Annual Report 2007-08 >

Counseling and Case Management

This year was one that represented a stream of cases that required a major commitment of the limited resources of the agency to respond to the pressures of a poor economy, greater distress on the part of clients, and a constant need for emergency financial assistance. This is true for both counseling and case management cases. Emotional distress and physical ailments combined to make this year one of the most challenging in JFS history. The agency saw at least 150 clients, some of whom requested support several times during the year.

Resettlement

While the last resettled members of this community from the former Soviet Union occurred in 2003, we helped resettle a family from Israel and continued to provide, through our resettlement coordinator, citizenship processing technical support, interpreter skills, helped a client through medical difficulties and transported people accordingly, as well as responding to specific needs from those who still have language barriers or other needs that are defined during the year. One of the pronounced trends is that of the elderly resettled clients who still require the type of support provided by JFS. There were at least 12 cases during the year, but that meant serving at least 45 people.

Jewish Caregiver Assistance Program

Fortunately, JFS had some funds carryover from the prior year to continue this program that provides unskilled temporary assistance for Jewish people after being discharged from a hospital or for other purposes needing this financial support. The John Passan Foundation provided this assistance in memory of his mother. Older citizens generally require this type of support, and JFS helps arrange for a caregiver who is then employed by the client.

Kids Care Club

This award winning program called Kids Care Club (KCC) provides a service learning opportunity for youngsters as early as kindergarten to prepare projects that benefit less fortunate youngsters and/or senior citizens. A least three thousand people have been served, and there are many examples of projects that have reached those disadvantaged and low income family youngsters throughout Wyoming Valley. Several small grants have supported this activity such as the Verizon Foundation, the Rosenberg Endowment, Unico, The Penguins, and others, but we now can utilize a major governmental grant that was sponsored by State Senator Ray Musto for fiscal year 08-09.

PHOTO: Backpacks made for foster children.

Emergency Financial Assistance

Because JFS is committed to this particular program of temporary assistance, it was challenging to find enough resources to meet the needs of many clients. Assistance was provided for mortgages, utility costs, insurance, or other purposes. Each client was interviewed, information about their income status obtained, and wherever possible, other partners were asked to participate such as the three major synagogues and others. In some cases, more than one financial assistance need was handled. The expectation is that fiscal year 08-09 would be virtually the same due to the poor economy. Based upon the analysis of this program, we served at least 21 individual cases, and at least 50 people were helped.

Jewish Small Business Assistance Program

Small businesses still represent the framework for the economy of this region. JFS continued to provide assistance to Jewish entrepreneurs, and is working on a Kosher Deli project and attempting to continue to help a budding inventor in the Valley. In some cases, this has led to a variety of requests for employment assistance, and while not every cases represented a small business, this source of assistance was growing by year’s end.

Kosher Home Delivered Meals (KHDM)

This program is funded by the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties and by private clients. At the year’s end, JFS was serving nineteen clients, but the numbers varied during the year up to 21. JFS is the only agency in the Valley providing this service. Food is prepared by the Jewish Home, JFS arranges for its delivery to our office, staff prepares the packages for each client, and volunteers deliver the meals.

Food Assistance

Sarah’s Table is the JFS pantry that is stocked with kosher food. Funds come from a variety of sources such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA), the Gelb Estate, synagogues and The Weinberg Food Bank. Food certificates are available as needed. Needy Jewish families are served, and this program has been in place for several decades.

PHOTO: Mrs. Welch’s UHI class donates food for Sarah’s Table.

Student Loans and Grants (Student Aid) 

This program of assistance to Jewish high school graduates has been in place for decades, but has grown over the years. There are four sources including the Rella Roth Fund, the Betty Lieberman Sirotkin Fund, The Florence Sykes Gelb Estate, and the Max Bartikowsky Scholarship Fund. This year 12 students were assisted with approximately $7,000 in scholarships and $7500 in loans. There is a Student Aid Committee that meets at least twice a year to make decisions on these funds.

Arts and Culture

This Committee of JFS supports and plans the various art and culture events such as the Ron Eliran concert and the Elliot Rosoff concert at the home of Jack and Helene Rosenzweig. Planning is now underway to bring Ron Eliran back with a concert at the Jewish Community Center as well as another concert for September 2008 at the JCC, featuring the Odessa Klezmer Band.

