Keishla Rodriguez is a community housing case manager at Hartford Hospital. She supports community members facing housing insecurities by meeting with them one-on-one to address basic needs, daily challenges and struggles.
She also provides community outreach and serves as a Spanish interpreter. Guiding individuals through their journeys, she connects them with behavioral health resources and support groups to help them gain tools for stability and mental well-being.
What have been your significant contributions to your organization in the past year?
I earned my bachelor’s degree in human services and advanced patient care as a certified Spanish interpreter, recovery support specialist and community health worker for the state. By developing hospital platforms to capture housing and inpatient respite data, I enabled data-driven interventions for patients facing housing insecurity.
Building partnerships with community organizations, I expanded access to critical support services and resources and developed programs aligned with our core values, leading to increased engagement among underserved populations.
Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome.
When I transitioned into my current role, I had little guidance on expectations. I overcame this by creating platforms in Excel to more efficiently track invoices, respite utilization and housing data. I identified discrepancies that saved the hospital resources and built stronger systems to connect patients to care.
What’s your next major goal?
My goal is to strengthen collaborations across all outpatient programs within the Institute of Living to ensure smoother transitions for patients facing housing insecurity. I also want to improve time management and balance in my role so I can continue serving at a high level without compromising my mental health.
I’m also focused on building more sustainable systems that reduce stressors for patients while keeping them connected to vital resources.
How are you involved in the community?
I am involved through outreach, volunteering and attending events that raise awareness around housing insecurity and mental health. I connect individuals to vital resources, serve as a Spanish interpreter and dedicate time to initiatives that bring hope, stability and empowerment to community members. Community initiatives are my passion.
Fun Fact
I am worse than Dora the Explorer. I just hop in my car and drive until I stumble across something interesting. I love road trips.