program manager

youth worker

mental health technician

program support manager

human resources generalist

Active Care Youth and Adult Services

It is deeply disappointing to see a company with so much potential fail in the same ways, repeatedly. Over my three years with this agency, there was a constant promise that things would improve. Managers consistently gave senior leadership - Directors, the Executive Director, and others; the benefit of the doubt, believing meaningful change was coming. It never did.

Communication within the organization is extremely poor. Despite managers repeatedly identifying problems and providing practical solutions to senior leadership, concerns were ignored or mishandled. The more effort and commitment you show, the less valued you become. Over time, managers are made to feel incompetent rather than supported.

The most recent restructuring has resulted in yet another mass exit, this time, all current program managers leaving the agency. This followed the hiring of a new Executive Director and two new Directors who were clearly unprepared for their roles. Rather than learning their programs or supporting staff, leadership adopted a punitive, assumption-driven approach. One new Director began their role by initiating formal investigations that should have been simple conversations. This reflects the tone set by the current ED, who, while highly policy driven, lacks person centered leadership skills and relies heavily on discipline over coaching. This approach has been mirrored by the newly appointed Directors, whose actions demonstrated a clear lack of readiness for leadership roles, and significant gaps in leadership competence, particularly in this field of work. 

This is not new, it is a cycle. As a manager, you will be assigned additional programs or homes with the reassurance that it is “temporary.” It is not. You will not be recognized for absorbing the extra workload, and the real consequences fall on frontline staff and, ultimately, the youth receiving care.

There are many, wonderful, dedicated, and compassionate people within the agency who genuinely care about the youth and their teams. Unfortunately, those with the greatest power to improve things - senior leadership, including Directors, the ED, and HR leadership; are ineffective in their roles and once again demonstrated a lack of competence for their roles. Their poor leadership is the primary driver of Active Care’s high turnover and widespread burnout.

Ironically, this is a for-profit organization that fails to recognize that competent, people-centered leadership would not only improve staff retention and service quality, but would also improve financial outcomes. Instead, leadership remains narrowly deliverable-focused, lacking the foresight to understand that sustainable success depends on valuing and supporting the people doing the work.

Do better. 



The organization is undergoing a period of transformation, and while change can be challenging, it also signals meaningful progress. Over the past two years, it has become clear that aligning with funders, accreditation bodies, and sector expectations is essential for long‑term sustainability. The recent restructuring reflects a commitment to strengthening systems, improving accountability, and building a solid foundation for both staff and the youth we serve.

What stands out is the organization’s growing willingness to listen. Feedback from staff, past and present, is being taken seriously, and there is a clear recognition that communication, leadership development, and staff support must be prioritized. These conversations are happening, and the impact is becoming visible.

Active Care is home to many dedicated, compassionate individuals who care deeply about the mission. Their commitment continues to move the work forward, and the organization is investing in structures that better support them. While not every change will feel easy, the direction is clear: stabilization, alignment, and a stronger, more consistent approach that allows us to grow and provide inclusive support to those who need it most.

For those who believe in the mission and are open to being part of the transition from stabilization to growth, there is real potential ahead. The work underway is laying the foundation for a healthier culture, improved communication, and a more supportive experience for both staff and youth.

Positive change takes time, but the steps being taken now demonstrate a genuine commitmentfor the future.

I have been with Active Care for a considerable amount of time, and throughout my experience I’ve seen the agency navigate many changes with resilience. While some transitions have been challenging, I’ve consistently seen a genuine commitment to keeping services strong and ensuring the individuals we support continue to receive quality care. Even during difficult periods, staff pull together and keep moving forward, which says a lot about the culture here.
Like many organizations in this field, Active Care has faced turnover in both frontline and management roles. Despite this, there are many dedicated people who step up, support one another, and work hard to maintain stability for the individuals in care. That sense of teamwork and shared purpose is one of the agency’s greatest strengths.
What has always stood out to me is that the Vision, Mission, and Values have remained steady. The big picture has never shifted, and that consistency provides a strong foundation even when the day‑to‑day work can be demanding. There are many staff who truly care about making a difference, and their dedication often goes unnoticed in the more negative reviews.
Over the years, I’ve learned that a positive team culture grows when people are willing to put care and effort into it. Active Care has its challenges, like any organization, but it also has a lot of heart, potential, and people who genuinely want to see it succeed.
With continued focus on communication, stability, and support for staff, I believe the agency can keep growing in a positive direction. There is a lot of good happening here, and that deserves to be recognized.


I have found ACYAS to be an exceptional employer that has truly accommodated my lifestyle and provided me with the benefits, flexibility and income to be financially stable and meet the needs of my family. 

The people I have worked with have been caring and supportive. They've remembered my birthday, small details about my personal life, and have always been welcoming to my questions. 

From what I have learned, this is a business that had a few years of rapid growth, and from my perspective, they have maintained the feeling of a small business while becoming a structured organization so you know which departments and people to go to if you have questions or need to work together. I can recognize that change is hard, but it seems necessary to keep this many people employed. 

 I am grateful for the extensive training that they have put me through, and the opportunities they communicate regularly. I feel empowered to grow and take advantage of opportunities. 

