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Halina Rosenkranz to be Inducted into Westchester’s Senior Hall of Fame

2024-10-23T14:47:51-04:00October 23rd, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , |

We are thrilled to share the wonderful news that Halina Rosenkranz, Group Facilitator and Case Manager for the WJCS Holocaust Survivor Program, will be inducted into Westchester County’s Senior Hall of Fame. Halina has been a passionately dedicated and caring advocate and supporter of some of the most vulnerable people in Westchester County: aging Holocaust survivors. Her compassion for survivors, who have lived through unimaginable loss and devastation, has made her an invaluable source of comfort and emotional and practical support to them as well as to their children, the Second Generation, who bear the scars of their parents’ ...

WJCS Hosts Sukkot Holiday Luncheon for Holocaust Survivors

2024-10-23T13:48:59-04:00October 23rd, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Holocaust survivors and their relatives and caregivers celebrated the joyous holiday of Sukkot together at a festive luncheon on Tuesday October 22nd at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale. “Having just gone through the high holidays and that extended period of teshuva (repentance) and introspection that comes with it, we now celebrate,” said Allison Danzig, Coordinator of WJCS Holocaust Support Services, as she welcomed more than 70 guests to the event. “This is a time for showing appreciation to others and for all the good around us. It is a time of Thanksgiving and harvest, and a time to begin ...

Voting On the Spectrum: Empowering Neurodiverse Voices in the Electoral Process

2024-10-08T15:22:57-04:00October 8th, 2024|Categories: Disabilities, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , |

By: Nicholas R. Primavera, MS, MBA, Program Coordinator of WJCS Shelanu & Supper Club Voting in any election can be scary and anxiety provoking. Voting is a fundamental right and a vital aspect of public participation, but for individuals on the autism spectrum, the process can present unique challenges. From understanding complex ballot language to navigating crowded polling places, these obstacles can sometimes discourage participation. However, with proper resources, support, and understanding, voting can become an accessible and empowering experience for everyone. In this article, I will explain some of the challenges I have observed, along with some of the ...

October 7th: One Year Later

2024-10-07T11:18:22-04:00October 7th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: |

Today marks one year since the devastating attack by Hamas in Israel, a day that inflicted profound and lasting wounds. The trauma of that event is compounded by ongoing violence in the region, most recently with rockets from Iran. Even more heartbreaking is the cruel reality that, after 365 long days, Hamas continues to hold dozens of hostages, denying them their freedom.  The pain of that day has only been deepened by the disturbing rise in antisemitism, leaving many in the Jewish community feeling vulnerable and isolated. It is shocking to realize that in a place where safety and ...

Free October 9th Community Forum on Assisting Youth, Young Adults, and Families Impacted by Psychosis

2024-10-02T15:06:01-04:00October 2nd, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , |

Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health, Westchester Jewish Community Services, Greater Mental Health of New York, and NAMI offer a community forum focused on assisting youth, young adults, and families impacted by psychosis. As much as 8% of the population will be impacted by psychosis at some point in their lives and about 4% of the population will meet criteria for a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia. These statistics suggest that more than 80,0000 Westchester County residents will be impacted by psychosis at some point in their lives. Psychosis is often confusing and disorienting for those impacted by it, ...

Westchester Jewish Community Services and Family Service Society of Yonkers Announce Strategic Affiliation

2024-09-20T13:40:17-04:00September 26th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , |

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), one of the largest non-sectarian, not-for-profit human services agencies in Westchester County, and Family Service Society of Yonkers (FSSY), a human services agency with a 140-year history of serving the Westchester community, are proud to announce they have entered into a strategic affiliation, to take effect October 1st. This partnership will enhance the reach and depth of services provided to the residents of Westchester County. Through this affiliation, WJCS and FSSY will deliver a comprehensive and coordinated range of human services that will better support youth, the elderly, and families in Yonkers and the ...

Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week

2024-09-06T15:58:59-04:00September 8th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , |

It's Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week! At WJCS we are so proud to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) at WJCS. Our DSPs work with developmentally and intellectually disabled adults who live in our 12 group homes across Westchester County. They provide a caring home environment where residents are supported in maintaining and learning daily living skills, enjoying social activities, and pursuing employment while also assisting with medical, emotional, behavioral, and mental health support. The work of DSPs in our Community Programs Division speaks to our value of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). ...

WJCS Initiates Zero Suicide Model with NYS Office of Mental Health

2024-09-09T15:22:37-04:00September 6th, 2024|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a yearly reminder of the staggering rates of suicide and the importance of identifying and helping people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States with over 49,000 people having died by suicide in the U.S. in 2022 and 13.2 million seriously contemplating suicide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), the largest provider of licensed community-based mental health services in Westchester County, is closely collaborating with the NYS Office of Mental Health ...

