Irv Katz to Serve as AJFCA Interim CEO
The AJFCA Board and staff would like to welcome Irv Katz to the network as interim CEO. Irv will begin on June 6th.
Irv is the former president emeritus of the National Human Services Assembly (National Assembly), the national association of more than eighty of the nation's leading nonprofit human service organizations, and founder of Civic Sector Strategies, a nonprofit organizational consulting practice.
Irv served as president and CEO of the National Assembly from 2001 to early 2015 and concurrently for many years as president of the National Assembly's for-profit subsidiary, National Assembly Business Services (also known as PurchasingPointŪ). Prior to joining the National Assembly, Irv enjoyed a twenty-three year career in the United Way movement, including twenty years at the local level (culminating in the presidency of the United Way for the metropolitan Indianapolis area) and three years as Group Vice President for Community Impact at United Way of America.
Positions held earlier in his career were with the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council and a federation of settlement houses, also in Indianapolis.
Irv holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Indiana University, the former a bachelor of arts in English, the latter a masters in social work. He has participated in executive education programs at the University of Chicago, Harvard University, Indiana University, and other institutions.
Irv was recognized for more than a dozen consecutive years as one of the "Nonprofit Power & Influence 50" by The Nonprofit Times.
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AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS
When Charity Knows No Boundaries: Seattleites Help Syrian Refugees Here and Overseas
When Charity Knows No Boundaries: Seattleites Help Syrian Refugees Here and Overseas, April 30, 2016, Seattle Times, by Nina Shapiro
One of the worst refugee crises since World War II has prompted a remarkable outpouring of support across Seattle and beyond. All sorts of people have stepped up, helping resettle Syrian families here and also traveling to Europe.
Su Olsen did not know where she was going, though she was leaving in a week. It would be somewhere in Greece, she knew that much. The 70-year-old jewelry maker from Bainbridge Island had been so moved upon reading about the refugees flooding there from Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East that she decided she had to help, in person.
"I couldn't not go," she explained, standing by a car loaded with warm clothes she had just driven into a Fremont garage-turned-depot. From here, supplies travel to the refugees, often as extra luggage carried by volunteers such as Olsen who have signed up with a bootstrap aid organization called Salaam Cultural Museum, in offices above the garage. Continue reading here.
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Prevention is the Key to Improving Behavioral Health Outcomes for Minors 
Communities nationwide are facing a growing youth mental health crisis. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adverse childhood experiences are an important public health issue. Adverse childhood experiences have been linked to:
- Risky health behaviors
- Chronic health conditions
- Low life potential
Early death
The key to addressing this nationwide youth mental health crisis is collaboration among providers to deliver preventative, coordinated care that focuses on improved outcomes. Continue reading here.
Volunteer Background Screening: Are You Missing Something? Webinar Insights
Christina Sbatella, Verified Volunteers' Vice President, Product Management & Global Operations, and Katie Zwetzig, Verified Volunteers' Executive Director, recently held a webinar where they discussed the potential gaps that can exist in volunteer background screening programs. VV focused, in particular, on one gap that many folks do not even realize exists - even if they are running the highest quality check possible on each and every one of their volunteers. What is that gap? Click here for a summary of the webinar - or click here for the full recording.
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Conversations with GIA: Holocaust Survivors: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Aging in Place
Grantmakers in Aging, a membership organization that promotes philanthropy in the field of aging, is offering a free webinar on Holocaust Survivor services. The webinar features Jenni Frumer, CEO, Alpert Jewish Family & Children's Service of West Palm Beach; and Yuliya Gaydayenko, Senior Director of Older Adult Services, Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit.
This webinar is designed to be an overview of some of the challenges Holocaust Survivors face, and may be appropriate for staff new to caring for Holocaust Survivors or for other community partners in the Aging Services Network, such as a local Area Agency on Aging or senior center.
Holocaust Survivors: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Aging in Place
June 6th, 2pm ET
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Respected and Whole: Preventing Anti-LGBT Bias between Constituents, Staff and across Aging Services
Explore 8 suggestions for preventing bias and creating inclusive services. Discuss concrete programming ideas and policies to ensure staff and constituents feel respected and safe. Learn how an inclusive environment can improve the health and happiness of both staff and constituents.
Respected and Whole: Preventing Anti-LGBT Bias between Constituents, Staff and across Aging Services
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The Voice and Vision for Stronger Communities
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Coming in Through the Gates
Rabbi Micah Buck-Yael
Community Chaplain
Jewish Family & Children's Service
St. Louis, Missouri
As we begin the month of June, LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) Pride month, I always find myself wondering where in our communities and where in our texts we find the best models of pride, inclusion, diversity, and justice. With all of the stunning progress that has been made in the civil rights struggles of the LGBTQ communities, there remain many open wounds and much work to be done. Formal and informal obstacles remain in place, and LGBTQ people continue to face vast disparities in income, employment, protection from crimes, access to healthcare, and access to social services.
