(Above) Jim Hupp (center, holding award), an OYA juvenile parole and probation officer, is surrounded by his co-workers from the OYA Marion field office after he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oregon Adolescent Sex Offending Treatment Network.
A retiring juvenile parole and probation officer was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Oregon Adolescent Sex Offending Treatment Network.
Jim Hupp, who is the most senior JPPO in Oregon Youth Authority, has been in that position in Marion County since 1996, spending the majority of his time supervising a caseload of youth with sexual harming behavior. But Hupp has been in juvenile justice since 1983, following graduation from University of Oregon. He started as a part-time group life coordinator at Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility and later moved to Camp Florence, where he also worked as assistant camp director.
With the announcement of his retirement next spring, colleagues wanted to make sure he was honored at his final OASOTN conference this month. Field supervisor Mike Runyon put his words into a letter that was read aloud at the conference, where Hupp was presented with the award.
“He is extremely dedicated to the youth and families he has served over the years and has countless success stories,” Runyon wrote. “He has been a mentor, father figure, tutor, counselor, advocate along with many other hats. He continues to have former youth stop by and call just to say hi and let him know they are doing well.”
OASOTN board members were eager to honor Hupp, most having worked with him through the treatment network over the years.
One board member explained that, from her point of view as a provider, she can rely on Jim to show up, be consistent, and provide support when she needs his help. She added that the youth appreciate his balance of being both an advocate for them while holding them accountable and telling them like it is.
Many of Hupp’s peers attended the conference to see him receive his award, which was a surprise for the veteran JPPO.
“He offers sound advice to management, veteran staff and new staff,” Runyon wrote. “It’s hard to go a day without Jim ‘holding court’ in his office with one of his peers.”
Not only is Hupp an inspiration professionally, but also in his personal life, Runyon said. Hupp has battled cancer, facing six surgeries and a lung cancer diagnosis.
“Jim was back to work in four weeks after surgery and you would never know he just went through the procedure,” Runyon said. “It is with gratitude and joy to say Jim is cancer free and except for a slightly altered touchdown signal he is better than ever.”
The letter included words from a former youth on Hupp’s caseload: Renee Hernandez, who actually went on to become Hupp’s co-worker in the Marion field office at OYA.
“Jim was consistent and never gave up on me,” she wrote. “He constantly encouraged me to do right and had confidence in me. Jim guided me in the right direction in becoming a productive and successful young person. … Eighteen years later, … Jim is my co-worker, a mentor, and he continues to guide me in the right direction. Jim has made a tremendous impact on my life and I am very thankful for him. I will miss him and learning from him.”
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