New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer Awards $125,000 in Grants to Support WJCS Group Homes and ParentChild+ Program

2024-07-30T16:59:04-04:00July 30th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , |

(From left: Jessica Piecyk, WJCS Managing Director of Early Childhood & Assistant Executive Director of Jewish Programs; Lauren Bassin, Assistant Director of WJCS Community Programs; Lauren Candela-Katz, WJCS Chief Advancement Officer; New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer; Seth Diamond, WJCS CEO) Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) today announced that New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer has selected WJCS as a recipient of two grants that will provide critically-needed support to its group homes and its ParentChild+ program. WJCS operates 12 community residences in Westchester County for adults with developmental disabilities. The Local Community Assistance Program (LoCAP) Grant ...

Congratulations to WJCS Staff Recognition Award Recipients!

2024-07-22T13:26:47-04:00July 22nd, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , |

We're thrilled to announce the most recent recipients of WJCS Staff Recognition Awards. Johnathan Wilson, Maintenance Supervisor Jonathan is recognized for being an outstanding member of this agency. He is extremely reliable and productive, meeting the needs of multiple houses in a timely manner. Jonathan has gone above and beyond to ensure the rooms were ready for the new individuals at Gramatan House, showcasing his hard work ethic, positive attitude, and professionalism. Jessica Sansone, Project Coordinator (MHFA/Training) Jessica is being recognized for her wonderful impact since joining the agency under the MHFA/Training Program in March 2023. She ...

WE’RE HIRING!

2024-07-03T12:25:03-04:00July 3rd, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , |

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of others? WJCS has been a cornerstone of support in Westchester for over 81 years, providing a wide range of services to help residents lead their best lives. Our success is driven by our dedicated and skilled staff, and we're looking for talented individuals to join our mission. At WJCS, we believe in transforming lives—both our clients' and our staff's. We offer a variety of job opportunities, including positions for Social Workers, Direct Support Professionals, and more. When you join our team, you'll benefit from: Continuing education opportunities Excellent ...

WJCS Awarded $35,000 Grant from Aging in America

2024-07-03T11:17:30-04:00July 11th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is proud to announce it has been awarded a $35,000 grant from Aging in America to support Geriatric Care Management. The grant will support Geriatric Care Management services to low-income, frail elderly individuals throughout Westchester County to maintain and enhance their physical and emotional quality of life. “For many seniors, especially those who live alone, life can become progressively more challenging and isolating, compromising their ability to age well and safely in place,” said WJCS CEO Seth Diamond. “Stressors, such as chronic medical conditions, the loss of a spouse, lack of connection to family or ...

Exciting News from our WJCS Vocational Programs

2024-06-27T16:31:05-04:00June 27th, 2024|Categories: Disabilities, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

We are thrilled to share exciting news from WJCS’s vocational training program, which promotes skill-building for young adults with autism in preparation for the workplace. Two participants, Lindsay and Andrew, have achieved a significant milestone by moving forward to new opportunities. Their success showcases how our unique approach to job preparation can transform lives. Congratulations to Lindsay and Andrew! We can’t wait to see all the amazing things they will accomplish next. WJCS’s Vocational Program offers classes for residents in documentation preparation, scanning, and file organization management. These classes are held at our Taft Center in White Plains and are ...

JUNETEENTH: A Message from Our CEO

2024-06-18T14:10:37-04:00June 18th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , |

The celebration of Juneteenth reminds us of the continuing struggle for freedom. We don't see the holiday as a declaration of victory but more of a chance to celebrate the progress we have made and to acknowledge there remains much work to do. The holiday also recognizes the countless people, many of whose names we do not know, who fought for freedom. One of those in this fight, whose life has not been long celebrated, is Opal Lee. Growing up in Texas Ms. Lee and her family would celebrate Juneteenth. On one Juneteenth in 1939, when she Ms. Lee was 12, ...

WJCS Awarded Field Hall Foundation Grant to Support Vulnerable Seniors

2024-06-18T11:07:01-04:00June 11th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , |

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is thrilled to have been awarded a $40,000 grant from the Field Hall Foundation for Geriatric Care Management. This support is especially needed because addressing the issues faced by the elderly is becoming increasingly important as the population in Westchester County ages. It is the fastest growing age group in Westchester, with people over age 65 representing 18.4% of our county’s population in 2022. Seniors living on limited incomes in Westchester often face financial insecurity. More than 39%—45,000 people—in Westchester live in poverty, which is higher than Rockland, Nassau, or Putnam counties. “Seniors face ...

Fostering a Strong Foundation for Early Childhood Development and Literacy.

