center for Children, East County Day Treatment with the elementary school kids since June 2008 as a Child Development Counselor.   After completing my Bachelors in Social Work, I wanted a job where I could utilize my learned skills as well as build upon my current knowledge of the field. I was lucky enough to come across a job posting for a Child Development Counselor at ECDT and get hired.  At SDCC it was easy to see that I would be able to fulfill my passion of working with children with special needs. SDCC gave me the opportunity to work in an environment where I would be able to help kids in need.  Seeing the growth and positive change in kids and families has been incredibly rewarding, which is what keeps me working at SDCC. Also, I have been able to work with and be a part of a supportive and cooperative team.  My experience at SDCC has helped me to further develop my skills and hone in on a specialty area that I want to study further. SDCC has aided me in choosing a graduate school program that I started in February. In addition, through my employment at SDCC, I have learned to reach a level of patience and understanding for the clients served at ECDT.  The team I work with at ECDT is cohesive, supportive and we have strong bonds. We have become good friends and the support system we have formed has been a huge success factor at our location. We are a small team, only six people, and it has been imperative that we work together and support each other. I feel extremely fortunate to be working with such wonderful individuals.  The best thing about working at SDCC is being provided the opportunity to help children and families as well as being able to see positive changes in the population served.   I would recommend SDCC to my friends as a good place to work because of the warm and uplifting environment as well as the benefit and satisfaction of helping people.

Federico Guerrero
Billing and Medical Records Supervisor
Campus Programs

Hi!  My name is Federico Guerrero and I am proud to be San Diego Center for Children's Billing and Medical Records Supervisor of Campus Programs.  I joined SDCC on January 27, 2010 as the Billing and Administrative Assistant for the well-known Clark Adolescent Program.  Ever since my first interaction and interview with Management, I know that SDCC was the place for me.  I actually came across the job posting on Craigslist and decided to research the company.  After looking at the website, I knew this was an organization I would be proud to be a part of.  Ever since I was a young child, I knew it was my passion and calling to work with children and youth, to give them support and guidance to achieve many goals and overcome any obstacles which may stand in their way.  I choose to work for the center because I know this would be a place where I can make a positive impact on the kids and continue to grow as a professional.  From the start of my career here at the center, I have been amazed by the support of all of employees I interact with along with the constant support I have received from my superiors.  This is a place where I have been able to make an impact not only on a number of our wonderful kids, but also in the programmatic structure of Campus Programs.  Knowing I am able to go to my manager and express any concerns or ideas I may have, and feeling my co-workers are my family truly impact my professional life.  Working at the center, I am confident I have grown both professionally and personally.  The day to day knowledge I gain from my co-workers, children and parents could not be found anywhere else.  Sometimes it may just be the staff supporting one another day to day or your boss telling you how great of a job your doing or being nominated for one of the many company employee recognition programs or hear a client stand up for you as if you were their younger sibling. But honestly, nothing is more powerful than a child who has no one say, "Mr. Fed, you are my best friend".  I have to admit that I have one of the best teams at the center and the professional working environment is fantastic!  There is constant day to day support from HR, IT, Maintenance and so forth. As an employee of the center, you are assured that you are in great hands.  In my opinion, the best thing about working at SDCC is knowing you are making a huge impact on a child's life, and your dedication and commitment will last them a lifetime.  Just the other day I was having a long stressful day in the office and realized it was 8:00pm. I decided to go onto one of the units to check in and a client came up to me and said, "Mr. Federico can you please read me a bedtime story"?  That's all it took and I went home saying this was the BEST DAY EVER!   I would highly recommend SDCC to anyone I know as the best place to work in San Diego!

Tom Montes
Art Instructor
San Diego Center for Children Academy

I work as an Art Instructor for the non-public school at SDCC and I also teach English. I have been with the organization for 7 years now. A friend of mine was teaching here and at the time I was working somewhere else. I liked the mission of the SDCC better so I decided to come and work here instead. Our campus has a therapeutic feel to it with its beautiful landscape while many other places are just concrete. The kids are what have kept me here for so long. I learn from them everyday. I have gained a better understanding of people by working with a large team and my position here has taught me to be a good teacher and really hone my skills in special education. Our team of educators gets along great and right now we have the best group we have ever had. I am very proud of our school now and the direction we are going. I really feel that working here is a privilege and a chance to make a difference in a child's life.

