Working at Mille Lacs Academy in Onamia, MN: 2 Employee Job Reviews by Real Employee working in Onamia, MN Area

"MLA is a place in which the mission that you have is what keeps you going! The kids can be tough with some serious issues, but the dedication to the team is what kept me going back. I really felt like I was cared about by management and my supervisors, and the Executive Director really showed that he cared about the staff's success as much as the kids. Working with kids can be hard, but I think that this experience is really what helped me to move upward in other opportunities I have had. Everywhere has their challenges and some teammates will have tough days, but you have to be part of the solution and say something to others who aren't being part of the solution."

"I worked with Mile Lacs Academy (MLA) for over 2 years in various positions and in various programs. There are pros and cons to every job, but overall, Mille Lacs Academy has underperformed in many areas pretty consistently. First, a list of some of the things MLA meets or exceeds in accomplishing: -Direct care staff (counselors/case managers) in each program are generally well trained to perform the job expectations; -Management and administration practices open door policy; -Fantastic medical and dental insurance/401K plans for full time employees; -Good PTO program; -You feel like you are making a difference at the end of the day, in the lives of these clients; -Great experience for anyone looking to get into the mental health field. And now, for a list of areas for improvement in MLA: -Low staff retention, leading to difficulty in staffing the floor; -Lower end of pay spectrum for direct care staff; -Lack of time for self-care afforded to those in supervisory positions; -Unclear role definition for supervisory positions; -Insufficient training for those in supervisory positions; -Insufficient time alotted to complete expectations of job; -Lack of supervisory feedback and constructive criticism; -Gossip in the workplace leading to low morale across the building; -Lack of "unified" feel across the building. Overall, I agree with the mission statement and core beliefs of the company, but its employees are not made to feel valued, and this leads to clients not feeling valued as they experience staff with whom they have built relationships leave the company for better opportunities. In charge of program scheduling, maintaining legal staff-to-youth ratios was my responsibility to ensure safety and proper care for the clients. We were never fully staffed in my time working there, making scheduling near impossible. With it being my responsibility, to cover the holes I'd often work 30-40 OT per week, with no compensation due to being salaried."