Offering behavioral and primary medical care for all: Jewish Family and Children's Service
Founded in Phoenix during the Great Depression, Jewish Family and Children's Service provides behavioral health social services and primary medical care to people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds. It also offers assistance to survivors of domestic abuse, substance abuse counseling and services for older adults.
Jewish Family and Children's Service received $10,000 from the 2022-23 Season for Sharing campaign. It was one of more than 150 Arizona nonprofits that received $1.6 million from readers of The Arizona Republic.
The organization used its Season for Sharing dollars to support youth in achieving their employment, educational and independence goals by paying for basic needs, GED testing fees, bus and light rail passes, professional workplace attire, and rent and utilities support.
Jewish Family and Children's Service's responses to The Republic's questionnaire have been edited for length and clarity.
Feast of food drives: How metro Phoenix food banks are preparing for the holiday season
How many people do you help each year?
Jewish Family and Children's Service provides services for more than 43,000 people annually who face serious behavioral, mental, physical, and social obstacles, domestic violence, and family trauma. Most are children, and nearly all are considered working poor.
JFCS strives to assist individuals in improving their ability to cope with difficult life circumstances, assist parents in improving their emotional health and effectiveness as parents, and increase individuals' support systems, financial stability, and connections to community resources.
What do you want people to know about your organization?
At Jewish Family & Children’s Service, we believe in the power of collective action to bring about meaningful change. With a steadfast commitment to our mission, vision, and values, we work toward making a difference in the lives of individuals and communities, one step at a time. JFCS’ approach to care is based on traditional Jewish values, but that does not mean we only serve Jewish families. We provide quality services to everyone to help strengthen families, resolve conflicts and cope with everyday living.
Since the inception of the organization, JFCS has been a leader in strengthening service delivery with a variety of robust collaborations of government, faith-based communities, and nonprofits in Maricopa County. We have a long history of working collaboratively, within and outside of contractual expectations, in an effort to best serve children, youth, adults and families.
JFCS has the unique ability to connect children, adults, and families to its own system of comprehensive trauma-informed services in the core areas of integrated health, child and family welfare, Jewish community, and older adult services.
Donating money?: Do these 4 things to not get scammed this holiday season
Are there any projects your organization is working on that you want the public to know about?
Jewish Family & Children’s Service’s food security and emergency financial assistance offerings span all programs to help clients needing a food box or support for basic needs.
Just 3 Things Food Security Program: Food insecurity is all around us and has no barrier or prejudice — from teens exiting the foster care system to domestic violence victims, working poor families to Holocaust survivors or possibly even coworkers who are too proud to ask for help. The J3T program uses the client choice model, allowing clients to better support their individual or family dietary needs by enabling them to choose from a variety of foods and eliminate food waste. We guide clients in selecting food for healthy, nutritionally balanced meals based on U.S. Department of Agriculture nutritional guidelines. JFCS staff provide food literacy information (handouts, conversations and classes) to support health and wellness. The program dovetails with individualized case management, developing a self-sufficiency plan with goals for becoming food secure, and monthly follow-ups to monitor progress.
Emergency Financial Assistance: The COVID-19 pandemic moved JFCS to take proactive measures to act upon the rapid increase in the demand for services across the organization. In March 2020, the requests for emergency financial assistance tripled. As we move into 2024, the needs have not changed. Emergency financial assistance is used to help support and stabilize the environments of JFCS children, youth, adult, and family clients. Funds are for clients in need of basic living necessities and economic support during the crisis, which shall be limited to 1) short-term shelter and temporary housing, including heat relief, social distancing for virus mitigation, utilities, and rent or mortgage assistance; 2) meals, food and clothing; 3) workforce readiness and employment assistance; 4) hygiene items, personal care, and diapers; 5) academic advancement materials, supplies, equipment, technology, and tutoring support for foster care youth to provide continuity in learning and development; 7) counseling, medical, dental, mental health and wellbeing services; and 9) transportation to appointments and related services.
Donate to Season for Sharing
Since 1993, because of readers like you, The Arizona Republic's Season for Sharing campaign has raised and given away more than $73 million to Arizona nonprofits. Help us continue supporting our neighbors in need.
Where does the money go?
When you give to Season for Sharing, you're contributing to nonprofits that help teachers and students, aid older Arizonans and support struggling children and families. The Republic pays all administrative costs, so 100% of donations go back to the community.
Ways to give
Fill out the secure online form at sharing.azcentral.com.
Text “SHARING” to 91-999 and click on the link in the text message.
Go online at facebook.com/seasonforsharing and look for the featured “DONATE HERE” post.
Clip the coupon on Page 4A of The Arizona Republic, fill it out and mail it to P.O. Box 29250, Phoenix, AZ 85038-9250.
Scan the QR code with your smartphone camera, and click on the link to donate.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jewish Family and Children's Service uses funds from Season of Sharing
