Non Profit

I began my new job today working at a residential treatment facility for adolescent females. The company I work for is non profit. The difference between for profit and non profit is just amazing. At the other for profit residential I worked for the children were taken on outings often shopping but the children had no money to spend. Or some of the kids did and some of them were left to watch their peers shop and brag. My new place pays the kids a dollar for every chore they do. They also work with the kids doing fundraisers. They taught the girls how to crochet and I was amazed to see their work. They sell their blankets and get to keep the money. Now granted a dollar a day is not a ton of money but at least they feel like they have something. And seven bucks can go a long way at The Dollar Store.

The non profit also has a pool on the premise, a playground and a greenhouse. The kids actually have interesting recreation. At the for profit they had a field, old gym equipment and a "nature walk" that was covered with brush. The non profit has a school building that looks like a school building, instead of random rooms where ever they can be found. The non profit has cable, a dvd player and a playstation. The for profit had tvs that only worked half the time and they never had cable.

These differences are astounding when it comes to quality of life and, therefore, quality of treatment. Although this non profit organization is still far from ideal, it is nice to see that there are places that put back into their programs and care about the client.