The most enjoyable part about my job is that I am mentally stimulated and challanged so the days go by faster. No day is the same and there is always something to learn. 

I have appreciated the employee surveys and the monthly newsletters that always seek the teams opinion and keep the entire orgainization in the loop with news or changes. 

I am grateful to be surrounded by other people that deeply care about their work and are looking for ways to improve, always. 

There is a few really great people that work for this company but unfortunately that is all, only a few. Upper management is a joke, unprofessional, uneducated and have no experience. This company is greedy and for profit. They will hire anyone just to have shifts covered and keep the money coming in. They do not have the best interest of the youth in mind, nor do they care about their employees. The program cordinators think they are so above the staff and give them no support at all, plus they are competing for the "team leader positions". The majority of the people working for this company barely finished grade 12. The ed is the worst of them all, she has the biggest ego and treats anyone "below her" like trash. The youth hate most of the staff and people working there because they are aware of how shady this company is. The office life is so ridiculous, you can feel the egos and competitiveness from everyone. They constantly complain about staff or anyone "below" them in order to fit in with each other, the bottom line is they don't know what they are doing and blame it on "their staff".  For profit companies like this need to be shut down.

Never a dull moment with this company. Being able to adapt, learn quickly, and remain composed during crisis situations, are skills I used on a day to day basis. As a front line staff, I worked with some of the most high risk youth in this province - we were very busy, our managers seemed TEN times busier, upper management even more high stress. I personally enjoyed the fast paced environment and diversity of the youth. Front line youth workers are given a variety of resources to work at, scheduling does their best to place people based on youth needs and staff’s own preference. No union, which is great, no extra fees.The company grew hard and fast, managers were tasked to train employees themselves because the company hires individuals with one year experience etc.  Pay is great considering you don’t need a degree to get a job here. I was given the chance to work with these youth and now turned this opportunity into a career path. Honestly, this job is difficult because the clients are so vulnerable, the stress is not for everyone, but end of the day .. I’ve never felt more rewarded in my life. Highly recommend!

Sadly, this company should not be in the business of supporting youth and at-risk adults.  I worked for them in a supervisory position for 2+ years and finally had to leave because of the environment and the lack of care for their clients.  Of course there are some good people that work there, and not everything is horrible, but it was the worst employer I've had in over 30 years of employment.  It's toxic and it's a mix of incompetence and uncaring at the highest levels.  It felt like every day the management was trying to figure it out on the fly, but they don't have the experience or skillset to do so.  Add in an ownership group that is even more green and without any tangible skills, and it's a recipe for disaster.  If this was a manufacturer or some tech company, who cares, but they support some of the most at-risk individuals in the community.  It seems to be all about making money and not helping the clients.   It's very sad and I hope they can somehow improve what they do.

This job suits people who are comfortable either working away from home or in there desired city as the company has operations in multiple cities. ACSS is the type of job that suits people who can handle often times stressful situations and remain calm.  An employee should be ok with their day to day jobs at work more often than not changing rapidly or unexpectedly as certain problems regarding youth in care can change rapidly. I have worked with them for years and they have been good to me in terms of fair pay and potential career advancement if I choose to. The job has diverse options for works hours as you can work 12 hr shifts either day or night and could work part time or full time depending or your desires. The company also has a great life insurance and pension plan. ACSS also has an awesome 24/7 on call team to support staff that feel uncomfortable in certain situations. I would recommend this job to some who is empathetic and caring and wants to work with youth in cognitive behavioural and physical therapy type work.

This job has multifaceted aspects to it that can benefit people with different levels of experience and diverse set of skills. If you put your mind and heart into it, you would become a multitasker like no other. 
To say the least, it is the most rewarding job that I have taken on after teaching. From my past experiences,  I know that every job has some rough edges that would challenge each and everyone of us. Nonetheless,  the challenges that the youth care field poses are the essence of how each and every member on the Active Care team makes the difference. I enjoy my job. It is not monotonous as you will be doing different tasks throughout the day, be it cleaning,  cooking, planning an activity calendar,  putting together a menu, working with  the care team to evaluate and review objectives. 
It is a challenge that is filled with rewards. 
Finally, "Sometimes we're tested. Not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths."



What is the best part of working at the company?
Wage is very competitive, the rotations are really great for full time staff

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The management is very disorganized and so is the HR team. being a casual is terrible - it’s only worth it if you are full time 


What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Staff are hired with no qualifications, use their phone all shift, and sleep. Management is never around and are over worked so don’t really know what is going on. Upper management is honestly kind of mean to staff (but they hire unqualified people and then are upset when they don’t know how to support clients). Scheduling and HR department are really bad, most of the time they have no idea what is going on.  

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Work is really easy for frontline staff, mostly chilling, you get free food

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Program manager 11 salaries reported	$72,781 per year
Youth worker 4 salaries reported	$24.48 per hour
Mental health technician 4 salaries reported	$31.70 per hour
Program support manager 9 salaries reported	$68,684 per year
Human resources generalist 3 salaries reported	$65,700 per year

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