AJFCA Newsletter
In This Issue
ADVOCACY
NEWS & TRENDS in AGENCY PROGRAMMING
AJFCA MEMBER NEWS & BENEFITS
BOARD RESOURCES
DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING
VOLUNTEER & YOUNG ADULT ENGAGEMENT
AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS

JCS Baltimore Announces New Executive


jcs baltimore  
   
The Board of Directors of Jewish Community Services of Baltimore announced that it has selected Joan Grayson Cohen to become the agency's next Executive Director.

Ms. Cohen, who is currently the Director of Economic Services at Jewish Community Services, has been a staff member of JCS and Jewish Family Services, one of its founding agencies, for 22 years. During this tenure, Ms. Cohen was responsible for the creation and management of a diverse array of programs and services. She will succeed Barbara Levy Gradet, who announced earlier this year that she is stepping down on June 30th after 12 years as Executive Director.

On behalf of the JCS board of directors, President Ronald Attman said, "The Board is elated that Joan has accepted our offer to lead the agency. Joan is a proven leader who has earned the respect of the board and of the JCS staff through all of the good work that she has done on behalf of the people in our community. We are fortunate to have such an accomplished and visionary leader to guide us into the future. I also want to thank the members of the search committee, chaired by Allison Magat, for the many hours of conscientious work that they did leading to this excellent result."
Ms. Cohen holds a JD from the University of Maryland School of Law and an MSW from the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker certified by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners. Ms. Cohen and her husband are active members of Beth El Congregation and they have 3 adult daughters. In 2009, Ms. Cohen was awarded the Daniel Thursz Distinguished Services Award in Jewish Communal Services by the Darrell Freedman Institute.



In accepting the role of Executive Director, Joan Cohen said, "I am honored to be selected for the JCS Executive Director position. During my tenure, I have experienced firsthand the impact that JCS services and supports have had on the lives of thousands of individuals and families. The key to the success of the agency has been the outstanding commitment of the Board and Staff along with the tremendous support of The Associated and the Community. I am proud that, in this new role, I will have the opportunity to help sustain and further the mission of the agency."

Ms. Cohen will begin in the position of Executive Director on July 1st.
Robert Marmor Assumes Role as CEO of JFS Northeastern New York

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Robert Marmor is the new President and CEO of Jewish Family Service of Northeastern New York. Prior to accepting this position Bob was HIAS' Chief Strategic Officer.

AJFCA is delighted that he continues to dedicate his time to member agencies.
JF&CS Atlanta Breaks Ground on Dunwoody Campus Expansion
 
 
   
Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta broke ground on March 17 to celebrate the start of construction on its Dunwoody campus expansion.



Leaders from the community, JF&CS' capital campaign cabinet and generous donors to the campaign attended the ceremony, held on a beautiful sunny day. JF&CS will be renovating and expanding its facility to improve services for all clients as well as to accommodate a growing waitlist for specialized services. The nonsectarian nonprofit just completed an 18-month capital campaign to raise money for the project. The initial goal was $5.1 million, but it ended up totaling $6.6 million, thanks in part to a transformative gift from the Walter and Frances Bunzl Family Foundation that will name the new clinical services wing. 
 
April 1, 2016  
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The Voice and Vision for Stronger Communities
  
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D'Var Torah 
 
Lee I. Sherman 
President/CEO

All of us confront daily stresses in our lives. They range from the mundane (every traffic light on the way to work was red causing me to be late!) to the serious (a loved one has suffered a tragic loss), but each one causes a range of concerns and emotions that may elevate your heart rate. And then, there is the world around us that we see on our continuous news cycle: a bombings in Belgium and Pakistan; mass shootings in schools and concert halls; terrorist stabbings of innocent community members; hateful rhetoric targeting minorities, religious, ethnic, and otherwise identifiable groups. Stress, way too much stress.

This week's parashah, Sh'mini, continues our reading in the Book of Leviticus. It is a book full of rituals and rules, many of which appear archaic to our modern practices, but which are described in great detail. In Sh'mini we read of customs in the mishkan (and the unfortunate deaths of Aaron's two sons), as well as some of the laws of kashrut. Last week we read about sacrifices; before that it was slavery. How do we in 2016 relate to each of these commandments?

I don't know that we can relate to each commandment if we attempt to do so only literally. But, as we read the Torah as a whole, and think about the rhythms of life reflected in the rituals described, we can find comfort in our tradition that allows us to keep moving forward despite the stress and unpleasantness we may encounter. That is where we can find the foundation for our resilience. I only hope that we may return to the more mundane rituals of life soon.

