What’s New at WJCS! Fall 2024
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WJCS Initiates Zero Suicide Model with NYS Office of Mental Health
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 ...
Volunteer Spotlight: Murray Forseter
1,600 home-delivered meals to seniors! That is the astounding number of meals WJCS Murray Forseter estimates he has delivered to senior residents in Yonkers, Scarsdale, Mount Vernon, White Plains, and Hartsdale since he began volunteering in the WJCS senior food program 15 years ago. Murray began volunteering at WJCS after retiring from a successful career in publishing in 2009. Now, 75, he made his last food delivery on June 26th and marked the milestone by publishing a post, entitled “Delivering Food to the Greatest Generation,” on his blog called No Socks Needed Anymore. In his post, Murray shares stories ...
Your VOTE is Your VOICE
During the next two months, we can expect to hear talk about the upcoming General Election (Tuesday, November 5, 2024) 24/7—in the media and, probably, in your conversations with friends and family. The most important thing to keep in mind is that every person’s vote counts. Your vote matters! The following are key dates to keep in mind to ensure that you can express your voice with your vote: September 17, 2024 National Voter Registration Day October 21, 2024: Last Day for Change of address October 65, 2024: Last day for voter registration October 26, 2024: Last day for ...
WJCS Awarded United Way Grant to Support Women and Children in Yonkers
We are proud to announce that WJCS has been awarded a Pepsi X Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Community Fund Grant by United Way of Westchester and Putnam. The grant will support WJCS programs that provide services to women, young women, and children who are underprivileged, marginalized, and ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) populations in Yonkers. The grant will help support WJCS programs available to the community at the Mary J. Blige Center in Yonkers. These programs include: which includes adult basic education and preparation for the TASC high school equivalency exam and career readiness workshops. ...
Congratulations to WJCS Staff Recognition Award Recipients!
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!
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 ...
Exciting News from our WJCS Vocational Programs
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
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, ...
Helping our Westchester Neighbors in Tough Times
Thanks to your support, the WJCS Jewish Programs and Health & Healing Support Services continue to fan out across the county to comfort adults, youth, and seniors as we all try to make sense of what is going on in the world. Kudos to WJCS for offering a Bereavement Support Group to the community. Dealing with grief is a need which is often not addressed. Thank you for taking the lead in supporting individuals during this painful stage in their lives and facilitating the development of their resilience as they face this challenge. ~Participant in a WJCS Bereavement ...
Bringing Joy, Connection, and Confidence to Adults with Disabilities
Just because someone has a disability, it doesn’t mean they don’t have hopes, dreams, things they love to do, good days, bad days… Because of YOU, our adults from all backgrounds with disabilities are living the best life possible and our amazing staff support them every step of the way. Pizza-making tips from an expert chef, a visit to Bryant Park in Manhattan, celebrating Purim, vocational counseling, a fun Supermarket Sweep activity to enhance grocery shopping and budgeting skills, a hibachi dinner, outings to ball games, and much, much more. When you give to WJCS, you help individuals with ...
Fostering a Strong Foundation for Early Childhood Development and Literacy.
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 ...
Building Resilience, Health, and Well-Being
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s because of kind, caring people like you that WJCS can provide vital, evidence-based services to people in Westchester who are struggling with mental health challenges and trauma. Meet Tiffany, one of many people who faced what seemed like overwhelming obstacles until she came to WJCS: I experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. In high school I dropped out. I was pregnant and thought that was going to be my life, working as a cashier, trying to take care of my baby. I was so depressed when my first ...
Recovery is Possible with WJCS
The number of people suffering from both mental health and substance use disorders is skyrocketing, with approximately 21.5 million adults in the United States experiencing these co-occurring conditions, according to SAMHSA’s 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Unfortunately, the result of experiencing both disorders can be tragic. Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS), the largest provider of licensed outpatient mental health services in Westchester, is now providing comprehensive integrative, evidence-based treatment for county residents experiencing substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders. “People suffering from co-occurring mental health and substance use problems often experience severe and chronic challenges regarding ...
EARTH MONTH NEWS: WJCS Furthers its Commitment to Sustainability
Solar Panels Installed at WJCS Headquarters in North White Plains A new state-of-the-art solar system seamlessly positioned on the roof of WJCS. April is Earth Month! WJCS is proud to announce the installation of solar panels atop its headquarters in North White Plains. The initiative underscores WJCS's commitment to sustainability and its dedication to fostering a healthier, more resilient community. The solar panel is the latest step taken by WJCS, a member of the Green Business Partnership, to reduce its carbon footprint. The state of the solar panels will generate clean, sustainable electricity, significantly decreasing reliance on traditional energy ...