This year, we are encountering a state-level backlash against many of the basic protections that have recently been achieved by LGBTQ people. In some states, laws to specifically and uniquely allow private businesses to refuse to do business with same-sex couples have been voted on and passed, in others, laws allowing mental health providers to deny service to LGBTQ individuals, laws banning schools from allowing transgender students to use safe and appropriate restrooms and facilities, and laws prohibiting cities from extended anti-discrimination laws to cover LGBTQ people are being actively debated and passed. Nationwide, nearly half of transgender people are not able to obtain government-issued ID, and can be denied basic services, mobility, and shelter without such identification. The good news - and the bad news - is that the personal safety and basic rights of LGBTQ people are very much at the center of public political debate. Our lives are being publicly debated by others, often with overtones of fear, scorn, well-meaning protectionism, or pity.
As we prepare to celebrate Pride in such a fraught atmosphere, there is a story from Torah that provides some insight. It comes from the Book of Kings, and it tells the story of four men who have been ritually excluded, in accordance with Torah laws, from the Israelite community. They sit outside the gates as their city lies under siege, and they decide to sever all connections with their community. They decide to turn themselves in to the enemy army, on the grounds that they could not possibly be treated worse than they are being treated by their own people. Then, a miracle happens. The Divine intervenes, drives off the army, and allows the four to find the enemy camp abandoned and full of food and supplies. A second miracle happens: the four men decide that, rather than keep the food to themselves, they will bring it back to their own city that abandoned them, and break the hold of the siege.
As they approach the gates, I can only imagine what is going through their minds. Are they eager to find their way back inside? Are they angry? Do they wish they had simply left? Do they fear that, even though they will sustain and save the city, they might be greeted with yet more rejection? Nevertheless, the four men approach the gates of the city, and the siege is broken. It is not broken by anyone's decision to "include" or "welcome" these four men as recipients of the city's bounty. It is broken by the courage that they displayed in returning home, and by the suddenly-evident reality that the ability of Israel to survive depended on how four individuals who had been sent outside of the gates would treat Israel.
So it is with us: as we prepare our agencies to serve the needs of LGBTQ populations, as we explore our policies and programs to find out where barriers to access need to be removed, and as we advocate within our Jewish and larger communities, we cannot succeed from a framework of inclusion or pity. We can do so only by working from a framework that centers the voices and stated needs of LGBTQ people, that honors the decades of fierce activism that has brought us to this point, and that recognizes that the wellbeing and survival of our communities depends on the gifts brought in by those who refuse to be kept on the margins.
AJFCA is pleased to be welcoming select network members to contribute a D'var Torah for distribution in the e-newsletter. Please reach out to Jennie if you would like to be considered.
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Federal Interagency Mental Health Parity Enforcement Task Force
On June 10th, a new federal interagency task force on Mental Health Parity enforcement will be holding a listening session with Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell, and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli. The session poses a unique opportunity to raise concerns as to whether AJFCA agencies providing mental health and/or substance abuse treatment services are encountering possible violations of the mental health parity law. Agencies that believe they have experienced violations or that know about state parity enforcement activities, are encouraged to contact Liz Leibowitz, AJFCA Director of Government Affairs.
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Get Ready for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), commemorated every year on June 15th, is an opportunity to raise awareness, engage new partners, and renew our collective commitment to the cause of elder justice. Each year, WEAAD draws more participants, garners more attention, and moves us closer to our national goals for elder justice. No matter who you are, you can take action and play a part in this effort. Learn how to get involved here.
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Upcoming JFNA Health and Long-Term Care Webinars and Gatherings 
The Strategic Health and Resource Center is hosting a series of webinars and related gatherings that seeks to educate, engage, and solicit feedback from partner agencies such as Jewish Family Service providers who are being impacted by a host of reforms to Medicare, Medicaid, and implementation related to the Affordable Care Act. The Strategic Health Resource Center was created in 2015 to provide analysis, strategic policy development, and legislative / regulatory advocacy on health and long-term care issues affecting federations and their network of partner agencies. The Center works closely with federations and their partner agencies as policy experts who seek to deconstruct the complex health and long-term care landscape to ensure that our federated clients have the strategic guidance and input they need to capitalize on emerging trends in this arena.
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NEWS & TRENDS in AGENCY PROGRAMMING
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June is LGBTQ Pride Month, Share Your Pride 
June is LGBTQ Pride Month. AJFCA and our partner Keshet want to make sure your agency has everything you need to celebrate Pride Month. You'll find an entire Jewish guide to celebrating LGBTQ pride on their resource page, with sermon ideas, graphics for sharing on social media, signs for marching at Pride, event listings from all around the country, and more. Take a minute and let us know how you're celebrating Pride so we can share your commitment with the Jewish community and let the world know how we stand for LGBTQ equality and inclusion. Please direct questions to Catherine Bell, Keshet's National Program Director.
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Suicidal Crisis Family Resource 
Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education & Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, located in Denver recently released an educational product developed by Education core, intended to support all families who may be facing a suicidal crisis. The "How to Talk to a Child about a Suicide Attempt in Your Family" booklet/DVD is freely available either virtually or in print, English/Spanish and captioned for hearing impaired. Since its release, this resource has been recommended and shared by multiple agencies and organizations, including Suicide Prevention Resource Center, Department of Education, American School Counselors Association, etc. Questions regarding this resource as a tool at your agency should be directed to Melissa McHarg, Program Specialist.
