Did You Know?
Since the outbreak of the pandemic in March and the subsequent wave of shutdown orders, NJHSA has provided 153 calls and webinars providing expert resources and support for 3,857 professionals and lay leaders to guide them through this crisis. Please encourage your colleagues and board members to
join the NJHSA distribution list
to receive invitations for ongoing COVID-19 offerings.
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JFS of Greater Hartford Welcomes
Katherine Hanley as CEO
After over 25 years of stellar leadership, Anne Danaher retired as
Jewish Family Service of Greater Hartford's
CEO. Katherine Hanley recently assumed the position.
Since 2013, Hanley has been employed at Oak Hill, Connecticut’s largest private provider of services to people with disabilities, based in Hartford. Since 2015, Hanley has served as the Senior Director of Oak Hill Centers, where she has substantially grown and managed eight of Oak Hill’s specialized community-based programs across five locations. Prior to joining Oak Hill, Hanley held several positions at the Charter Oak Cultural Center, where she stewarded nationally recognized arts programs for over 1,000 inner-city youth. Hanley holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from UCONN with a focus on social work administration, a graduate certificate in nonprofit management, and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy with a minor in women’s studies, from UMASS – Amherst.
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Will COVID-19 Halt the Rise in Life Expectancy?
Originally featured in the Jerusalem Post print and
online
editions on July 5, 2020.
As of 2018, life expectancy in Israel was 83 years, of which 74 years, on average, were lived in good health. Global life expectancy, especially in Western society, has been climbing steeply and steadily. Until the early 18th century, life expectancy was only approximately 40 years. This was primarily because health systems throughout the world were not advanced, epidemics and chronic diseases resulted in high mortality rates, antibiotics and vaccines had yet to be developed, and nutrition was poor.
Continue reading here
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NJHSA Center for Innovation and Research Announces Plans for Year Two of the NJHSA Jewish Poverty Challenge
To accommodate the rapid pace of service responses developed by NJHSA member agencies in a short amount of time and the critical need to innovate, the
Network’s Center for Innovation and Research
has modified the NJHSA Jewish Poverty Challenge program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jewish Poverty Challenge will be restructured in Year Two to provide assistance to a much larger number of NJHSA member agencies.
All NJHSA member agencies will be able to access relevant content in the form of webinars, shared content and a social innovation toolkit. In addition, up to ten (10) agencies will have the opportunity to qualify for monthly one-on-one assistance and guidance from the consultant team at
Start Co
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Your Input is Needed for International Survey on COVID-19 and Impact on Services for Persons with Disabilities
ACCSES
, the
YAI Organization
, and the
National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices
are collaborating on a national survey of provider organizations to determine what you and others are facing with respect to dealing with the requirement to continue to provide safe services for individuals with disabilities under the COVID-19 situation. We are asking for your help in providing critical information related to your experience and challenges with providing services during the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic to Access, a Network partner. We understand that this unique situation has left many of you without guidance and has raised many unanswered questions. This is a confidential survey, and responses will not be identified to any individual or organization.
Learn more and please participate here by July 17th
.
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The Israel Trauma Coalition Webinar Series -
Coping with COVID Trauma: Supporting the Elderly
In this session we will explore the challenges and psychological needs of the elderly and their families during COVID 19. We will review principles of online/phone-call based emotional support including identification of stress reaction and emotional first aid. Participants will receive practical tools for coping and resources for supporting the senior population during COVID-19.
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VISION 2020 WEBINARS
Mobile Food Pantry
**PLENARY**
A Call to Action: Strategies for Jewish Human Service Agencies to Support and Strengthen Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Bringing Diversity to Your Agency's Board
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Mobile Food Pantry
NJHSA Pillar Innovation Award Winner
Wednesday, July 15th | 1pm ET |
REGISTER
JFCS Mercer County
has offered a "Healthy Choice" Kosher brick and mortar food pantry at their location on Alexander Road for the past twenty years, allowing economically disenfranchised, food insecure clients to shop and select their food. In 2018, JFCS expanded the reach of their food pantry by taking it "on the road" and creating Healthy@Home, a program for low-income, homebound seniors. Healthy@Home supplements hot Kosher meals delivered by volunteers to the homes of isolated, homebound, low-income seniors, with fresh produce, refrigerated fresh and frozen foods, and specialty food items based on dietary needs and allergies. Several of these clients had previously been food pantry clients and as they have aged in place, are now homebound. The program was developed in response to those survey comments that spoke of limited mobility to walk grocery aisles, carry bags up several flights of stairs, and an inability to prepare and cook foods.
