Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services

Today we’re at NYU’s Kimmel Center to reflect on 150 years of mental health and social services, and how the lessons learned in the past can help guide the future of care.

If you’re a social work student, educator, or mental health professional, you’re invited to join us on Monday, November 18, at 2 p.m. at New York University's Kimmel Center for University Life for our 150th Anniversary Symposium, "150 Years of Mental Health and Social Services: Reflecting on the Past to Shape the Future". Join us for thought-provoking conversations with academics and leaders in social services and mental health from Yale University, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, JCCA, HIAS, and The New Jewish Home that will reflect on the history of mental health and social services and address the pressing issues we're facing today. Seats are limited, so RSVP today!

Wishing all who celebrate Diwali a bright, joyous, and fortunate year ahead!

We're excited to announce that our CEO, Dr. Jeffrey Brenner, was named a member of The Helmsley Charitable Trust's Collaborative on Housing for Health! This collaborative centralizes our efforts to solve the issue of health and homelessness by bringing together key providers of housing for health services in New York City. In Jeff's own words, “As leaders, we’re coming together to reimagine how our system can best meet their needs, help them get off the streets, and move forward on a journey towards wellness and recovery.” Learn more about the collaborative at https://lnkd.in/e-85nVb5

As a young gay man in the West Village in 1995, Jared felt like AIDS and even his own death, was inevitable, having become HIV positive in 1989. His diagnosis was a turning point; he found purpose in volunteering on the Gay Men’s Health Crisis hotline. Through GMHC, Jared was connected to Jewish Board counseling services. His counseling helped him manage his health fears and anxiety and cope with the second-hand trauma stemming from his volunteer work. As his illness progressed, Jared received grief counseling, family group therapy, and drop-in volunteer visits. Learn more about Jared's history in the link below.

October is Children’s Health Month! Because of their unique physiology and behavior, children can be particularly sensitive to traumas, environmental dangers, and injuries. At The Jewish Board, we understand the critical need for age-appropriate mental health resources to support young people. Check out our guide on helping children cope with grief, and explore our website for more resources tailored to kids of all ages.

In 1901, 25-year-old Moshe arrived in New York from Galicia, Poland, and had turned to pickpocketing to get by. After being released from prison on Blackwell’s Island, he had no means to support himself and no family to help. The Society for Aid to Jewish Prisoners provided him with free board and lodging, new clothing and shoes, and work as a cloth cutter at a Lower East Side clothing factory. Follow us for more as we celebrate our legacy of #150yearsofcare.

In 1885, Sadie was pregnant with her third child. She worried about how she would deliver her baby safely and how she would manage with her two other children. One of our legacy organizations, the "Ladies' Hebrew Lying-in Society," was able to help put her mind at ease.

In 1874, home for Solomon was a 300-square-foot apartment off the Bowery that he shared with his wife Fanny and three small children. Unable to afford coal for the winter, Solomon attempted to scavenge wood and half-burnt coals from the ash barrels of wealthy homes to no avail. Without heat or warm food, the children became sick. Learn more about how Hebrew Benevolent Fuel Society helped Solomon and other families at jewishboard.org/150 #150YearsOfCare

The Honorable George Z. Medalie, President of The Jewish Board in the 1930s. Medalie (1883–1946) was a prominent U.S. lawyer and Jewish community leader born to Russian immigrants in the Lower East Side. He was deeply involved in Jewish philanthropic efforts, serving as president of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. As our president, he strongly supported the development of psychiatric casework. Medalie was chairman of the Mayor's Committee on Unemployment Relief during the Depression and served on many other government committees and the board of many other agencies. Learn even more about our rich history of #150yearsofcare here: https://lnkd.in/eYqQ7CaT