Rufina Cruz, Northeast FRC/HHSA

Cruz “may have saved both mine and my children’s lives.”

“I would like to thank Ms. Rufina for her assistance in protecting my address and our ‘where-abouts’ from my children’s abusive father.  In moving to a new county it is extremely vital that my location information remain confidential to ensure the safety of both my children and myself.  Upon receiving the public assistance investigators report to verify my residence, Ms. Rufina noticed the notation for suppression of my address and called me immediately.  She was concerned that my physical address may have been compromised and requested that l provide proof of being ‘Safe at Home’.  She promptly removed the physical address that was mistakenly placed in the system and replaced it with my ‘Safe at Home’ address.”

Northeast FRC/HHSA

“The female employee that issued my card was so sweet, friendly, effective and efficient.  The people at the windows and on the 866 line, along with the person receiving my paperwork were all well versed in their job knowledge and efficiency.  This has helped my child and me in ways that are immeasurable.  God bless and may thanks.”

Mercedes Jones (Housing & Community Development)

Jones was thanked “for all of the help extended to our family over the years.”

“It is with great pleasure that I ask you to rescind any financial support you are giving us with respect to the rent immediately.  I will be paying my own way from now on.  It is a painstaking decision but I hope that your program can apply these newly acquired funds to another family in need of the same care and support you have extended to mine while we got on our feet.  We will continue to look forward and work hard to achieve our goals.  Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.”

Solita Medina (California Children Services)

Medina received a nice note from a grateful mother.

“Thank you for providing CCS services for my daughter for all of these years.  She is the healthiest she has ever been, now at age 15.  Without your help with the open heart surgery and other things she might have died by now.  Your services have helped our family.”

Jean Weber (North Inland FRC/HHSA)

Weber “gave me the strength to move on with my life.”

“Never would I imagine that I would be here applying for help.  I felt like a person who had lost their dignity.  Jean was incredible!  She was professional, and yet kind.  This wonderful, caring and compassionate woman let me know that it’s ok to ask for help if you need it.”

Chris Loeffler (North Central FRC/HHSA)

Loeffler “is an asset to your organization.”

“I’m impressed how efficient and effective he is in doing his job.  He really cares for others and is concerned about our needs.  He goes out of his way to help.  He is humorous, yet respectful to everyone he speaks to.  We are lucky to have him.”

Kathleen Chrissop (Health Services/HHSA)

Chrissop “has been extremely helpful and friendly in guiding me on the road to assistance.”

“She has consistently responded to my emails promptly and her responses have been knowledgeable and reassuring.  As a former county employee and first time public assistance applicant, having such great customer service has been incredibly wonderful.”

Matt Munski (Housing & Community Development)

Munski received a letter from a client regarding her “change in employment status.”

“I was hired and am working full-time as an Intern Architect.  I understand this will eliminate us from the Section 8 Program.  This delights me to no end.”

“I would like to take a moment to say that this program and your direction helped me and my family more than any other program.  I would recommend it to any hardworking parent with a desire to make a better life for themselves and their families while maintaining their dignity.  The discreet protocols and department representatives have always treated me with kindness and respect.  I was never made to feel like a ‘loser’ or an unworthy member of society.  I want to thank you and everyone in your department for that.”

Chris Wood and Socorro Leon (Welfare to Work/HHSA)

Wood and Leon won accolades from the Senior Mentor Program for “making a difference.”

“Our mentors are all retired professionals with extensive supervisory and managerial experience.  We know quality service when we see it and we see both Chris and Socorro provide that service to the many people who enter your offices.

Both always greet us with a smile and immediate action.  They guide us in the right direction and find the answers that we need.  Their attention to detail makes all of our jobs substantially easier.  They make a difference, not only to us, but to your clients as well.  Without fail, Socorro and Chris are there – professional, friendly and willing.

Thank you for employing and retaining people of Socorro and Chris’s caliber.”

