Here are some FAQs answered by our human resources team to help you get to know our program and organizational culture.
Staffing basics
What shifts are you hiring for? Do you have first shift availability? In terms of treatment specialists, we are typically hiring for second (1-11pm) and third shifts (10:45pm-8:45am). Openings on first shift (6am-4pm) are offered to our current employees first. If it is not filled internally, then we will offer it to new employees. Second-shift treatment specialists receive a pay differential and a quarterly bonus that increases in value to incentivize second-shift longevity. Clinical positions such as cottage therapists and case managers mostly work on first shift.
Would I be off on weekends? The treatment specialist position is not a Monday through Friday position. Our children’s residential center is open 24/7, 365 days a year. To ensure quality care with proper staff-to-child ratios, the treatment specialist’s work schedule includes a weekend day. Most treatment specialists work four 10-hour days (including one weekend day) followed by three days off.
They typically have the same schedule every week (no rotations).
What benefits are offered to full-time staff? All full-time staff (30+ hours a week) are offered medical, vision, dental, health savings account for eligible health insurance plans, paid time off, life insurance, legal services, 401k with match upon eligibility, telehealth services and access to our employee assistance program. Additionally, meals are provided to treatment specialists when they are on duty.
The kids and the residential center
How many children live on the campus at any one time? We are licensed to care for up to 45 total children in need of safety and trauma treatment. We average 30-36 boys and girls living on our campus at one time. It’s about 8-10 kids per cottage.
What are the typical ages of the kids, and why are they at CCHO? The children range in age from 6-17 years old. Most of our residents are in their county’s custody due to abuse and neglect in their home. Some of these children may have been in kinship care or foster care prior to arriving at CCHO. During that time, they demonstrated a higher level of need through struggles in behavior and relationships. They come to us in need of a safe place to stay while they process their trauma. A child’s average length of stay is 6-9 months.
What does residential staff training look like? Preparing our staff to care for kids from hard places is a priority at CCHO. Staff training is three weeks long and takes place mostly during first shift. It is a mix of classroom training as well as in-person shadowing in the cottages to get to know staff and kids. We offer training in safety protocols, de-escalation techniques, trust-based relational intervention skills, our resident status program and more. We want you to have the tools to be a successful and supportive member of your cottage team.
What does a typical day/schedule look like for the staff/kids? The kids follow a consistent daily routine on campus: they wake up, eat breakfast, girls go to school/boys have group therapy, play/recreation time which includes the pool in the summer months, and lunch time. In the afternoon they switch; boys go to school/girls have group therapy. Residents will also have individual therapy sessions during the day. Depending on their specific programs, residents will go individually to participate in art therapy, music therapy, equine therapy or intensive trauma therapy. The evenings are less structured with more of a family feel; they have dinner, play games, enjoy movies and sometimes go off campus for outings. The evening concludes with showers and then off to bed. The routine varies on the weekends and for special event days. Saturdays often include volunteer groups that organize activities for the kids. Our campus pastor offers Bible studies, mentoring, and an organized chapel service for kids during the week.
What is the staff structure of the residential program? Within our residential program, at LEAST two staff members are with a group of cottage residents. There is always a supervisor on duty for each shift and we have multiple clinical staff that work in each cottage. We also have treatment specialists whose role is to respond to cottages that require extra assistance.
Just because
What is your favorite part of your job? My favorite part of my job is getting to know everyone that works here. I love the ability to interact and connect with others!
What do you love about CCHO? CCHO is not just a workplace—it’s a place concerned with our growth. I love that CCHO invests in employees. I truly believe they see potential and want their employees to grow. I have worked here for eight years and I have been given so many opportunities to grow and impact others.
I also love the people I work with—they genuinely care about me as a person and pray for me daily. Staff are not just coworkers, but many have become family for me. I appreciate that many “walk the talk” here; we are human and messy, but are provided the space to learn and grow.
We invite you to explore our various youth ministry roles and put your faith in action at work.
