Pros
I loved helping profoundly damaged kids. I felt like I made a difference, and could see how my positive interactions helped change the brains of severely traumatized children. In the beginning, I loved the other staff members also. Most seemed united in wanting to help kids, most were very dedicated and well-educated.
Cons
It's a challenging job where kids call you foul names and try to spit/hit/kick/punch you daily. Management depends on treatment staff (QMHA, bachelors degree) to provide high quality, round-the-clock mental health treatment, but does not appreciate or value treatment staff. With a 4-year degree, I made less than $11/hr. Favoritism is rampant, and staff turnover is the highest I've ever experienced. Large groups of staff quit at once, which puts remaining staff in danger when shifts are full of inexperienced newbies. It's a private company, and nepotism trumps competence. Management spins staff feedback when reporting to the board.