Our Story
Our services help vulnerable seniors, hard-working families, new arrivals, and others in our community live with dignity as they cope with life’s challenges. Last year, Jewish Family Service provided:
LEAP for Seniors is a screening and intervention program for seniors shaped around the evidence based program created by Baylor University College of Medicine. LEAP screens for long-lasting sadness and depression, promotes meaningful activity, decreases symptoms of depression and improves a client’s overall sense of well-being.
Case management. We help seniors remain in their homes in an appropriate, dignified, and secure manner that allows for self-determination. JFS case managers provide support for independent living through family consultation, personalized assessment, and individualized care plans. We also locate and monitor services such as homemaking, personal care, nursing, and delivery of kosher meals.
Family Consultation Services
JFS offers a multi-disciplinary approach for senior service family consultations. Consultations are usually provided by a nurse and/or social worker with access to JFS mental health professionals as needed. Last year, 707 elders and persons with disabilities living in the community were provided with services such as home-delivered kosher meals, housekeeping and personal care––the tools they needed to remain in their own homes in an appropriate, dignified and secure manner.
By providing individual assessments and plans and by locating and monitoring services JFS case managers support self-determination and independent living. Family members of older adults received information and support as they maintain their relatives in the community
Counseling and Early Intervention
We provide comprehensive counseling services for individuals, couples, children, and families. Our licensed and experienced staff offer confidential help with concerns about depression, anxiety, relationships, parenting, childhood behavior, loss, and aging.
Employment Services
Our Employment Services professionals help people find and keep jobs, develop long-term career plans, and enhance their skills. Services include skills assessment, career planning, resume preparation, job search assistance, interview skills, and post-placement support.
Hundreds of unemployed and underemployed job seekers in the East Metro area participated in JFS job placement programs last year.
Information and Referral and Case Management
Thousands of calls from original Russian speakers came to the bilingual information and referral line for help in identifying and connecting with community resources. Additionally, nearly 300 individuals called our office requesting help connecting with financial assistance and other resources. All of them, as well as participants from other JFS services, were provided with information and referral, as well as follow-up assistance as needed.
Financial Assistance
The majority of the assistance we provide was given to individuals and families to stabilize immediate economic needs. Housing was the greatest area of need; addressing eviction or foreclosure with JFS financial assistance. Other types of assistance included transportation costs for employment or medical care and utility bills. Each recipient received an in-person assessment and help in developing a plan to address current and ongoing economic issues. The plans included self-identified goals to achieve economic self-sufficiency and specific referrals to community resources to address needs. In addition to the plans, the JFS Resource Worker also helped recipients connect to resources and provided follow-up support to implement plans. 100% of the individuals reached one or more of the goals identified in their plans. All requests for assistance were screened by a JFS social worker and those who did not qualify for our program were referred to other resources within the agency and in the community.
