When Can We Trust the News?
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Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO
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I was in a meeting, just after noon last Friday, when I started to receive news alerts on my phone about the school shooting in Newtown, CT. Over the next several hours, and for days to follow, the news continued to pour in, offering details about the shooter, the victims, and the events that transpired that tragic morning. Like many, I was anxious for more information and read and listened to reports from many different sources, so I could begin to grasp the magnitude of what had transpired (and so I could offer the assistance of AJFCA and our network to our agencies in Connecticut). What I learned was that much of the information I was receiving was wrong. The shooter was first reported to be Ryan Lanza, 24, but it was Adam Lanza, 20. The shooter was said to have killed his mother in the classroom where she was a teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School. But, Nancy Lanza was not a teacher and she was murdered in her home. It was reported that Adam Lanza was allowed entry into the school because his mother was there, but we now know he shot his way through a window. In detail after detail, the news outlets were wrong and they continued to report the story incorrectly for many hours after the event. Continue reading here. |
JFCS Receives Grant from Alliance for Children and Families
| Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis recently received a two-year grant from national membership organization the Alliance for Children and Families to implement a pilot project meant to explore, test and gain understanding of the elevation of strategy within nonprofit human service agencies. JFCS is one of five nonprofit organizations in the country chosen to receive this grant.
"This grant enables JFCS to not only improve our own services and ultimately the quality of life for community members," said Judy Halper, JFCS Chief Executive Officer, "but it means we are part of an exciting program that is closely examining how nonprofit human-service organizations can be even more effective throughout the country."
The grant comes from the Alliance's Strategy Counts program - a multiyear pilot project designed to enhance the social impact of nonprofit human service providers by increasing their focus on strategy and its effective deployment.
The intent is for the pilot sites to test and model how nonprofits can be more nimble in adjusting to change, more data-driven in making decisions, better positioned to partner, and more able to innovate in ways that have meaningful client and community impact on improving the lives of children and families. Continue reading here.
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Jewish Family Service Raises $432,000 at Reel Hope 2012
| Jewish Family Service of Colorado raised $432,000 at its annual movie-themed fundraiser, Reel Hope 2012 on December 10th. More than 500 people attended the 17th annual JFS movie-themed fundraiser.
Reel Hope supports all programs of JFS, including mental health counseling, senior and adult in-home care, disability and employment services, and family safety net services. Continue reading here.
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| In four weeks of staffing the FEMA/NYC Restoration Center in Staten Island, The Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services has served close to 2,500 people, offering case management and crisis counseling to the people of Staten Island. Crisis counseling is being provided to individuals and families impacted by Hurricane Sandy who need to understand how to access services.
The real story is in the shifting needs of those who are visiting the center. JBFCS staff are seeing more clients with increasingly complex needs-mental health issues compounded by medical issues and special needs, and with pre-existing trauma and other mental health conditions now heightened by trauma, anxiety, survivor guilt, and other issues brought on by the storm. Continue reading here.
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| Visit AJFCA's Calendar to learn more about free calls and webinars. For more information login to For Our Members on the AJFCA website, followed by Webinars. Contact Megan at 410-843-7327 with questions.
Healthcare Law 101
Jan., 10th, 2pm ET
REGISTER HERE
Behavioral Health IT: Implications for Community Providers
Jan., 15th, 1pm ET
REGISTER HERE
Transform Your Food Pantry into a Source of Health and Wellness
Jan., 31st, 2pm ET
REGISTER HERE
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Stay updated on AJFCA offerings, agency news & current trends . . .
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D'Var Torah
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Lee I. Sherman
President/CEO
Last Friday afternoon, when President Obama addressed the nation on the tragic killings that had occurred that morning in Newtown, CT, I heard one analyst suggest that Mr. Obama had acted in a "presidential" manner. My reaction was quite different. To me, President Obama had not appeared "presidential," but intensely "human." He sounded like any person who truly cares, like a father who thinks of his own little girls as he learned of the twenty 6 and 7 year olds who had been murdered. He may not have been "presidential," but it was exactly the way I wanted my President to lead.
In this week's parashah, Va-yiggash, Joseph's reunion with his brothers continues. After Judah's passionate argument and plea for Benjamin's freedom, Joseph reacts in the most brotherly of ways. This powerful leader of Egypt does not take revenge on his brothers, he cries out in anguish and embraces his family. It is the most human of reactions and emblematic of what made Joseph the right successor to his father Jacob as the leader of his family and the Jewish people.
In real terms, we are most often removed from our leaders. We see them from a distance and primarily their public actions and words, not personal moments. It is comforting to know that leaders, whether Biblical or political, can call on their human side to set an example. May we all do as well.
Shabbat Shalom.
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Behavioral Health IT: Implications for Community Providers Webinar
Please join AJFCA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the National Council for Behavioral Health for a webinar de signed specifically for AJFCA member agencies. The webinar presenters will review the current issues in behavioral health IT and discuss the effects on community behavioral health care providers, and how community providers can best position themselves to succeed in the current environment.
Behavioral Health IT: Implications for Community Providers
Tuesday, January 15th, 1:00pm ET
Please email Megan for registration details.
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A Message in the Wake of the Tragedies of Violence Against Children 
The voice of our sector is, or should be, prevention and upstream solutions. Many will rally to the issues of gun regulation, school safety, and violence in the media. Some of us will join them. But our voice-or voices-can and must bring attention and focus to the critical importance of: Early identification and treatment; and Community connectedness. Continue reading here.
