Pros
This is a Federally mandated safety net organization dedicated to providing psychiatric and behavioral health services to those most in need. The State of GA is divided into a variety of territories that each have a specific Community Service Board assigned to operate in that community. This organization is filled with dedicated individuals determined to serve the community at all levels of the organization, from drivers to doctors - I cannot over emphasize this point. Opportunities abound for individuals to perform meaningful public service, particularly those fresh out of school and newly credentialed. Just as a resident cuts his/her teeth in a public hospital, this is a great place to learn the ropes of the Behavioral Health and work directly with populations in need of services ranging from emergency detox and stabilization, developmental disabilities, outpatient services, child & adolescent services, ACT, intensive case management, addictive disease treatment, residential services, individual & group counseling, and supported employment programs among many others. Generous 401k / 457 contribution - equivalent of 7.25% of base pay automatically contributed to Mass Mutual account. State Holidays. Diverse flexible benefits package available to CSB employees.
Cons
This is a good place to start for people needing experience. It is filled with dedicated, good people at all levels; but, there are serious issues and after so many years of public service, it is with great sadness that touch on the following "cons," not in any sense of malice but in the Nonetheless, what follows is an honest representation of the state of the organization during as of the transition from 2017/18. Long hours for low, non-competitive pay - this creates a perpetual shortage at every level from form cooks and drivers to physicians and nurses. It is difficult to get approval for training and continuing education events. Many benefits that formally made up for the lack of competitive pay have been steadily reduced or eliminated over the past decade with many positions now farmed out to third party staffing organizations that do not offer pay or benefits equivalent to actual CSB employees. There is an unwritten expectation that exempt employees will, at minimum, work an additional twenty hours over and above their scheduled coverage. The annual percentage of employee turnover is alarming as many leave in search of better compensation and working conditions, often migrating to Kaiser, WellStar, Northside, Peachford, Tanner, and other provider organizations in the area. As a result, there is a shortage of individuals delivering services that match their level of credentials which directly affects the organization's level of reimbursement for services. The organization is in an ongoing financial crisis a result of a series of systemic issues; but, in all fairness, it is almost impossible to strategically plan when the State and Federal authorities change the rules and expectations every fiscal year, often mandating services beyond the realities confronting the organization's financial and operational capabilities. Furthermore, it is plagued by inefficient billing and service practices - the organization is unable to even produce an accurate profit/loss statement and is habitually unable to push services through for reimbursement. Furthermore, the organization is perpetually caught between competing political interests of Cobb & Douglas Counties, the State and the Federal Government. Since the last major local election cycle and following a number of key board member retirements, the County Boards that oversee the organization have been varyingly disengaged and non-supportive of the organization, often allowing individual board members with neither healthcare nor clinical experience or knowledge of the behavioral health field to make direct decisions impacting service delivery, make organizational changes, and even personnel decisions without the knowledge or consultation of executive and senior leadership.