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Friday, November 21, 2012
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Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends and colleagues in Israel. 
D'Var Torah

Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO

This past Sunday, Jennie Gates Beckman, Megan Manelli, and I were able to observe first-hand some of the remarkable relief efforts being done by our member agencies in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy (see article below). The storm damage was catastrophic, physically, financially, and emotionally, but the response of our communities has risen to the challenge. In Israel, life has been disrupted by a continuous barrage of rockets that have much of the population scurrying for their lives at the sound of too frequent sirens. Yet, the resilience of the Israelis, as they continue to conduct business, give their children meaningful play experiences, and care for the elderly and disabled, is amazing and emboldening.

Here in the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, a holiday grounded in religious freedom and family traditions. Even in the midst of personal and communal tragedy, we have much to be thankful for, particularly our ability and willingness to help one another in the most difficult of times. With the still fresh memory of a devastating storm and the reality of an existential threat to our brethren in Israel, we can pause and express thanks for the blessings we have, and then get back to our commitment to help one another.   

Wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving to each of you and your families.
SandyNew Jersey Agencies Continue to Help One Another and the Community
AJFCA staff participated in a Hurricane Sandy relief effort this past Sunday. Lee Sherman, Megan Manelli and Jennie Gates Beckman joined Samost Jewish Family & Children's Service of Southern New Jersey as the Cherry Hill community joined forces; donating and distributing more than 60 cars' worth of goods to Jewish Family Service of Atlantic County in Margate, New Jersey.
new jersey relief
AJFCA CEO Lee Sherman and Jen Weiss, CEO of Samost JFCS and the Federation of Southern New Jersey load donated supplies.

Volunteers arrived at Samost JFCS at 8am on Sunday. Men, women and children loaded donated goods into car after car. Eager supporters drove approximately one hour from Cherry Hill to Atlantic City to deliver food, clothing and supplies to those still in need.

In addition to the cars full of goods, volunteers from both agencies unloaded a 50+ foot truck full of donations from Massachusetts. JFS Atlantic County volunteers have been staffing a donation center since the storm hit. Upon arrival the donation center was nearly empty. Just a few hours later the space was filled with canned goods, diapers and cleaning supplies.

The donation center has been operating Monday-Friday from 11:00am-2:00pm. The Red Cross distributes individual meals to 400 people, while JFS distributes supplies to more than 150 families a day.
Germany and Claims Conference Agree on Continued Payments, Homeclaims conferencecare for Holocaust Survivors to Mark 60 Years of Compensation Agreements
The government of Germany committed through an agreement signed with the Claims Conference, to continue cosigining-11.21.12mpensation payments to eligible Holocaust survivors and providing funding for homecare for elderly victims.
 
At the November 15th ceremony in Berlin, German Minister of Finance Wolfgang Sch�uble hosted a ceremony at which an agreement was signed that will continue to govern the Claims Conference's compensation programs and the provision of homecare funding by the German government. Continue reading here
Wexner Field Fellowship
The Wexner Field Fellowship Program is an opportunity for promising full-time Jewish communal professionals who are seeking professional development. In partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation, three Wexner Field Fellows will be accepted as part of incoming classes of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholars Program. These individuals will receive financial reimbursement toward professional development, while also benefiting from the cohort learning experience of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholars program and continuing to work full-time. They will become part of a diverse professional community that encourages learning about one's self as a leader through interactions with others with different points of view, while also pursuing their own personal professional development plan. Being part of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholars Program extends well beyond the 4-year leadership program. The extensive alumni network serves as a professional community throughout fellows' careers. Learn more about the eligibility requirements and awards, and/or submit a pre-application for the Field Fellowship, here.
Leadership: 6 Lessons Learned Along My Long and Winding Career Path
Much is being written on leadership transitions these days in the non-profit world in general and especially in the philanthropy and grantmaking world. It is a worthy topic -- not simply because of the much-touted wealth transfer, and not simply because of the existence of multiple adult generations for the first time in history, but because it forces serious discussion about the nature of work and the workplace in the sector, and what leadership really means at this time in history. Learn about the 6 lessons here
Why It's Harnptd to Grow
There is a notable lack of attention paid to growth in the nonprofit sector, and it's not because we're just starting to come out of The Great Recession. There is a larger structural reason why growth is so difficult in the nonprofit sector no matter what the economic outlook. Being able to recognize that reason is the first step in overcoming this structural locked brake.
 
