Annual Report 2016 –17 “ A Community is too Heavy to Carry Alone” – Deuteronomy Rabbah 1:10 ANNUAL REPORT 2016 – 2017 Dear Friends, Every day, San Diegans turn to Jewish Family Service for the resources and support to confront their toughest challenges — hunger, domestic violence, physical and mental illness, lack of transportation, and even the death of a loved one. At every age, and every stage of life, we are committed to helping people move forward. On the following pages, you’ll find a summary of our accomplishments over the past year, and our impact across the community. This annual report is a celebration of the many ways we’ve acted together to fulfill our purpose to build a stronger, healthier, more resilient San Diego. With generous community support, we have made a difference in the lives of 25,000 individuals and families who turned to JFS this year. As we approach our Centennial, we remain committed to helping people in crisis move forward, while developing innovative strategies to break cycles of poverty and strengthen our community over the long-term. Together, we are a building a community of stronger families, greater opportunity, and healthier lives at every age. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey of Moving Forward Together. Marie G. Raftery Michael Hopkins, MSW Chair, Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer Jewish Family Service | Moving Forward Together Every year, more than 25,000 San Diegans turn to Jewish Family Service because they need someone in their corner. “It isn’t easy “Without the Older Adult living so far away, Center, my friends would be but the peace of at home, maybe all alone… mind that On the just watching TV. But now, Go is monitoring they have people to talk my mom’s rides to, eat lunch with, and and communicating with her drivers to make dance with. I love being sure she is getting picked up and dropped here. And we have such off safely is a huge blessing.” a good time when we’re all together.” — Christy, daughter of On the Go: Navigator client — Tate, 9-year-old volunteer JFS is dedicated to ensuring older adults lead safe, independent, and healthy lives — and are active members of our San Diego community. Home safety and fall prevention Home and community-based • 1,086 home repairs and safety modifications services, including an extensive network of transportation services Care consultation and coordination, • 35,000 rides given counseling, information and • More than 35,000 visits to Balboa referral, and respite care and College Avenue Social & • 10,987 hours of care management Wellness Centers • 136 Holocaust Survivors assisted Older • Charitable Adult Rides & Services • Bikkur Holim: 73 older adults (CARS) processed 100,000 vehicle connected to a friendly visitor Adults donations for nonprofits nationwide Training and employment Home-delivered meals and programs congregate meals at connected 58 older adults JFS Social & Wellness Centers to employment opportunities • 82,000 meals provided to homebound seniors and low-income A DECADE of Earning Charity Navigator’s Highest 4-Star Rating 1% of nonprofits nationwide can make this claim We put the strength of our entire agency behind every client. “I will never forget your efforts “After escaping an abusive and kindness in helping me. marriage, my children and I The two interviews went very needed help. The care and smoothly, and I got the job! If support we’ve received have someone asks me about the given all three of us a renewed secret of my success later in sense of hope and possibility. life (and I will be successful), I will not be defined by what I will tell them that I had a great team happened to me, but by what I did to create supporting me from day one.” a better life for my family.” — Ahmad, newly resettled refugee — “Kate,” domestic violence survivor JFS partners with clients to achieve life-changing goals and seize life’s next great opportunity. Connection to community • Jewish Big Pals: supported 39 child/mentor matches • Refugee & Immigration: 526 refugees Emotional wellbeing resettled; 299 citizenship/naturalization • Counseling: 227 clients moved applications filed, 213 new citizens toward their goals in 2,161 • Supporting Jewish Single Parents: 300+ therapy sessions single parents engaged in community • Positive Parenting: 2,051 parents served, benefiting 3,625 children Physical health and nutrition • Patient Advocacy: patient’s rights • Breast Cancer Case Management: Children protected in 4,472 hearings 213 women received assistance and support & Families Economic independence • Hand Up Food Pantry: distributed food equivalent to 313,492 meals • Case Management: 577 individuals transformed their lives Safe and reliable housing • Employment & Career Services: helped 170 employment seekers • Homeless Services: 200+ individuals served nightly • Project SARAH: 191 domestic abuse survivors found safety and a new • JFS Case Managers: provided 31 individuals beginning with financial assistance for housing, 11 of whom were fleeing domestic violence JFS was named a 2016 Nonprofit of the earY by the California State Assembly. JFS is nationally recognized for its commitment to best practices, programmatic acumen, innovative partnerships, and exceptional delivery of high quality services for children, families, and older adults. JFS is proud to share news of the following achievements from the last year… Leading the Way Aging & Wellness Research Center to operate “Out & About,” which provides weekly dementia-friendly • The Balboa Avenue Older Adult Center (BAOAC) excursions for Balboa Avenue Older Adult opened in August 2016 at JFS’s Joan & Irwin Center participants. Jacobs Campus and has seen significantly increased attendance since relocating from the • With generous funding from Del Mar Healthcare University City area. Fund through The San Diego Foundation, JFS launched On the Go Navigator in March 2017 • In September 2016, the Administration for to provide older adults with on-demand ride Community Living awarded federal funds to scheduling and monitored transportation via Lyft. JFS, in partnership with Alzheimer’s San Diego, for a three-year exploratory project focused on • The San Diego Association of Governments meeting the unique needs of individuals with (SANDAG) awarded JFS’s On the Go: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Transportation Solutions for Older Adults the (ADRD), and their caregivers. The initiative largest transportation grant in JFS history — includes dementia training for staff and $1.75 million over two years. volunteers provided by Alzheimer’s San Diego, new certification in the evidence-based Music Child & Family Services and Memories in-home music therapy program, • Through a partnership with Feeding San Diego, and dementia education and support groups for JFS became one of the first organizations in the family members and caregivers. nation to join Starbucks FoodShare. By March • In February 2017, JFS began a partnership with 2017, the Hand Up Food Pantry was collecting an the UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease average of 1,500 pounds of nutritious Starbucks ANNUAL REPORT 2016 – 2017 Advocating on Issues that Matter JFS recognizes that long-term systemic change requires partnership with government and policy makers. As a high-impact organization, we are committed to partnering on legislative solutions food per week, which is distributed to food that reinforce our direct service work and address the unmet needs of our clients. In the last year, JFS insecure San Diegans through the Corner Market, prioritized legislation and budget priorities aimed Foodmobile, and other JFS programs. at uplifting working families and their children and ensuring adequate funding for services that support • In October 2016, JFS began partnering with the non-profitDreams for Change to offer safe overnight aging with dignity. parking and supportive services to homeless Our 2016/2017 Policy Achievements individuals and families sleeping in their cars at • JFS has advocated for the reauthorization night. In addition to parking and shower facilities at of the Older Americans Act for the past five the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus, JFS provides food years. Through this critical federal legislation, and other resources, restroom and shower facilities, signed into law in early 2017, JFS receives over and services focused on employment and housing. $800,000 to provide older adults with job- training, transportation, nutritious meals, caregiver • The County of San Diego-funded Positive Parenting support through minor home repairs and safety Program contract was renewed for five more years modifications, and special support services for and received the 2016 Child Abuse Prevention Holocaust Survivors. Coordinating Council’s Program of the Year • In 2016, JFS was honored to sign on as an early supporter of the AGE Act, which would — for “STARS” Award. the first time ever — provide a tax credit for • JFS received the 2016 San Diego County family caregivers. Behavioral Health System’s “Community Education • At the state level, JFS leveraged its membership in Program of the Year Award.” the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California and engaged Jewish communal organizations from • JFS resettled a total of 526 refugees fleeing across the state in a successful advocacy effort to persecution in war zones around the world. secure $3.2 million in supplemental state funding for Senior Nutrition services. • JFS supported budget requests for increased state investments in affordable housing, early education,