May we all have a peaceful Shabbat.
ADVOCACY
CMS Publishes Final Medicaid, CHIP Parity Requirements   national council behavioral health
On Tuesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published final regulations outlining how the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act applies to state Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance programs. This final rule extends parity to more than 23 million Americans covered by these important programs. Learn more here.
Department of Justice Launches 10 Regional Elder Justice Task Forces
The Department of Justice announced the launch of 10 regional Elder Justice Task Forces.  These teams will bring together federal, state and local prosecutors, law enforcement, and agencies that provide services to the elderly, to coordinate and enhance efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents. Continue reading here.
NEWS & TRENDS in AGENCY PROGRAMMING
Better Nonprofit Succession Planning Hinges on Training Leaders 
Year after year, in survey after survey, nonprofit organizations have identified succession planning as their No. 1 concern. But they are missing an answer hidden in plain sight: developing leaders inside their organizations. Continue reading here.
AJFCA MEMBER NEWS & BENEFITS
Help Name the New Human Services AssociationIAJVS 







IAJVS and AJFCA are excited about the new entity they are creating. As the new association takes shape, the emphasis is on providing greater value to members and to the human services field. The association will focus on 4 key actions:
  • Leading collective impact efforts that recognize the holistic, patient-centric approach of most agencies
  • Actively aggregating and distributing best practices
  • Convening superior learning opportunities
  • Enhancing agencies' abilities to deliver quality services to their clients
The future is almost here. The only problem:  What will we call this new organization? You are invited to submit ideas - any name that you think reflects the purpose and value of the new organization. Learn more about the competition here.
Engaging with Aging
You're invited to participate in Engaging with Aging, September 18th-20th in Montreal, Quebec, sponsored by the Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA. This is an exciting opportunity for professionals and lay leaders to collaborate with colleagues and peers from across Canada on topics relevant to those invested in improving the lives of seniors. The learning tracks are Community Action, Active Aging and Support Models. Learn more here
2016 AJFCA Annual Conference  
Join AJFCA for a dynamic and informative conference full of networking opportunities and engaging speakers in sunny San Diego.         
 
  • View the final schedule, complete with dates, times, descriptions and presenters here
     
  • Join the Conference Facebook page here. Feel free to discuss logistics (sharing cabs and planning off-site meals), ask questions regarding sessions, and share agency materials (annual reports, marketing brochures).
     
  • Award winners can be viewed here.
     
  • Book your hotel stay here
Contact Megan with questions.     
Liability Issues, Volunteer Screening & Recruitment
Liability and screening protocols for volunteers are two very hot topics. AJFCA member agencies will share their experiences and Verified Volunteers and will share information about their platform, as well as insights from their survey of the sector. Participants are encouraged to ask questions regarding volunteer screening and its effects on recruitment.

Liability Issues, Volunteer Screening & Recruitment
Wednesday, April 13th, 2pm ET - REGISTER HERE
AJFCA Domestic Violence Professionals Call: 
Domestic Violence Legislation & Advocacy

When caught up with the day-to-day details of providing critical services and/or education on domestic violence, it's easy to forget that decisions at the state and federal level can directly impact agencies' abilities to serve the most vulnerable. As such, we hope you will join us on Tuesday, April 26th for a domestic violence public policy informational call with Liz Leibowitz, Director of Government Affairs at JFNA and AJFCA. Liz will discuss recent federal domestic violence legislation that's been introduced or is pending, as well as over-viewing steps that agencies and individuals can take to advocate on behalf of domestic violence issues locally and federally. Professionals are encouraged to prepare questions and to share any advocacy efforts with which they may have been or currently be involved.

Domestic Violence Legislation & Advocacy
Tuesday, April 26th - 2pm ET - REGISTER HERE
BOARD RESOURCES
The Importance of Linking Leadership Succession, Strategy, and Governance nonprofit quarterly
Whether one's starting point is a leadership transition, board development or strategy, case studies teach us to recognize and embrace the interrelated nature of these processes. Continue reading here.
10 Benefits of Dashboard Reporting board source
One of the crucial functions of a board is to monitor and evaluate an organization's advancement in fulfilling its mission and, more specifically, in meeting previously set goals. These resources will help you support planning, identify performance drivers (and problems, but early on), prioritize information, and breed efficiency. Learn more about dashboard reporting here.
DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING
Share of Donors Giving by Mobile Devices Up 80% Since 2013
The share of donors who use mobile devices to give has jumped 80 percent since 2013, according to the study. The survey of 400 adults who gave at least $20 to charity in the previous year. Learn more here.
VOLUNTEER & YOUNG ADULT ENGAGEMENT
April is National Volunteer Month
One of the greatest aspects of volunteerism is that there are so many different ways to do it, and sometimes, we volunteer without even making conscious recognition of it. Points of Light recently released a great resource guide for April 10th -16th, in promotion of National Volunteer Week, and are encouraging folks to use the hashtag #NVW2016 in all social media posts recognizing volunteers.
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