“She learned every department and what every worker does within the department,” said Sherien Shady, Director of Family Services at Island Family Residence. “They feel like she’s the go-to person.”
Since joining HFH as an Administrative Assistant in August 2023, Christina Ruocco has become just that. Whether she is preparing daily reports, organizing intake packages for new families, answering phones, or managing the emergency food and clothing pantries, Christina helps keep things organized and pitches in wherever she is needed.
Prior to joining HFH, Christina worked as a paralegal and was a stay-at-home mom to raise her two children. As her children got older, she decided she wanted to go back to work. Although Christina describes herself as working “behind the scenes,” her impact is felt throughout the building. Melissa Halloran, Assistant Administrator at Island Family Residence, says Christina’s organization and attention to detail have made her someone staff can rely on.
“She is able to keep track of everything and remembers every client who is here now or has been here in the past,” Melissa said. “If somebody is coming into the building, she will recognize them immediately—and know their family members and room number. Her daily reports are consistently on point, and we rely on that every day.”
Christina has also built strong relationships with families and says getting to know the families has become one of the parts of her role she enjoys most. Melissa describes her as “compassionate and very positive”—qualities that come through in her interactions with residents and their kids.
“Because she has this welcoming demeanor, all the clients and their kids love to share their good news with her,” Sherien said. “It’s always, ‘Christina, I got the apartment,’ or ‘My kids went to pre-K.’ She has this connection with them. She cares.”
That connection with families is also reflected in the care Christina puts into making Island Family Residence feel welcoming. She decorates for holidays and seasons and helped transform the family engagement and recreation space, setting up furniture and choosing and installing wall decals.
“I’m very proud of the recreation space,” Christina said. “During the holidays, I always decorate here. I want our facility to look the best it can.”
For Christina, seeing how families respond makes the effort worthwhile.
“I love seeing the residents when I decorate, and they like how it looks,” she said. “It makes them feel like they’re at home, and that’s what we want them to feel, at least for the time being.”
Lori Bowen, Administrator of Island Family Residence, has seen the difference those details make throughout the facility.
“It just looks nice,” she said. “She makes sure it feels homey. It’s the little touches.”
Her thoughtfulness extends beyond the physical space. Melissa pointed to the emergency food pantry, which Christina helps organize, and baskets prepared for parents welcoming a new baby as examples.
“She takes the time to make sure the food we order is food she thinks the residents will actually eat,” Melissa said. When preparing baby baskets, “she takes the time to make the basket specific and personal. I think the residents really appreciate that.”
For Christina, the people she works with and the environment at Island Family Residence continue to motivate her each day.
“The environment, the staff—we get along well,” she said. “It’s a great place to work.”
Outside of work, Christina enjoys shopping, cooking, and baking.
