Rochester N.Y. (August 13, 2026) — LeadingAge New York is recognizing Christine Stallworth, Nursing Retention Specialist at Jewish Home, with its prestigious Employee of Distinction Award during a special ceremony celebrating her outstanding commitment to supporting colleagues, strengthening the workforce and enhancing the quality of care for older adults.
The Employee of Distinction Award recognizes exceptional direct and indirect service staff who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to their organizations, improve the quality of life of those they serve and embody a deep commitment to caring for others.
Since joining Jewish Home in 2018, Stallworth has built a reputation as a compassionate leader and problem solver, advancing from Short-Term Rehabilitation Unit Secretary to Case Manager before assuming her current role as Nursing Retention Specialist. Throughout her career, she has consistently gone above and beyond to support employees, residents and families while helping strengthen the organization’s nursing workforce.
“People like Christine are the blueprint of excellence for nursing home care,” said Sebrina Barrett, President and CEO of LeadingAge New York. “Her dedication to supporting her colleagues, removing barriers to success, and fostering a culture of compassion reflects the very best of our profession. We are proud to recognize Christine with this well-deserved honor.”
As Nursing Retention Specialist, Stallworth has spearheaded initiatives that invest in employees and strengthen the future of long-term care. She serves as case manager for Nursing You, a workforce development program that has helped more than 40 employees begin or advance their nursing education by connecting them with financial aid, scheduling accommodations, and other essential resources.
She also plays a key role in Project East, an Aging Services Career Exploration Internship Program that introduces high school students to careers in aging services. Twenty-five students have completed the program, with four now employed at Jewish Home and pursuing careers in nursing.
In addition, Stallworth has been instrumental in the success of Jewish Home’s Employee Grocery Store, an initiative designed to address food insecurity among eligible hourly employees by providing access to free groceries. Colleagues describe her as someone who consistently says “yes” to new challenges and works tirelessly to find solutions that support both employees and residents.
“Christine exemplifies the dedication, compassion, and leadership that make our organization stronger every day,” said Christine Van Vessem, Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Quality at Jewish Home. “Whether she’s helping employees advance their careers, supporting staff through personal challenges, or creating programs that improve workplace well-being, she always puts people first. We are incredibly proud to see her recognized with this well-deserved honor.”
Beyond her responsibilities at Jewish Home, Stallworth is committed to serving her community. She recently completed Mental Health First Aid certification, allowing her to better support individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges. She is also an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and participates annually in Rochester’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, helping raise awareness and funding for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.
LeadingAge New York’s Employee of Distinction Award celebrates individuals whose commitment, compassion, and innovation strengthen New York’s aging services profession. Stallworth’s unwavering dedication to supporting her colleagues and improving the lives of others makes her a deserving recipient of this distinguished honor.
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About LeadingAge New York
Founded in 1961, LeadingAge New York is the only statewide organization representing the entire continuum of not-for-profit, mission-driven, and public continuing care, including home and community-based services, adult day health care, nursing homes, senior housing, continuing care retirement communities, adult care facilities, assisted living programs, and Managed Long-Term Care plans. LeadingAge New York’s 350-plus members serve an estimated 500,000 New Yorkers of all ages annually. For more information, visit leadingageny.org.
About Jewish Home
For more than 100 years, Jewish Home has been helping older adults live their best lives. Guided by their foundational principles, Jewish Home embraces the idea of home as a place where families gather, care for one another, and welcome all. Jewish Home offers all levels of care—from independent living to skilled nursing on their Rochester campus to a variety of services throughout the community. As the only Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Rochester, Jewish Home is proud to be recognized for quality care and customer satisfaction—earning CARF International accreditation, as well as being certified as a Great Place to Work® since 2020. For more information, visit jewishhomeroc.org or @jewishhomeroc on social media.