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**PLENARY**
A Call to Action: Strategies for Jewish Human Service Agencies to Support and Strengthen Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Wednesday, July 22nd | 1pm ET |
REGISTER
The global refugee crisis is at an all time high. Public sentiment for refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers is polarized. And 2020-21 will, one way or another, present dramatic new opportunities for faith based agencies, like the members of our Network, to think globally while acting locally on this issue. Presenters will offer concrete strategies for our membership, as faith-based human service agencies, to
collaborate, mobilize and become engaged as leaders in their communities providing critical education, advocacy and service delivery.
Using the City of Dallas as an example, Rabbi Nancy Kasten, community educator, volunteer, activist and Co-Chair,
Faith Forward Dallas
will frame our conversation by sharing the ways in which the faith community of Dallas has come together to increase their impact as refugee advocates and as service providers. Rabbi Kasten will then facilitate a conversation to highlight the NJHSA response with Mark Hetfield, Elise Herzig, and Cathy Barker.
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Bringing Diversity to Your Agency's Board
Sponsored by the NJHSA Lay Leadership Affinity Group
This webinar will review key research findings related to diversity and inclusion practices on today’s boards of directors; explore what it means for a Jewish agency to diversify its board and discuss strategies for accomplishing diversification while retaining both the Jewish nature of the agency and the support of the Jewish community. The session will include a conversation with the Board Chair of JVS Boston, an NJHSA member agency that has pursued this issue within their board structure.and will share lessons learned from that process.
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HOW TO ACCESS NETWORK CALLS/WEBINARS & RESOURCES
Access registration links for affinity groups calls and webinars and resources (including COVID) in the Members Only section of the NJHSA website.
- Visit the Members Only section https://www.networkjhsa.org/members-only
- Login. Please email Megan for logins.
- Select the page Calls & Webinars for registration links or the Resource Library for materials.
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NETWORK SPONSORED COVID-19 WEBINARS
International Jewish Human Service Responses to COVID-19
When Sheltering in Place is Not Safe: The Impact of COVID-19 on Domestic Victims
Headway - The 3-in-one model for
Poverty Alleviation
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International Jewish Human Service Responses to COVID-19
Wednesday, July 15th | 11am ET |
REGISTER
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When Sheltering in Place is Not Safe: The Impact of COVID-19 on Domestic Victims
This webinar will focus on domestic abuse victims and how COVID-19 has impacted them and their children. Sheltering in place has not been easy for victims of domestic abuse as their homes are not a safe place and the additional stressors of the pandemic have increased abuse and victimization. We will explore these issues and discuss how clinicians are impacted.
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Headway - The 3-in-one Model for Poverty Alleviation
Hosted by the Emergency Financial Assistance & Case Management Professionals Affinity Group
In this webinar,
Headway
leadership and trainers will share their multidimensional model that fosters financial autonomy and healthy family dynamics in impoverished families. The webinar will present the working tools and training program for Headway case managers that have proven to address the needs of 1000s of families in Israel.
For any questions, contact
Gila Ashkenazy
.
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Partnering With Election Officials for
Voter Registration Success
Do you know your local election experts? Over the years, some of our most successful voter registration events have involved collaboration with --and learning from-- local election officials. With COVID-19 throwing voter registration and voting for a loop this year, accessing the expertise of America’s local election officials has never been more important! Participate in this inaugural webinar of the National Voter Registration Day 2020 season, where we'll be organizing a primer for National Voter Registration Day participants on how to work with local election officials for a successful voter registration event on September 22nd and beyond.
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HIAS Statement on Proposed Changes to the U.S. Asylum System
HIAS just released an
action alert
in response to the recently released, proposed regulations that would truly dismantle the U.S. asylum system. The Network is encouraging as many people and organizations as possible to submit comments explaining why these rules are so deeply objectionable and why we instead support a fair and humane asylum system that is based on the rule of law.
All
comments must be submitted by July 15th
.
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Senior SNAP Enrollment Benefits
The NCOA Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative is a national program that fights senior hunger by supporting efforts by community-based organizations and agencies to assist older adults (i.e., age 60 and over) in applying for and enrolling in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This initiative is supported by a generous grant from the Walmart Foundation.
Learn more here
.
The deadline for intent is Wednesday, July 15th
.
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Ongoing Summer Opportunities
#Summer5780 is a digital platform for people to discover virtual opportunities for all ages and life stages, offered by all types of Jewish organizations, all curated by
JewishTogether
. The marketplace is easily searchable to show both free and paid opportunities across the entire spectrum of Jewish organizations this summer. It will be updated every few days, all summer.
