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Summer is in full swing at WJCS!

2022-07-25T17:17:01-04:00July 19th, 2022|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|

Our WJCS programs and staff are having a great start to the summer! Here are some highlights. Opening day of our Summer Fun in Hartley Park program in Mount Vernon was filled with smiling faces of children and parents who are eager to engage in fun, entertaining, and educational activities. Deloitte volunteers dedicated their Impact Day to making care packages filled with family summer activities for children in WJCS programs and did some spring cleaning at the WJCS ParentChild+ Summer Fun in Hartley Park program in Mount Vernon. WJCS launched a Mobile Crisis Response Team in partnership ...

988: New Suicide & Crisis Hotline

2022-07-18T14:49:34-04:00July 14th, 2022|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|

On July 16th, a new Suicide and Crisis Hotline is being launched. By dialing or texting 988, people who are experiencing emotional distress, substance use issues, or suicidal thoughts will be connected to an expanded network of mental health professionals. Employees and volunteers staffing the 24-hour hotline will be counselors trained in a wide range of mental health issues, including self-harm, addiction, and suicidal ideation. This New York Times article provides details about this new hotline which is aimed at addressing the mental health crisis in our country. Learn about Mental Health services provided by WJCS. ...

Bruce M. Freyer Named President of the WJCS Board of Directors

2022-07-21T17:22:21-04:00July 6th, 2022|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , |

We are thrilled to announce that Bruce M. Freyer has been elected President of the WJCS Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2022. Freyer became involved with WJCS in 1997 and has held a variety of Board positions, including Chair of the Development Committee, Chair of the Jewish Programs committee, and Member of the Audit, Budget and Finance, Children and Youth Services, Government Relations, Investment, Managed Care, and Nominating Committees. “Bruce has been invaluable in furthering the mission of WJCS in countless ways,” said WJCS CEO Seth Diamond. “He has been integral in developing strategic initiatives, a passionate and ...

World Mental Health Report

2022-08-10T15:36:34-04:00June 17th, 2022|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Internal, General|

The World Health Organization (WHO) just released its world mental health report, drawing on evidence from countries across the globe. Its findings highlight the devastating effects the pandemic has had, with skyrocketing rates of depression and anxiety, conditions that even pre-pandemic were at epidemic levels. The world report aims to inspire and inform change Here are some of the key points emphasized: We need to intensify our collaborative effort to integrate mental health and primary health care. Mental health is critically important for everyone, everywhere. Mental health needs are high but responses are insufficient and inadequate. A commitment to ...

Our 2022 WJCS Staff Award Winners!

2022-06-16T12:42:34-04:00June 7th, 2022|Categories: Featured Internal, General|

Batkin Award Presented to Rosemarie Stewart, Residence Manager, Claremont House Rosemarie Stewart has been Residence Manager of Claremont House since its inception in 2010. Her dedication to the individuals living at the house, staff, and WJCS has always been apparent and appreciated, especially at the beginning of the COVID epidemic when she worked around the clock to fill in for shifts when her staff and individuals became ill. Rosemarie has respectful and caring relationships with the individuals living in the house and their families, and provides her staff with the support they need to do their challenging jobs. Rosemarie ...

A Note from Our CEO Seth Diamond

2022-05-26T12:59:39-04:00May 26th, 2022|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|

Sadness. Horror. In Texas. In Buffalo. In Too Many Places Horrific. This can’t be happening again. Unbelievable. But tragically all too believable. Incredible sadness for the world we are in and the one are children are aging into. Concern for everyone in our lives the moment they leave our side. I am sure we all had our own range of emotions after hearing the awful news from Texas on Tuesday. These were some of mine. Less than two weeks after a horrific shooting in Buffalo, here we are again. Children, in their last week of school, ready for the ...

VOLUNTEERING IN WESTCHESTER: An Antidote to Loneliness

2022-05-11T11:37:25-04:00May 11th, 2022|Categories: Mental Health, General|

It’s probably not a coincidence that July, a month that launches with Independence Day celebrations and is, for many people, filled with carefree summer socializing, has three national days devoted to countering loneliness.  July 11  is national “Cheer Up the Lonely Day.” July 29 is “Talk in an Elevator Day.” July 30  is “International Day of Friendship.” Feelings of loneliness are all too common among Americans. AARP research shows that 44 million adults age 45 and older experience chronic loneliness.  A recent survey of 20,000 Americans ages 18 and older, conducted by Cigna and Ipsos, a market research firm, ...