Why do nonprofits need to grow? All successful private business entities face the same dilemma: the program model or models that were initially successful change over time.
In a process a 20th century economist labeled as "creative destruction," better ideas replace good ones, and newer organizations come along to displace the previous ones. To keep pace, nonprofits need to do their own internal creative destruction, eliminating or modifying old programs and developing new ones, hopefully more of the latter over time. Continue reading here.
Creating Content: What They Want, or What You Want? Coming Up with an Editorial Calendar That Works for Both
You know that you are supposed to listen to your target audiences and give them what they want to hear from you. But you also have your own agenda full of information you want them to have. How do you bring the two together?
nonprofit marketing guide
Kivi Leroux Miller, President of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com has written a new article that looks at this question from the perspective of two different national organizations that are trying to serve local organizations in the same field. How can they give the locals what they ask for, while also providing what they, the national experts, believe is essential, especially when that creates two different lists of "what's most important"? Read the article to find out.
Pinterest Debuts Pages for Nonprofits and Businesses
Last weekpinterest Pinterest unveiled new free accounts for nonprofits and businesses to help them make better use of the popular social network.
 
The new accounts don't look any different from personal accounts, but people who manage the new pages will be prompted to verify their Web sites by uploading an HTML file to their server. They will also be asked to add "follow" and "pin it" buttons to their sites.

Pinterest also added two features that allow people to embed pins and boards on other sites more easily.

To learn more about the new accounts and see case studies from businesses, go to business.pinterest.com.
NCOA Sponsored Webinars:  Next Webinar - Tuesday, November 27th
AJFCA and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) are working collectively toward positive impact on older adults in American communities. As part of our partnership, NCOA is currently presenting a three-part webinar series to AJFCA member agencies. The first in the series, Benefits Access for Older Adults, was held on November 13th. Participating agencies heard a review of the various federal benefits that are available to their older adult clients, and learned how the benefit systems interact with one another. The presenter discussed the population of "dual eligibles," those clients who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid, and how these benefits can complement one another. Resources shared included an online tool for determining benefit eligibility, Benefits Enrollment Centers,which are located across the US, State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) and an online resource library. To listen to a recording of this webinar or view the PowerPoint, please click here. We hope many of our members will join us for the second and third webinars in this series (see below). Please email Megan for registration details.ncoa logo

Making Wise Decisions With Home Equity: New Tools for a New Retirement Reality
Tuesday, November 27th, 2:00pm ET
 
Benefits Access for Older Adults: Helping Clients Find Programs to Boost Their Economic Security
Tuesday, December 18th, 3:00pm ET
Domestic Violence Webinar
Join representatives from Jewish Women International (JWI) and Shelley Rood, AJFCA's Washington Director for an AJFCA hosted conference call designed for our domestic violence professionals on Wednajfca logo-resizedesday, November 28th at 3:00 p.m. EST. This call will introduce us to opportunities for professional development for staff (including future opportunities to earn CEUs), ideas and curriculum for domestic violence prevention programming at your agencies, and places to look for funding opportunities. Additionally, the call will provide a brief advocacy update on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Click here to register. Call in details will be emailed to you as we near the webinar. If you'd like to join the AJFCA's Domestic Violence Professionals Member Forum, please email Sandy

Domestic Violence Survey JWI
It is important that we complete JWI's annual survey of Jewish domestic violence organizations. Each year, the results of this survey play a key role in guiding JWI's work as they develop new resources to address domestic violence in the community. AJFCA presents findings of this survey to Members of Congress, their staffs, and other national organizations to advocate for the reauthorization of VAWA and funding for VAWA programs. Read more about JWI's domestic violence survey here. On behalf of JWI, AJFCA would greatly appreciate if you could complete this short survey at  as soon as possible. Please email Shelley if you have any questions.
The Business of Social Work: Marketing as a Second Language
We often hear that one of the most valuable parts of being a member of AJFCA is the opportunity for professionals to exchange information and ideas with one another. To further those opportunities, AJFCA is pleased to launch the AJFCA Marketing/Communications Practice Group. The goal of the group is to enable AJFCA member agencies' marketing and communications professionals to forge deeper connections with one another, share resources, exchange program information and learn about advances in the field.
 
Please join us for our first Marketing/Communications Practice Group webinar, "The Business of Social Work:  Marketing as a Second Language." 
 
Thursday, November 29th, 3:00pm ET
If you are interested in participating in this webinar please email Megan by Monday, November 26th.
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This Thanksgiving, I feel the Warmth of the Jewish World
Greetings from Washington.  I hope you are looking forward to Thanksgiving as much as I am!  After a busy few weeks of Hurricane Sandy relief, U.S. Election Day, JFNA's General Assembly in Baltimore and now the constant concern for friends in Israel, I am looking forward to quality family time in sunny South Florida. Continue reading . . .

