Tamir from Ottawa, ON in Canada is the Network's newest member agency!

Tamir is a proud and caring team of participants, families, volunteers and professionals dedicated to assisting people with developmental disabilities realize their potential in a supportive Jewish environment through opportunities for personal growth and community involvement. Join the Network in welcoming Tamir!

Cindy Smith joins the Asheville community by way of Seal Beach, CA. She served in various roles for JFFS, most recently as the Director of Community Engagement. Cindy's passion for engaging and supporting underserved communities and helping those who are most critically in need is what landed her on the doorstep of JFFS in 2013. She spearheaded the efforts of a new department, focusing her work on team leadership, and program development and fundraising for families with young children, young professionals, Holocaust survivors and community in crisis. Learn more about Smith here.

NJHSA is expanding its staffing and is seeking applicants for the following newly established full-time positions:

Letters of interest and resumes should be directed to HR@networkjhsa.org.

Both positions are structured as remote.

Applications will be accepted through the close of business on April 30, 2021. Learn more here.

Click here to access vaccine education materials translated into multiple languages, including Russian. Materials include pamphlets from the CDC regarding the vaccine written to reassure individuals who are considering the vaccine in addition to a communication toolkit.

Learn more here.

Tricia Stern, LCSW, MPH developed and implemented a survey, on behalf of NJHSA to learn of programs and services provided by Network agencies that are designed to serve youth and young adults. Learn more here.

Join Tricia and learn more.

RespectAbility, the disability advocacy organization and an NJHSA member agency, will launch a video series today consisting of 14 interviews, each asking the question, “What do you pray for?” of Jews with various disabilities, the organization’s president, Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, told eJewishPhilanthropy. The filmmaker, Ben Rosloff, is on the Autism spectrum, and the interviewees include nursery school teacher Amy Rosenfeld-Kass, professor Brendan Stern and actress Samantha Elisofon. Watch the video series on their website.

Jewish Family & Children's Service of Minneapolis's The Caregivers Conference is designed to support caregivers and let them know that they are not alone on their journey. For caregivers, family members, lay leaders, clergy and professionals, the event provides practical approaches for caregiving, tactics to “take care of” the caregiver, plus educational and research updates about dementia. The conference also provides information about community resources that are available. Learn more and sign up here.

Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta and The Wellness Institute invite the community to a virtual live interview with Gary Gulman of the HBO Comedy Special, The Great Depresh, interviewed by Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention about his personal struggle with depression and anxiety. Learn more and sign up here.

JFS Houston is please tp share a new FREE training opportunity that empowers local disability organizations like yours to increase disability inclusion in local emergency planning. The Prepared4ALL: Whole Community Inclusive Emergency Planning course builds knowledge and skills related to the emergency planning process and partnership-building. Learn more here. 

NJHSA recently provided feedback to the US Department of Agriculture in response to the COVID relief Farmers to Families Food Box Program, urging USDA to consider religious dietary restrictions and food safety and transport issues as it plans to spend $1.5 billion for future programs. NJHSA submitted its own letter here and participated in the United Fresh Produce Association working group with over 100 other participants, including JFS San Diego. View the letter here.

The federal government is committed to ensuring that disability is a key element in advancing racial and social equity for all. And the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and the Women's Bureau invite you to share your ideas for how we can promote equity in employment by joining a national online dialogue on advancing racial and social equity in employment for people with disabilities beginning April 12th. Learn more here.

The Jewish Changemakers Fellowship is a 3-week online global leadership development experience for Jewish leaders, 20-24 years old, looking for valuable career development, networking, and ​one of the best summers of their lives. Changemakers pays a $350 stipend for those who complete the program requirements (approx.12 hours/week). Two sessions offered: June 7-24 and July 12-29. After the summer, Fellows have access to ongoing leadership opportunities and professional mentoring. To learn more, check out the FAQ’s or email info@jewishchangemakers.org. 

The IRS has extended the tax filing deadline until May 17th and recent changes to critical tax credit programs mean incredible benefits for those most in need in our community, including families and low-income working adults. Join NJHSA and JFNA on to learn how to help your clients claim the recently expanded Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, in partnership with United Way Worldwide and the Internal Revenue Service. Register here.

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In the activity Let's Discover Israel, children join Gili on an interactive tour around Israel, learning fun facts about 7 different places in the country. At the end of the journey, they can test their memory with a fun quiz. Before heading off to explore the country, they learn about the declaration of the State from David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister. Afterward, they can choose to go on the journey or jump straight to the quiz, allowing them to tailor their experience with the activity. After the quiz, students have the chance to explore the map and the fun facts again at their own pace. Children also develop a geographical sense of the country. The map is a repeating motif, each time showing the city or region in its location on the map. Learn more here.

Please join us for our live Introduction to COA webinars this month. This webinar provides an introduction to the Council on Accreditation (COA) and our accreditation process. It is perfect for anyone seeking accreditation for the first time, interested in what is required to become accredited, or mandated to become accredited by state or federal legislation (such as the Family First Prevention Services Act). Participants will gain an understanding of the key concepts that define COA, the steps toward becoming accredited, and the benefits of accreditation. There will also be a Q&A portion for us to answer any questions you might have.

There are many things we all can do to nurture ourselves, reinforce our strength, and continue to thrive. Connecting with others is one of the most important—it plays a vital role in our health and well-being, and in that of our communities. Access the materials here.