Paul has been with Hilltop over 6 years. He provided juvenile intake screening/on-call for CYDC for 5 years prior to coming on full time as the Family Navigator for the new IMPACS program. Paul now works at Hilltop full time, providing support/navigation to participants that are child support obligors. He helps them gain and retain employment, work on life skills, develop healthier relationships with their children and ultimately strengthen economic security of the family unit.

Relationships: Paul has quickly established relationship with the Hilltop Team as well as with Participants. We have several individuals that will stop in weekly just to check in with Paul. He has a {sometimes) quiet personality but can be very funny and is often laughing and joking with the team at the FRC. Paul will jump in and help his peers out – offering to help with youth wellness activities, taking on additional on-call CYDC shifts, helping pick of furniture and deliver it to other Navigator’s caseloads, and even signing up to run on Hilltop’s Men In Heels Team. Paul has built trust and relationship with our focal child support offices in Delta and Montrose, as well as with the workforce centers. His participants appear to really trust him and enjoy working with him.

Integrity: Paul is transparent and displays great boundaries with participants. He shows up as he is, and is comfortable being who he is. Paul has had to do a lot of independent work on IMPACS to get the program up and running as a start­ up service. I have trusted him to market the program in the community, meet with key partners, meet with funders and manage his time unsupervised. I always trust Paul to do the right thing. He is genuine, real and doesn’t seem to think too much about what other people think.

Courage: Paul supports people with some of the more challenging and complex barriers in our “center services” caseload. He does not get anxious, nervous or go into “fix it” mode when working with people experiencing crisis or homelessness. He models to others how to meet people where they are at, treat them with kindness, listen and mostly be approachable and open.

Inclusivity: Paul always respects other’s opinions and differences. He is non-judgmental when things happen such as him participants get a jail sentence, or they need to drop out of services for a period of time. He is approachable and welcomes them back when they are ready.

Growth: I have personally seen Paul grow in the last year as his supervisor. He is someone other Navigators look up to. He helps bring a sense of calm/safety to our FRC. When Paul is around, things just feel happier and stable. Paul takes accountability when his data is behind, or when program needs developed more. He has grown in his presentation skills and ability to speak in front of groups such as the Fatherhood Coalition.

Fun: Paul is hilarious. We had a Hilltop Team for Altrusa’s “Trivia Night” and Paul made us all pins with nicknames. His was “Pauly” like in an Italian Gangster movie. He uses humor to build relationships with his participants – which is probably why they want to come and see him so often. I wasn’t able to see the MIH race, but can imagine Paul out there just having fun. As I am writing this, I can literally hear him whistling outside my door as he fills his water up. He cracks me up daily, unintentionally, just being himself.

Lastly, Paul loves Hilltop. He is expressive about what a generous, fun, amazing place Hilltop is to work. Paul serves on the Valley Food Partnership Board, and is active in his community of Olathe outside of working at Hilltop. He also lives on a farm with several animals – a source of many great stories while we get to know him more at work.

 

Nominated by Josie Anders-Mize