Shelley Rood

Washington Director
highlights


The latest Hip Hop Video all the kids are watching? It was made in the in-house recording studio in Jewish Child & Family Services of Chicago's Residential program, and the kids themselves made it!
jcfs chicagoThanks to Title 1 funding from the US Department of Education, designed to "improve the academic achievement of the disadvantaged," a new music production studio is available to "honor the young people's interest in doing music," says Therapeutic Recreation Leader Daniel Lanctot.

"The program is not just fun, but therapeutic," says Corey Dickson, Assistant Director of JCFS Residential Program. JCFS Residential Program offers a supportive, confidential and empowering environment for teens and young adults whose emotional and behavioral needs merit 24 hour attention, due to abuse, neglect or chronic family conflict.  "The studio offers a way for these individuals to get their emotions out in a healthy and productive way.  More than a hobby, it's a way to de-stress."
NCOA2012 Webinar Series for AJFCA:  Ensuring the Economic Security of Older Adults
The National Council On Aging is hosting a complimentary webinar series exclusively for AJFCA member agencies focused on ensuring the economic security of older adults. Please email Megan foncoa logor additional details including registration information. 
 
Making Wise Decisions With Home Equity: New Tools for a New Retirement Reality
Tuesday, November 27th, 2:00pm ET
(Previously scheduled for October 30th. Rescheduled due to Hurricane Sandy.)

Savvy Saving Seniors - A Toolkit for Money Management from NCOA
Tuesday, December 18th, 3:00pm ET
Let's Move Faith and Communities 
Join this Let's Move Faith and Communities webinar to learn about the role of faith and community organizations as catalysts for health and wellness, and hear from faith leaders as they share hhs logohow they have successfully established programs for healthy living in their communities.
 
If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call 202-358-3595.  

Make Your Community a Source of Health and Wellness
Thursday, November 29th, 2:00pm ET - REGISTER HERE
Introduction to Quality Measures in Managed Long-Term Services and Supports
States are increasingly establishing or expanding Medicaid managed long-term services and supports (MLTSS) programs.
 
LTSS quality measures and monitoring activities are essential tools for consumers and states to ensure protections, enhance choice and plan performance, and align incentives to meet desired goals such as rebalancing or promoting options for self-direction. ncoa logo
 
This webinar is the first in a series that will promote learning and discussion to build the capacity of stakeholders on these issues.

Introduction to Quality Measures in Managed Long-Term Services and Supports
Friday, November 30th, 2:00pm ET - REGISTER HERE
The Sequester: What 8% Automatic Cuts Would Mean for Aging Programs - Conversations with GIA
Join Grantmakers in Aging and the American Society on Aging for a webinar to learn more about the possible impact of automatic cuts to federal programs scheduled to take effect before the end of the year and what can be done to protect older adults.

In a "lame duck" session after the election, Congress will consider decisions of great concern to seniors and those who serve them. If Congress does not pass a bipartisan plan to reduce the federal deficit by the end of the year, the nation will face drastic, automatic, across-the-board spending cuts starting on January 2nd.

These cuts are known as a "sequester," and they would include cuts to discretionary programs, such as the Older Americans Act (OAA), of approximately 8%. Results would include:
  • 17 million fewer congregate and home-delivered meals for hungry seniors
  • 1.9 million fewer senior transportation rides to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and other needs 
  • 1.5 million fewer people receiving personal care services such as in-home help with bathing and dressing 
  • 290,000 senior households losing their heat due to a $285 million cut in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program  
  • 6,400 fewer unemployed low-income older adults getting hired and paid because of cuts to the Senior Community Service Employment Program 
The Sequester: What 8% Automatic Cuts Would Mean for Aging Programs
Wednesday, December 5th, 3:00pm ET - REGISTER HERE
HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
The HHS Partnership Center continues to host a series of webinars for faith and community leaders. All webinars are open to the public and include a question and answer session where you can ask HHS staff any questions you may have. You are encouraged to submit questions you would like to have answered on the webinars to [email protected].

Introduction to the HHS Office for Civil Rights hhs logo
Wednesday, November 28th, 11:00am ET - REGISTER HERE
  
Tour of www.HealthCare.gov
Thursday, November 29th, 12:30pm ET - REGISTER HERE

Introduction to the HHS Office for Civil Rights (in English and Spanish)
Monday, December 10th, 3:30pm ET - REGISTER HERE

The Health Care Law 101
Wednesday, December 12th, 3:00pm ET - REGISTER HERE
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