Destress Now: 10 Steps to Enhance Your Health and Well-Being

2022-09-06T10:41:10-04:00May 9th, 2022|Categories: Mental Health, Featured Homepage, General|

It's Mental Health Month, a good time to remind ourselves of the importance of self care. Here are 10 quick tips for keeping stress under control: 1. Stick to a schedule. Our lives have been in a constant state of change since the start of the Covid pandemic. Create sleep, eating, work, and socializing routines to help maintain a sense of calm and predictability. 2. Exercise every day. Research shows that movement helps regulate mood. The weather is getting warmer, plus there are are lots of free fitness classes available online. Get moving and you'll feel fitter physically and ...

5 Reasons to Become a WJCS Monthly Donor

2022-05-06T15:47:20-04:00May 6th, 2022|Categories: Featured Homepage, General|

Being a monthly donor to WJCS is one of the best ways to support the critical services needed by our most vulnerable Westchester neighbors. Let’s count the reasons why. Governments rely on nonprofits to provide critical social services. And nonprofits rely on government funding. But government funding alone is not enough to support the services needed. Private donors are the key to ensuring service delivery and excellence. Your support enables over 80 programs across Westchester County. We’re meeting mental health needs, addressing trauma and grief, supporting children, youth and families, seniors, those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the Jewish ...

WJCS 2022 Gala: A Huge Success!

2022-06-08T11:58:26-04:00January 3rd, 2022|Categories: Gala, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

WJCS-Westchester Jewish Community Services hosted our annual Gala on April 5th, 2022 at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, New York. Attended by more than 200 philanthropic, community, and political leaders from throughout Westchester County, the evening marked a triumphant return to in-person events after two years of virtual galas. The money raised will provide much-needed funds for our agency's 80+ programs that serve 20,000 Westchester residents every year. "It was wonderful to have so many members of our community together to celebrate this year's honorees—New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and WJCS Board President ...

Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

2022-02-10T16:16:29-05:00December 4th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. devoted his life to seeking equality and human rights for African Americans, the economically disadvantaged, and all victims of injustice through peaceful protest. He was the driving force behind watershed events, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, which helped bring about such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Dr. King's message is as vitally important now as it was when he lived. While we remember him on Martin Luther King Jr. Day—this year ...

Remarkable Summer Accomplishments

2021-09-10T15:02:38-04:00September 10th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

As we head into fall, we'd like to look back at some of WJCS's many achievements during the summer. Despite the stresses from the pandemic, we're proud of our clients’ resilience and the dedication of our staff, as they have continued to deliver programs and services for thousands of Westchester residents who have a critical need for our help. Here are just a few of our many accomplishments this summer. Thirty-five girls from Yonkers enjoyed fun, social, and enriching activities, including a visit from Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins at our Wiener Academy for Young Girls Summer Camp. WJCS ...

The State of Mental Health in Westchester County

2022-01-07T16:12:24-05:00October 28th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , |

Miriam Arond, Director of Communications at WJCS, recently had the opportunity to sit down (via Zoom) with Michael Orth, Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health, to discuss the state of mental health in our county. The Commissioner addressed the: emotional and practical effects of the pandemic on residents in Westchester programs and services that have been developed to address the varied needs of our population—from first responders to clergy to local college students to people in under-resourced communities to the elderly importance of Mental Health First Aid trainings impact of  the pandemic on the workforce ...

A Note from Our CEO Seth Diamond for 9/11

2021-09-27T16:35:26-04:00June 10th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , |

Twenty years ago I was heading for my job at the city's social services headquarters in lower Manhattan. A typical morning. As I got closer to the office I started to hear sirens and listening to the radio heard about a small plane having hit the World Trade Center. At that point it sounded more strange than tragic.  I got my usual spot on Pearl Street and got out of my car at 9:03. How can I be so sure of the precise time? Because at that instant I heard a huge explosion and even more memorably, felt a ...

Domestic Violence: Myths vs. Realities

2023-10-19T13:36:28-04:00September 4th, 2023|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. While most of us recognize how devastatingly dangerous domestic violence is, both physically and emotionally, few of us are as knowledgeable as we should be about this vitally important social problem. Here are some common misconceptions about domestic violence...and the reality: 1. Myth: Most people report instances of domestic violence to the police. Reality: Half of abused women do not tell the police, according to the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2. Myth: Acts of domestic violence are generally physical or sexual. Reality: Any pattern of coercive behavior—whether it's physical, ...

