Spring Matching Campaign was a Success!

During our Spring Matching Campaign, we reached and exceeded our fundraising goal, raising approximately 9,000 unrestricted dollars! With the board match, that amounts to almost $16,500 in total! This will help the JFS staff better serve the families in our community.

We are so grateful to everyone who contributed and to our entire community of supporters. We couldn't do this work without you.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH:

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Caring for your mental health is extremely important to maintain emotional, psychological, social, and physical well-being. We asked some of our mental health care professionals why caring for our mental health is so important and why they decided to enter the mental health profession.

"I decided to become a mental professional because I have realized the significant impact of mental health on society and the happiness that can be truly stolen from someone’s life. Mental health struggles are prevalent in young children and are usually never addressed. This leads to an adult who has gone years without addressing their mental health. I want to break that cycle and address mental health early on to give children a fair chance at life and becoming successful mentally.

The reward of working in this profession would be seeing some of the children I have worked with become very successful both mentally and professionally in the near future." - Tiffany, Family Crisis Therapist

"Growing up, I suffered from acute anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. Things got really rough around the time I graduated high school. Due to these conditions, I was unable to leave my home for approximately two years. I was in a very dark place. Around this time, I promised myself that if I ever got to a place of healing, I would do everything in my power to help others heal.



After much encouragement, I finally listened to my family and sought help through therapy. Over time I began to heal. The anxiety lessened. My mood improved. I was leaving my home and interacting with others. At my last session with my therapist, he said, "Now it is your turn to help others." I smiled and said, "My thoughts exactly." This exchange has always been my compass. It has been an interesting journey. I'm blessed to be able to walk this path. Every day is a testament to healing and the power of human connection." - Michael, Director of Clinical Services

Click here to hear from more of our therapists and counselors on the importance of caring for our mental health. Visit jfsdelaware.org/mental-health/ for more information about our mental health services.

JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), and we are proud to support this national celebration!

Established by the Presidential proclamation in 2006, and renewed every year since, JAHM provides an opportunity for all Americans to celebrate and draw inspiration from the contributions that Jewish Americans have made to the fabric of our nation’s history and culture.

Click here to learn more about Jewish American Heritage Month.

Vlad Cerbov Featured Speaker at Kutz Senior Living Donor Luncheon

On May 3, Vlad Cerbov, JFS Community Relations Manager, was the featured speaker at this year’s Kutz Senior Living Campus Donor Luncheon! Vlad talked about his role at JFS and shared the incredible story of his journey from Moldolva to Delaware as an asylum seeker.

JFS Staff Attend PowerNET 2023

Several JFS staff members spent some time last week at PowerNET 2023 in Dallas, presenting and attending workshops and presentations. PowerNET is the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA) annual conference. The theme for this year's conference was Mission Possible: making our vision and aspirations a reality.

JFS Awarded $15,00 grant by The Fund for Women

JFS Delaware has been awarded a $15,000 grant for mental health care for women experiencing perinatal and postpartum depression by The Fund for Women (FFW) at the Delaware Community Foundation!



The FFW awarded $249,575 in grants to 18 nonprofit organizations this year, serving women and girls in all three Delaware counties. JFS CEO Renna Van Oot and Director of Development Liberty Breen attended the FFW Grant Awards Celebration at the Odessa Memorial Hall last Wednesday.

Click here for more info.

COMING UP/HAPPENING NOW:

PJ Library

PJ Library, PJ Our Way, and PJ Grandparents are programs sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Delaware that provide free Jewish children's books to families with young children. By signing up, you can receive monthly deliveries of high-quality, age-appropriate books that help foster a love for Jewish traditions and values.

To sign up, simply visit the PJ Library website at pjlibrary.org/delaware and register your family. It's quick, easy, and free!

Maternal Mental Health

Join our Mom’s Space weekly support group led by clinicians with specialty training (PSI trained). Mom’s Space is a safe space for women and birthing people to connect, share, and ask questions. We provide education about various topics pertaining to maternal mental health and facilitate access to additional support and wellness services. Individual therapy sessions are also available. 

Click here to learn more about the Sonia Schorr Sloan Maternal Mental Health Program.

LGBTQ+ Parent Support Group

We're looking for volunteers in Sussex County and New Castle County! If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering for JFS, click here, or contact Vlad Cerbov. Our work is made possible by dedicated volunteers and donors like YOU! Click on the boxes below for information about how YOU can get involved in helping our neighbors, friends, and family thrive.

"Best working environment I've ever encountered." - JFS employee