PHOTO: Ron Eliran in concert

Holiday Assistance

At each major Jewish holiday and at Thanksgiving, either gift certificates or a turkey is provided to needy families. This year over 60 persons were served. The Samuel Nelson Bicycle Fund continued via the support of the Nelson Family who wanted to see all eligible youngsters have bicycles. The Holiday Assistance program is a very positive function that enables some joy to flow into the lives of youngsters and families at occasions during the year that should be happy and positive times.

Holocaust Survivors Program

This program completed its eighth year as a partnership between the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre JFS agencies. Mini grants are brought into the homes of survivors or their families and this means that more funds are available to this community than spent for the program. This year, at least 12 families or individuals were assisted, using special Claims Conference monies.

Jewish Family Life Education (JFLE)

JFLE completed its last B’nai Mitzvah program when Ann Smith retired from conducting this event. It proved to be highly successful. Through the JFS Resettlement program and at other occasions, JFLE brought meaning and purpose to the lives of Jewish people. One such activity was featured by Raina Connor, a senior high school student, who for her senior project did an Adopt a Holocaust Survivors Project with two survivors, then made a presentation to the JFS Board in June. It is hoped that other programs of this nature can continue in future years.

Annual Art Contest

This annual event was held and prizes awarded by JFS to winners. Several Jewish organizations participated, and Lisa Morgan of the JFS staff coordinated the event. Winners were Grade 1 (or age 6): First place - Sara Seewald, Second - Yael Bruce, Age 7 - First - Leah Karassik, Second - Chloe Poorman, Age 8 - First - Lili Drak, Second - Kaylei Harris, Age 9- First - Madeleine Ross, Age 10, First - Erica Karassik, Second - Josh Schiowitz, 6th grade - First - Deanna Thomas, Second - Morgan Prince, Honorable - Katie Buyarski, 8th grade - First - Aaron Pernikoff, Second - Michael Troth, Honorable - Shani Estikangi

Aging Services

This Committee is chaired by Sally Connor and helps to bring procedures that can enhance the lives of seniors in the Valley. Reports are presented to the Board, and as noted last year, it is expected that the demand for seniors services will increase in coming years. In fact, the agency is developing some new approaches to this service and hopefully will begin to add more support services in 08-09.

Children and Youth

This Committee is chaired by AW Weinberg. The Committee is studying ways to further its mission, and to expand Kids Care Club as a service to the community. A survey of other Jewish youngsters was proposed to the Rosenberg Endowment committee but no funds were available in 07-08 by that Committee for special projects, so that this may be developed further for 08-09.

Many Other Activities

There were a host of related activities that were highlighted in 07-08. Among these were the following:

• The JFS Executive Director continued to serve as chair of the Elder Issues Coalition for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties.
• The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program continued with a major regional conference, a Directory of services published, and the JFS executive Director continued to serve as Chair of the NEPA Intergenerational Coalition.
• Clinical seminars continued and were coordinated by Social Worker Scott Smith.
• Community forums at the JCC were held, with nine during the year, averaging close to forty people per session.
• AJFCA Conference attended in Philadelphia and JFS participated in the Fall meeting of JFS agencies in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
• Annual meeting, ad book, and luncheon held at the Woodlands.
• Wilkes University School of Pharmacy continued to coordinate with JFS on clients served.
• Six new Board members added to JFS Board to start in fiscal year 08-09.
• Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC) application submitted to federal government
• Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition events participated in and JFS executive director elected to their Board
• Mazon Foundation anti hunger grant received and work begun to develop educational program.
• Two Advisory Council meetings held during the year.
  

Funding for JFS

We wish to acknowledge the financial support of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, the Jewish Federation of Wyoming Valley, the Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming Counties, foundations who supported Kids Care Club, our hundreds of members who joined the annual Friends Campaign and others who one way or the other contributed to making JFS committed to its caring and compassionate role of service to this community. We would not be able to meet the requests of the neediest in Wyoming Valley without your support, enthusiasm, interest, and commitment to the role that we play in helping people and families help themselves. Thank you for all you do.

Budget Breakdown

The following pie chart shows how the funding of JFS occurs and how the funds are spent. The budget breakdown for JFS for 07-08 is also shown.

The official registration and financial information of Jewish Family Service of Greater Wilkes-Barre may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within PA, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.