http://www.jbfcs.org

Music Paves the Way

How do you keep kids who have struggled to find the right path in life on the straight and narrow? R&B recording artist "Joe" says the answer might be through music.

Claudia Rubicco, Director of our Westchester Developmental Disabilities Division, dreamed of a music festival featuring staff and clients. Here are her words on an incredibly successful evening.


The Stars Are Beautiful Because Of A Rose That Cannot Be Seen

On November 14, 2011, a group of more than 40 friends and family members joined Linda Nash Merker (above) and her husband, Robert Merker, for the dedication of our Yellow Classsroom, in memory of their daughter Lindsay Elisabeth Merker. Marian Davidson, Director of the CDC, welcomed guests and recounted memories of her work with Lindsay.

17 years ago Lindsay was a student in the Therapeutic Nursery when she died suddenly. Over the past 17 years, Lindsay's family has steadfastly honored her memory with annual fundraising events that have raised in excess of $300,000. These funds have been incredibly important to making the work of CDC possible—providing funds for a classroom floater as well as helping fund the uncompensated therapy that goes on with all families and caregivers of our nursery school students. In recognition of their efforts and in honor of Lindsay's memory, the Yellow Room has been designated The Lindsay Elisabeth Merker Classroom and within that room we have named the "Lindsay Elisabeth Merker Reading Corner."


JBFCS' Special Connect to Care Event, Boost Your Professional Wardrobe Was Revitalizing!

Put 70 women and new clothes in a room together and you get a feeling of happiness and hope. That's what was generated on October 26 when Connect to Care and JBFCS hosted Boost Your Professional Wardrobe. This upbeat evening focused on women who have been impacted by the economic downturn. The ability to upgrade your wardrobe so that you walk with confidence into an interview is beyond measure. But we didn't stop there. These times are hard on people and stress levels are soaring, so included in the evening's program were therapeutic chair massages, giving women a bit of "me time" that all too often eludes their grasp. Continue reading....


We Help New Yorkers

Children in a special needs classroom who also have mental health issues can present a real challenge. Darlene Foulke, LCSW, Director, Manhattan Day Treatment Center at PS 94 is up to the task. She and her team help the high-needs special education children within the school. Continue reading....

To give help or to get it, visit http://www.jbfcs.org

Join us on Facebook!


Gobble Gobble

Thanksgiving is, naturally, a time of giving thanks but for many of our consumers in residence, it can be a holiday of mixed emotions. Learn why.

Breaking New Ground

On November 5, 2011, Heath Bloch and staff from Queens' Pride of Judea Counseling Center joined Dr. Susan Provenzano of The Shield at the 10th anniversary awards ceremony for KABHA, the Korean American Behavioral Health Association. JBFCS was a Crystal Sponsor of the event and was clearly featured, as was Heath himself in KABHA's video presentation. Heath and Susan have made great strides in becoming a part of KABHA; in fact, Heath is on its advisory panel. KABHA's mission is to bring access to mental health and social services to all those who need it. Pride of Judea and The Shield are on the forefront of that initiative in terms of culturally sensitive and aware staff.

Congratulations to KABHA, Heath, Susan, and all service providers working within culturally diverse communities.


The Reality of Trauma

On November 3, JBFCS staff and Board members joined the cast, playwright, and producer of A Splintered Soul for an evening of live theater and in-depth discussion. The play focuses on a group of Jewish refugees in San Francisco. Haunted by the death of their loved ones, they are haunted more by what they did to survive. About 20 people affiliated with JBFCS were audience members, including Paul Levine and some Trustees. The conversation afterward touched on the work of JBFCS and its response to the trauma experienced by many of our clients and consumers. The play wrestled with the idea of evil and the after-show talk encouraged discussion on ethical issues, leaving some audience members pondering the effects of trauma, the idea of justice and how it's meted out, and the work that we do as a provider of mental health and social services.


Helping Others Learn to Visit the Sick

On November 13, 2011, more than 200 people gathered at UJA-Federation of New York for a day of inspiration and skill building at JBFCS' Bikur Cholim Coordinating Council's 24th Annual Conference—Stories and the Bikur Cholim Experience.

Featured keynote speakers Rabbi Paysach Krohn and Peninnah Schram moved attendees to tears and laughter with powerful stories that illustrated the impact of bikur cholim. Rabbi Krohn told of how a bikur cholim volunteer ended up bringing food to a Holocaust survivor who had, decades earlier, saved the volunteer's mother by sharing her bread when they were imprisoned in the same concentration camp! The survivor told the volunteer, "Your mother said she would somehow, someday repay me—and now she has." In addition, 14 workshops focused on various aspects of visiting the sick and homebound.

Perhaps because of the challenging nature of these times, the atmosphere at the conference felt focused and intense. Participants seemed eager to connect. Initial feedback from the attendees has been highly positive, and we are already following up on new requests for bikur cholim training at individual synagogues.