2024-05-20T16:13:06-04:00May 30th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , |

The impact of WJCS Parent-Child programs has been life changing. I  became connected when I was a first-time mom and needed to give my children a chance to socialize with other children and equip me to foster a love of learning. We learned about the WJCS Summer Hartley Park program, then found out about the WJCS Parent Child Center, and then the WJCS ParentChild+ Home Visiting program. The Parent-Child programs helped guide us with the fundamentals of social emotional readiness for preschool and how to interact with other children and grownups. It empowered me as a mom, to support ...

Yom HaShoa: Holocaust Remembrance Day

2024-05-07T11:32:32-04:00May 6th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , |

Each year, Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, is a solemn observance to honor the memory of the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust. This day holds particular significance this year, coming seven months after the devastating attack on October 7th, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust itself. As Elie Wiesel stated, “For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” We remember the six million to honor their memory and to acknowledge the unfathomable loss suffered by countless families who were torn apart by the brutality of the Nazis. Those memories remain etched in our ...

WJCS 2024 Gala: A Resounding Success!

2024-04-18T15:46:28-04:00April 17th, 2024|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , |

(From left) Seth Diamond, CEO; Meira Fleisch, Honoree; Stephanie Marquesano, Honoree; Lauren Candela-Katz, Chief Advancement Officer; Shannon Van Loon, Chief Program Officer Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) held a hugely successful Gala at Brae Burn Country Club on Tuesday April 16th with hundreds of Westchester community and business leaders, government officials, and Westchester residents, all passionate advocates for helping those in need in Westchester County. The event honorees were Meira Fleisch of Larchmont, a child and family advocate and longtime WJCS Board member who was an Early Learning Specialist in the WJCS ParentChild+ program for many years, and Stephanie ...

WJCS Susan Lewen Staff Excellence Fund Award Recipients

2024-02-01T11:55:26-05:00January 11th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

We are excited to announce the first recipients of awards from The Susan Lewen Staff Excellence Fund! This fund was established in 2023 to honor the profound contributions and spirit of excellence of Susan Lewen who served as WJCS’ Chief Development Officer from 2013-2023. This fund is intended to enable activities, programs, and services to acknowledge staff who follow in Susan Lewen’s footsteps in being exceptional at their job and in their commitment to the mission of WJCS. Four WJCS staff members are selected annually as recipients of this award based on three criteria; exceptional skills & productivity, team ...

Celebrating LGBTQIA+ History Month

2023-12-20T12:24:40-05:00November 5th, 2023|Categories: Center Lane for LGBTQ+ Youth, Feature, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

On October 14, 2023, a rainy cold Westchester Saturday, in a series of rainy Saturdays, youth from all over Westchester attended WJCS’s Center Lane Youth Pride event, celebrating LGTQIA+ History Month, hosted at Westchester Jewish Community Service (WJCS) headquarters in North White Plains. WJCS Center Lane is the first and still is the only center in Westchester County for LGBTQIA+ youth. The event was originally scheduled to take place outdoors, but the weather brought everyone inside, where two levels of the building were utilized and full of the bright good cheer of the day’s participants. Upstairs, Center Lane staff ...

Response to Trauma in the Face of Attacks Against Israel

2023-10-20T15:49:19-04:00October 20th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Trauma has been described as an overwhelming physiological response in which an individual experiences a loss of control, vulnerability, and immobilization. This week, 75 WJCS employees and board members came together online to share and process their sadness, grief, and anxiety about Hamas attacks against Israel, including the kidnapping of over 200 people. In gathering together as a community and in hope, members of our WJCS staff focused on what experts say about responses to trauma and opened up about their own reactions to recent horrific news reports. We are sharing these insights in the hope that they may help ...

Meaningful Friendships that Promote Mental Wellness

2023-10-19T13:41:06-04:00October 14th, 2023|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

This year the WJCS Compeer program, a supportive friendship program in which each volunteer is matched with an individual recovering from mental illness, celebrates its 50th anniversary. By facilitating friendships, Compeer helps mental health clients feel less isolated and more integrated into their communities. Compeer started as a small program in upstate New York and has grown into an international organization with over 40 chapters. Compeer volunteers commit to spending time with a mental health client for a year or more. Research has shown that most Compeer clients see improvements in multiple areas of their lives as a result ...

How WJCS Nurse Practitioners Make an Impact

2023-11-15T12:25:26-05:00October 30th, 2023|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

This week, November 12-18, is National Nurse Practitioners Week. Thank you to the incredible contributions of our exceptional nurse practitioners at WJCS. Your hard work, compassion, and dedication to improving the mental health of the clients we serve is truly commendable. Your commitment and skill is appreciated. We are grateful to have such a talented and caring team. At WJCS, our team of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) support both the mental and physical health of our clients. LPNs in each of our clinics meet with all new admissions for Health Monitoring Visits. During these visits LPNs check vital signs, ...

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