2024 Family Helper of the Year
Josselyn Montero
Josselyn emigrated to the U.S., from Ecuador, with her family over fifteen years ago when she was a young teenager. Josselyn has had a natural passion for helping others from the time that she was young. She helped raise countless cousins and helped care for neighbors’ children since the age of seven. Throughout high school Josselyn enjoyed babysitting for local families. She became a volunteer with the Kids Ministry organization at her local church, which confirmed her interest in helping families and their children.
At an early age Josselyn realized the importance of surrounding herself with people who helped her grow. They taught her great lifetime lessons. and encouraged her to build positive relationships through teaching and caring for others.
She eventually obtained a Sociology degree and became involved in the Head Start program in her area. She became a family worker and advocate for local households in which she provided education, and promoted health and wellbeing as a guideline to help the children she worked with succeed in life. She also volunteered as a youth leader in her local church working with families offering monthly parenting conferences. Because of the Covid pandemic, some of the local services were no longer offered. It was then that she officially started her career as a nanny. Josselyn worked as a full-time nanny for a wonderful family and found it very fulfilling. She enjoyed
partnering with the family, helping them to raise their children. This motivated her to continue working as a nanny and she has chosen this as her career path. Family Helpers introduced her to her current employer of one year. Josselyn feels blessed and honored to have become a part of this amazing family, and she is happy to be of help in any way she can.
Josselyn’s current employer, Mrs. B., describes Josselyn as “a true parent’s helper. She is there for us, for everything and anything. She has traveled with us. She is smart. I can give her complex tasks and she is fully capable of handling things. She answers with positive language always, and is communicative quickly over text, when needed.”
“She has watched not only our two children but our house and our dogs while we have been on vacation. She promised she “just wanted to help” before she started, and she has truly made herself an invaluable part of our life.
“I brought Josselyn to the White House with me and my family and she showed exquisite care and manners. She was thoughtful and even thought ahead, helping us prepare in all ways for this very important visit. She was a calming presence during potentially stressful situations.”
“We trust her to drive our children, do errands, and manage property issues.” “Her nanny style brings peaceful and thoughtfulness. She is reliable and has never failed to do what she says she will do. She makes herself invisible in a thoughtful way so that she blends in and lets us be parents (like we want to be!). She is a really great person and has a great heart.”
“Go Jossy!! I call her St. Jossy, or Jossy my Savior!”
Previous Winners
2023 – Olga Severino
2022 – Menana (Mona) Roudah
2021 – Maria Tosto
2020 – Mavette Singh
2019 – Cindy Augustine
2018 – Lori Conklin
2017 – Norma Wagner
2016 – Ana Kluk
2015 – Mitzy Blair
2014 – Dorrett Henry
2013 – Elizabeth Ramoutar
2012 – Isabel Brito
2011 – Claristine Greer
2010 – Lisa Pagan
2008 – Kristin Smith