Yoland Bada (HHSA)

Bada's careful work caught the attention of the state Department of Health Care Services, which wrote:

"So often, due to the fact that we in public service all have a heavy workload, these matters are allowed to fall through the cracks. This is an example of the quick and proper attention to matter that often go unnoticed by members of the general public. It is proof that the system does work because of the attention to detail by employees like Ms. Bada.

Michael Lehman (HHSA - North Central FRC)

"A matter of life or death for me to resolve my medical share of cost issue. I'm a liver transplant recipient with zero income and meds are $5,000 a month. Michael resolved my share of costs issue. Professional, courteous and kind."

Jovita Cudal (HHSA)

Cudal "was extremely courteous and helpful. I had waited because another worker had passed over my name. She thoroughly reviewed my case and directed me promptly to the appropriate worker to assist me. This is outstanding service considering the issues your department contends with every day."

Staff of the North Central Family Resource Center/HHSA

Linda Perry “was cheerful, courteous and helpful.  It’s so nice to see a friendly face.”

“I would like to tell her supervisors – she was outstanding!”

“Linda made me feel happy and confident that this time things will work out.  Her smile helped a lot!”

“Ms. Perry is very professional, kind and helpful; very good customer service.”

“Linda helped rectify a situation that had been going on for months.” 

Laura Viloria “was pleasant and made the experience comfortable for me.  She was kind and gentle and a great listener.  She had a great smile and made me feel like I didn’t have to fret about a thing.”

Holly Nguyen “is outstanding!  She helped us in tremendous ways.”

“She should be commended for her excellent work.” 

“She’s a great asset to your department.  I learned a lot from her.”

Mary Rice and Merle Magtoto (California Children Services)

Rice and Magtoto received a note from a grateful mother.

“Thank you for all the caring work you provide to others.  The help we receive from you and the program CCS has changed our son’s life and improved the quality of his life.”

Jose Barraza (Housing & Community Development)

Barraza was thanked for “all his hard work processing the paperwork for our rental assistance unit.”

“I wanted you to know that I appreciate all of your time and cooperation in getting everything straightened out with my work and disability status.  We have moved into the house and we are very thankful to have a place to call home again after losing everything and being displaced for so long.”

Officers Gabriel Tapia and Manuel Ayala (Probation)

Tapia and Ayala garnered kudos from a fellow officer for going the extra mile when asked to transport a minor who was a high flight risk from juvenile hall to a foster home placement.

“Much thanks to your outstanding officers Tapia and Ayala for their assistance and a job well done.  They patiently hung around longer than expected due to the foster mother’s emergency dental appointment.  I wanted them to know much I appreciate what they do.”

Housing & Community Development

The Department received a heartfelt letter from a struggling mom.

“I want to personally thank each and everyone that has helped me to maintain a quality home and life for me and my children.  If I didn’t have this program my children and I would probably be homeless and suffering a very hard life.  I know that I am only one mother and I might not matter to many but this program and department has really helped. Thank you to each person who cares for families like mine.”

Wendy Pullin (Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk)

Pullin “is the kind of quality individual that you can be proud to have representing San Diego County.”

“It gives me great pleasure to compliment a member of your staff who provided outstanding professionalism and was willing and able to listen and address an issue with my property.  Ms. Pullin was very sensitive to my concerns and needs and rapidly gained my trust and respect.  She is to be commended for her commitment to our county.”

Ed Northam (NCFRC/HHSA)

Northam “was more than professional!”

“Humor is very important when you are in ‘new waters’ – I never needed help before and he made it easier and enjoyable to the extent that it could be.  I want to thank him for the excellent job that he did.”

Antoinette Matias (North Central Family Resource Center/HHSA)

Matias “went out of her way to help me with my problems.”

“She was very helpful – I was the last client of the day and she took her time to help me.  Wish everyone could be like her.”

“Antoinette was nice, sweet, knowledgeable, courteous and helpful.”