Vantaggi
Lincoln Families—especially my program—has been an exceptionally supportive place to grow as a clinician. It’s an ideal environment for clinicians who value deep support, relationship-based care, and strong clinical mentorship. The primary limitation is salary competitiveness relative to other employers in the region. I’ve had an overwhelmingly positive experience, particularly within my specific program. The supervision and support are exceptional. I receive two hours of individual supervision and two hours of group supervision weekly, and both spaces are thoughtful, clinically rich, and genuinely supportive. My supervisors and program manager are excellent—attuned, knowledgeable, and deeply invested in our growth and well-being. One of the most unique and valuable aspects of my role is the lack of rigid productivity requirements. This allows me to focus on providing high-quality, relationship-based care rather than chasing numbers. It creates space to be fully present with children and families, which aligns with why many of us enter this field in the first place. The work itself is incredibly meaningful. I love working with young children and their families, and I’ve found most early childhood education site staff to be collaborative and committed. My colleagues are compassionate, vulnerable, and deeply dedicated—it’s a warm, human environment where people show up authentically. Benefits are also a strong point. PTO accrues quickly and feels generous, and the health benefits package is excellent, with strong medical coverage, good dental, and solid vision. The new hire onboarding was thoughtful and thorough, and the physical office space is quite beautiful and welcoming.
Svantaggi
The biggest drawback is compensation. While the hourly rate is typical for community mental health (CMH), it is significantly lower than comparable roles in larger CMH agencies, hospital systems or government settings, where clinicians with similar qualifications may earn substantially more. This creates long-term sustainability concerns, especially in high-cost areas like the Bay Area. Additionally, Lincoln Families as a larger organization can sometimes feel somewhat separate from my day-to-day experience within my specific program. While my program itself is incredibly supportive, I would appreciate more opportunities to feel connected to and integrated with the broader agency.