By Heidi Weiss, LMSW, MHA At some point, all of us confront the time when a relative or close friend is dying and wonder: What should we say? What shouldn’t we say? Should we say anything at all? Each family’s history, and the dynamics of relationships among family members will often determine what gets addressed, what has been left unsaid and undone, and what might invite discord. No one wants to be seen as the protagonist of harshness. Beginning these conversations is often not easy. Some people are fortunate in being able to approach their dying process at peace ...

Going green has been a goal of WJCS for several years, and we are thrilled to announce that we have just earned Green Business Certification from Green Business Partnership in recognition of our efforts. WJCS has been focused on transforming and saving lives since its founding in 1943. We are also focused on saving the planet. We are taking small steps that continue to add up to big impact. These initiatives include: Using only natural cleaning products in building maintenance Selecting “greener” alternatives when making purchases Placing stickers on light switches to remind staff to turn off  lights when not in use carpooling ...

Recent data shows that U.S. suicide rates are the highest they have been since World War II. About 100,000 Americans died by suicide in 2017, a 37 percent increase since 1999. WJCS offers Mental Health First Aid Training so that parents, educators, first responders, and others can identify and address the signs of someone suffering from a mental health problem. Suicide affects people of all genders, ages, and ethnicities. We all need to be prepared with information and resources to help someone who is exhibiting signs of despair, isolation, rage, pain, and suicidal thoughts. While there is no single ...

WJCS is thrilled to share the news that we, along with the city of Yonkers, have been awarded a New York State Office for the Aging Grant, entitled NNORC (Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community). This $200,000 grant will help coordinate a broad range of health and social services for older Yonkers residents to age in their own homes, in the community that they love. Many of the seniors in Westchester find that their homes are not designed for their geriatric needs. Yonkers NNORC services will provide case management, information, and assistance, healthcare management and healthcare assistance and monitoring. Optional ...

The statistics about young people and mental health are alarming. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five American children ages three through 17 have a diagnosable mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder in any given year. Eighty percent of these children—about 12 million—do not receive treatment. The suicide rate for children between the ages of 10 and 14 tripled between 2007 and 2017. In a recent survey, 67% of school superintendents listed improving mental health services in their districts as one of the top three funding priorities. It is critical that we address the ...

These days, the word “mindfulness” seems to be everywhere. But what is mindfulness and why does it matter? Harvard professor and developer of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Jon Kabat-Zinn, gives the following definition: “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” Mindfulness involves a particular kind of attention – a purposeful attention to what we experience in this moment, and the next moment and the next. And why is this important? How is mindfulness helpful in our daily lives? If we can see what we are actually feeling, thinking and experiencing in ...

WJCS offers a vast range of services to 20,000 Westchester residents each year, including mental health, trauma, children, youth, and families, intellectual and developmental disabilities, seniors, Holocaust Survivors and their children, and Jewish spirituality. During COVID-19, we've expanded our services to include comprehensive telehealth services and virtual programming. Since many of our clients are seeking food, financial, legal, and other assistance, we've compiled this list of helpful resources: Food Assistance   FEEDING WESTCHESTER A Mobile Food Pantry distributes food to sites such as libraries, local schools, and community centers. For information, call (914) 923.1100. https://feedingwestchester.org/ WESTCHESTER SNAP BENEFITS Formerly called ...