The Hillside Kinship Caregiver Team is proud to announce William Jeffers as a recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Kinship Caregiver Cura Award. Hillside Permanency Specialist Tracy Garrison was invited to present Jeffers’ nomination at a statewide virtual celebration held on September 22 by the NYS Kincare Coalition and NYS Kinship Navigator. More than 100 stakeholders and kinship program representatives were in attendance.
The Cura Awards were established in 2015 to recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of those involved with kinship care. The Outstanding Kinship Caregiver award recognizes a kinship caregiver who has demonstrated selflessness and leadership, or who has overcome tremendous barriers.
A Rochester native and single grandfather, Jeffers has devoted his life as a role model to those in his family, church and community. As a young adult, Jeffers became a foster parent caring for African-American youth in need of a father figure. Eventually, he also helped others as a foster care mentor.
At a time of his life when he could have been enjoying retirement and fishing in Florida, Jeffers put his plans aside when his granddaughter Breana (pictured above with Jeffers) needed a responsible parent to love and care for her. He obtained full custody of Breana at the age of two months; she is now 19 and recently graduated from high school with a bright future ahead of her.
Jeffers is an engaged client in the Hillside Kinship Caregiver Program and regularly attends family activities and caregiver support groups. He has become a role model to other caregivers in this program and represents the most important qualities of being a nurturing and dedicated grandfather and caregiver. Hillside congratulates him on this well-deserved honor!
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