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Eric's nomination:
I would like to nominate Eric Hoffman for True North recognition. I have had the pleasure of working with him in Allegany County’s RRPP program since summer of 2023. Eric has been a wealth of information in numerous capacities thanks to his decades of experience working with vulnerable populations in AC.
This being my first position in case management, I know I am lucky/blessed to have such a quality partner in this program and his value to AC’s PCS location is not lost on me. Eric helps me set realistic goals and priorities with clients, however some of the best advice he has given me is to “think outside the box” in regard to brainstorming ideas for client care and resources. He takes it upon himself to provide access to his church’s donations center outside of its normal hours for clients with extreme needs for food, clothing, or camping equipment (we have many homeless clients). He also spends many of his evenings and weekends off the clock, volunteering to help at the local homeless shelter and at the Gateway West Church food and donations pantry which goes to show just how passionate and invested he is in our community.
Eric also uses his expertise and connection to reestablish contact with clients that may have gone MIA in our program. He knows where to look, and how to advocate for clients that really need it and may not know how to best advocate for themselves. One of the instances I would say I am most proud of in regard to Eric would be in November, when he took it upon himself to go out to assist a client that had gone off his medication which puts his family members at risk. He had already worked a full shift but when he got the call from the client’s grandmother that she needed help, he got right to action contacting local urgent cares and working with the client to get him medicated ASASP. He was able to resolve the issue, calm down the client get him medicated and safely back home with his family all before urgent cares in the area closed for the day.
This is far from the only instance where I have witnessed Eric go above and beyond for our clients and our community. He always offers advice and to go with me if necessary for clients that are particularly challenging or volatile. He cares that clients and case workers alike are safe and have an efficient plan set in place for reaching their goals. Thank you for helping me be a better case worker. I know my clients were assisted with a greater level of success thanks to Eric having been a teammate and mentor of mine in RRPP.
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