Pros
Noble and critical mission with a participant-first perspective.
Cons
Cara has a strong mission, but when it comes to trauma-informed work, there’s a significant gap in training, resources, and dedicated time needed to truly support staff in meeting the demands of program-facing roles. Many frontline employees are stretched thin and compensated below market rate, especially for the level of emotional labor and responsibility required. At times, it felt like the mission was used to discourage conversations around improving work conditions. There’s also a noticeable pay disparity between departments. Participant-facing staff often earn considerably less than those in leadership, finance, or development, despite being required to be in the office daily. In contrast, other teams benefit from more flexibility and remote options. Overall, work-life balance and flexibility are limited, particularly for those directly serving participants.