Employee Testimonials

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

Carol Simpson
Wrap Facilitator/Therapist
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.  

Abby Sloan
NPS Teacher
San Diego Center for Children Academy

My role as a Teacher for the school at SDCC is really rewarding.  I love that I go home every day feeling that I did something good.  I have been here for 2 years now.  I initially was looking for a place to volunteer when I found the San Diego Center for Children.  Then I learned that they had openings so I applied and got a job.  I am consistently challenged and given new opportunities to thrive professionally and I value the training that is offered.  Our ethics and the vision are really aligned here.  I love seeing the growth in the students.  They wear their emotions on their sleeve and it feels good to help them come to a better emotional place.  The kids have really taught me patience.  Our team at the school is great.  The atmosphere is always open and I feel valued.  The staff and the management are on the same level creating a seamless feel to the school.  I feel the best thing about working here is the kids.  They give you a purpose and reason to feel good every day.  I would definitely recommend the SDCC to others.  It is a very supportive, healthy, fun and safe working environment. 

Ed Reynolds
Lead Child Development Counselor
Children’s Residential Program

I joined SDCC 3.5 years ago and work as a supervisor for Level 14 on the Children's program. I learned about SDCC on the website and decided to apply. At the time I was working with adults with disabilities but I thought that I could make more of an impact working with kids. When I first walked onto the campus here I was impressed. The landscaping is beautiful and it didn't seem like a residential facility to me. What has kept me working here is the kids and the team that we have in the program. Our team helps to give structure and stability for the kids. We try to make it more of a family atmosphere for the kids and it really feels like a family to work here. I have learned a lot of patience from working here with these kids. In the Lead role I am involved in both the staffing and administrative side of the program which I enjoy. There are so many people to learn from here and it has helped me to grow professionally. The best part about working at SDCC is that I enjoy coming to work every day. Watching these kids having learning experiences every day is rewarding and motivating. I would absolutely recommend SDCC as a great place to work. I enjoy working here because it is a way to give back to the community and these kids really need a mentor to look up to.

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.

Terra Pack
Therapist
Building Bridges

The Building Bridges program serves the young children, 0-5 years old. It is so rewarding to work in this program and be able to make a difference for these kids and their families. I have a passion for prevention and in this program we work with the family before problems occur or at the first sign of concern. It is most rewarding to witness when parents re-gain confidence in their role, and the child's emotional needs are being met by the family. I have been a Therapist here for 2 years. I heard about the BB program and what a great reputation in had in our community. I was interested in working with the younger children. I chose the SDCC because the program here allows a lot of flexibility and creativity, and it allowed me to put my training to use. The best thing about working here is the support of my team and the friendships I have developed. I also love that we provide a value in the community. SDCC has a long history and roots in our community. Our team has a great sense of balance, unique skill sets, trust and endurance through the changes in the organization over the past couple of years. I feel valued and I feel that my personal mission to work with kids is being met here. I was supported in obtaining my licensure, and there is always encouragement for professional development in our team. I have recommended SDCC to several people as a great place to work. The benefits are great and the people who work here really care about the kids. 

John Swanson
Child Development Counselor
Children's Residential Program

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.