TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
4
6
OUR MISSION
8
LEADERSHIP
10
W H AT W E D O
18
PROGRAMS
THE UPPER LEVEL
22
FINANCIALS
23
20
NEW PROGRAMS
PA R T N E R W I T H U S
GESHER I t ’s ab o u t c o n n ec t in g resources t o t h e p eo p le w h o n eed it most.
3
OUR MISSION
4
Gesher is a community benefits and resource center serving the Cleveland community. Our mission is to help our clients access government
and
private
assistance
programs.
Our
benefits
counselors work with clients to identify individual needs, discover appropriate programs, and streamline the application process for the quickest response possible. They are all trained in practices that are culturally sensitive, individualized, and client-centered, with a priority on maintaining privacy and dignity throughout the process.
5
LEADERSHIP Fo r o u r leadership, Gesher is more t h an j u s t o ne connection. It’s a whole lifetime of them.
6
R A B B I AV R O H O M A D L E R
Founder and Director
Rabbi Avrohom Adler holds a Rabbinic Degree from the Telshe Yeshiva of Chicago. He is a seasoned educator, as well as a community activist. In 2013, there was a great need in the Cleveland community for an agency to help families in financial distress. To address that need, Rabbi Adler was instrumental in the founding of Gesher, a community center that would connect families to resources and help them access government assistance. Rabbi Adler currently serves as Gesher’s director, and continues to be actively involved in day-to-day operations. Rabbi Adler is active in several other community initiatives. He helped establish the Cleveland Chesed Center, a community organization working to help families with daily household needs, and serves as vice president of the Cleveland community mikvah. Rabbi Adler also sits on the board of directors of Naaleh, a mental health referral organization.
RABBI ARYEH LEIB JOSEPH
Resource Coordinator
A masterful networker, Rabbi Joseph focuses on building relationships with private and government entities to create a comprehensive network of partnerships that will address community needs. Rabbi Joseph is a member of the North East Ohio Outreach & Enrollment Council (NEO Council), a coalition of over 40 organizations in Northeast Ohio providing education and/or enrollment assistance for individuals and families interested in health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace or the Ohio Medicaid program. Rabbi Joseph works tirelessly to create innovative solutions to address community needs. He is the driving force behind many of Gesher’s new programs. He is also the founder of Yesh Tikvah, a community organization that provides subsidies for mental health care.
7
W H AT W E D O Fo r over five hundred f amilies in Clevelan d , G es her is the vital connection t o s o m e o f li fe’s basic necessities.
8
For many individuals in crises, Gesher is the first place to turn. At Gesher, a trained benefits coordinator meets one-on-one with clients to complete a thorough intake process. During this process, the benefits coordinator gathers information about the client’s income, budget, expenses, and other pertinent information. The coordinator also shares information about government assistance that may be available. At Gesher, we don’t just share the burden; we shoulder it. All Gesher clients have the option of appointing a Gesher case manager as their representative. That means that we at Gesher can complete applications on their behalf, relieving much of the stress, shame, and stigma that are associated with financial crises. We also activate our relationships with our partnering organizations to help cut through red tape and expedite the assistance process. Through our partnership connections, help arrives faster, with less frustration and more privacy. More help, less heartache. It’s what we’re all about.
9
PROGRAMS
UTILITY A S S I S TA N C E
THE UPPER LEVEL OUR COMMUNITY’S NEEDS ARE MULTIFACETED. FORTUNATELY, SO IS GESHER. 10
ACCESS TO H E A LT H C A R E
MEDICARE C O N S U LTAT I O N S
F O O D A S S I S TA N C E AND WIC
11
Gesher connects our neediest to a whole network of assistance programs. We work with extensive programs to get each individual the help he/she needs:
Medicaid Applications and Renewals: Healthcare is a cornerstone of our organization, and is often
the most pressing need for a family in financial crises. At Gesher, our staff is thoroughly versed in the new expanded Medicaid laws, and is the go-to place for community members who want to enroll. We take great lengths to advocate for our clients, and recently won an Ohio State hearing, which secured medical coverage for many members of our community. We also help clients navigate the increasingly complex Medicaid renewal system, shouldering the burden of this onerous process.
Prescription Assistance Program: The increasing cost of prescription medications has dealt a
staggering blow to some members of our community. Thanks to Rabbi Joseph, a NeedyMeds advocate with close ties to United Way’s MedRefer program, Gesher has saved community members hundreds of dollars by helping them apply for Prescription Assistance programs.
