Jewish Family Service

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE IS A NONPROFIT SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AS THEY NAVIGATE THROUGH LIFES'S CHALLENGES - ILLNESS, AGING, FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY, MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, FAMILY PROBLEMS, OR PERSONAL ISSUES. WE STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS THROUGH COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, CARE MANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SERVICE PROVIDED BY JFS IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL EXPENDITURES. WE SUPPLIED MORE THAN $350,000 IN EMERGENCY AID TO PAY FOR RENT, CAR PAYMENTS, MEDICAL EXPENSES, AND OTHER NEEDS FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS. MORE THAN 4000 FAMILIES WERE HELPED IN 2023.

ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: THE FOOD PANTRY HAS CONTINUED OPERATING, OFFERING ITEMS SUCH AS DIAPERS, BABY FOOD, AND FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS AS WELL AS PANTRY STAPLES, FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEE FAMILIES AND OFFER COMMUNITY EDUCATION INCLUDING MIND/BODY CLASSES. JFS UTILIZES SOFTWARE PROGRAMS TO MANAGE GRANTS, DEVELOPMENT WORK, RECORD- KEEPING AND TRACKING OF OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM CONTINUES TO UTILIZE THE CORPORATE PARTNERS INITIATIVE TO ENHANCE OUR MARKETING OF THE AGENCY. OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN TRANSITIONED TO A FORMAL DEIJ COMMITTEE AND HAS ESTABLISHED A MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE COMMITTEE'S WORK. THE BOARD WITH THE HELP OF THE DEIJ COMMITTEE HAS ESTABLISHED WORKING AGREEMENT DOCUMENTS, CONTINUING THE WORK TO ENSURE THAT JFS IS EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE AS WE CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, STAFF, AND CLIENTS.

COUNSELING: ALL OF OUR COUNSELING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS REMAINED AVAILABLE VIA VIRTUAL PLATFORMS DURING 2023. STAFF CONTINUED WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH EACH OTHER, INCLUDING MEETINGS OF THE CLINICAL TEAM, TO PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT AND SUPERVISION. MORE THAN 4,000 HOURS OF REDUCED-FEE COUNSELING SERVICES WERE OFFERED IN 2023 TO MORE THAN 800 CLIENTS.

AGING SERVICES: JFS PROVIDES CARE PLANNING, CARE MANAGEMENT, RESPITE CARE, MUSIC AND MEMORY, AND COUNSELING TO AGING CLIENTS. OUR ARTS AND AGING INITIATIVE INCLUDES THE GLEEFUL CHOIR (A CHOIR FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CAREGIVERS), FACILITATOR HOURS AND AN ARTS AND AGING COORDINATOR. WE PROVIDE A MONTHLY CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP WHICH INCLUDES A RESPITE COMPONENT. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE MUSIC AND MEMORY PROGRAM TO FAMILIES FACING THE CHALLENGES OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND OTHER FORMS OF DEMENTIA.