You can help support Jewish Family Service while enjoying the excitement that comes from watching professional tennis right here at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale (no need to travel to Wimbledon or Flushing, NY). JFS has teamed up with the Connecticut Open which is being held August 19-27th. If you purchase tickets using our promo code, a total of 50% of your ticket purchase will be donated back to JFS! There are a variety of matches and times/dates and schedules are available at CTOPEN.ORG.
Please remember to use our unique code in order for JFS to benefit CO16JFSNH
Visit http://www.ctopen.org/Tickets/daily_tickets/ and enter the above code when you begin to make your ticket purchase. If you prefer to purchase via phone, please call 203-776-7331 and mention our code. It’s a win, win situation.
The JFSGNH Food Pantry and Nutritional Health Center was recently awarded $53,000 in grant funding from the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA). This year’s highly competitive grant solicitation garnered 124 applications totaling nearly $6 million in requests. JFSGNH was one of just 23 organizations approved to receive part of the $1,125,000 distributed to nonprofit organizations across Connecticut.
“This funding will allow us to vastly expand our Nutritional Health and Wellness Program and provide vital social and human services and much –needed food to hundreds of our community’s most disadvantages, disenfranchised, vulnerable, and at-risk families and children, said Jonathan Garfinkle, JFS’ Executive Director and CEO. “The ultimate goal is to offer our clients the opportunity to achieve long-term stability and self-sustainability by fostering the economic, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being of the many, many additional individuals and families we will reach through this generous grant.”
According to Feed America, 13.9% of families in Greater New Haven County are currently facing food insecurity. Funding such as this will help JFSGNH to provide relief to many individuals and families. Food insecurity refers to a family’s lack of access to adequate food for an active, healthy life for all household members and limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate foods. Food insecurity may result in the need to make impossible trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing costs or medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods.
With the current state of the economy, changes in philanthropic focus and dwindling funding options, nonprofit agencies and organizations depend on private, foundation, and governmental grant funding to help enhance services and programs. Funders such as CHEFA help bridge the gap and enable agencies to provide much needed services to the communities in which they serve.
Congratulations to Princess Senu, BSW, Foster Care Case Manager, and Betsy Fiske, long time member of the JFS Board of Directors and Past President, on recently being named the 2016 Family Champions for Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven. The pair were celebrated by the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies during a reception June 9th at the New Haven Lawn Club. This award recognizes one staff member and one board member who have gone above and beyond. Please continue reading for the bios of each champion.
Princess Senu – Princess Senu started working at JFS 3 ½ years ago. As a Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) Case Manager, she has worked compassionately and effectively with children, adolescents and foster parents. Princess connects well with not only the young children and teenagers, but the families as well – and she continuously meets the many obstacles that have come her way with patience and calm – including challenging families, unusual situations and emergencies. Princess offers a wide range of talents and a great deal of flexibility to the agency as she also works in the Permanency Planning Services Program, in which the job responsibilities, service goals with clients and the paperwork are very different from those of TFC. Princess provides services to some of the most challenging clients at our agency and she does so with the gentlest of approaches. When she clocks in at 9 a.m. she never knows what the day will bring or when the day will end. However, through it all, she maintains her sense of commitment, and especially her sense of humor. She is a team player, willing to help out wherever she is needed. Princess is currently working toward her Masters in Social Work degree at Fordham University. She may be our “Princess” but most important, she is a champion to our children and families and she is now our JFS 2016 Family Champion!
Betsy Fiske – Being a Board member of a non-profit agency is a big commitment. From regular board meetings to special committees, events and fundraising – many volunteer hours are expended. Now imagine just how many hours this would amount to over the past 27 years in which Betsy Fiske has been a vital part of JFS. Betsy joined the JFS Board of Directors back in 1989 at the request of her neighbor and has never looked back. She has served in many capacities, including chairing the Fund Development Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee, the Executive Search Committee, as Vice President, and eventually serving as the JFS Board President from 1996-1998. Even after her presidency, she continued to serve by representing JFS every year on important agency committees and special projects.
She is currently serving again as an active Board Director and is the Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. In addition to her current board duties, Betsy also volunteers in the JFS Food Pantry where she greets clients, schedules appointments, answers phone calls and provides initial intakes of emergency clients. Betsy is always willing to go that extra mile to help out in whatever capacity she can, whether it be JFS Board duties or pantry help. She is empathetic, understanding and connects with clients, JFS staff and board members alike.
Betsy was born and raised in New Haven. She is a former printer and modern dancer. She has chaired the National Association of Litho Clubs Foundation for the past 35 years, awarding graphic arts scholarships to high school seniors across the country. She has a daughter, three step children, 2 grandchildren and 5 step grandchildren. In her free time, Betsy enjoys yoga and meditation and is learning to play bridge.
The JFSGNH Annual Meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at the JFSGNH Office, 1440 Whalley Avenue in New Haven. The meeting begins at 12:30 p.m. and will include a statement by Cindy Papish Gerber (outgoing President) and Jonathan Garfinkle (JFSGNH Executive Director/CEO). Installation of the new slate of officers and new directors of the board is also scheduled. The public is invited. Please RSVP to Lisa Merriman, 203-389-5599, ext. 102.
The JFSGNH Food Pantry and Nutritional Wellness Center provided Passover Assistance to more than 135 families in the Greater New Haven area. On Sunday, April 17th, B’nai B’rith Project H.O.P.E. volunteers and community members packed more than 380 bags, of which JFSGNH received 135 to distribute. The bags were filled with traditional Passover foods such as Gefilte fish, macaroons, matzoh, chamomile/mint herbal tea, matzo ball soup mix, pineapple tidbits, chocolate-covered marshmallows, apple sauce, borscht with beets, mayonnaise, tuna, oil, potatoes, cucumbers in brine, and grape juice, among other items. Each family also received a grocery store gift card to help offset the costs associated with their holiday shopping needs.
“It’s important to recognize those in our community who may not have the means to celebrate Passover,” commented Sandra Hagan, JFSGNH Food Pantry Director. “Many families may not attend a traditional Seder and working with Harold Miller of Project Hope is one way we help local families acknowledge the holiday and traditions.”
Over 260 people turned out to honor Rabbi Benjamin and Dorene Scolnic of Hamden, and Hyla and Barry Vine of Woodbridge, at Jewish Family Service of New Haven’s 75th anniversary fundraising event. The event, held March 26 at Temple Beth Sholom, was a tribute to their lifetime of contributions to the community and especially to JFSGNH. Proceeds from the event went to the JFSGNH Emergency Assistance Fund, which serves families in crisis. Pictured (left to right): Barry and Hyla Vine, JFSGNH Board President Cindy Papish Gerber, JFSGNH Executive Director Jonathan Garfinkle, and Rabbi Benjamin and Dorene Scolnic.
Don’t let your child’s progress in social skills wane over the summer months. You can help maintain and expand your child’s skills through this unique offering. Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven, Inc., is now taking registrations for a Summer Social Skills Group. This social skills program addresses the play needs and social skills deficits of children ages six to eleven years of age. Dates and times will be determined by the participants in each group. Group size is limited to 6 children. For more information or to register your child, contact Amy G. Rashba, LCSW at (203) 389-5599, ext. 113 or arashba@jfsnh.org
Social Skills Group (6-8 yrs. old) These small group sessions enable children to interact and learn new skills with a group of appropriately matched peers. Sessions include a lesson targeting identified skills, cooperative play time (crafts, games, activities) and discussions organized to practice and enhance targeted skills. A parent briefing follows each session. A parent/child interview and an intake form are required prior to registration. All children who may benefit from a social skills group are welcome to participate in these sessions.
Social Skills Group (9-11yrs. old) This small group will focus on increasing appropriate peer interactions and practicing skills related to getting along with peers and working cooperatively in a group setting. Fun social skills games and projects will provide activities to reinforce positive appropriate behaviors. A parent/child interview and an intake form are required prior to registration. All children who may benefit from a social skills group are welcome to participate in these sessions.
The JFSGNH Food Pantry has teamed up with Gateway Community College and its Allied Health Program to help educate clients on healthy and nutritious choices. Students will be stationed at the Pantry throughout this semester to meet and discuss with clients different ways to reduce sodium and sugar; how to read and understand nutritional labels; and how to make wise choices to help alleviate, or combat common illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Pictured are Nara Balbi and Michelle Taylor-Hall with their stock pot of heart healthy borscht and information regarding stroke prevention and key nutrients for health and wellness.
Congratulations to JFSGNH Adoption Coordinator Amy Rashba, LCSW, and David Ottenstein, a member of the JFSGNH Board of Directors on recently being named the 2015 Family Champions for Jewish Family Service of New Haven. The pair were celebrated by the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies during a reception June 8th at the Trumbull Marriott. This award recognizes one staff member and one board member who have gone above and beyond. Please continue reading for the bios for each champion. Continue reading “2015 ‘Family Champions’ Recipients”→
Please call 203-389-5599 x101 or email our clinical director dabbott@jfsnh.org to schedule your Discovery Call.
Congratulations to Princess Senu, BSW, Foster Care Case Manager, and Betsy Fiske, long time member of the JFS Board of Directors and Past President, on recently being named the 2016 Family Champions for Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven. The pair were celebrated by the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies during a reception June 9th at the New Haven Lawn Club. This award recognizes one staff member and one board member who have gone above and beyond. Please continue reading for the bios of each champion.