Hilltoppers,

There is no denying the major headlines of 2020 that will go down in history are all challenges we have had to persevere through: COVID-19, racial equity, political conflicts, etc. As I look in the rearview mirror, it is our accomplishments through these trials that truly stand out for me. We have done some amazing things this year and I am proud of what we’ve accomplished. Here are just a few of the highlights as we close out 2020:

  • After over 35 years, the Life Adjustment Program is an officially licensed program! The Independent Living Skills Training (ILST) officially opened serving individuals in the community, and just recently, LAP completed a survey by CDPHE and received deficiency free results.
  • Hilltop began a deep dive into equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). We expanded our Board of Directors to enhance diversity, conducted an EDI assessment of our FRCs, and implemented a Hilltop-wide policy protecting employees from abuse from clients.
  • Even though CW STEP (CO Works Subsidized Training & Employment Program) closed in June due to lack of state funding, it won a national recognition for the services it provided families in our community, prompting the state to take a serious look at how to refund in 2021.
  • Fundraising events hit record highs this year. The restructured Men in Heels Race went virtual while raising over $53,000! The Triple Play Women’s Golf Tournament was able to safely hold their event in July and raise $40,000. Both events benefit Hilltop’s Latimer House and brought in more money than ever before.
  • Fountains and Commons were awarded ‘Best of the West- Senior Living’ awards by the Daily Sentinel, and Men in Heels Race was runner up for best fundraising event.
  • The Fountains completed significant capital improvements resulting in beautiful living environment for our residents.
  • The Fountains Hill’s development project completed with the final eight patio homes, and construction has started on eleven more Cottages at The Commons.
  • Hilltop created and implemented a new wage scale to ensure compliance with new federal laws.
  • Fiscal Services switched over to nearly 100% paperless processes.
  • Hilltop effectively partnered with Rocky Mountain Health Plans to receive a Medicaid contract for MST and WRAP Around services.
  • The Information Technology team rolled out tons of technology to facilitate remote working and social distancing, practically overnight.  Pushing Hilltop into the future.
  • Over the holidays, 100 Pay-it-Forward food bags were successfully distributed into our community.
  • The Rim Rock Landing Townhomes project completed and Hilltop retained the last set of townhomes to lease and generate revenue.
  • Red Compass Realty grew from 30th to 11th in volume sold for the GJ Realtor Association.
  • Hilltop’s Parents as Teachers became a Blue-Ribbon Affiliate.
  • The SafeCare program received accreditation following a successful transition from Mesa County Public Health.
  • The FRCs (GJ and Montrose) received over $400,000 in COVID funding to support resource and referral, outreach, and direct needs of FRC participants and other community members.
  • The Montrose FRC assisted Delta County developed a Collaborative Management Project to coordinate family services, as well as received funding to start the IMPACTS program to assist non-custodial fathers gain necessary parenting skills.
  • 2-1-1 met the challenge of a 50% increase in calls, with both housing and utility requests tripling over last year.
  • For the first time, Hilltop received revenue from the Department of Housing to support case management for Pathways Village residents with potential to renew for five years.
  • Hilltop entered into a partnership with Grand Junction Housing Authority and United Health Care on a pilot project “Housing+Health” to provide wrap-around services to homeless high utilizers of the health care system.
  • A vision of a unified Youth Services Continuum (RYS, MST, out-patient, day treatment, CYDC, TLP), all united under the branch of Family Tree, was successfully implemented.  All programs are fully operational and have achieved the ideal structure and staffing patterns.
  • A new Learning & Development initiative is on the horizon – Hilltop U, will launch early in 2021.

While the above list is long, it doesn’t even come close to being exhaustive in outlining all of our accomplishments. I hope you take pride in what we have done together this year. I realize as the clock rolls over into 2021, our challenges don’t magically disappear. When we come into work on Monday, the realities will still be there, but it’s our perseverance and dedication to better our community that make us great. You have all touched a countless number lives this year and have made this world a better place. I hope you celebrate in the new year and all you have done this year.

Wishing you a very happy New Year!

-Mike