Meet the Educator: Paolo Diquattro
For most of his life, Paolo Diquattro has been in the business of helping people—sometimes in their most difficult moments. A retired Utah law enforcement officer with more than 20 years of service, Paolo has seen firsthand how guidance, compassion, and consistency can change the trajectory of a life. Today, as a Prevention Specialist Educator for the Nurturing Fathers Program, he brings that same dedication to the classroom.
“I tell the dads in my class, ‘My goal is to help you be the best father you can be. Your goal should be the best father that you can be,’” Paolo says. “It’s simple, but it’s true.”
Paolo’s path to the program has been shaped by decades of varied and meaningful work. He began as a psychiatric specialist in the U.S. Army, training in Munich in both individual and group counseling. Afterward, he worked in a drug and alcohol treatment facility and later in the Department of Corrections, where he taught large groups of incarcerated individuals. In the mid-1990s, he became a licensed social service worker—a role he still holds today.
Paolo’s professional experience is only part of what he brings to the Nurturing Fathers Program. He is the father of eight children—five biological and three adopted—and has navigated the challenges of divorce and the rewards of building a lasting marriage with his wife of 16 years. His strong faith guides his life, alongside a personal philosophy: “I will be honest, I will be true, I will be faithful in all that I do.”
These combined experiences give Paolo a deep sense of empathy for the fathers who come through his class. He remembers one participant who, just 20 minutes into the first lesson, realized he was repeating the same mistakes his father had made. “You could see the light go on,” Paolo recalls. “That awareness was the first step toward change.” Another father told Paolo that his daughter had recently called him “weird”—but in a good way. “She said, ‘Dad, you’re different.’ He was talking with his kids more, listening, and being more respectful. That’s the kind of change that makes this work worth it.”For Paolo, the Nurturing Fathers Program isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. “Besides going to church, it’s one of the most rewarding things I do,” he says. And to any father considering the program, he offers a simple piece of advice: “The secret of success is consistency of purpose. If you stick with this program, you will have a healthier, more successful relationship with your family members.”
