“Compassionate.” “Dedicated.” “Hardworking.” These are just a few of the words that co-workers used to describe Lillian Martinez, which is why it is no surprise that she was recently honored for her outstanding work.
On Thursday, the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA) presented the first-ever Jim Purcell Excellence Award to Lillian, a Case Planner for Child & Family Services’ Preventive Program.
In her 21 years working at C&FS, Lillian has displayed her professionalism by establishing big picture strategies and goals with families. She also uses various techniques to empower these families – such as Motivational Interviewing, in which case planners use open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections and summaries to evoke and sustain change.
When asked to describe what inspires her to continue her work, Lillian said, “John F. Kennedy stated that one person can make a difference, so everyone should try. If I can make an positive impact on someone’s life, then I believe I have to try – and I have seen the results of what our work at C&FS can do. I know that we help people, which is an incredibly rewarding feeling.”
Lillian offers empathy while delivering results for families facing difficult times. This includes finding homes for families, helping them enter shelters, and advocating for children in school settings. Lillian is also bilingual, which enables her to connect with families that might have more difficulty navigating available resources.
“Lillian has the innate ability to develop rapport with her families by understanding what their issues are, showing genuine empathy, and gaining their trust,” said Kimberly Backey, Director of Family Preservation Services at C&FS. “She is passionate and goes above-and-beyond for her clients to ensure that their needs are being met while keeping their safety paramount. She is a strong advocate for her clients and empowers them so their voice is heard.”
Congratulations to Lillian, and thank you for all of the outstanding work you have done for our community!