Family Matters Summer 2022

FamilyMatters

Make Mental Health a Priority

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is an incredibly important part of overall health that must be prioritized and addressed. It directly impacts the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our children, families, communities—and ourselves. If you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness.

We all benefit from talking to someone. Whether you are struggling with a major career decision, have depression or anxiety, have experienced trauma, are seeking accultur ation, want support with caring for your loved ones with mental health conditions, want to explore LGBTQ+ iden tities, are questioning if your current relationship is right for you, feel isolated, want support with parenting skills, or want to improve your coping skills, JFS offers several programs to help you and your loved ones. We provide

in-person and online psychotherapy for adults, children, teens, couples, and families in addition to support and therapy groups. Our specific programs are described be low, and we welcome the opportunity to work with you.

JFS Mental Health Specialists is an outpatient counsel ing center that provides therapy for those 6 and older. Our experienced clinicians listen attentively, provide support and skills, and help with your identified goals and objec tives. We provide multiple treatment modalities, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Ther apy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Our therapists are fluent bilingual in English, Russian, and Spanish, and we have individu al, couples, and family therapy. We also offer an eightweek Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group. (continued on p. 2)

Dear Friends,

It doesn’t seem that long ago I was sharing the news that our 150th anniversary was approaching, and now we’re halfway through this milestone year. We gath ered at our History Colorado Kick-off Celebration and laughed with Amy Schumer at our Executive Luncheon; and we continue to be humbled to see how much JFS means to so many throughout our community. Find out about our next celebratory event—the JFS Family Concert: Rocking Colorado for 150 Years on page 3.

I’m excited to share that our Tamarac and Boul der offices are open to staff and the public for the first time in two years. It means so much to me to see everyone in person. While our work with in the community never stopped despite the many COVID-19-related challenges (and we know there were many), there’s a renewed energy throughout the building that only in-person interactions bring.

There is so much engaging content in this issue of Family Matters, but I wanted to call out two particular stories.

First, our overall emotional well-being is so import ant, and JFS offers many mental health services (page 2) to provide the necessary support at every stage of life. Please, reach out if you are struggling.

Next, our Lunchbox Express program (page 4) is re turning to pre-pandemic routines and serving school children lunches in person this summer and distrib uting age-appropriate books! I know our staff and volunteers are looking forward to seeing smiles and interacting with this wonderful client population.

I hope when you read this newsletter you learn some thing new, feel connected to JFS, and are inspired to fulfill Tikkun Olam—making the world a better place along with us. We cannot do what we do without your support and are so thankful for you today and always.

BOARD UPDATES

As their time on our Board of Directors comes to a close, we want to express our sincere thanks to Laura Michaels as she completes her designated term and Mac Macsovits and Jennifer Kraft as they step off our Board. We are grateful to Laura, Mac, and Jennifer for their leadership and always being good stewards of our resources, while guiding the agency in our mission of improving the lives of individuals and families in need throughout Colorado.

Make Mental Health a Priority

JFS Russian Mental Health program provides accessible and affordable mental health services for underserved Russian-speaking immigrants and refugees who have resettled in Colorado. We have two highly skilled and professional therapists who are bilingual in Russian and English. They work diligently to help each client attain stability, well-being, and self-sufficiency.

JFS Refugee Mental Health program provides spe cialized, culturally sensitive, and compassionate mental health care and support services for refugees and im migrants of all ages, faiths, ethnicities, and countries of origin. Services are provided through trained interpreters for all clients who are not fluent in English. We work to increase accessibility to services by offering sessions on telehealth video, finding accessible locations for therapy, and, when necessary, offering home-based services. Ser vices include individual and family therapy, mental health case management, and additional resources to access health care and other services that increase stability for individuals and families.

Our Refugee Mental Health program also provides psy chiatric care through a partnership with the University of Colorado Outpatient Psychiatry.

We continue to receive many referrals for newly arrived Af ghan refugees and are proud to welcome and support them.

JFS has a unique school-based program: KidSuccess Currently, our therapists are placed in 14 schools through out the Denver metro area to provide free mental health services to students and their families. Services are provided to children and adolescents at all age levels, including early childhood education programs, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

This innovative program places trained JFS therapists in Denver-area public schools, charter schools, and private schools, providing children and adolescents with access to quality counseling services in a non-stigmatizing, com fortable environment. Our hands-on approach promotes a supportive school environment for students that fosters achievement, high self-esteem, resiliency, and personal re sponsibility. We provide wellness groups in most schools.

Our school-based therapists join each school’s staff and provide valuable support to teachers and children and their families. They get to know students and the spe

cific issues they face and develop trusting relationships. KidSuccess makes mental health care accessible to all children, regardless of Medicaid status, insurance cover age, or ability to pay.

