Each month, UMFS recognizes one of our employees as the Unwavering Champion of the Month. This award celebrates the UMFS mission and how our employees bring that mission to life. Our mission: UMFS is an unwavering champion for high-risk children and families, collaborating with communities to help them reach their full potential.
Our Unwavering Champion for April is Parker Kelly, Youth Counselor Floater with the UMFS Child & Family Healing Center. Parker’s role as a Youth Counselor Floater allows him to work directly with children who live in cottages on the UMFS campus in Richmond. His role is paramount in helping to meet the social, recreational, behavioral, and educational needs of children.
“Parker goes above and beyond — not just for the youth we serve — but for everyone he works with,” said Sara Barrille, Administrative Services Manager for CFHC. “He has been an amazing asset since he came to our program, and he continues to wow us.”
Parker’s passion for UMFS is evident in how upholds agency values. He’s open for collaboration and eagerly jumps in when a task requires and extra set of hands. He empowers the strengths of both the students he works with and his colleagues by focusing on their strengths.
“He is consistently recognizing and appreciating others, which makes his team members feel valued,” Sara said. “He notices the little things, and he always says thank you. That may seem small, but it goes a long way.”
Parker came to UMFS more than three years ago as an intern at Treatment Foster Care. He was later hired as a Youth Counselor at CFHC. He’s now a floater, which means he helps out with various tasks at all of the cottages.
“Parker has done extraordinary things for our youth, families and staff,” Sara said. “He goes above and beyond, always has a positive attitude, and absolutely embodies all of UMFS’ core values in everything he does.”