What We Stand For

2025-08-08T11:25:05-04:00January 3rd, 2022|Categories: Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Founded in 1943, Westchester Jewish Community Services has grown to be one of the largest nonprofit human service organizations in Westchester and the largest provider of licensed outpatient community mental health services in the county. Our values guide our work—the state-of-the-art programs and services we offer with compassion to more than 20,000 people of all ages and backgrounds throughout Westchester County. WJCS is driven by the spirit of “tikkun olam”–repairing the world. By providing care and support, we work to help Westchester residents of all ages and backgrounds who are struggling to heal, develop skills, build resilience, and lead their ...

Teen Mental Health First Aid

2022-02-18T15:27:16-05:00December 6th, 2021|Categories: General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The statistics are staggering. One in five teens has had a serious mental health disorder at some point in their young lives. Fifty percent of all mental illnesses begin by age 14. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15-24year-olds. WJCS is proud to offer training in Teen Mental Health First Aid, a nationally certified course which teaches high school students how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders among their friends and peers. It gives students the skills to have supportive conversations with their friends and get a responsible and ...

WJCS Addresses Disparities in Digital Access

2021-08-06T13:41:43-04:00June 2nd, 2021|Categories: General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

The inequity that individuals in financial need experience in regard to digital access became glaringly apparent once the Covid pandemic hit. Lack of access to the internet was clearly an obstacle that would have long-lasting ramifications for youth now required to log on the internet in order to learn remotely from home. WJCS could not ignore the problem. At WJCS, we are committed to ensuring that all children have the information technology needed for school participation and learning, an essential ingredient to their academic and future success.  Thanks to our partnership with the STEM Alliance and funding from the ...

Welcome to our new website!

2021-08-02T14:42:15-04:00April 19th, 2021|Categories: General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

As one of the largest, state-of-the-art human service organizations in the New York metropolitan area, it is important to us to make information regarding our services, impact, thought leadership, community trainings, professional development classes, and other events easily accessible for current clients, potential clients, donors, volunteers, government officials, community and corporate partners, media, and staff. Our goal with this new website is to provide you with an easy, user-friendly way to learn about WJCS's programs and to browse information based on your own choice. Among the new features to explore are: Videos that share client stories about how WJCS has changed their ...

It’s Volunteer Appreciation Week!

2021-04-30T18:35:44-04:00April 16th, 2021|Categories: General|Tags: , , , , , |

It's Volunteer Appreciation Week, a perfect time to celebrate the 250+ active volunteers who assist WJCS staff in many of our 80+ programs. We are so grateful to all of our volunteers, who range in age from young students to seniors, for the dedication and skills they bring to their work at our agency. While our volunteer opportunities are currently primarily virtual because of the coronavirus, they still provide plenty of opportunities to help others and make a difference. Our volunteers tell us they feel that helping others helps them. It provides purpose to their lives. As Rabbi Hillel ...

It’s the Week of the Young Child!

2021-04-30T19:00:50-04:00April 16th, 2021|Categories: General|

The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration that takes place each April and is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the largest organization of early childhood professionals.  First established in 1971, the Week of the Young Child recognizes that childhood is a unique and valuable stage of life. It's a time to grow, to learn, and to build the foundation for the future. This year, the Week of the Young Child is being celebrated April 12-18. It  highlights the importance of families, early childhood professionals, and communities working together to support every ...

What the CDC Wants You to Know About Covid Vaccines

2021-04-16T16:57:41-04:00April 16th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Age requirements have been lowered for the Covid vaccine in New York State and there are an increasing number of vaccination sites. Many people still have questions, though, about the vaccines. Here is what the Centers for Disease Control wants you to know: Covid vaccination is an important tool to help stop the Covid pandemic. COVID vaccination helps protect people from getting sick or severely ill with COVID-19 and might also help protect people around them. To receive the most protection, people should receive all recommended doses of a Covid vaccine. It typically takes two weeks after you are ...

Juneteenth—Celebrate Freedom

2023-06-20T11:37:45-04:00June 15th, 2021|Categories: General|Tags: , , , , , |

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an American holiday honoring and celebrating African-American ancestry, history, achievements, and struggles. In particular, this celebration honors the day in 1865 when enslaved peoples in Texas and Louisiana finally heard they’d been freed, more than two and a half years after the date of January 1, 1863 when the Emancipation Proclamation had become official. Juneteenth is now recognized as a state holiday or state holiday observance in various U.S. states, with New York officially declaring it a state holiday in 2020. However, Juneteenth celebrations and events having been taking ...

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