Messages from the President & CEO

At Hillside, we see examples every day of the many ways in which such factors as trauma and poverty can hold back young people and adults from achieving their potential. Our services provide supports and guidance that can make a powerful difference—but we all know that the surest way to solve any problem is by detecting and addressing it early.

That’s why preventive services are a critical part of our integrated continuum of care. One example of our commitment to preventive support is the new Family Opportunity Center model that we’ve recently launched in Syracuse and Rochester.

These Centers, funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, offer walk-in supports for expectant parents and families with children under age 21. Maybe they’re looking for parent development tips, or nutrition counseling, or information about how to access vital mental health care services. Our Family Opportunity Centers provide these supports, and more—and in so doing, help reduce the risk of an unaddressed issue becoming much worse down the line.

In addition to on-site clinical guidance, the Centers are staffed by Family Peer Advocates who have lived experience in the same day-to-day challenges experienced by many parents who walk in seeking help. That shared experience allows our staff to form trusted relationships with moms, dads and young people in need.

Hillside’s latest podcast explores the new Family Opportunity Center program. Please give it a listen, and if this kind of service sounds like it could be helpful to you, I hope you’ll reach out to Hillside at 585-256-7500 and ask for more information. Our Service Integration team is available 24 hours a day to answer your questions.

As always, I thank you for your interest in Hillside’s mission!

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO
Hillside

On December 12, Hillside invited state and local officials to join us at our Crestwood Campus to hear more about our programs, priorities and plans for the future. We try to hold meetings like this several times each year, as part of our ongoing engagement with government and community leaders; they understand the role played by Hillside’s services in our community, and their awareness and support is critical to the success of our work.

It’s impossible to consider the effectiveness of Hillside’s services without taking into account our funding streams. Because the rates for many of Hillside programs are set by our state partners, we must be a thoughtful, passionate advocate for the support that ultimately helps our employees do their best work for those we serve.

And funding isn’t the only issue. In an op-ed piece published on the New York Non-Profit Media website, I shared some thoughts about the vital need for structural reforms in our field. The most recent New York State budget showed promise in its increased financial support for many of our services, but that support is only the beginning of the changes needed to allow our programs to fulfill their objectives and let youth, adults and families thrive.

The individuals we serve deserve the full support of our funders and elected officials—as do our employees, in the form of rates for our services that allow staff to be compensated fairly. We continue to do all we can to support higher employee compensation, and with appropriate funding increases, we can do even more.

In the meantime, please don’t forget that your support makes an incredible difference! Whether as a donor, a foster parent or a Hillside employee, you can play an important role in helping us help others.

Thank you for your support of Hillside’s mission!

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO

At Hillside, our people bring our mission to life. Each and every day, Hillside employees collaborate to provide services and solutions that make a profound difference in the lives of thousands of youth and families. The collective impact of our staff is extraordinary—and it’s worthy of celebration.

Recently, I was proud to join more than 900 Hillsiders at an off-site Employee Conference. At this two-day event—with identical programming each day, to accommodate staff schedules—our teams engaged in an array of workshops, activities and discussions that provided work-enhancing insights and essential tools for personal growth.

Just as important, they were able to re-connect with their colleagues after several years of COVID-related remote distancing. The theme of the Conference, “Stronger Futures Together,” was woven into the event as a reassuring reminder of how partnerships—with our co-workers, with those we serve, and with the community at large—amplify the effectiveness of our vital work.

It’s always inspiring to see so many dedicated people gathered together. The diverse Hillside community is constantly evolving—and there’s room for you to join our family. I encourage you to visit Hillside.com/Careers to explore the opportunities that await you as a future member of our team.

I’m so proud to be a part of this agency. Please consider joining us! And as always, thank you for your interest in our mission.

Maria Cristalli
President & CEO
Hillside

Recently, two men shared very personal stories of how Hillside helped them overcome profound challenges to fulfill their potential.

As a youth in the 1960s, Richard Jackson lived for several years on our Monroe Campus in Rochester. His memoir Ward of the Court describes how that experience led to a remarkable life as a human services leader and the mayor of Ottawa, Kansas. Now 79 and retired, Richard returned to Hillside and shared his story over pizza with youth, in a virtual meeting with our staff, and in an interview with WXXI radio. He praised our services as being critical in shaping lives of strength, purpose and achievement.

He also met with donors at a special event, joined by an alumnus of our Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection program who shared his own deeply moving story. While in high school, Casanova Burgos endured the deaths of his cousin and his father; at the event, he talked about how he was given strength to cope with those traumas thanks to sustained support from his HWSC Youth Advocates. Casanova, now 33, is a Navy Reserves veteran, a father, and an aspiring firefighter; like Richard, he says Hillside empowered him to realize his goals.

Richard and Casanova are potent reminders of the vital nature of our work—and of the many other vulnerable youth and adults who still need support. Hillside’s services make a powerful impact on countless lives every day, and your support makes our work possible.

There are so many ways you can make a difference as a Hillside partner. I hope you’ll consider supporting our mission with a donation, becoming a foster parent, or joining our team as a Hillside employee. Together, we can help more individuals like Casanova and Richard discover their paths to the stronger futures they deserve.

Thank you!

Maria Cristalli
President & Chief Executive Officer