Charity Care: Gesher is committed to ensuring that no individual or family in our community is
deprived of quality healthcare. When someone in need is not eligible for Medicaid, we help connect them with free or reduced-cost healthcare. This is made possible by referrals to our network of local institutions: Federally Qualified Health Centers, local hospitals, The Cleveland Clinic, and Alyson’s Place. In dire circumstances, we obtain funding for individuals and families by working with local organizations such as Bikur Cholim, the JFSA and Matan B’seyser.
12
THE GESHER CONNECTION
“
Mark had a severe stomach condition and his prescription medication came at a price of $2000. When his insurance company refused to cover the meds, Mark and his wife Sarah began to panic. Mark had only a few weeks’ supply left and they had no means to pay for the script out-of-pocket. Mark and Sarah approached Gesher with their dilemma and we immediately got to work. Our NeedyMeds advocates quickly discovered a pathway to help Mark and Sarah; the only thing that stood in the way was a veritable mountain of paperwork. Relentlessly, the Gesher staff dove into the fray and began gathering documents, making phone calls, and exchanging faxes with Mark’s doctor’s office. Success! Gesher not only obtained the funds for Mark’s medicine, we also contacted the pharmaceutical company directly to ensure that he had his medical supply in time. That day, Mark received three bottles of medicine, plus an approval for 12 months of his prescription, absolutely free.
13
IMAGE
14
OSHIIIP: During the Medicare open enrollment period, Gesher offers a free, one-hour
consultation with an OSHIIP counselor. This year, we were grateful to have proficient professionals such as Alicia Nighand, OSHIIP Community Liaison, and Jim Aust, OSHIIP Coordinator for Cuyahoga County, dedicate time to help our Gesher clients with the Medicare enrollment process. Our OSHIIP counseling program was extremely successful, with 100% of participants reporting that they would recommend our OSHIIP service to a friend.
Child Care Assistance Program: Parents who are students or are working may need financial
assistance to help pay for child care. Gesher is here to answer parents’ questions about childcare assistance, help complete applications, and ensure that renewal applications are submitted in a competent and timely manner to guarantee that benefits will not be terminated or interrupted for working families.
Food Stamps: The Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, currently known as
SNAP, provides food benefits to eligible families. Gesher helps complete the SNAP application with efficiency, privacy, and dignity, ensuring that community families have access to the nutrition they need.
15
THE GESHER CONNECTION
“
David was a widower who depended on SNAP to feed his three children. But one day, to his great distress, David’s SNAP Benefits card was inexplicably declined. He reached out to Gesher, who called the county office. We were told that his card is working, and that he should continue to use it normally. Skeptically, David tried again. And again, his card was declined. We called the county office and they checked the system again. There were no problems with his SNAP benefits. They couldn’t identify the problem. In the meantime, David and his family had been struggling for two weeks without the assistance of SNAP benefits. David’s bank account had quickly dwindled, and food became scarce. The situation was desperate. Gesher reached out to the national office, who connected us with the state office and finally identified the sad source of the problem: David was still using the card issued in the name of his deceased wife, who had recently passed away, and the card was no longer valid. We ordered a new card in David’s name. As the Sabbath grew closer, with no money to buy food, David visited our office daily, hoping desperately for the card to arrive. On a Friday morning just five minutes after he left our office, the post arrived with his new card. We immediately called David, who, like a man released from a terrible burden, rushed back in to pick up his new card. When he left our office again, he was holding $1,500 in benefits to purchase food for his family. Thanks to Gesher, David’s family was able to enjoy a truly uplifted Sabbath.
16
IMAGE
17
THE UPPER LEVEL F o r t e n s o f y o u n g p e o p l e i n t h e C l e v e l a n d c o m m u n i t y, a career in IT is a bridge to the future, and to financial i n d e p e n d e n c e . T h a t j o u r n e y b e g i n s r i g h t h e r e a t G e s h e r ’s latest pilot program: The Upper Level.
