A PUBLICATION OF THE CHATTANOOGA JEWISH FEDERATION The SHOFAR Volume 7 Number 5 Tevet - Shevat 5753 January, 1993 Social Worker Hired to Establish Welcome to America! Social Services Arm of Our Jewish Federation The appointment of Susan Ross Distefano, MSW, as social worker for the Chattanooga Jewish Federa­ tion is announced by Louis B. Solomon, Executive Director and Dr. David Solovey, chairman of the Federation Social Services Committee. "We are pleased to have found an individual with Mrs. Distefano's experience and knowledge of the Chatta­ nooga human services network to establish this greatly needed service for our Jewish community," Dr. Solovey said. "We have been looking for the right professional to shape and develop information, referral and case management services, provide support services and short term counseling to the elderly, help with the resettlement of new Soviet immigrants and service u cmMcuis lor over a year, Lou Solomon said, the search began in response to the report of the ad hoc committee report recommending the establishment of the service based on examination of the data collected during the Needs Assessment and Demo­ The first group of Soviet Jews has arrived in Chattanooga to be reunited with their son, graphic Study done in 1990. (More about the study on Demitry Selipanov andhis wife, Cindy. Demitry, emigrated from Moscow to Atlanta about page 2.) The social worker will also work closely with the twoyearsago. Achemist with Analytical Industrial ResearchLabs, he moved to Chattanooga rabbis and the Jewish Community Center to imple­ several months ago. Leonid and Nonna Iqffe andAleksey Selipanov came to Chattanooga ment Jewish Family Life Education programs in lastmonthfrom Vladimir, a suburb of Moscow. The parents are jewelers workingwith gems conjunction with the synagogues, Jewish agencies and precious metals. Their 22yare old son, Aleksey, has a degree in Russian Language and and organizations. Anative of Oak Ridge, TN, Susan Ross Distefano World Literature. His wife, Ann, who was unable to accompany them from Russia, is earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and expected to arrive on January 8th. Aleksy has already gotten his driver's license and he and History from Centre College in Danville, KY in 1982 his parents are attending English Language classes at Chattanooga State. We welcome and a Master of Science degree in Social Work from them to our community. (R-L) Aleksey Selipanov, Nonna Iqffe, Demitry and Cindy the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1985. She is also a Tennessee certified School Social Worker. Selipanov and Leonid Iqffe. Mrs. Distefano has most recently worked as a Jewish Social Service p. 2 Our Mas la Israel p. 9 Inside National eUnttNewi p. 4 CoBgregattoaal News p. JM3 consultant to Adventist Community Services in Commaaity Relation Newt p. 5 Life Cycles p. 14 vA Collegedale and served as Social Service Director of this A Miracle Mission p.« JCC News p. 16-18 the Salvation Army in Chattanooga from 1988-1990. Shoreshim Trip la Poland & Israel p. 7 too.kBcatp.19 : '••'•:• (ContinuedpageX)^ issue; i Recipes from owe Rebetcens p. 8*9 Chattanooga Jewish Federation Bulk Rats P.O. Box 8847 U.S. Postage Campaign Update Chattanooga, TN 87411 Paid PSMDttCB December 25,1992 (Addpess connection requested) Cbattaaoosa, TN Return postage guaranteed Time Value 1993 Campaign $568,829 (up 9.96%) 1992 Same Cards $517,296 Page 2 The SHOFAR, January, 1993 Federation Responds to Needs in Our Jewish Community: Social Service Arm Established In response to the data gathered in the Needs Assessment and Demographic Study Background: done by the Chattanooga Jewish Federation in 1990, a social service arm of the Report of the Ad Hoc Social Federation has been established, headed by Susan Ross Distefano, MSW. Services Committee Mrs. Distefano will develop information, referral and case management services, provide support services and short term counseling to the elderly, help with the Following the Jewish Federation's Needs Assess­ resettlement of new Soviet immigrants and service transients for the Chattanooga ment & Demographic Study of 1990, Lou Solomon Jewish Community. She will also work closely with the rabbis and the Jewish organized a group of individuals to look at the data Community Center to implment Jewish family Life Education programs in conjunc­ which indicated a possible need for social services tion with the synagogues, Jewish agencies and organizations. within the Jewish community. A committee, headed by Dr. Sandra Packard, was formed consisting of Dr. The study questionnaire asked the respondents whether or not the Chattanooga Carol Berz, Sue Cohn, Helen Smith, David Jewish Federation should provide an array of new social services ranging from adult Hirschfeld, Louis Solomon, Rabbi Kenneth Kanter, day care for elderly or disabled persons to substance abuse counseling. A majority Rabbi Richard Sherwin, Dr. Martin Packard and ofthe sample supported offering each ofthe proposed services under Jewish auspices. Angeline Harrower. The committee's charge was to