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Journal Entry 1 on March 23, 2025

I arrived back to Philly at 9:32 pm on Friday, January 31, 2025 after driving more than 15 hours straight in the rain from Columbus, GA.

I needed to begin making money quickly so I reached out to the staffing agency to get some contracted work as a Behavioral Specialist.

After working as a Program Director at a group home for adolescent boys for an independent owner in GA, I actually realized how much I love working with children and adolescents.

But, I did not always enjoy it.

Working with children and adolescents was a means to an end--It was easy money, flexible and a no-brainer.

I learned to love being a Behavior Specialist and working with children after my experience working as a group home Program Director in Columbus.

In Philly, I worked for companies under my master's degree. I never worked for an employer who recognized my doctorate except as an adjunct professor at Lancaster Bible College.

See, I had an unmet desire to hold a leadership position or to be referred to as 'Dr. Webb' by my staff and colleagues on a job.

I needed to get that whole 'title and position' thang out of my system. When the Program Director position was posted on Indeed, I jumped right on it.

Not only that, when the owner offered me 3-5% owner after working 2 years, I was like "Ok. Yep. This is it."

If you do not know anything about being a Program Director of group homes in GA, let me share a few things with you:

1. You are the operator of a silo company who works for an independent owner who does not cover shifts.
2. Everything, except finances and payroll, fall on you.
3. No staff, no worries!! You will be working 36-48 hours straight to maintain watchful insight of the residents at the 24-hour facility.

Oh, I had the leadership position that I wanted in the mental health field.

Oh, my staff referred to me using my professional title as Dr. Webb.

Oh, I had influence among the staff and GA child welfare system staff and their referral sources.

But, babeee...

Who cares about the title nor position, if

*I could not plan my life?

*I could not visit my friend in Philly who was diagnosed with cancer?

*I never knew when I walked through the door if I was going to leave to go home that day?

*I could not find decent staff because most Program Directors down there hired their family as full-time staff and I was a transplant in the area with no contacts?

Needless to say, I resigned. I cut the cords as I was tethered to that group home for 4 months. I broke my contract and all--- losing out on my last full and partial check because I accepted a sign-on bonus locking me into that dungeon for a year.

When I left the group home after texting a pic of the keys to the owner, I finally saw the light of day. I took in the deepest breath of fresh air on that Thursday, December 26, 2024.

Yes, my last the day was the day after Christmas, the first day of Kwanzaa.

I told the owner when I was first hired about my pre-planned vacation days.

That is what we are taught to do, right?

I did what was normal to me. I informed the owner of my annual vacation the last week of December upon hire.

I, not only saw the handwriting on the wall, I actually and interpreted its message.

If I did not resign when I did, I would have missed my annual vacation and been stuck at that group home for NYE and New Year's Day.

Why?

Because I had 2 full-time and 2 part-time staff. One of my full-time requested NYE off and my part time workers were already on the schedule at their other jobs.

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that I would have missed my annual vacay.

Nope. Not happening. That's where I drew the line.

Boundless Burnout

Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself working that many hours for another man. I know what it takes to build a business as my husband and me founded a non-profit organization in 2011.

Trust me when they say

• You kill what you eat
• There's no rest for the weary

They ain't neva lied.

However...

Me? I'm Boundary Bonita, honey, Ok...

I set boundaries in every area of my life-- with my family of origin, my in-laws, my clients, even in my marriage to my husband--- I need boundaries to maintain my sanity, attitude, demeanor and reputation.

As leader, I understand and expect to work extended hours.

However, I must admit I never heard of someone working 2-3 days in a row. --Isn't that againstt labor laws? I'm just saying...

I tried to set boundaries with the owner. Yet, he held that employment contract over my head that he knew like the back of his hand.

One of the bullet points of my job description stated and I paraphrase

When I read and signed the contract, I did not think that I would only have two staff who would call out every other day.

Nor, did I understand the owner-operator business model where the owner did not cover shifts to give his staff a break to prevent low morale and burn out.

Nor, did I know that some folk in GA don't want to work. (These are thoughts and sentiments from everyone I talked to. Not mine.)

As I complained to the agency's consultant and Ombudsman about the working conditions, quality of the talent pool and the expectations as a Program Director, she told me,

"Well, that is your fault that you did not research the position before you took the job."

Ok.

Wow.

Really.

She was right, though.

I didn't know what I didn't know.