18
For many struggling young people, finding employment in today’s rapidly advancing world is a challenge. The good news is that the IT field is projected to grow by 12% by 2024, and the average median income for computer & IT occupations was $81,430 in 2015. Even better news, many of our community members are motivated to pursue a career in information technology. That’s why Gesher opened The Upper Level, an all-new initiative to fast-track aspiring techies into the world of IT. This innovative training program was spearheaded by Mr. Moish Tohn, a community member and close friend of the Gesher organization. Today, the program is running full-steam ahead, under the leadership of Leon Adato, Head Geek for Solarwinds, Inc. of Austin, Texas. Leon is a tech-career veteran who has been writing code since 1989. The program utilizes pre-existing online programs to prepare young people for a successful career in information technology. Our program staff works to support, guide, and track progress for all students. Right now at The Upper Level, our first cohort is already in session. They are a group of young men, handpicked for their ambition, potential, and drive. They are in the process of preparing to be the programmers, systems administrators, and network engineers of the future. The Upper Level has partnered with experienced IT pros from our own community. These community volunteers join us to mentor students at our program. At the same time, we are preparing our students to join the workforce by helping them brush up their interview skills, and providing guidelines for writing professional resumes.
19
NEW PROGRAMS At Ges h er, t here’s always something n ew on the horizon.
We are relentless in our mission to connect help to people who need it. That’s why we never stop working, innovating, networking, and creating. And that’s why we’re proud to announce the creation of three new programs under our auspices.
20
Legal Aid Clinic: In partnership with the Federation, Gesher has been working with the Legal Aid Society to bring free legal counsel to low-income community members, who cannot afford to retain an attorney. The Legal Aid society provides legal advice and represents individuals with civil cases involving health, shelter and safety, economics and education, and access to justice.This year we took the next step; we introduced a new program, the Free Legal Aid Clinic. The clinic is open to low-income community members, who are invited to consult with legal experts on topics including debtor/creditor issues, foreclosures, bankruptcy, eviction, family law, social security, SSI, Medicaid and probate matters. The Legal Aid Clinic will be in session quarterly each year, and is open by appointment to individuals in need. WIC Office: WIC is a government program designed to support the nutritional needs of women, infants, and children in low-income households. In partnership with Gesher, the Cuyahoga County WIC Program opened an office in South Euclid to serve the needs of our community. Since the WIC office opening in June, 2016, the average number of participants receiving services at our WIC office has been 202 per month. In January 2017, services were provided to 330 women, infants and children, the highest number yet. Each month has shown an increase, which is a striking exception to what is being experienced locally, statewide or nationally in WIC programs. Once again, Gesher has provided a vital service to our Cleveland community. Utility Aid: Gesher is proud to offer two seasonal aid programs, the Summer Crises Program and the Winter Crises Program. These programs connect families to the funds they need for relief from severe heat and cold. We are also pleased to announce our new partnership with CEOGC, which has granted Gesher access to its system portal. Now, families in need of utility aid can have applications completed and expedited right here at our Gesher office in just one day, a process that without Gesher would have taken weeks and entailed a burdensome process. This new option is just one more way Gesher connects help to those who need it most. 21
Looking at our numbers from 2016, it doesn’t take much to connect the dots: Gesher is changing lives every single day.
$1,800
S AV E D, P E R Y E A R F O R E A C H C O U P L E PA RT I C I PAT I N G I N O U R OSHIIIP PROGRAM
$58,876 IN UTILITY AID
100 %
OF OUR OSHIIIP PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WOULD RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM TO A FRIEND
$1,120,000 I N
M E D I C A I D
$891,936 I N O B TA I N E D M E D I C A I D R E N E WA L S
$20,000 I N C H I L D C A R E A S S I S TA N C E
B E N E F I T S
$65,436 IN SNAP BENEFITS
35
APPOINTMENTS S C H E D U L E D D A I LY AT T H E SOUTH EUCLID WIC OFFICE
From our vast network of life-changing connections, there’s only one piece missing; you. You can make a difference by helping Gesher help others. By partnering with Gesher, you are joining a dynamic team of doers that is committed to a mission of helping others. Your gift to Gesher allows us to sustain our existing programs and activities, and create evolving solutions for our community’s needs. M A K E T H E C O N N E C T I O N . C O M M I T T O H E L P I N G G E S H E R T O D AY. You can make your tax deductible donation either online at: https://pay.banquest.com/gesher or mail your check (written to Gesher) to: Gesher, 2120 South Green Rd. Suite 1, South Euclid OH 44121
PA RT N E R S
23
216.862.4599 | info@geshercleveland.org
|
www.geshercleveland.org