Jewish Family Service has worked toward achieving our vision for a community in which no person faces life’s challenges alone. And we’ve done that by offering an extensive range of programs focusing on our three main areas of service:
Our staff, many of whom are bilingual, makes it possible for us to support the significant number of residents from the former Soviet Union. And with the partnership of countless donors and volunteers, we’re able to assist thousands of community members each year.
Inspired by the wisdom and values of Jewish tradition, we stengthen lives through compassionate service.
At Jewish Family Service, our goal is to maintain the safety and dignity of the older adults we serve, while also alleviating the strain of caregiving on family members. We do this by providing services that allow older adults to live in the comfort of their own homes, such as transportation, home care, friendly visitors, care management and others, depending upon individual circumstances. In addition, we assist Holocaust survivors by ensuring their needs are being met with the sensitivity crucial to this community.
My husband’s life depends on the dialysis he receives three times a week. As neither of us can drive, we rely on JFS transportation. I consider them just as crucial to prolonging his life as the doctors treating him.
When it comes to building a compassionate community for individuals and families facing mental health problems, Jewish Family Service takes a multi-faceted approach. Our licensed staff work directly with those facing challenges and difficult life transitions. And they provide a variety of mental health and suicide prevention trainings to ensure that a growing number of people are able to respond effectively and compassionately to those in our community who may be struggling.
The wraparound services provided by JFS enabled me to cross the shaky rope bridge from the life I once lived to the life I am meant to live. There are no words to express my profound gratitude for the support I have received. May you continue to gift others with a sense of dignity and intrinsic worth through the services you provide.
It doesn’t take much for us to go from having our life on track to derailment—any of us can suddenly find ourselves facing unemployment, a disabling medical issue, or unexpected expenses. When life happens, Jewish Family Service’s supportive team of social workers helps by creating a customized plan that makes sure basic needs such as food, housing, and medical necessities are being met. Our health care navigators work to ensure that everyone has access to health insurance.
Through the most difficult times, you were there to encourage and guide us. That we still have a home, a car, medical benefits and food is due in great part to your assistance and amazing ability to locate resources for just about anything.
If you need help now, contact the JFS Resource Center at 248.592.2313 or resourcecenter@jfsdetroit.org
Sally & Graham Orley and Suzanne & Joseph Orley Building 6555 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 25900 Greenfield Road, Suite 405, Oak Park, MI 48237 248.592.2300 • jfsdetroit.org
Compassion is key as Jewish Family Service works to maintain the safety and dignity of the older adults we serve. Our offerings are designed to help community members live in the comfort of their own homes while also alleviating the strain of caregiving on family members. We do this by providing: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY We are able to provide free wearable call buttons that send for assistance when pressed, making it possible for older adults to safely age in place. Other assistive aids are also available, including medication dispensers and sensors for stoves, doors and floors. Eligibility requirements must be met. CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT For community members with a chronic medical condition, our Certified Health Coaches work one-on-one to help provide insight, tools, and motivation to work toward making healthy behavior changes. For those who prefer a group setting, our trained facilitators lead classes that cover behavioral topics, such as goal setting and mindfulness, as well as health related education, to help participants manage their health. ELDERCARE SOLUTIONS OF MICHIGAN Our 24/7 fee-for-service geriatric care management team conducts assessments, provides family consultations, helps in crisis situations and provides ongoing support. Help is available as a one-time meeting or as intensive ongoing assistance, including medical advocacy, caregiver education and coordination, as well as dementia support. FRIENDLY VISITORS Volunteers provide companionship and support for homebound older adults with weekly or biweekly visits, either at the client’s home or destinations such as lunch, shopping or other activities.
Jewish Family Service • 248.592.2313 • jfsdetroit.org
GERIATRIC CARE MANAGEMENT We work to identify the needs of older adults, such as physical safety, nutrition, cognition, social wellness, and medical concerns, as well as legal and financial situations. Care managers create a customized plan of care and assist with housing issues, basic needs, financial assistance and more. HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE Our expert care managers bring the sensitivity necessary for this group’s unique needs in order to serve the more than 400 survivors in the metro Detroit area. We help with indemnification and restitution claims, home care, friendly visitors, translation, and emergency financial assistance, among other services. HOME CARE A service plan based on the needs of each individual is created and may include light housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, errands, personal care, meal preparation and respite for family caregivers. KOSHER MEALS ON WHEELS We partner with the National Council of Jewish Women to provide access to home-delivered, nutritious kosher meals to older adults. MIND UNIVERSITY Our cognitive wellness initiative, in partnership with JVS Human Services, provides education, training and support on brain health and aging-related issues for both healthy individuals and those who may have cognitive impairment. The program includes monthly workshops, community presentations, 12-week Mind Aerobics cognitive training classes and family consultations to address caregiver issues. TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION Our Russian language translators provide interpreting services at medical appointments and written translation for legal documents, personal correspondence and more. TRANSPORTATION Licensed and insured drivers offer door-through-door assistance to older adults who would otherwise be unable to run errands or attend medical appointments, religious services or social activities.
