JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICE OF MINNEAPOLIS

CAREER SERVICES - SEE SCHEDULE OCAREER SERVICESCAREER SERVICES HELPED 1,535 INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND FIND MEANINGFUL WORK WITH WAGES THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS AND GOALS. IN THE PROGRAMS DESCRIBED BELOW, PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT COUNSELORS PROVIDE COMPLETE CAREER ASSISTANCE INCLUDING RESUME DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIES, INTERVIEWING SKILLS, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AND MORE. OUR PROGRAMS EMPOWER PEOPLE TO EXPLORE AND IDENTIFY THEIR VISIONS OF CAREER SUCCESS, INCLUDING ACCESS TO OR SUPPORT FOR CAREER TRAINING.CAREER COUNSELING HELPS PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, WHO ARE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE, OR WHO WANT TO SEEK A BETTER JOB. THIS SERVICE INCLUDES CAREER ASSESSMENTS WITH PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETATION, INDIVIDUAL JOB-SEARCH COACHING SESSIONS, RESUME AND COVER LETTER CRITIQUE, AND GOAL-SETTING SESSIONS TO CREATE AN INDIVIDUAL ACTION PLAN. CAREER COUNSELING INCLUDES PROJECT EM, AN INITIATIVE OF THE NETWORK FOR JEWISH HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES, THOUGH WHICH JFCS PROVIDES SERVICES TO PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED AND WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR OUR STANDARD GOVERNMENT-FUNDED PROGRAMS. WE SERVED 42 PEOPLE.THE DISLOCATED WORKER PROGRAM PROVIDES CAREER COUNSELING TO WORKERS WHO ARE LAID OFF OR HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE OF PERMANENT LAYOFF OR TERMINATION. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES CAREER COUNSELING TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE STRATEGIC DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR PROFESSIONAL FUTURES. THOSE WHO QUALIFY RECEIVE TRAINING FUNDS TO DEVELOP NEW SKILLS, UPDATE EXISTING SKILLS, OR OBTAIN REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS OR CREDENTIALS. WE SERVED 208 PEOPLE.IT PATHWAYS HELPS ENSURE THAT TWIN CITIES WORKERS HAVE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SECURE HIGH-WAGE, IN-DEMAND JOBS IN THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) INDUSTRY. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SKILL & CAREER ASSESSMENTS, JOB SKILLS TRAINING, & JOB PLACEMENT. IT PATHWAYS SUPPORTS PEOPLE TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE IT FIELD, AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOW INCOMES. IT PATHWAYS ALSO SUPPORTS LOCAL EMPLOYERS TO FILL IT JOBS. JFCS'S TRAINING PARTNERS INCLUDE PRIME DIGITAL ACADEMY, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, IT CAREER LAB, AND MN TECH FOR SUCCESS. THE IT PATHWAYS PROGRAM SERVED 146 PEOPLE. THE JFCS MINNESOTA FAMILY INVESTMENT PROGRAM (MFIP) CAREER SERVICES PROGRAM SERVES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN WITH LOW INCOMES TO MOVE TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH EMPLOYMENT. ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE AN ASSESSMENT AND AN EMPLOYMENT PLAN, WHICH OUTLINES PERSONALIZED STEPS NECESSARY TO REACH THEIR EMPLOYMENT GOAL IN ADDITION TO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR FOOD, CHILDCARE, AND HOUSING. THE MFIP PROGRAM STAFF SUPPORTED 548 PEOPLE.THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM PROVIDES PERSONALIZED SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, INCLUDING MENTAL ILLNESS AND OTHER PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DISABILITIES, WHO ARE SEEKING TO IMPROVE THEIR WORK LIVES OR FIND EMPLOYMENT. THE PROGRAM OFFERS VOCATIONAL EVALUATION, JOB PLACEMENT, WORK ADJUSTMENT TRAINING AND EXTENDED EMPLOYMENT. WE SERVED 94 PEOPLE IN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION.WE DISTRIBUTED 983 EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO 497 CAREER SERVICES CLIENTS, TOTALING $1,346,753. RECIPIENTS USED THESE FUNDS TO HELP WITH RENT, UTILITY BILLS, CAR REPAIRS, MEDICAL BILLS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, AND FOOD.

COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - SEE SCHEDULE OCOUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICESJFCS COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES' HIGHLY SKILLED, LICENSED THERAPISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND CASE MANAGERS WORK WITH CARE AND COMPASSION TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES PEOPLE FACE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. 2,891 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN COUNSELING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.COUNSELING IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE THERAPIST AND CLIENT. OUR LICENSED THERAPISTS HELP CLIENTS IDENTIFY GOALS AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE EMOTIONAL TURMOIL, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND COPING SKILLS AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT, STRENGTHEN SELF-ESTEEM, PROMOTE BEHAVIOR CHANGE, FEEL BETTER AND FUNCTION AT THEIR BEST. OUR COUNSELING SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR ADULTS, ADOLESCENTS & CHILDREN, COUPLES THERAPY, FAMILY THERAPY, PLAY THERAPY, PARENTING COACHING, A GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP AND MORE. JFCS THERAPISTS OFFER A VARIETY OF COUNSELING MODALITIES INCLUDING SPACE, FOCUSING ON CHILDREN WITH ANXIETY, DISCERNMENT THERAPY AND WALK & TALK THERAPY. CLIENTS ARE REFERRED FROM OTHER PROGRAMS WITHIN THE AGENCY, FROM OTHER AGENCIES, OR ARE SELF-REFERRED. OUR SERVICES ARE CONFIDENTIAL. WE ACCEPT MOST INSURANCE INCLUDING MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. IN 2024 MORE THAN 4,500 SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED TO 330 INDIVIDUALS.WE DISTRIBUTED 128 EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (EFA) GRANTS TOTALING $109,884. RECIPIENTS USED THESE FUNDS TO HELP WITH RENT, UTILITY BILLS, CAR REPAIRS, MEDICAL BILLS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND FOOD. THESE GRANTS ARE SEPARATE FROM, AND IN ADDITION TO, CAREER SERVICES EFA GRANTS DESCRIBED ABOVE.OUR INTAKE AND RESOURCE CONNECTION (IRC) WORKED WITH 1,888 CALLERS, PROVIDING THEM WITH REFERRALS, RESOURCES, AND EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. DEPENDING ON THE CALLERS' NEEDS, CLINICALLY TRAINED PROFESSIONAL STAFF REFER THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE PROGRAM AT JFCS OR ANOTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.THE FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM IS BUILT AROUND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PRISM, A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY THAT HOUSES A FOOD SHELF AND THRIFT STORE, AND WHICH IS CO-LOCATED IN ONE BUILDING WITH JFCS. WE PARTNER WITH PRISM TO EXTEND THE CAPACITIES OF BOTH OUR AGENCIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY. TOGETHER WE ARE EXPANDING AND RE-ENVISIONING A FOOD SHELF AS A PLACE THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDES FREE GROCERIES IN TIMES OF CRISIS BUT ALSO OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING LONG-TERM STABILITY, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND FOOD SECURITY. OUR FOOD SECURITY COORDINATOR PROVIDES OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY, HELPING CONNECT INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS, WITH NEEDED FOOD BENEFITS. WE ALSO ENGAGE IN ADVOCACY THROUGH EDUCATION AND WORKING TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY. WE ENGAGED WITH APPROXIMATELY 274 INDIVIDUALS ABOUT FOOD RESOURCES, DISTRIBUTED 107 EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES CONTAINING SHELF-STABLE FOOD AND SUPPORTED 44 HOUSEHOLDS WITH GROCERY DELIVERIES. THE JEWISH FREE LOAN PROGRAM (JFLP) LENDS UP TO $7,500 TO INDIVIDUALS THAT IDENTIFY AS JEWISH OR WORK FOR A JEWISH AGENCY IN THE TWIN CITIES. MINNESOTA AREA WITH A SPECIFIC NEED. THE LOAN, TOGETHER WITH OTHER RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS, ENABLES RECIPIENTS TO BRIDGE AN OFTEN-UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL CHALLENGE AND REQUIRES RECIPIENTS TO IDENTIFY A CO-SIGNER. IN 2024, JFLP PROVIDED 12 LOANS.OUR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES (MHSS) PROGRAM SERVES ADULTS WITH SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS TO HELP PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE, STABILITY, AND HEALTH. PROFESSIONAL CASE MANAGERS ASSIST ADULTS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES BY COORDINATING AND OBTAINING A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES, INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED TO HELP PROMOTE AND MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE, STABILITY, AND HEALTH. CASE MANAGERS ASSIST WITH HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGEMENT. MHSS SERVED 258 PEOPLE.