Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA) is proud to announce a grant from The Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) Center for Aging and Trauma. With funding support from the US Administration for Community Living (ACL), the JFNA Center on Aging and Trauma has allocated grants to provide person-centered trauma-informed services for older adults in need. Launched in 2020 to support 300 isolated Holocaust Survivors, the NJHSA program will be expanded with this new grant in 2021 to serve over 800 older adults with a history of trauma.
Following guidance from ACL and JFNA, NJHSA’s program is being extended beyond Holocaust Survivors to support any older adult who has a personal history of trauma, including veterans, refugees, victims of domestic violence or those struggling with mental health as a result of their history of trauma. The objective of the grant is to utilize technology to address the challenging dynamic of senior isolation. The NJHSA collaborative program utilizes broadcast and video technology developed by Uniper Care, a start-up technology company with roots in Israel. New to the program in 2021 are NJHSA member agencies: JFS Dallas; JCS South Florida, Miami; Alpert JFS, West Palm Beach and Rales JFS, Boca Raton (working together as one community); Kramer Senior Services Division of Morse Life, West Palm Beach; and JFCS of Greater Philadelphia.
The following NJHSA member agencies participated in 2020 and will continue with the NJHSA/Uniper program in 2021: Blue Card, New York City; CJE SeniorLife, Chicago; JFS Cincinnati; JFCS of Greater Philadelphia; JFCS of the Suncoast, Sarasota, FL; JSSA of Greater DC; Kings Bay Y, Brooklyn, NY.
“The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies is honored to be serving as lead agency for the continuation of this program and to bring this innovative resource to an expanded population, coming at a time during the pandemic where social isolation has created troubling and ongoing challenges for many vulnerable populations” said Reuben Rotman, President & CEO, Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies.
The JFNA Center -on Aging and Trauma promotes excellence in service delivery together with the expertise of partner organizations including the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. The grants awarded combine federal and philanthropic funds raised by JFNA’s National Holocaust Survivor Initiative.
The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies advances the Jewish human service sector through advocacy, best practices, innovation and partnerships. As an international membership association of more than 140 non profit human service agencies in the United States, Canada and Israel, Network members provide a full range of human services for the Jewish community and beyond, including healthcare, career, employment and mental health services, as well as programs for youth, families and seniors, Holocaust survivors, immigrants and refugees, persons with disabilities and caregivers. The Network strives to be the leading voice for the Jewish human service sector. As the go-to resource for advocacy, best practices, innovation and research, partnerships and collaborations, The Network strengthens agencies so they can better serve their communities. For more information about NJHSA visit www.networkjhsa.org or call 201-977-2400.
This program is made possible by federal funds from a grant through The JFNA Center on Aging and Trauma, a project of the Holocaust Survivor Initiative. Approximately 75% of the project, or $200,000, comes from federal sources. Approximately 25% or $66,667 comes from non-federal sources.