To learn how we can help, please contact JFS at 248.592.2313 or resourcecenter@jfsdetroit.org
Sometimes a perfect storm of life challenges can leave someone—anyone—in a dire situation. So when life happens, whether it’s unemployment, disabling health issues, or unexpected expenses, Family Support Services at Jewish Family Service helps by ensuring that basic needs are being met. Our social workers will help you develop and implement a customized plan to make life manageable again. Your plan may include: BASIC NEEDS Social workers link individuals and families with financial resources when they are facing challenging times. Community resources are fully explored to meet the most basic of needs. If these options are not enough, JFS financial assistance can be provided for eligible clients and may include:
•Food assistance •Transportation assistance •Shelter expenses
•Utility assistance •Eviction/foreclosure prevention
DOMESTIC ABUSE INTERVENTION We offer counseling and education with a goal toward empowering individuals to create safety in their interpersonal relationships through services such as crisis intervention, secured housing, counseling, transition planning, and access to legal and medical support. HEALTH CARE NAVIGATION JFS assists all community members with accessing health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Anyone can sign up during open enrollment, but those facing qualifying life events can apply during a special enrollment period. We can also assist qualifying individuals and families in applying for Medicaid throughout the year. Jewish Family Service • 248.592.2313 • jfsdetroit.org
HOUSING RESOURCES Options for affordable housing are limited in our region. JFS social workers help explore available resources by:
•Identifying housing resources •Assisting with the application process for subsidized housing •Helping secure documentation required for government housing programs •Providing support during the housing search LEGAL REFERRAL SERVICE The JFS Legal Referral Service was created to help clients* facing tough economic times to obtain legal consultation and possible representation. Whether making a simple phone call or letter or filing a lawsuit, the lawyers who volunteer their time have expertise spanning many specialties, including:
•Family law •Probate •Debt resolution •Landlord/tenant issues •Elder law •Bankruptcy •Real estate •Tax law * The Legal Referral Service is available only to those currently being served by Jewish Family Service, and is contingent upon the availability of our volunteer attorneys. As you may qualify for other services, please contact us to see how we may be of assistance.
PUBLIC BENEFITS ENROLLMENT JFS works with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that community members can access benefits for which they qualify. Our social workers assist in setting up MI Bridges benefit accounts and applying for:
•Adult home help •Child care subsidy •Food assistance
•Cash assistance •Medical assistance •Eviction and utilities assistance
To learn how we can help, please contact JFS at 248.592.2313 or resourcecenter@jfsdetroit.org
Mental health and wellness takes many forms. So Jewish Family Service offers many solutions. From counseling and mentoring to training workshops and healthy lifestyle education, we strive to support our community members so they may live their healthiest and happiest life. These supports include: A SINGLE SOUL The vision of Rabbi Daniel Syme, Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Beth El, A Single Soul works to prevent suicide by providing critical trainings to community members. These trainings, which are available to teens and adults and vary in length of program, include safeTALK (half-day), ASIST (2-day) and Reach For Hope (3-day). Suicide To Hope (1-day) is designed for professionals. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NAVIGATION Finding the right mental health professional for your child can be overwhelming. Our Behavioral Health Navigator can connect you with the most appropriate treatment resources available and guide you every step of the way until you find exactly what your child needs. CANCER THRIVERS NETWORK FOR JEWISH WOMEN Dedicated to enriching and empowering Jewish women through activities, friendship, resources, education, advocacy and humor, the Network welcomes women who have been diagnosed with any kind of cancer at any time in their lives.
Jewish Family Service • 248.592.2313 • jfsdetroit.org
COUNSELING Individual, couple, family, and group counseling is provided by licensed psychotherapists to help children, teens and adults through difficult life transitions. We also offer psychiatric evaluation and medication management to those receiving counseling at JFS. COMMUNITY EDUCATION A safe, healthy and inclusive community is one in which the different needs, issues and abilities of its members are understood and respected. JFS professionals are available to provide education, facilitate support groups and advise on advocacy strategies on a variety of topics. DOMESTIC ABUSE ADVOCACY Our advocacy and educational efforts of this critical community issue include the Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA), a network of more than 40 community agencies, and 100 Mensches, a group of men in our community working to raise awareness of this issue. MENTOR CONNECTION This unique program matches volunteer adult mentors with Oakland County youth (ages 7-17) who can benefit from the support and guidance that comes from this critical relationship. Matched based on similar interests, hobbies and geographic location, mentors and mentees spend time together participating in activities they both enjoy.
To learn how we can help, please contact JFS at 248.592.2313 or resourcecenter@jfsdetroit.org