determine whether a need for Federation sponsored The respondents proved most supportive of geriatric counseling, emergency financial social services existed and what should be done to aid and adult day care. Domestic violence counseling, vocational counseling and meet such a need. individual counseling received the least support. The committee convened over the course of The Jewish Social Service will be housed in a private office in the Chattanooga 1991 to examine the survey data,share their expertise and experience in the social service community, and Jewish Community Center. If you are in need of assistance from Federation Social to determine the alternative strategies and associ­ Services or would like more information about this program, please contact Mrs. ated costs for meeting the social services needs of Distefano at 894-1317. All inquiries are confidential. Chattanooga's Jewish community. The conclu­ sion of the committee was that social services FIGURE 3: PERCENT FAVORING ADDITIONAL SERVICES were desired by the Jewish community, particu­ HEV SERVICES larly in the area of senior adult assistance and with counseling in financial and family emer­ £ 53* gencies. The questionnaire did not ask the DOMESTIC CONFLICT COUNSEL!© / questions necessary to determine whether the 5598 VOCATIONAL COUNSEL!© respondents perceived these services as being 5 adequately available in the larger community, t T. 57* or if they would use these services were they rorVDUALCfJUNSajNG available through the Jewish Federation. -jpiaiaiaiaiiii!iiiiiaiiMiiiaiaitt i 63* The committee did conclude that if the SUBSTAICE ABUSE COUNSEL!© I Chattanooga Jewish Federation were to pro­ i 66* vide limited social services, these services would FAMLY COUNSEL!© be well used. We also believe that the most I appropriate services to be offered, given the •2 76* limited information available on potential us­ ADULT DAY CAKE age and the limited resources of the Federation, 78* are referral services. Referral services would EMERGENCY FMANCIAL AD provide assistance to permanent and transient 83* members of the Jewish community in the form GERJATRC COUNSEL!© c 1 of direction and assistance in obtaining the sub­ 3£ "2 3= 7 stantive and long-term services available in the 0.0* 20.0* 40.0* 60.0* 80.0* general Chattanooga region. An additional ser­ vice to be offered would be the development and PERCENT FAVORMB operation of support services for elderly mem­ bers of Chattanooga's Jewish community. Not recommended, however, are a day-care service The questionnaire asked the respondents whether or not the Chattanooga Jewish Federation for the elderly, an intensive counseling pro­ shouldprovide an array of new socialservices rangingfrom adult day careforelderly or disabled gram, or other major support services which persons to substance abuse counseling. The data presented in Figure 3 indicate a majority of would require a significant commitment of funds. the sample supported offering each ofthe proposed services under Jewish auspices. The As to supervision, it would be most desirable respondents proved most supportive ofgeriatric counseling, emergency financial aid and adult for the individual to report to Lou Solomon as Director ofthe Federation with a separate com­ day care. Domestic violence counseling, vocational counseling and individual counseling munity advisory board selected by the Federa­ received the least support. tion. The Chair of this board would make an annual report to the Federation Board in the form of census data only, without identifying Chattanooga Jewish Federation names or characteristics that could identify indi­ vidual clients to any member of the Board. Annual Meeting Steve Vlin interviews Carolyn Pfenning on Chattanooga Housing on page 19. 7:30 p.m. at the JCC The SHOFAR, January, 1993 Page 3 Susan Distefano to Head Jewish Social Services (Continued from page 1) 1993 UJA National Summer She also has experience as a school Missions to Israel social worker, counselor and teacher. Mrs. Distefano has served as a mem­ ber of the Tennessee Conference on Family Missions Singles Missions Social Welfare and the Homeless Co­ ordinating Council, Secretary of the I June 14-24 I June 27-Juiy 8* Community Services Club of Chatta­ II June 28-JuIy 8* II July 4-15* nooga and a representative to the Prot­ estant Health and Welfare Assembly III July 12-22* and the Chattanooga Homeless Task IV August 2-12 Force. Looking for a position in which education, experience and abilities in Young Couples Singles Over 35 social work, psychology and locating funding resources would be of value, Mission Mission Susan Distefano is proficient in relat­ ing to people on all levels and main­ August 8-18 May 30-June 9 taining tact in difficult situations. She has the ability to develop, plan and "featuring the 1993 Maccabiah Games implement long-term solutions and has a strong networking aptitude. Susan Ross Distefano, MSW "I am really enthusiastic about the opportunity to develop this new service for Cost, Itinerary and other details coming soon to the Jewish Community of Chattanooga from the ground up.