Please join us in congratulating Victoria Furfaro, the August Staff on the Rise. Victoria, who started with RISE as an Adult Care Manager in January 2019, was recently promoted to Community Outreach Program Supervisor.
In her new position, Victoria oversees both the Street Outreach Team and the Community Outreach Court Coordinators – two intertwined programs that she was instrumental in creating in the fall of 2020. She will be expanding and growing the program which includes hiring two additional staff members to join the Community Outreach Program.
“Victoria is passionate about helping people.”
“RISE has recently received a grant to develop a Forensic Intensive Case Management Program – a pilot program through Saratoga County similar to the Saratoga Springs Community Outreach Court,” Victoria explains. This will consist of providing both Court Coordination Services and Forensic Intensive Case Management to help reduce the recidivism of individuals with severe mental health diagnosis in the county courts.
Harlan Hall, Clinical Director, says, “Victoria is passionate about helping people. She goes above and beyond the call of duty and her clients benefit as a result. Her new role expands the mission of RISE, and she will be up to the challenge.”
One of the first projects that Victoria is involved with in her new role is assisting to coordinate the “Mental Health and Criminal Justice Collaboration Training” in November. “This training will further the collaboration between criminal justice and mental health service providers,” Victoria explains. “It will include stakeholders from probation, Emergency Medical Services, law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, and mental health service providers.”
Victoria is looking forward to all the challenges of being the Community Outreach Program Supervisor. “We have a skillful team with the ability to get things done in an orderly and timely fashion while focusing on creating person centered plans based on client needs,” she shares. These client centered plans are essential to both the outreach and the court coordination aspects of the Community Outreach Program. “When the individuals experiencing street homelessness are in the midst of a crisis, the RISE Outreach team has the ability to meet them where they are at without restrictions and are able to help them obtain the services they need.”
“I love working at RISE, the agency makes the job worthwhile.”
Victoria graduated from Hartwick College in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in criminal justice. She currently is working on obtaining an Advanced Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) certification from Hudson Valley Community College, which she should receive in December. She will start work towards a Master’s in Public Policy from SUNY Empire State College this fall.
“I love working at RISE,” Victoria shares, “the agency makes the job worthwhile. I love the support we received from administration as well as the flexibility of our schedules: the ability to work at home, the portability of our equipment, and we can take mental health days if needed. All of this enables our team to provide the best services to individuals experiencing homelessness in our community.”
Victoria also likes that there are many opportunities for growth within the agency and that RISE is very supportive of educational goals – especially the flexibility of hours to manage the internships that are a part of her educational programs.
“I want to be the President of the United States!”
“I want to be the President of the United States,” Victoria exclaims when asked about her career goals. “I want to influence and make changes on a larger scale. I want to affect change in the systems that effect the individuals we work with. As I continue my education, I want to delve into research and quantitative analysis. As long as RISE continues to grow, I want to grow with the agency, helping to build and develop programs and finding ways to meet the needs in the community. I like that RISE is focused on finding and filling gaps in services in our community.”
Victoria gets her excellent work ethic from both parents. “My dad immigrated from Italy and built his own business to support his family in Italy. He is definitely a hard worker. My mom is a retired special education teacher’s aide. My dad continues to work as a tailor in Clifton Park. They both have set examples of what it means to work hard and provide exceptional services for my siblings and I.”
Victoria is the youngest of six siblings and has nine nieces and nephews. She is very close with her parents, who are very supportive of her educational and career goals. To help her recharge, she enjoys spending time with friends and family. She enjoys going to the racetrack and boating during the summer. She likes to read, watch movies and TV Shows – especially Big Brother – ride bikes and roller skate. “I also enjoy gardening,” she shares, “I have a balcony garden at my apartment, and I help tend the garden at main office.”
RISE administration appreciates all that Victoria does for the agency and for the individuals we serve. She is highly motivated, compassionate, and dedicated – all the qualities of a Staff on the Rise. Please join us in congratulating her as our August Staff on the Rise and for her recent promotion to Community Outreach Program Supervisor.