Fogelman Jewish Family Service Newsletter Issue 3

ISSUE 3 | Spring 2024

Note from Rashki

As we recently celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the Hebrew word “geula”. “Geula”, a word that we use in connection with Passover, means redemption or freedom. Passover is a time of redemption and freedom for Jews from Egypt and from oppression. We also commemorate Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day during this month. It is significant to me that we are in the month of May, which is the national mental health awareness month. During mental health awareness month, we share hopes of freedom and wishes of redemption as well. These include hopes for the future, hopes to overcome our struggles, and redemption from our limitations. It is no coincidence that Passover falls during the Spring season. Spring is meant to bring feelings of joy, renewal, and growth, which are similar feelings to the ones of "geula". It is all connected.

Being part of Wendy and Avron B. Fogelman Jewish Family Service at the MJCC is a constant reminder of the needs and struggles in the Memphis community. I am grateful to be raising awareness and fighting the stigma during this May and mental health awareness month. If you have not done something to take part in the fight for redemption, please reach out. We are here for you; we are here for the Memphis community. You are not alone.

Rashki Osina, LCSW

Director of Social Services

Wendy and Avron B. Fogelman Jewish Family Service

rosina@jccmemphis.org

Let's Catch Up:

Over the Past 6 Months...

Peggy E. & L.R. Jalenak, Jr Food and Baby Pantry

In 2023, the Peggy E. & L.R. Jalenak, Jr Food and Baby Pantry distributed 3,374 pantry bags! That's 1,000 more than the previous year! Thank you all who donated to our annual food drive. We collected more than 2,200 items! WOW!! Wendy & Avron B. Fogelman Jewish Family Service at the MJCC provides shelf-stable food to supplement the frozen meals program and serves those who are food insecure.

If you would like to donate, receive items, or have questions, call us!

Below is an easy link to donate items, straight to our door!

https://www.amazon.com/.../ls/27RZVGJIF4QAR/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

March CEU

Thank you to Rebecca Frary and Paige Scheinberg for presenting at our March continuing education workshop on Art & Play.

Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

Wendy and Avron B. Fogelman Jewish Family Service celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Month with a lovely breakfast for our volunteers. We could not do all the work without our amazing volunteers. From delivering pantry and frozen meals each week, to driving seniors and individuals with disabilities to appointments and socialization outings, our volunteers are always available and willing to go the extra mile. Thank you!

B'nai Tzedek

Wendy and Avron B. Fogelman Jewish Family Service received three grants from the B'nai Tzedek teens at Jewish Community Partners. We are so grateful for the funds to assist in purchasing items for the Peggy E. & L.R. Jalenak, Jr. Food and Baby Pantry, Chanukah gift program, and a new Senior and Inclusion art program.

J Family Parent & Me

Thank you to everyone who has joined Ms. Sara on Sundays as we've come together at the MJCC for a weekly parent and me series filled with music and movement, child-led play, a child-friendly mini Shabbat or Havdalah experience, and snack. Each class we've nurtured friendships, curiosity, respect, and Jewish identity. Be on the lookout for information about our Fall kickoff event, Popsicles at the Pool, on August 18th! Have a good summer everyone!

Mah Ani 2.0

Thank you to all our community partners that have worked with Mah Ani 2.0 this year! We appreciate the collaboration with 901 Community Fridge, Wolf River Conservancy, Plough Towers, Memphis Rox, ReStore Corps, Memphis Parks & Rec and Memphis Jewish Home and Rehab.

Spots are available for Sunday, 5/19, 1-3pm! It will be the last session for this school year! We are volunteering with Room in the Inn, an organization that provides a safe environment for those struggling with homelessness.

Mah Ani 2.0 is a year-round program for 6th-8th grade teens. Teens will have the opportunity to complete a community service project and learn about individual well-being, social justice, and connection through charitable work. Mah Ani 2.0 provides a platform for improving our community and caring for the most vulnerable members of our society. Each participant will receive a certificate with community service hours. Learn more and register at jccmemphis.org/BeWell. If you are an organization that would like to partner on this project, please email edavis@jccmemphis.org.

Fogelman JFS: Meeting the Needs of Jewish Memphians

Upcoming Programs

Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Wendy and Avron B. Fogelman Jewish Family Service is here to listen. Throughout the month of May, Fogelman JFS staff will be working hard to spread awareness. Doing things such as wearing green to raise awareness, handing out stickers with phrases such as “going to therapy is cool” and “grow through what you go through”, and creating an interactive wall stating “It makes me happy, when skies are grey” for members of the MJCC community. Fogelman JFS will be making phone calls and reaching out to individuals about needs and services as well.

MJCC staff wore green in support of Mental Health Awareness Month.

May CEU

Join us for our next continuing education workshop!

De-escalation: A Trauma-informed Approach Responding With Respect and Dignity

In this workshop, participants will learn about trauma-informed de-escalation techniques. Presenters will address healthy strategies for de-escalating clients. Participants will expand their understanding of trauma-informed care and deepen their empathy for the broad range of life experiences clients face. Participants will learn skills for self-regulation before and after attending to a crisis.