For any mental health inquiries, resources, or to become a new client in our Mental Health Specialists or Refugee Mental Health programs, please visit jewishfamilyservice.org/mental-health.

Boulder Mental Health Services

The Boulder County Crisis Counseling program, an established partnership with the Community Foundation Boulder County, has expanded rapidly to meet the un precedented needs following the Marshall Fire. The panel currently has more than 200 providers. The program provides up to 10 free individual, couples or family therapy with licensed private practice providers for our neighbors impacted by the wildfires and/or pandemic-related stress. Learn more at jewishfamilyservice.org/bccc.

OUR HANDS-ON APPROACH PROMOTES A SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS THAT FOSTERS ACHIEVEMENT, HIGH SELF-ESTEEM, RESILIENCY, AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

JFS Family Concert: Rocking Colorado for 150 Years

JFS’s 150th anniversary year is off to an exciting start! From gathering at our History Colorado Kick-off Cele bration in March to laughing with Amy Schumer at our Executive Luncheon in April, we continue to be humbled to see how much JFS means to so many throughout our community. And we’re already gearing up for our next extraordinary celebration!

On Sunday, August 28, 2022, we’re hosting our inaugural family-friendly event—JFS Family Concert: Rocking Col orado for 150 Years at Mission Ballroom.

This concert will honor and celebrate JFS’s 150th anni versary and feature a special solo acoustic performance

by Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff. Whether you recognize Rateliff by his soft-brimmed, tilted hat, sly grin amidst a thick beard, or exquisite lyrics, you will no doubt find his music touches listeners deep in their souls. Rateliff has released three solo albums, with the latest, “And It’s Still Alright,” debuting in 2020 to critical acclaim. The record peaked at #3 on iTunes’ Top Albums chart, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk chart, landed at #2 on their Current Rock chart, and resided at #1 on the Americana Radio Albums Chart for eight consecutive weeks.

Guests of all ages will enjoy specialty food and drinks while strolling through Mission Ballroom and learning about JFS’s programs and services. There will also be games and activities for our younger visitors! This event is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for everyone!

“We’re so excited for the JFS Family Concert: Rocking Colorado for 150 Years,” said JFS Chief Advancement Of ficer Jessica Zeidman. “Since I started at JFS, I wanted to put the ‘F’ (and that would be ‘family’) into our events. The Family Concert is a fantastic opportunity to invite multigen erational JFS supporters to spend the afternoon together, learn more about the organization, hear the incomparable Nathaniel Rateliff, all in the amazing Mission Ballroom.”

Tickets go on sale June 21, and your support helps JFS enhance the well-being of those in need throughout Col orado. Learn more about the JFS Family Concert, includ ing sponsorship opportunities, at jewishfamilyservice. org/concert

HONORING THOSE WE LOST

We acknowledge the many clients we’ve lost this year with heavy hearts. They are forever in our hearts and memories. Each day, our clients are the reason we do what we do, and their legacy of kindness lives through us.

“ THE FAMILY CONCERT IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE MULTIGENERATIONAL JFS SUPPORTERS TO SPEND THE AFTERNOON TOGETHER, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION, HEAR THE INCOMPARABLE NATHANIEL RATELIFF, ALL IN THE AMAZING MISSION BALLROOM.”

Lunchbox Express is BACK!

JFS’s Lunchbox Express program adapted to accommo date COVID-19 health and safety guidelines for the past two years. With restrictions lifting, we’re excited to wel come children back to our traditional service model.

When schools let out for summer, families who rely heavily on school-based free and reduced-price lunch programs can turn to the Lunchbox Express program to receive nutritionally balanced lunches. The summer pro gram helps fill the gap in the Denver metro area using a mobile food delivery system that distributes free lunch to kids Mondays through Fridays, including JFS’s Weinberg Food Pantry. There is no proof of income required, and all children 18 and under qualify for free meals (one meal per day, per child), no matter where they live or go to school.

Volunteers are still needed Monday through Friday throughout the summer to distribute lunches and grade-level appropriate books at the various sites and engage with children and families by reading to them. The commitment is flexible, and youth 12 through 17 can vol unteer with an adult. It’s a great summer volunteer activity for individuals, families, and friends, as well as corporate, civic, and youth groups.

Interested in volunteering? Email our Volunteer Services team at volunteer@jewishfamilyservice.org.

Visit jewishfamilyservice.org/services/lunchbox-express for general information about the Lunchbox Express pro gram, including locations and times.

JFS Addresses Economic Vulnerability in the Jewish Community

The 2018-2019 Greater Denver Jewish Community Study, commissioned by Rose Community Foundation, provided an in-depth look at the area’s Jewish population, including demographic composition, philanthropy and volunteering practices, community engagement levels, connection to Jewish life, economics, and health.

