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Agency Services
Leading Organizational Change Towards Authentic Inclusion of People with Disabilities
This two hour session sponsored by the University of Delaware and the Ruderman Family Foundation's Jewish Leadership Institute on Disabilities and Inclusion will address the changing landscape of inclusion and support for people with disabilities and what that means in the context of a Jewish family service agency. There is a nationwide shift from segregated or congregate programs and practices toward supports that enable individuals to have positive control over their own lives. As Jewish organizations become more attuned to providing individualized support that honors and respects each individual's unique needs and wants, leaders must approach organizational change with the information and skills needed to guide organizations. Agency leaders and professionals will come together to reflect on existing services, discuss the barriers to and opportunities for inclusion in their communities, and begin to understand and work towards supporting authentic inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Jewish community and community at large.
Executive Team Leadership
Putting JFS in the Center of the Community
Over the last 10+ years, JFS MetroWest NJ and JF&CS Atlanta have been deliberate in their efforts to establish themselves as THE primary social service and mental health resources in their respective Jewish communities and have established staffing affiliations with a wide range of local Jewish communal institutions. The impact of this effort has been profound . . . resulting in a changing client profile, new donor and funding support and a new understanding of the role and impact of these agencies as a resource for the overall community. Along the way, partnerships have also led to a redefinition of the role of the social worker and a wide range of questions related to client services, confidentiality and organizational culture. This session will explore the rationale and impact of placing social workers on-site in consultative positions within the local Jewish community and will contribute to an understanding of both the benefits to enjoy and hopefully the pitfalls to avoid.
Fund Development & Marketing
Leveraging Jewish Values to Appeal to Jewish and Non-Jewish Audiences
It is increasingly clear that to ensure JFS agencies remain available and relevant to those who need us most, we must design business models that prioritize diversifying revenue streams, donor bases, and target audiences. To do this, we must look outside the Jewish community to "subsidize" our work in meaningful ways, by offering high-quality services rooted in our Jewish values and sensibilities that appeal to a broader community base. JFS of San Diego, as part of its recently adopted strategic plan, created a framework for the development of a sustainable business model that prioritizes social enterprise, community partnerships (Jewish and secular), broad-based donor cultivation, and a brand position that leverages, rather than dilutes our Jewish values to appeal to the a broader audience. This framework, based on ten (10) distinctly Jewish values serves as the basis for creating our messages, vetting new opportunities, training our staff, and developing our Board. These foundational values, when positioned and articulated well, resonate meaningfully in both the Jewish and general communities, and create the necessary momentum to be viewed as a leader in the delivery of services to the broad community, where what makes us distinctly Jewish is an asset to all.
Board Leadership
Leveraging Network Resources to Benefit your Agency
In this session, a board leader from one agency and an executive director from another will discuss ways in which they have reached out to AJFCA to support their agencies. From information and resources to board retreats to national presence at agency events, these leaders will share their experiences in leveraging their membership to benefit the agency. AJFCA's President and CEO will present additional information on support and engagement opportunities. You will learn ways to make your board stronger with resources that are available and accessible to you by virtue of your membership in AJFCA. There will be time to ask questions of all presenters and you will leave with a resource document you can take back to your board
Volunteer/Young Adult Engagement
From the Top Down: Embracing Volunteer Engagement as an Organization-Wide Strategy
Organizations that embrace engagement as a key business strategy (rather than as a program) fully harness the volunteer resource. As a result, they are able to serve more clients, deliver more programs, strengthen staff, raise more funds, and be a leader in their field. How do executive leadership and volunteer directors partner to inspire and support staff toward engagement success? In this workshop, participants will complete an assessment of their agency's engagement practices, explore the hallmark practices of organization-wide volunteer engagement, and hear the story of Colorado's Jewish Family Service (JFS). Over three years, JFS identified engagement as a priority and worked to "create a fertile environment for engagement" in all departments. We will share strategies and tools through a real-life case study so that participants will leave with a map to help their organization create a fertile environment for engagement and understand the return on investment of doing so. Executive leaders and volunteer professionals are encouraged to attend together to launch the discussion and collaboration today.
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