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AJFCA MEMBER NEWS & BENEFITS
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Annual Conference Follow Up 
The 2016 AJFCA Annual Conference was a success thanks to the hospitality of the host community, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, our talented speakers and presenters and enthusiastic attendees and supportive sponsors. The evaluation survey can be filled out here. Session materials and continuing education credit evaluation forms can be found here. Conference photos can be viewed here. Stay tuned for more uploads.
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Annual Foundation Center Renewal 
AJFCA will be renewing the annual Foundation Center subscription. If you are interested please email Zahava by Friday, July 1st. Invoices will be emailed in late July. Service will begin in mid-August. We will be attempting to keep the subscription fee close to this past year's amount of $390. For more information regarding the Foundation Center click here or contact Megan.
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Music & Memory Program, Featured at 2016 Annual Conference Offering Startup Funding and Support for JFS Agencies
Music & Memory is a program that seeks to improve quality of life for the elderly or infirm by providing personalized music through digital music technology. This highly effective program brings joy and enhances quality of life, helps to increase communication and social engagement, restores identity and personhood, offsets boredom, isolation, pain and depression, stimulates participation in activities and therapies, provides ca regiver respite, and offers an alternative to pharmacologic interventions in older adults living with dementia or other chronic illness.
Jewish Family Service of Utah has adapted the program to a community based model to enhance their mission of helping older adults age in place safely. This program has been highly successful for JFS and is a great fit for Jewish human service agencies with older adult programs and services. Dan Cohen, MSW, creator of the Music & Memory program is offering an opportunity for 10 agencies to be funded with certification and startup equipment, and for ongoing consultation and support from JFS Utah. Please see the grant application and contact Ellie or Letitia with any questions about this opportunity. The deadline for the application is June 30th.
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Older Adult & Disability Services 
Senior Resource Connect Incentive Program
Thank you to all of the Friends and Allies supporting Senior Resource Connect! View the list of supporters. Learn more and get involved! Submit a partner circle story.
Best Practices Resource Guide
AJFCA is collecting best practices in older adult services throughout the the Senior Resource Connect network. We are looking for programs that work and can be replicated in other communities to be included in a members-only resource guide. Submission Deadline: June 15, 2016.
Aging & Disabilities Services
AJFCA is interested in learning more about the overlap in disabilities and older adult services throughout our network. Tell us about your work in this area by filling out our survey.
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Registration Opens for AJFCA's Senior Services Midwest Summit 
Join your colleagues from member agencies throughout the network in St. Louis for this mini conference on aging services. The conference will begin with afternoon activities and an evening network reception on Sunday, September 25th and continue with a day of programming on Monday, September 26th. See the schedule to learn about specific topics of focus and CEU availability. Contact Liz with questions or to get involved as a discussion facilitator.
AJFCA Senior Services Midwest Summit - JFCS St. Louis, MO
September 25th & 26th - REGISTER HERE
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Get Your Organization Approved for a $10,000/Month Google Ad Grant 
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| VOLUNTEER & YOUNG ADULT ENGAGEMENT |
Last Call for Meyerhoff Fellowship Nominations
TODAY, June 3rd, is the last day to nominate an early career professional from your agency by completing this nomination form. Nomination is a required part of the application to participate, and no late nominations can be accepted. The applicant will then need to send a resume and head shot to Jennie and complete the online application by June 17th. Select applicants will be chosen for an interview (by phone or Skype), and accepted fellows will be notified by July 25th. The program year will run August 29, 2016 - August 26, 2017. Please note that attendance at an opening retreat September 12th-14th outside of Baltimore, MD will be required for participation. If an applicant is not able to commit to attending the opening retreat, please wait another year to apply. There will be a new cadre of fellows selected for year 3 (9/2017-8/2018). Year 1 and 2 fellows will also have the option to participate as alumni. For additional information, including Fellow qualifications and responsibilities, please click here for the full outline. For questions, contact Jennie at 410-843-7449.
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AJFCA VISTA Project Sites Currently Recruiting
 VISTAs to Serve Holocaust Survivors
VISTAs are Volunteers In Service to America who commit to a year of service to help build the capacity of organizations to meet the demand for services among those living in poverty. The AJFCA VISTA Project focuses specifically on serving Holocaust survivors at the following organizations: JFS Detroit, JFCS of Southern New Jersey and the Goodwin Holocaust Museum and Education Center, JSSA, Ruth & Norman Rales JFS, Bet Tzedek, UJA-Federation of NY, and CJE SeniorLife. Know a potential Volunteer In Service to America? Please Share! Find the listings online.
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Registration Opens
for AJFCA Volunteer Professional Summit
August 7th & 8th -
JFS Denver, CO
 AJFCA will hold its first Volunteer Professional Summit in partnership with JFS Colorado on August 7th & 8th. The meeting will begin with an evening of networking on Sunday, August 7th followed by a day of programming on Monday, August 8th.
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