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The 2022 WJCS Back-to-School Drive: A Huge Success!

2022-08-17T09:10:33-04:00August 10th, 2022|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|

The 2022 WJCS Back-to-School Drive has concluded and we're happy to report that it's been a big success! Through the generosity of WJCS donors and our non-profit partners, UJA Westchester and Supplies for Success, we have been able to help 1,300 children in under-resourced communities in Westchester, start school equipped for a successful academic year. We have supplied young children in WJCS programs with brand new backpacks and school supplies, plus a $20 gift card to purchase a new first-day-of-school outfit. Thanks to Order Out of Chaos for donating school year planners which are being distributed to our tween ...

WJCS is hiring!

2022-07-27T13:48:12-04:00July 27th, 2022|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|

WJCS helps transform lives every day. Our 80+ programs provide Westchester county residents of all ages and backgrounds with mental health counseling, trauma treatment, vocational and recreational activities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, care management for seniors, support for LGBTQ+ youth, and so much more. We have many positions available. If you or someone you know wants to use their knowledge and skills to make a valuable difference in people’s lives, WJCS is for you! The following are just a few of our job openings. Please review our comprehensive list of job opportunities at WJCS at: https://www.wjcs.com/careers/openings/ ...

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 ...

Our Commitment to Equity and Anti-Racism

2022-06-16T14:16:57-04:00June 16th, 2022|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|

At a time of frequent and horrific news stories of racial injustices, WJCS recommits its support of the fight against systemic racism. We consider sensitivity toward diversity, equity, and inclusion essential to our work with clients and to developing a safe, protected, and accepting environment for staff a top priority. As a trauma-informed agency and at the forefront of trauma treatment, WJCS recognizes that racial discrimination is a trauma. We are dedicated to the ongoing work of creating a safe, healthy, and productive environment for our employees and clients, and will continue to work to ensure that people of ...

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, ...

It Takes a Village

2022-06-23T13:39:16-04:00September 27th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

At WJCS, we're proud that we serve 20,000 Westchester residents, of all ages and backgrounds. But we can't do it alone. We are so grateful to our community partners who are generous and compassionate in so many ways. Loftex is a perfect example. Loftex is a textile company that manufactures beautiful towels. For years, Loftex has provided towels for WJCS clients in under-resourced communities. One of Loftex's taglines on its website (https://loftex.com) is "Making People Feel Good." When WJCS clients receive towels from Loftex they feel very, very good—both because they enjoy the luxurious towels and also because they feel ...

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

2021-09-15T18:05:40-04:00September 15th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage|Tags: , , , , , |

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDgh_oaYXRU September is Suicide Prevention Month and WJCS would like everyone to know that there is help available for anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cutting-edge, evidence-based treatment that combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches and Eastern philosophies, like mindfulness, to reduce suicidality and help individuals build a life worth living. DBT can help with:• Regulating intense, painful emotions • Controlling life-threatening and life- interfering behaviors, including suicide • Managing difficult interpersonal relationships • Fostering more life balanceWhy DBT? DBT is the treatment of choice for people who have struggled to find relief in ...

September is Suicide Prevention Month

2023-09-20T14:30:27-04:00September 20th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Recent data shows that in the United States suicide rates are the highest they have been since World War II. According to the National Institute of Health, there were more than 47,000 suicides in 2019, twice the number of deaths caused by homicide. Self-violence is a problem we cannot ignore. 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 cause for suicidal behavior, common risk factors include: Depression or ...

WJCS Appoints New Board Members

2021-07-30T19:12:38-04:00July 30th, 2021|Categories: Featured Homepage|Tags: , , , , , |

WJCS, one of the largest human service organizations in Westchester, is proud to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors: Joel Beckman, Steven Beckman, and Julian Gomez. Joel Beckman co-founded Greenbriar Equity Group, L.P. and, before that, was a Managing Director and Partner at Goldman Sachs. Now retired, he has been actively involved in numerous philanthropic causes, including UJA-Federation of New York, the University of Rochester, Yale Law School, the JCC of Budapest, Stepping Stone Day School for handicapped children, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, and the Chordoma Foundation. He lives with his wife Shari in Scarsdale ...

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