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Ensuring the Economic Security of Older Adults
NCOA Webinar SeriesThis week, AJFCA member agencies participated in the last of a three-part webinar series co-sponsored by AJFCA and the National Council on Aging (NCOA). "Savvy Saving Seniors: Ensuring the Economic Security of Older Adults" covered ways in which agencies can assist seniors in closing the gap between incom e and cost of living. "Savvy Saving Seniors" covered ways in which agencies can assist seniors in closing the gap between their fixed income a rising cost of living. NCOA's Savvy Saving Seniors guide contains tools and tips for assisting clients in money management, public benefits and avoiding scams in sensitive, consumer-friendly ways. Click here to access these free materials. To listen to a recording of the webinars or view the PowerPoint slides, please visit the For Our Members portion of the AJFCA website and then click on Webinars.
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How Content Marketing Is Different - The Terminology
How Content Marketing Is Different, December 6, 2012, Nonprofit Marketing Guide, by Kivi Leroux Miller
On Tuesday, Kivi Leroux Miller, President of the Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com and 2013 AJFCA Annual Conference guest speaker shared a Theory of Change for nonprofit marketing.
Let's try to clear up some confusion about the terms that are flying around in the nonprofit field. For example, what is "content marketing" and why should nonprofits shift toward it?
Content Marketing: Content marketing for nonprofits is creating and sharing relevant and valuable content that attracts, educates, motivates, and inspires your participants, supporters, and influencers so that they can help you achieve your mission. Continue reading here. |
2013 Mutual of America Community Partnership Award Competition
Applications are now being accepted  for the 2013 Mutual of America Community Partnership Award competition, which recognizes and encourages partnerships dedicated to the public good among businesses, government and social sector organizations. Entering its 18th year, the CPA has recognized over 170 partnerships across America, expanding public awareness of their work and helping them attract additional partners and new sponsors.
The Award Guidelines can be viewed here. Applications to enter the 2013 competition must be submitted no later than April 1, 2013.
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SafeLink Enhancements
SafeLink is happy to announce two exciting enhancements to the program:- Enrollees can now receive up to 1,000 free text messages when they enroll in any of the three SafeLink plans. Previously, text messages used airtime.
- Proof of enrollment in another social service program can now be submitted via MMS. Proof can continue to be submitted via fax, mail and uploading a scanned copy.
SafeLink hopes t hat these enhancements will improve the program for your clients as well as make it easier for you to help them enroll. If you would like more information or would like to participate, visit www.safelinkagencies.com or contact Joy Burwell 202-263-2971.
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New Online Resource on Domestic Violence
The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV), funded by the Department of Health and Humans Services Family Violence Preven tion and Services Program announced the release of a new interactive online course, Domestic Violence: Understanding the Basics. This one hour interactive eLearning module will help advocates, allied professionals, students, and the general public achieve a basic understanding of this complex issue. To access the course, click here. |
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Interfaith Exchange: Faith-based Healthy Lifestyle Programs
In November 2012, sixty Jewish adults completed the fifth and final week of L'Chaim, a Jewish health and fitness program piloted this year at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills, Michigan
With the pilot concluded, Dr. Kahn and the Adat Shalom leadership are looking at ways to evaluate the success of the program and its ability to encourage sustained lifestyle changes. They are also considering how this program will influence lifestyle choices within the synagogue. Continue reading here. |
Five Tips for Better Serving Journalists and Media
Five Tips for Better Serving Journalists and Media, December 7, 2012, PR News, by Bill Miltenberg
Here are 5 ways to better serve journalists to up your odds for coverage: - Provide imagery and videos.
- Know which other content forms media crave.
- Populate your press center with what media would want.
- Don't botch their names in pitches.
- The best way to gain a journalist's trust is help serve their needs.
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The Power of Introverts
The Power of Introverts, February 7, 2012, Fast Company, by Arnie Cooper
Every board has extroverts and introverts. The chair's role is to ensure that everyone gets a chance to express his or her opinions. Forced brainstorming sessions are not the answer. Continue reading here.
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8 Wa ys to Make the Most of Your Year-End Fundraising Campaign
8 Ways to Make the Most of Your Year-End Fundraising Campaign, December 3, 2012, Network for Good, by Caryn Stein
Use this quick checklist to improve your odds of making the most out of this season of giving: - Simplify your nonprofit home page to offer one call to action: Donate.
- Make your donate buttons large, colorful and easy to find.
- Send donors straight to your online donation form from appeals and your donate buttons.
- Include your donation link in your Facebook, Twitter and other social profiles.
- Encourage recurring gifts.
- Test your online donation process and fix problems before sending your appeal.
- Include third-party ratings or testimonials on your donation page.
- Create a "Why Donate" page that makes a case for why someone should care.
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Nonprofit Technology Survey
How much do nonprofits budget for technology annually? How effectively do nonprofits feel they are applying technology to fundraising for their cause? To find out the an swers to these and other key questions about nonprofit technology practices, Idealware is helping to distribute a survey created by NTEN, a membership organization of nonprofit technology professionals. Please participate in the survey here.
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IssueLab Now Housed Under Foundation CenterIssueLab, a website that provides free and open access to research on socia  l, economic, and environmental challenges, has a new life under the Foundation Center. It comprises more than 11, 000 documents covering 40 issue areas critical to the social services and development sector.
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2013 Government Affairs Institute & AJFCA Advocacy Mission
Registration for the 2013 Government Affairs Institute and AJFCA Advocacy Mission (GAI) is now open. The GAI is our premier gathering of profe  ssionals and lay leaders who are interested in public policy. The GAI brings together professionals and volunteers from Jewish family and children's service agencies and Federations to advocate on policies that impact the vulnerable populations that you serve. Learn more here. 2013 Government Affairs Institute & AJFCA Advocacy MissionTuesday, February 5th - Thursday, February 7th - REGISTER HERE |
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