Sherrie Ross
Child Development Counselor
Clark Adolescent Program

I am a Child Development Counselor in the Clark program and I work overnight shifts. I started here 3 months ago. A friend of mine works on the Children's side and told me there was an opening in the adolescent program. I was impressed with the treatment plans and that the kids are seeing a therapist so often. There is a great dedication to really help these kids and not just to house them here. Working at SDCC has brought me a sense of pride that we are making a difference. When parents tell us that their kids are using their coping skills when they go home on "home pass" I feel we have had success. I feel that my team cares about the youth and wants to help them develop in a healthy way. From the day I picked up an application package here I have seen only professionalism from everyone. I have already recommended SDCC as a great place to work to my friends. SDCC cares about the employees, the benefits are great, and it is a rewarding place to work.

Andrew Siegel, IMF
Therapist
East County Outpatient Counseling (ECOP)

I graduated from San Diego State University with a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family and I have a passion for the field of counseling. I wanted to gain experience working with families and children and I heard about the program in East County through a traineeship fair at SDSU. I knew several employees that worked for SDCC and thought this job would be a great opportunity to broaden my scope as a professional in this field. I have been here for 2 years now and have been able to practice and acquire new skills. The supervision and management here has provided me with a healthy balance of freedom and guidance to formulate my own style of practice. The various trainings and interventions have allowed me to grow as a therapist. Working at ECOP has given me a unique opportunity to benefit the community I live in, and it has helped me network with agencies and contacts in the community. The comfortable work environment and camaraderie here and the exposure to new paradigms of treatment are reasons for why I stay with EOCP. My professional experience has been strengthened through a better systemic understanding of how schools and community based systems work. The ECOP's team is supportive, open to learning and teaching others, and obtains unique abilities to be skillful in diverse practices. I have the ability to learn from colleagues and to collaborate between therapy, school, medication and community. The collaboration is crucial in my work, but also in the treatment of my clients. I feel that ECOP is a great place of employment. ECOP truly allows you to flourish and explore yourself in a supportive and comfortable environment.

Tracy Brenner
Nurse Manager
Children’s Residential Program

At first I heard about the SDCC through the Child and Adolescent Services (CAP) at UCSD and I had donated money to the SDCC through the March of Dimes. When I saw an ad for a job opening for a Nurse Manager I was very excited. The atmosphere is beautiful here and I felt that I could do some good for these kids. I enjoy working here and the staff and the kids are what keep me here. The staff is very helpful and we all have the same goal to keep the kids safe and take care of them. The best thing about working here is the hugs every day from the kids. Professionally I have grown so much and the experience has really brought out my nursing skills and I have learned to trust myself. The nursing team is a small close knit team. We are always open to suggestions and new ways to improve. I want my team to feel that they can come to me with ideas and feel they can trust me. The SDCC is a great place to work and there is so much experience to learn here for the right person. Things are always changing and we have to adjust to what the kids are going through. Our job is to take care of these kids and be their advocates for the doctors. 

John Swanson
Lead Child Development Counselor
Discovery Valley Day Treatment

I work as a Child Development Counselor in Level 14 in the Children's Residential Program and have been here almost a year now. I was searching for a job that would allow me to help people in some way and I found the position at SDCC on the internet. I chose SDCC because my research concluded that it was the oldest non profit organization in San Diego County and I felt confident that such an established organization would be experienced and financially stable. The kids have always been my reason for working here and the experience has been very rewarding. Knowing that I am able to make a positive difference in the life of a child makes it all worth it. My work experience is enjoyable, I always feel safe and my co-workers are there when I need them. Team work and communication are essential and that is evident here at SDCC. I work with a team of people who share the desire to make a difference. I would recommend this job to anyone who feels they have the love, compassion and patience to make a difference. We are here for the kids.

Carol Simpson
Clinical Supervisor
STEPdown Wraparound - FFA Stabilization

A friend of mine worked for the San Diego Center for Children and told me there was an opening and that she really liked working here.  I have worked in the STEPdown program as a Wraparound Facilitator and therapist and I also work in the FFA Stabilization program, which provides therapy and skills coaching to foster youth in Special Families Foster Care. I have been working at SDCC for 2.5 years and I love it.  The people and the mission, vision and values here are in line with my own personal belief system.  SDCC has a personal touch and a heart and I believe that our treatment programs for children and families are excellent.  I also have a great supervisor who is supportive and gives me new challenges and opportunities for growth.  What I have learned working here has helped me to fulfill my hours requirement and I now feel confident to take the MFT licensing exam.  My co-workers are very diverse and our work environment is professional, yet causal and supportive.  SDCC has great benefits, particularly in comparison with other non-profit organizations. I would certainly recommend SDCC to anyone looking for a great opportunity.  It is an agency that truly cares about children and families and is always open to innovation and feedback from its employees.