I applied my Northeastern knowledge of group homes connected to larger institutions with layers of support, oversight and management to the group home world of GA.

I understood being on call on 24/7.

I was not ready to actually be on sight 24/7.

My philosophy is if it is not my business than I am not working harder or longer hours than the owner.

Battle Scarred

Wounded from the battle scars of working as a 'Program Director' in the Peach State, I said "neva eva again will I work for a hands-off independent owner of a 24-hour facility with children."

In addition, I had to recover from the trauma of working 36-48 hours straight-- That was a shock to my system.

Before I went to GA, I made my own schedule working 15-20 hours a week as an independent contractor and three 12-hour shifts as an Admissions Clinician at a psychiatric hospital.

Moreover, being an independent contractor scratches my entrepreneurial itch because I have to

-pay for my own clearances,

-file my own taxes and

-shop for my own health benefits in the marketplace.

One thing is for sure and two things are for certain, I was glad to be back in the city of brotherly and sisterly affection.

Candidly speaking, I needed the love and warm embrace when I contacted the staffing agency. They immediately responded to my email and sent me back to the West Philly school where I had a decent caseload size.

I was like, "Bet, it's on and popping."

I emailed them my transcripts, TB test results, etc. I updated my state, federal and child abuse clearance. I got my physical... If you know you know...

Gained Insights

After working in GA as a Program Director for an independent owner using an owner-operator business model, here are my insights

• Do not assume companies, agencies, etc. operate the same from state to state.
• Do not allow emotions of excitement and enthusiasm to overtake you.
• Do not get hung up on a title or position, especially one of leadership that will build your resume or open up future positions once you have that experience.
• Do not sign an employment contract immediately. Ask the owner to give you 3 days before making your final decision.
• Take the employment contract home. Read it thoroughly. Then, have someone you trust read it. Write down questions in preparation for the meeting with the owner.
• Do not be desperate. If there is anything about the position that raises a red flag or goes against your boundaries, then do not take the position.
• Do not accept the sign-on bonus if you are not prepared to honor the contract. You can still take the job and decline the bonus. This way, you are not locked into a contract or position that is not a good fit for you.

Lessons Learned

Here are 7 lessons I learned working in a group home and as a Program Director for the first time leader, especially as a transplant from the Northeast to a Southern state:

1. No matter how much experience you think you have in a particular field, you must be possess cultural awareness and sensitivity to any new geographical location. Learn to adapt to its spoken and unspoken culture, laws, rules, norms, practices, etc.
2. The communication in the South may be more polite, but it is certainly indirect. Learn to ask clarifying questions even it that means bringing up a past conversation or situation that seemed to be resolved.
3. Going from state to state automatically means different regulations and policies. Take time to understand the local laws and compliance standards.
4. The talent pool differs from state to state. What may be taboo in one state may be the acceptable norm in another state, such as hiring and supervising family members.
5. Under state the differing labor laws when working for a large corporation versus a small business with less than 10 employees. What may be against the law for one company may be acceptable in another company.
6. The resources and its allocation differ when working for an independent owner versus a larger corporation. Shift with the shift as there may not be an HR department or orientation training.
7. Working as the sole leader-operator in a 24-hour facility for an independent owner who does not work in the business extends far beyond being on call. Understand that the responsibility and liability falls on the Program Director. That position is the only buffer between the owner, staff and residents.

Journal Prompt

What about today's journal entry resonated with you the most?

• Was it desiring and finally getting a position that you longed for?
• Was it finally getting the position and realizing it was not all that it was cracked up to be?
• Was it moving to and working in a different state?
• Was it working with children in the school setting?
• Was it not fully reading, understanding and being locked into a contract?
• Was it working in the group home setting or a 24-hour facility?
• Was it working as an independent contractor and making your own schedule?
• Was it working in a position where you could not maintain your boundaries?

What feelings were evoked while reflecting on your own similar experience?

• Excitement? (From the move, leadership role or the challenge to learn something different)
• Stress? (Juggling multiple tasks, being new in the role or managing a team)
• Accomplishment? (Finally, getting the role you desired, trying something new regardless of the outcome)
• Frustration? (No staff, no set schedule, or no boundaries)
• Empowerment? (Being a leader, having influence, being able to put that experience on your resume)
• Anxiety? (The uncertainty of it all)
• Satisfaction? (Having the title and position)
• Overwhelm? (Too many new and complex challenges coming at once)
• Joy? (Celebrating every small win and experience that life affords you)

What's Next

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