Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County
Agency Description

Jewish Family Services (JFS) is a nonprofit social service agency serving the people of Washtenaw County for over fourteen years. JFS offers a variety of services to the public, including:

Older Adult Services
JFS helps older adults maintain their independence and enhance their involvement with the community. Geriatric social workers provide care management, assessment, short-term counseling, home visits, crisis intervention, patient advocacy (through the Advocacy Connection program), information, and referrals for older adults and their families. Volunteers provide friendly visiting and telephone reassurance to homebound seniors, as well as accompaniment to medical appointments through the “Patient Partners” program. JFS also provides a range of social, educational, and cultural programming for seniors, including workshops, presentations, and holiday celebrations.

Caregiver Support Services
The JFS “Caregiver Concierge” program assists adult children caring for aging parents in navigating the complex terrain of caregiving. This program provides both emotional and instrumental support to adult child caregivers through an extensive menu of services including information and referrals, facilitated introductions, monthly “Caregiver Conversations” support groups, and educational workshops.

New American Services
The New American Community Club assists foreign-born older adults in accessing social and medical services, offers direct psychological support and promotes the process of acculturation and integration of older adult immigrants into the larger community through a variety of support and social services.

Transportation
The JFS CareVan helps clients to maintain their independence and self-sufficiency by providing rides to locations within the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area. Available to anyone over the age of 62 or disabled, the JFS CareVan transports older adults to medical appointments, social outings, or on errands. The CareVan features a wheelchair lift and seating for ten.

Social Services
JFS provides case management, crisis intervention and information, assessment and referrals to appropriate agencies for issues such as housing, mental health, financial support, employment and adoption.

Mental Health Services
JFS offers mental health assessments, short-term counseling and referrals to mental health providers, as well as on-going support to individuals and families. JFS also offers group forums to identify and discuss mental health concerns, including the Depression Awareness workshop each spring.

ElderLink
In lieu of a dedicated Jewish senior housing facility, ElderLink offers independent, assisted living, and nursing homes, as well as home care agencies, the tools and ability to meet the needs of Jewish seniors. The JFS ElderLink Network is a group of senior residential facilities and home care agencies that are committed to providing culturally competent care for their Jewish clients. By joining ElderLink, these facilities and agencies receive from JFS: training for staff and caregivers on Jewish culture, history, holidays, and the unique needs of Jewish older adults; two totes full of decorative and functional Judaica items to be used in Jewish celebrations and daily observance; an informational manual; a bi-monthly newsletter; assistance from JFS with Jewish holiday celebrations; a choice of Jewish social, educational, and cultural programs to be held at their facility; and more.

Resettlement Services
The Ann Arbor area’s Jewish community is home to more than 600 refugees from the former Soviet Union. Each year, JFS helps resettle new immigrants, providing pre-arrival, reception and placement services, assistance in finding housing and household furnishings, developing English language skills, accessing medical care, and training for and finding employment. Comprehensive English as a Second Language classes, employment counseling and related services are available to all non-English speakers in Washtenaw County.

Employment and Career Services
JFS assists individuals in Washtenaw County, both English and non-English speakers, in their search for employment. JFS provides help with job readiness, resumé preparation, job search skills, and other support services. English as a Second Language classes, job counseling, vocational skills assessment, translation and other vocational services provided.

Volunteer Services
You can make a difference, use your skills and talents, and enjoy a rewarding experience through the JFS Volunteer Program. Volunteers perform an important role in fulfilling the agency’s mission of service to the community. Flexible opportunities are available to volunteers of all ages, from young teens to older adults. There are opportunities to volunteer once a week, once a month or once a year, depending on your schedule. Opportunities include: