Dear Friend,
This week, many of us are preparing for Passover, a holiday that typically celebrates family and freedom. In 2021, the holiday marks one year of COVID constraints, and I am reminded of the many ways that forced isolation is a constraint on both our physical and psychological freedom.
This year, JF&CS is marking Passover with specialized seders for those suffering the most from this isolation—older adults, people with mental illness, and those with disabilities. By coming together as a community, we gain some measure of connection, give voice to our aspirations, and chart our own course to freedom despite the pandemic.
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As another means of combatting the stress of this year, JF&CS is pleased to introduce a new service to help people practice proven techniques to manage stress and anxiety. Path to Well-Being is a no-cost Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program, accessible virtually via laptop, smartphone, or tablet. This program—launched in partnership with McLean Hospital and Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP)—offers practical training to improve our own mental health, and includes weekly coaching from trained experts. Check out our interview with Elysse Nava, LICSW to learn more about this exciting new program.
As we do every year, this Passover JF&CS will also partner with CJP and other Jewish agencies to deliver hundreds of seder meals to those in need. Our heartfelt thanks to the legion of volunteers who will make those deliveries and bring joy and relief to so many members of our community.
For those who celebrate Passover, I wish you a happy and safe celebration. And to all, let us hope and pray that we will soon be celebrating all of our holidays together with those we love.
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Gail Schulman
Chief Executive Officer
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Elysse Nava, LICSW,
Director, Community Resources and Mental Health Supports
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Taking steps to address the mental health crisis: A conversation with Elysse Nava about Mental Health Connect and Path to Well-Being.
Elysse Nava is the caring expert on the other end of the line (or email) for Mental Health Connect and Path to Well-Being. Elysse plays a vital role in the community, holding people’s hands as they navigate a wide range of mental health challenges, and helping them take their first step towards the support they need. In this brief Q&A, Elysse explains these new programs, and talks a little about the significant need they address.
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Infant Parent Training Institute (IPTI) Speaker Series: Examining Implicit Bias Embedded in our Developmental Science |
This presentation will explore the dominant culture biases within the science and practice of infant mental health. We will reflectively examine our universal standard against the experience of BIPOC* communities as caregivers and parents prepare their children for the inequities of systemic racism.
Speaker, Barbara Stroud, PhD is a renowned trainer, consultant, author, co-founding organizer of CalAIMH and an experienced graduate level faculty member. She is particularly passionate about the unique needs of children of color in the mental health and foster care systems. She has an impressive history of working across infant and early childhood systems to integrate developmental models, culturally respectful services within a relationship-based framework. Dr. Stroud remains steadfast in her mission to ‘change the world – one relationship at a time’.
DATE: Friday, May 14, 2021
TIME: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. EDT (9:00 - 10:00 a.m. PDT)
COST: $30
This IPTI Speaker Series event is open to the general public.
*Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
JF&CS is a leader in infant mental health, with programs that serve hundreds of families, and partnerships with nationally-known hospitals and community providers. Deeply committed to linking state-of-the-art knowledge with high quality service delivery, we offer integrated clinical and theoretical training in infant mental health through the Infant-Parent Training Institute (IPTI). |
Navigating the System: Practical Advice for Families of Children with Special Needs |
The Power of Partnership: Elementary and Middle School
Thursday, March 25, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Expanding Independence: High School Years and Transition to Adult Services
Thursday, April 29, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
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Music and Moods, Music Therapy Group for People with Mental Health Diagnoses
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In speaking with individuals who identify as having a mental illness, we identified a need for more activity-based programming that addresses mental health symptoms in a fun, engaging way. This April we will launch Music and Moods, a program where adults with mental health diagnoses can come together in music to find common ground, achieve shared goals, and discover new strengths.
Clinical research has proven that music therapy can help alleviate mental health symptoms, help treat symptoms of trauma and grief, and provide structure and a safe space to organize thoughts and behaviors. This group is led by Board-Certified Music Therapist, singer/songwriter Sarah Blacker, MT-BC.
Four week session: April 5, 12, 19, 26: 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. (via zoom)
Registration is required. To register, or for more information, please email Angela Waring at awaring@jfcsboston.org.
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Alone & Together: A community reflection on our shared journey through COVID…and beyond |
On March 13, 2021, local leaders came together through storytelling, poetry and song to mark a year of COVID, reflect on loss and resilience, and move into healing and hope for the future. If you missed the event, we invite you to experience it now.
Alone & Together was presented by Jewish Family & Children's Service in partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Brezniak Funeral Directors, Hebrew College, Massachusetts Board of Rabbis, and Temple Ohabei Shalom.
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Volunteer Shout Out:
This month we celebrate Alexa Saintfort-Canton, Tawanna Smith, Therese Fleisher and Lina Lannon, some of our newest volunteers. In addition to the challenge of starting out as Lauren & Mark Rubin Visiting Moms® in a pandemic, they all also study or work full time and have young families. Thank you for supporting so many new families in our community during this difficult year.
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Celebrating National Social Worker Month |
Social workers are essential employees who effect positive change with individuals, families, groups and entire communities. During Social Workers month, we celebrate JF&CS’s 60 social workers who share their passion, wisdom and caring with our clients. |
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Join others around the world to achieve six million steps in memory of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Walk or run, then record your steps at https://iac360.org/6m/ and share photos or videos on social media with the hashtag #6MILLIONSTEPS.
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Waltham Headquarters | Brighton | Canton | Central MA | North Shore
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