Executive Team

Julie Norko

Julie M. Norko, MA

Senior Director of Community Living

Ms. Norko oversees the four assisted living communities owned and managed by Hartford HealthCare Senior Services, including the ALSA agency. She also oversees St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services, which provides specialized services for children and adults with multiple developmental disabilities and complex medical needs. She leverages her extensive background in healthcare, education, program development, and stakeholder engagement in this role. She has worked in the assisted living industry since 2003, holding positions in fundraising, communications, leadership development, and operations. In her tenure at HHCSS, she has overseen the successful implementation of Lean daily management at the organization’s assisted living communities and adult day center.

Christina Longden

Senior Director of Clinical Operations

Christina Longden, R.N., MBA, Senior Director of Clinical Operations, joined St. Vincent’s Special Needs in November 2010. Christina oversees the health and well-being of the agency’s two DCF-funded residential group homes located in Trumbull and Stratford, and manages eight community based group homes for 48 individuals ages 21 and older, who are DDS consumers. Earning her MBA from the University of Connecticut, she has a background in trauma/critical care and children with developmental disabilities. Prior to joining Special Needs, Christina was the assistant to the executive director and medical coordinator at Giant Steps CT school located in Southport CT, and has worked at New York Presbyterian Medical Center Weill Cornell and Bridgeport Hospital. Christina received a Bachelors of Arts degree from Merrimack College, and a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing from Fairfield University. She is a resident of Fairfield.

Karen King

Director of Education

As Director of Education, Karen oversees the FEROLETO School program. She joined Special Needs in 1989 as an Early Intervention Teacher and became Manager of the Early Intervention (B-3) program in 1997 before being promoted to Assistant Principal in 2009. Karen holds an MS in Early Childhood Special Education and has her 6th year degree in Educational Leadership. She lives in Hamden with her husband, has three grown children, and three grandchildren.

Special Needs Services