Superstars in Business Winner: Jewish Family Service of Delaware

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD

Nonprofit: Jewish Family Services of Delaware

BY REGINA DONATO | PHOTOS BY NICK WALLACE PHOTOGRAPHY

THE KEY TO A HEALTHY COMMUNITY is access to high-quality support and resources. Jewish Family Services of Delaware (JFS) has been providing that support to those in the local community who need it—regardless of religion, race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or special need—since 1899. With a Newark office in the making and current locations in Wilmington and Lewes, JFS is licensed with the State of Delaware’s Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health and fully accredited by the National Council on Accreditation. All in all, the organization serves over 1,500 patients and their families each year in the state—nearly 3,000 people in total.

“Most JFS clients are not Jewish, but our work is done through the embodiment of Jewish values,” explains Renna Van Oot, CEO of Jewish Family Services of Delaware. “The beauty of the Jewish traditions and commitment to tenants such as tikkun olam, or ‘repairing the world’ is at the core of our actions.” And building a better world they are—by directly serving the people who come to them for help.

JFS’s two core areas of programming include both outpatient behavioral health services (counseling, substance abuse treatment, psychiatric care) and case management and support services (elderly care, caregiver support, financial support). Mental health care and other similar services should never be a luxury reserved for people over a certain socioeconomic threshold—and JFS ensures that anyone who may need services can receive them. While always available to all, the main focus of JFS’s programming is those who have been referred by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services or those who cannot afford the cost of their private insurance’s mental health care services.

A recent survey of their clients showed that:

• 70% report that their therapist helped them successfully manage a mental health condition

• 80% enjoy a better quality of life

• 75% learned the skills to cope with daily stressors

• 99% said their therapist was knowledgeable

• 90% would recommend JFS services to a family member/friend

JFS is constantly evaluating and adding onto their programming based on community needs. In 2021, they launched their youth anxiety treatment programs and maternal mental health assistance. “Next up is care navigation and support for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities,” says Van Oot. “JFS is proactive and innovative while also staying focused on maintaining strong foundational mental health services.”

Not only does the organization provide resources and a safe space for those here in Delaware, but to global refugees seeking safety or a new start. This service reinforces another Jewish value the organization holds themselves to—kol Yisrael arevim zeh la-zeh or “the inherent responsibility that each of us has to assist and care for other human beings.”

Jewish Family Services of Delaware is currently the state’s only comprehensive refugee resettlement agency. “During 2021, we helped 113 refugees from countries including Sudan, Rwanda, Vietnam, and Turkey as well as 52 refugees who arrived suddenly from Afghanistan during the late period of the year,” says Van Oot. “In 2022, we served more than 100 refugees from around the world, including more than 50 refugees fleeing the turmoil in Ukraine.”

The beauty of the Jewish traditions and commitment to tenants such as tikkun olam, or ‘repairing the world’ is at the core of our actions.

— Renna Van Oot, CEO, Jewish Family Services of Delaware

In addition to offering a welcoming environment for their clients and their families, JFS also wants to create one for their employees as well. For the last ten years, JFS has been named a “Top Workplace in Delaware” because of the organization’s positive, diverse, and accommodating company culture that encourages new ideas and feedback from all. To retain the best talent for their clients, the organization offers ample paidtime off, benefits, and continuing education reimbursement, which is especially important considering all their clinical staff have a master’s degree in social work or a similar field.

JFS’s dedication to their community, their staff, and the state of Delaware makes them well deserving of the Superstars in Business award. Van Oot gives the following message on behalf of Jewish Family Services of Delaware: “We are so thrilled to be recognized as a Superstar in Business for the great culture, excellent staff, and comprehensive services we offer. Thank you!”