The Jewish Renaissance Foundation Inc

THE JEWISH RENAISSANCE FOUNDATION, INC., A NON-SECTARIAN AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH RAISES FUNDS TO PROVIDE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND HELP STRENGTHEN FAMILIES REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND OR ECONOMIC STATUS.

HEALTH CENTERTHE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER OF THE JEWISH RENAISSANCE FOUNDATION OPENED ITS DOORS IN 2015 IN EDISON, NJ WITH THE PURPOSE OF SERVICING THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY. THE HEALTH CENTER PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE, HIGH QUALITY PRIMARY AND PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO THE UNINSURED AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY. SERVICES INCLUDE ANNUAL PHYSICALS, ADULT AND FAMILY MEDICINE, GYNECOLOGY, DENTISTRY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

EDUCATION SERVICESSTUDENTS AT PERTH AMBOY HIGH SCHOOL GET HELP DEALING WITH THE CAUSES OF STRESS THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE THEIR ABILITY TO GRADUATE. THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS, FROM FRESHMAN TO SENIOR. IT ALSO HELPS STUDENTS FIND THEIR WAY TOWARD FURTHER EDUCATION OR POST-HIGH SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT.1. SCHOOL BASED YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM (SBYSP)EVERY YEAR SBYSP SERVES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. SBYSP'S COMPREHENSIVE "ONE-STOP" SHOPPING DESIGN HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE OBTAIN SERVICES AND SUPPORT. SBYSP PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF EMPLOYMENT, PREVENTATIVE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, LEARNING SUPPORT, HEALTHY YOUNG DEVELOPMENT, PREGNANCY PREVENTION AND RECREATION. SBYSP ALSO OFFERS SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AID TO STUDENTS IN COMPLETING THEIR FAFSA, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, COLLEGE PREP, COUNSELING AND LIFE SKILLS.2. AMERICORPSAMERICORPS OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEERS AND SERVICE PROFESSIONALS. JRF HOSTS AMERICORPS MEMBERS AT ALL LOCATIONS. MEMBERS ASSIST IN DAY TO DAY WORK AND FILL IN SERVICE GAPS THAT MAY BE MISSING. AMERICORPS MEMBERS AT JRF BECOME ENGRAINED IN THE CULTURE OF THE NON-PROFIT WORK AND DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TO CARRY ALONG INTO THE FUTURE. MEMBERS WORK ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL AS WELL AS DIRECT CLIENT CONTACT. IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, AMERICORPS MEMBERS HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP BUILD AND START-UP THE WORK IN A NEW BRANCH OR LOCATION. THE OPPORTUNITIES AT THE JRF ARE ENDLESS.3. ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION INSTITUTE (AEI)THE AEI PROGRAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM DELIVERED IN A NON-TRADITIONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO HELP AT-RISK YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16-24 AND ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 25 EARN THEIR NEW JERSEY STATE HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA. UPON COMPLETION, THE AEI PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO ASSIST ITS STUDENTS WITH ENTRANCE INTO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, TRADE SCHOOL AND/OR EMPLOYMENT. THERE ARE TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS IN THE AEI PROGRAM; ACADEMIC AND LIFE SKILLS. THE ACADEMIC COMPONENT FOCUSES ON PROVIDING STUDENTS THE SKILLS NEEDED IN THE FOLLOWING FOUR SUBJECT AREAS: LANGUAGE ARTS (READING/WRITING), MATH, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL STUDIES. THE LIFE SKILLS COMPONENT FOCUSES ON EXPOSING AND TEACHING OUR STUDENTS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF EVERYDAY LIFE. THESE SKILLS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO GOAL SETTING, LEADERSHIP AND CIVICS, PREVENTATIVE HEALTH AND NUTRITION, COMPUTER LITERACY, FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORK READINESS AND COLLEGE READINESS.

YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICESIN EVERY COUNTY IN NEW JERSEY, THE STATE DESIGNATES OFFICIAL COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES (CAA). IN 2009, THE JEWISH RENAISSANCE FOUNDATION, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION") WAS DESIGNATED BY THE STATE AS THE OFFICIAL CAA FOR MIDDLESEX COUNTY EAST. ALTHOUGH MOST ORGANIZATION PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO BENEFIT RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT MIDDLESEX COUNTY, ITS STATE-FUNDED CAA PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED SPECIFICALLY FOR QUALIFIED RESIDENTS IN EIGHT DESIGNATED COMMUNITIES: CARTERET, EDISON, HIGHLAND PARK, METUCHEN, PERTH AMBOY, SAYREVILLE, SOUTH AMBOY AND WOODBRIDGE.AS A CAA, THE ORGANIZATION HELPS QUALIFIED PEOPLE ATTAIN ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES EMERGENCY SERVICES TO MEET IMMEDIATE NEEDS, WHILE FOSTERING INDIVIDUAL GROWTH AND TRANSITION TO HOUSEHOLD STABILITY.1. FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER (FSC)SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN JULY OF 2012, THE FSC HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING AND STRENGTHENING FAMILY WELL-BEING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS A PLACE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY TO RECEIVE SUPPORT INFORMATION AND SERVICES THAT ARE ALL FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL. 2. STEP UPSTEP UP'S TARGET POPULATION IS HIGH SCOOL YOUTH AT THE ACADEMY FOR URBAN LEADERSHIP SCHOOL IN PERTH AMBOY, NJ. CORE PROGRAMS COMPONENTS INCLUDE CONFLICT PEER MEDIATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND LIFE SKILLS WORKSHOPS. ADDITIONALLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION, STEP UP CONDUCTS A COUNSELOR IN TRAINING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH. 3. SILVER LININGSTHE SILVER LININGS RESOURCE CENTER ADMINISTERS PROGRAMS THAT SERVE AND CONNECT ADULTS FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER, ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES, FAMILY CAREGIVERS, AND RESIDENTS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WHO RESIDE IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY EAST, NEW JERSEY. THE SENIOR-FAMILY BASED CENTER IS OPEN TO ANYONE IN NEED OF SENIOR SERVICE SUPPORT, INFORMATION, HELP OLDER ADULTS LIVE AS INDEPENDENTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY, PROMOTE HEALTHY AGING, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, ADVOCACY, AND ASSIST FAMILY MEMBERS IN THEIR VITAL CARE GIVING ROLES. SILVER LININGS' FIVE CORE SERVICES ARE (1) TRANSPORTATION - RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO KEY PLACES, (2) LIFE SKILLS - WORKSHOPS TO NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE, (3) LEGAL SERVICES - WORKSHOPS FOR LEGAL ISSUES THAT SENIORS ENCOUNTER, (4) HEALTHY LIVING - WORKSHOPS FOR FITNESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION, AND (5) HOUSING - PROVIDE SECURITY DEPOSIT FOR SENIORS THAT MEET INCOME REQUIREMENT.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT1. PERTH AMBOY ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY (PAAC)PAAC IS A GROWING GROUP OF NEIGHBORS, AGENCIES, EDUCATORS, AND SMALL BUSINESSES WHO HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS TO HELP MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES. OUR ORIGINAL PLAN FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS COMPLETED IN 2008 AND HAS SERVED AS A BLUEPRINT TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF THE PAAC NEIGHBORHOOD. SINCE THEN, PAAC HAS MADE A LASTING IMPACT. MUCH HAS BEEN ACHIEVED INLUDING THE CREATION OF THE PAAC NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY GARDENS, HOUSING REHABILITATION, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT, DOZENS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND THE TOTALLY TRANSFORMED FRANCIS STREET PARK. 2. COMFORT PARTNERSTHE NJ COMFORT PARTNERS PROGRAM BEGAN ITS WORK IN AUGUST OF 2016. THE FIRST REVITALIZATION PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2016. COMFORT PARTNERS REVIEWS THE FAMILIES' ENERGY USAGE INCLUDING HOME HEATING AND COOLING, WATER HEATING, LIGHTING AND MAJOR APPLIANCES WHILE ALSO TEACHING FAMILIES NEW WAYS TO CONSERVE ENERGY AND CREATE AN ACTION PLAN TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS.PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVES OFTEN INSTALL ENERGY-SAVING HOME IMPROVEMENTS TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS AND IMPROVE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND COMFORT. THIS INCLUDES ADDED INSULATION, CAULKING, WEATHER-STRIPPING, ENERGY-SAVING SHOWER HEADS AND LIGHT BULBS, ALL AT NO COST TO THE HOMEOWNER.