The study, which can be viewed at bit.ly/3KKBk9c, shed light on the magnitude of Jewish economic vulnerability in the metro Denver and Boulder regions. Of particular importance, the data revealed 17% of households reported they could not manage or are just managing to make ends meet, and of that 17%, only 9% reached out to a Jewish agency or synagogue for help.

“When we factor in the fact that the research was con ducted before the pandemic hit, we can only believe these numbers have grown,” shared JFS Jewish Commu nity Liaison, Lisa Soicher. “With JFS’s expertise and the infrastructure already in place with over 30+ services and programs, the agency is uniquely posited to address eco nomic vulnerability in our Jewish community. Outreach to raise awareness about how JFS can help, especially to those more disconnected from the Jewish communi ty, will be key, along with collaborating with community leaders to destigmatize asking for help and referring those in need of help to JFS.”

For more information, visit jewishfamilyservice.org/jev

It’s difficult to imagine going out of town and returning to find your home—your entire neighborhood—decimated by a wildfire, but that’s exactly what Julie and her family ex perienced in late December when the Marshall Fire roared through their Louisville community. However, throughout the turmoil, Julie shared stories about the acts of kindness and grace she experienced from people and organizations, including JFS, who stepped up in so many ways.

EVERY DAY WAS A STRUGGLE JUST DECIDING WHAT TO TACKLE AND WHO TO FIGHT NEXT.”

Julie has very little recollection of the first month after the disaster. At the time, she was overwhelmed and had diffi culty sleeping, waking up with thoughts swirling through her head, trying to process everything the family lost and what had to be done next. Her parents returned from Flor ida to help with her children as she and her husband nav igated community meetings and armed themselves with the information necessary to put their lives back together. It was daunting. “Every day was a struggle just deciding what to tackle and who to fight next,” shared Julie.

Finding Support After a Tragedy

Through the chaos, however, Julie learned about JFS from friends who supported the agency. The family received gift cards for various things, and now that the family is settled in to their rental home, Julie plans to use JFS’s counseling services. “We know people who shared that they benefitted from the counseling services offered by JFS, and it’s so important to get that help. We’re still processing everything and dealing with the trauma. Things like windy days still trigger uneasiness for the community,” said Julie.

“I’m so proud of JFS and the Jewish community. Acts of kindness and generosity from people we know, local organizations, and even strangers restored my faith in humanity. In times of trauma and disaster, people give and give right away, but we need help for the long haul. I think it’s important to support organizations like JFS so that they can help people quickly and directly when they need it most.”

If you would like to support JFS’s efforts to provide com fort and resources to those affected by the wildfires, visit jewishfamilyservice.org/boulder

Robin and Steven Chotin and the Chotin Family Foundation

Robin and Steven Chotin z”l and the Chotin Family Foun dation are longtime supporters of JFS. Through financial investments, event committee participation, and volun teering, their impact is felt throughout the organization and community—especially with their contributions to Holocaust Survivor services, Jewish Economic Vulnerabil ity, and Jewish Disabilities Advocates.

The couple first became involved with JFS in 2000 and were involved in Yana Vishnitsky’s success as CEO of the agency. “Once Yana took over, she spent a lot of time with my husband Steven and me teaching us about JFS and what it does, as did former Director of Development Dawn Richards,” shared Robin. “The staff at JFS has al ways been wonderful.”

The agency’s programs are available throughout the com munity and are a lifeline for those who need assistance during challenging times,” said Robin. “They are a full-ser vice organization that helps people financially, emotional ly, and with everyday needs, such as the Weinberg Food Pantry and so much more.”

Robin believes strongly in the programs and services JFS offers throughout Colorado. “JFS has helped people I know in many ways.

Currently, Robin is excited to be serving as a co-chair for our November 2022 anniversary event, our Gala Celebrat ing JFS: 150 Years in the Making.

The Chotin family’s generosity to help improve the lives of children, individuals, and families is well-known through out Denver and beyond. Donors like Robin, Steve, of blessed memory, and the entire Chotin family make a life-changing difference to the thousands of families who rely on JFS to rebuild and transform their lives. We are so grateful for their support.

“JFS HAS HELPED PEOPLE I KNOW IN MANY WAYS. THE AGENCY’S PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND ARE A LIFELINE FOR THOSE WHO NEED ASSISTANCE DURING CHALLENGING TIMES”

THE STAFF AT JFS HAS ALWAYS BEEN WONDERFUL.”

Jewish Family Service of Colorado Joyce and Kal Zeff Building 3201 South Tamarac Drive Denver CO 80231-4360

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Social services for Jewish victims of the Holocaust have been supported by a grant from The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Since 1872,

JFS has evolved to help those who rely on us for food, housing assistance, mental health counseling, and so much more—because of your support. Invest in our 150th anniversary and ensure that JFS continues to be here for our community for the next 150 years!

Donate now at jewishfamilyservice.org/donate.