Facilitated by Kelli Holloway, LCSW and Kiya Black, LMSW. 3 NASW-TN CEUs.

5/30 9-12pm virtual

Save the Date for the 4th Annual

September 25-29, 2024

Featuring tournaments, clinics, music & more

Inclusion Case Management Program

Fogelman Jewish Family Services provides professional, affordable and compassionate case management services to families with children of all ages. Our social worker will work with you and your family to feel empowered, to maximize the quality of your life, and help your child reach their full potential. The social worker will assess the child’s needs, develop individualized plans to meet those needs, help the family find services near where they live, navigate school and educational services, monitor the child’s progress, provide follow-up with family to ensure needs are met, and advocate for services and supports. Meeting will be conducted monthly to monitor progress and success.

Note from Jonathan

It’s appropriate that our Spring issue of “Here for You” comes out during May, which is Mental Health Awareness month.

Wendy and Avron Fogelman Jewish Family Service strives to be “Here” for all of us no matter what challenge we may face. We’re fortunate that in 2024 there is much more conversation about mental health, more openness and less judgement.

Yet, despite that, so many people suffer in silence. And there remains an enormous amount of stigma around mental health.

This month, and every month, I’d urge you to fight the stigma. Check on your friends and loved ones. And remind them that Fogelman JFS is here for them. Let our wonderful team of professionals help. That, is what we’re “Here” for.

Jonathan Epstein

Vice Chair, Social Services

MJCC/Fogelman JFS

Our Services

If you or a loved one would like more information about our services,

or would like to volunteer, please call 901.767.8511.

Transportation through Kay & Allen Iskiwitz Shalom Shuttle

Our experienced driver provides transportation to members of the Jewish community who are at least 60 years old as well as adults with documented disabilities. Transportation is provided with door to door assistance to locations within Shelby County.

Please note, we are unable to accommodate individuals in wheel chairs.

Volunteer Services

Fogelman JFS volunteers have several opportunities to work with home bound Jewish seniors: Volunteer Driver for medical appointments and shopping, Kosher Meals delivery, Friendly Visitor, Stay in Touch telephone assurance, Handy Helper for home chores, and Drivers with our Special Needs activities. We also need volunteers to work on various special projects and other programs and services.

J Family Program

J Baby: Ages 0–2

Come together for a weekly parent and me series filled with music and movement, child-led play, a child-friendly mini Shabbat or Havdalah experience, and snack for those eating solids. Each class will nurture friendship, curiosity,

respect, and Jewish identity for young children and their parents. Led by Sara Kaplan.

Educational Programs

We offer a variety of workshops for both professionals and the community-at-large. Many are NASW TN approved events.

Counseling & Support Groups/ Classes

Our licensed counselors offer individual, family, and couples counseling. All services are offered on a sliding scale basis. Current support groups focus on Holocaust survivors, dementia, and those individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. There is no charge for these groups. We also offer a Parenting Through Divorce class which is a state-mandated co-parenting class for couples who are getting divorced and have minor children. There is a fee for this class.

Intake and Referral

Our Intake Coordinator assesses needs, provides information, and helps community members access services at the Wendy and Avron B. Fogelman Jewish Family Service (Fogelman JFS) and elsewhere in the area.

Judy and Larry Moss Senior Services

Our Case Manager enhances the lives of seniors by providing comprehensive support to them and their loved ones. This is done through evaluating and coordinating ongoing support services.

Inclusion and Diverse Abilities

Our Inclusion and Diverse Abilities programs provide a variety of services for the Jewish community, both educational and social. Programs are available for individuals living with developmental and acquired disabilities, as well as their caregivers. Services include assistance in navigating the legal, medical, and educational systems.

Finestone Family Home Delivered Meals

Our home-delivered meal program provides Kosher frozen meals to seniors of the Jewish community who qualify.

Peggy E. & L.R. Jalenak, Jr. Food and Baby Pantry

The Peggy E. & L.R. Jalenak, Jr. Food and Baby Pantry at Fogelman JFS, is open to all who qualify. The Kosher food pantry provides shelf-stable food to serve those who are food insecure. The baby pantry serves children, newborns to 2 years. Inventory is based on community donations and includes baby essentials such as diapers, baby wipes, bottles, and pacifiers. We do not provide clothes or toys.

BeWell Memphis

BeWell is a teen wellness initiative to help combat

mental health issues.

Teen Mental Health First Aid

This program teaches teens in grades 10–12, or ages 15–18, how to identify, understand, and respond to

signs of mental health and substance use challenges

in their friends and peers. This is a 3-class series.

Facilitated by Emily Davis, LMSW, and Kayla Salomon, LCSW.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

This class teaches adults how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges among child and adolescents ages 12-18. Facilitated by Rebecca Frary, LPC-MHSP.