Fort Myers—Eileen McIltrot has been a social worker her entire adult life. She has helped the elderly in Wisconsin, the hospice in Minnesota, the poor farm workers of Alabama, and the rural black population in Mississippi. She assisted people afflicted with AIDS in the Bronx, the migrant farm worker and refugee communities in Fort Myers, and most recently hurricane victims in Lee and Charlotte counties. It has been pretty much the same in every encounter, someone needs help and she helps them.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Southwest Florida chapter recently honored McIltrot’s contribution to society. She was awarded Social Worker of the Year for her life’s work and especially for her response to the needs of hurricane victims. She has been an employee of Catholic Charities for the past 19 years and has provided services to the needy in Lee and Charlotte counties by way of education, intervention and advocacy.

“My commitment to this profession goes with my commitment to my faith,” said McIltrot. “Principles that guide social work practice are very similar to Catholic Social Teachings. That is probably one reason why I love what I do,” she said.

Criteria for the Social Worker of the Year award include the candidate upholds the NASW Code of Ethics; has made major contributions to human services; has taken exceptional risk to better human services; has made superior contributions to the public's knowledge of social work, social work issues and programs through advocacy for social workers; and demonstrates exceptional leadership qualities.

“I've done many things and always given my best, but I am humbled to think my colleagues regard my contributions as fitting the criteria that is set for this recognition,” said McIltrot.

"While our board and staff are pleased that Eileen has been honored for the wonderful work that she does, I must also say that it has been an honor for Catholic Charities to have her representing our organization,” said Peter Routsis-Arroyo, president/CEO of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. “This was never more evident than with the tremendous work that she has accomplished and continues to do with the hurricane disaster recovery efforts," he said.        

After hurricane Charley hit last August, Catholic Charities was a first responder to the most devastated areas. McIltrot was assigned the challenge of coordinating relief efforts in Punta Gorda for the organization.

“The experiences in the days immediately after Hurricane Charley and the numerous storms that followed affirmed for me the purpose of being a social worker,” McIltrot said. “Providing relief and hope to victims in the face of the destruction and devastation, and the interruption and hardship it caused in the lives of so many, seemed like a futile and impossible task at times, even in collaboration with so many other dedicated people and organizations,” McIltrot said. “I reminded myself that to reach out and become a part of the fabric of another person’s life, could make a difference in that one life. That makes it worth the effort.”

At the Catholic Charities hurricane recovery site in Punta Gorda, McIltrot’s role was to assess community and individual needs; coordinate interventions, assistance and outreach efforts; manage donations and volunteers; and establish a collaborative working relationship with FEMA, Red Cross, St. Vincent De Paul, the Charlotte County Health Department, and other disaster response agencies and services.

“Our site provided direct assistance in the form of food and household items, ice and water, and hot meals and snacks throughout the day,” explained McIltrot. “We also assisted people with crisis intervention, counseling, and acted as a communications center for community members to connect with one another.”

Services also included a first aid station, and home repair/cleanup by linking those in need with volunteers who could help with replacing windows, putting tarps on roofs, cutting up fallen trees and limbs, and removing debris, McIltrot said.

Catholic Charities continues to offer long-term hurricane assistance throughout the affected areas of Southwest Florida. One such program, coordinated by McIltrot, is a financial assistance program in collaboration with the Beacon of Hope charity on Pine Island. “Beacon of Hope has very dedicated folks working tirelessly to assist in the rebuilding efforts on the island,” said McIltrot. “Catholic Charities has the financial resources to provide these workers and hurricane victims with funds to do the rebuilding.”

According to McIltrot, the Pine Island efforts have assisted hurricane victims with finances for relocation; fees for security deposits, first/last month’s rent, and utility deposits; unpaid bills due to lost wages; the cost of repairing homes; and gift cards to Home Depot.

“Eileen is an excellent social worker and has contributed a great deal of knowledge and energy to Catholic Charities,” said George Drobinski, Chief Operating Officer of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. “Additionally, she was instrumental in providing tireless response, service and comfort during the hurricanes of last year. She is well deserving of this recognition, as well as our continued appreciation for all that she does,” he said.

McIltrot began her service in Southwest Florida when she founded Hispanic Services of Catholic Charities in Fort Myers in 1986 to serve the rapidly growing Hispanic population in Lee County. She recognized that the needs of the Hispanic community were varied and many, and believed the only way for clients to survive was to be empowered to become self-sufficient.

She continued as the director of Hispanic Services and eventually took on the role of District Director for Catholic Charities of Lee County.

Today, Hispanic Services is the largest Catholic Charities agency in Fort Myers. It serves the Hispanic population by offering a wide range of services, many of which were birthed under McIltrot’s leadership: direct assistance, a variety of education programs for children and adults, a summer youth program, translation services, case management, employment assistance, immigration and citizenship services, crisis intervention, community outreach, support/advocacy and special holiday projects. Hispanic Services of Catholic Charities also has expanded its assistance by opening additional offices in Bonita Springs, LaBelle and Clewiston.

In 1995, McIltrot opened Catholic Charities Community Counseling Services in Lee County in response to a critical need for and increasing shortage of professional, affordable counseling services in this area. Currently she is the clinical supervisor and a therapist for the program.

“One truth that has never failed me and that I can embrace more readily today than perhaps years ago is that I cannot do everything,” McIltrot said. “Yet, there is a sense of liberation in this realization. It enables me to do something though, and to do it very well.”

Photo: Eileen McIltrot, LCSW (middle) was awarded Social Worker of the Year by the Southwest Florida chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).  NASW member Esperanza Liszewski, MSW, (left) and Peter Routsis-Arroyo, LCSW, President/CEO of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice congratulate McIltrot immediately after receiving her recognition.