Uplifting the Jewish Community and Helping them Stay Connected
Along with the rest of life’s typical challenges, the Jewish community in Westchester faces an alarming rise in antisemitism. With your dedication and generosity of our donors, we provide support in a number of ways and believe that together we can strengthen the resilience and connection of our Jewish community. "It is me who thanks you for giving me back my dignity and common sense, as well as my sanity in this very scary world." ~Jackie Whatever your affiliation or identification to being Jewish, WJCS is here for you. We do our best to connect you to a broad ...
Helping Seniors Age in Place with Dignity & Providing Caregiver Support
Twenty percent of the population in Westchester is over age 60. Of those age 65 and older, 39% live alone. Growing older is not just physically challenging; it’s also emotionally challenging. Many seniors face health and mobility limitations. Those who enjoyed and are no longer working often lack a sense of purpose and vitality. Innovative program, services, and fitness, recreational, and educational activities help seniors maintain a sense of identity, self-esteem, and self-worth. Emotional and practical support, both individual and in groups, helps caregivers who are often overwhelmed with stress and added responsibilities, navigate their challenges and feel less ...
Helping People with Disabilities Enjoy a Full Life
People with disabilities tend to experience loneliness and social isolation at significantly higher rates than people without disabilities. They are also at a higher risk for experiencing trauma. Loneliness is a particularly significant driver of poor well-being among people with a disability. Interventions to reduce loneliness make a huge impact. The adults we serve are eager to lead rich, full lives—but they need support. They need help with life skills, like time management and helping with household chores to the best of their ability. They need vocational counseling and opportunities for recreation, socialization, and community involvement. And, some individuals need significant daily care. "All of us ...
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is always an emotional observance of the devastating genocide committed during World War II. This year's commemoration, taking place from the evening of January 26th through January 27th, is especially difficult, given the horrifying increase of antisemitism—in our own backyard in Westchester and New York City, in the U.S. in general, and worldwide. We feel very privileged at WJCS to be able to support Holocaust survivors in Westchester. Their strength and resilience and love of life continually inspire us. We are proud to provide support groups and holiday celebrations for our aging population of Holocaust survivors. ...
Antisemitic Graffiti in Westchester: A Message from our CEO
By now I am sure many of you have heard of the terrible act of antisemitism early Thursday morning January 25th at the Golden Horeshoe, a shopping center on the border of New Rochelle and Scarsdale. The perpetrators of this abhorrent act wrote antisemitic graffiti, on stores at the shopping center but not just on any stores. They deliberately chose those shops which had proudly announced that they stand with Israel. I know you join me in condemning this act of vandalism in the strongest possible terms. This latest antisemitic act comes, as we have discussed, amidst the ...
Tips for Family Caregivers
November is National Family Caregivers Month! Here are some tips for caregivers from WJCS: Create a network of support for you and your loved one, including medical professionals, family, friends, neighbors, and mental health and recreational services. Put your oxygen mask on first! If you aren’t caring for yourself you cannot care for a loved one. Exercise, eat right, see friends and family, ask yourself what brings you peace and comfort. Caregiving is a balance of attending to your loved one and finding activity and joy outside of the caregiving. Get respite from the caregiving when you can even if ...
Supporting Families: Building Skills to Help Them Thrive
Ten percent of children in Westchester county live below the poverty line. Boosting the educational, social, and emotional skills of the next generation has invaluable long-term impact. By supporting children, youth, and families, we are ensuring positive outcomes for them now and in the future. WJCS recognizes that every child deserves to have the skills, tools, resources, and affirmations they need to be prepared for and thrive in school. WJCS is devoted to decreasing the effects of socioeconomic disparities and promoting parent-child engagement, early literacy, and social-emotional building for families from under-resourced and marginalized communities. After-school programs promote positive ...
Mental Health & Substance Use: Overcoming the Challenges
The number of people suffering from mental health and substance use problems are skyrocketing. More than 20% of Americans, including youth, teens, and adults of different socioeconomic groups, are living with a mental illness. Only about half of adults receive treatment. More than 20 million Americans 12 years and older are affected by substance use disorder. These conditions don’t discriminate. They affect people in all socioeconomic groups. "I came to WJCS for therapy at a time of serious distress in my 20’s. I couldn’t afford much, and was able to pay just a very modest amount thanks to financial ...
Building Trust in Community
To quote Mr. Rogers, “All of us, at some time or other need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world.” WJCS helps people in our community of all ages and backgrounds who face difficult challenges in life and need additional support to build a strong foundation of well-being to strengthen their ability to weather life’s storms. Whether people are experiencing mental health, trauma, disability, aging, educational, or often systemic challenges, we all know that accessing support can be very difficult. Being a champion of WJCS means you ...