Are you looking for a meaningful summer program that aligns with your interests? Check out the #Summer5780 Marketplace and find the program that's perfect for you.
JewishTogether.org/Summer5780
#JewishTogether
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Jewish Communal Health Agency Survey
Thank you for the heroic work you and your agencies are doing during this difficult time to sustain your operations and continue caring for your clients and patients, particularly the most vulnerable populations you serve. Since the pandemic's onset, JFNA has been advocating for critical federal policy changes to assist your work, such as emergency provider relief funding for both Medicare and Medicaid providers to help cover revenue losses and rising costs, increases in federal dollars for Medicaid by raising the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, and coverage for audio-only telehealth in Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance.
To aid in our continued advocacy efforts, JFNA would greatly appreciate your responses to the key questions in our brief survey.
Please click here to learn more and access the survey
.
Kindly complete the survey by July 10th
.
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Supporting Family Caregivers of Older Adults through Times of Stress and Isolation
More than 34 million individuals in the U.S. provide unpaid care for an older adult, including many who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Due to COVID-19, caregivers of older adults may be experiencing new challenges and others may be new to caregiving responsibilities. The emotional, physical, and financial impact of caregiving can lead to stress, depression, anxiety, and other health problems. Providers and health plan staff can play key roles in supporting caregivers, particularly during this time of isolation. Topics discussed will include supporting caregivers with depression; assisting caregivers who live apart from their loved ones; addressing caregiver grief; and engaging caregivers virtually.
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The ADA and IPS-Supported Employment: Improving the Working Lives of People with Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders
Wednesday, July 29th | 2pm ET |
REGISTER
The statistics are staggering. According to the
2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
, approximately 9.2 million adults are living with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. The Harvard Medical School's Harvard Health Blog notes in its article “
Working on Addiction in the Workplace
" that over 22 million Americans are currently in recovery from alcohol and other drug use disorders. The article further states that more than 70% of individuals who actively use alcohol or drugs continue to function on the job.
Learn more here
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International Research on Telehealth for Allied Health Professionals
If you are a physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech and language therapist, this survey is for you! Beit Issie Shapiro has embarked on an international study to examine how allied health professionals are adapting and managing their professional practice to address their clients' needs since the outbreak of COVID-19. The purpose of the study is to learn about the advantages, difficulties, adjustment and needs of therapists, in order to develop training, guidelines and supports to assure best practice.
Contact Beit Issie Shapiro here with questions
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FUNDING
Corporation for National and Community Service
2021 RSVP Competition
CNCS
seeks to compete multiple geographic service areas to identify sponsoring organizations for RSVP programs. RSVP offers a diverse range of volunteer activities that serve communities to create measurable impact, benefit volunteers through the service experience, and create community capacity. Institutions of higher education. State governments. County governments. Native American tribal governments. City or township governments. Nonprofits. Native American tribal organizations. Institutions of higher education.
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CALLS & WEBINARS
AFFINITY GROUP CALLS & CHECK-IN CHATS
Monday, July 13th
- COO Affinity Group Call | 3:30pm ET | REGISTER
Tuesday, July 14th
- Human Resource Professionals Group Call | 1pm ET
- Pop Up Discussion on Jewish Free Burial Programs | 2:30pm ET
Wednesday, July 15th
- CEO/COO Check In Chats | 11am ET & 4pm ET
Monday, July 20th
- Small Agency Executives Group Call | 1pm ET
Tuesday, July 21st
- Development Professionals Group Call | 1pm ET
- Older Adult Service Professionals Group Call | 2:30pm ET
Wednesday, July 22nd
- CEO/COO Check In Chats | 11am ET & 4pm ET
Thursday, July 23rd
- Emergency Financial Assistance & Case Management Professionals Group Call | 2pm ET
Wednesday, July 29th
- Volunteer Professionals Group Call | 1:30pm ET
- Programming & Educational Outreach Professionals Group Calls | 3pm ET
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Affinity Groups are for designed for member agency professionals and lay leaders. Others interested are encouraged to contact
Megan
.
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** Recorded calls and presentations can be found
in the Members Only section of the NJHSA website
in the Resource Library. **
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** NEW OPPORTUNITIES ADDED REGULARLY **
Working for a Jewish human service agency is a highly rewarding career.
A listing of open positions at member agencies can be found
here
.
Member agencies are welcome to post career opportunities with the Network
as a benefit of membership. Positions will be posted for 90 days.
Non-members may post positions for 60 days for a fee. Email
Megan
to learn more.
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