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 , FINANICAL UNCERTAINTY, MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, FAMILY PROBLEMS, OR PERSONAL ISSUES. WE STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES OF ALL BACKGROUNDS THROUGH COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, CARE AMANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: WITH THE CONTINUED FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SERVICE PROVIDED BY JFS IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL EXPENDITURES. WE SUPPLIED MORE THAN 700,000 IN EMERGENCY AID TO PAY FOR RENT, CAR PAYMENTS, MEDICAL EXPENSES, AND OTHER NEEDS FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS. MORE THAN 2000 FAMILIES WERE HELPED IN 2021. CONSIDERABLE GRANTS FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WERE AWARDED DURING DECEMBER 2020; THESE FUNDS WERE DISBURSED DURING 2021.

COUNSELING: ALL OF OUR COUNSELING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS REMAINED AVAILABLE VIA VIRTUAL PLATFORMS DURING 2021 AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED. STAFF CONTINUED WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH EACH OTHER VIA ZOOM, 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 2021 TO MORE THAN 800 CLIENTS.

AGING SERVICES: JFS PROVIDED CARE PLANNING, CARE MANAGEMENT, RESPITE CARE, MUSIC AND MEMORY, AND COUNSELING TO AGING CLIENTS. NEW IN 2021 WAS EXPANDING OUR ARTS AND AGING INITIATIVE WHICH INCLUDED EXPANDING GLEEFUL CHOIR (A CHOIR FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CAREGIVERS) FACILITATOR HOURS AND CREATING THE POSITION OF 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.

ALL OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: THE FOOD PANTRY HAS CONTINUED OPERATING WITH CURBSIDE PICKUP, 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. IN 2021 JFS IMPLEMENTED NEW SOFTWARE PROGRAMS TO MANAGE GRANTS AND DEVELOPMENT WORK, IMPROVING RECORD-KEEPING AND TRACKING OF OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM HAS INTRODUCED A NEW CORPORATE PARTNERS INITIATIVE AND HAS ENHANCED OUR MARKETING OF THE AGENCY. OUR BOARD AND COMMITTEE WORK HAS CONTINUED VIA ZOOM. 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.