March 4 - JFS Monthly Insider

MONTHLY Insider Welcome to the updated Monthly Insider!

We value your feedback and welcome any suggestions to enhance our offering.

MARCH 5TH 2024 ISSUE

Take the JEDI Survey Today!

There is still time for you to complete the JEDI Survey! Thank you to the 15 staff who have already completed it.

The JEDI Survey is important to make sure that JFS is making the most inclusive environment possible for all staff.

Complete the survey here.

EMERGENCY TEXTING Thank you for submitting your cell numbers for the Agency Texting Program.

On Thursday, March 29 at 11am, you will receive a test text. Please follow the instructions in the text.

If you do not receive a text from JFS on 3/29, please reach out to Patty Hoyt or Sydney Schmidt.

DO YOUR CYBER SECURITY TRAINING

The 2024 Cyber Security Training is available on the PHI portal. There are two training classes, Cyber Security Training & HIPPA Security and Privacy (managers, get 3 trainings, yahoo!).

Each training is under 30 minutes. Please watch the videos and take the quizzes. The training must be completed by March 6. The trainings are mandatory, so be sure to make time to complete them.

After logging into PHI, tap on MY PORTAL, then tap on TRAINING (1) in the dashboard On the PHI dashboard you will also find the Micro Training tab (2), ESS score (3) (Employee Secure Score-keep it above 500!) and your To-Dos (4) to improve your score. Remember, it is our job to keep all Protected Health Information safe. The higher your ESS score the closer you are to winning our contest! Winners announced in April.

If you have trouble logging into the PHI portal, please contact Patty Hoyt.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JEWISH COMMUNITY CARE? By: Matt Stewart, Manager of Jewish Community Care Jewish Community Services offers individuals and families connections to a multitude of Jewish support systems. Programs of Jewish community services include Jewish Community Care, the Jewish Community Partnership Program (JCPP), the Jewish Federation Apartments, and JFSWNYs Mental Health First Aid project.

Jewish community care provides case management services to Holocaust survivors and members of the WNY Jewish community. The Jewish Community Partnership Program (JCPP) which aims to enhance the wellbeing of the Jewish Community by developing a relationship with organizations/synagogues to ensure that JFSWNY is serving the community where they are at. The Jewish Federation Apartments is an independent living facility for those qualifying and who are 65 years of age or older, JFS has a service coordinator there ensure the residents social service needs are met.

NYIC LOBBY DAY IN ALBANY On February 13th, Danielle Bernas, Director of our Refugee and Immigrant Center for Healing (RICH), rejoined New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) in Albany to continue advocating for support for the Access to Representation Act(ARA)/Care for Immigrant Families bill that would require New York State to provide legal representation to migrants in removal proceedings.

The bill would allocate funding not only to legal representation but also to expanding capacity of organizations providing legal services and establishing additional services to connect immigrants with attorneys and other legal staff. Immigrants in removal proceedings do not currently have the right to an attorney to assist with the legal process, resulting in increased rates of denial of status and separation of families.

Passing the ARA would allow for individuals and families who have fled conflict, persecution, and torture in their home country to improve their chances of being granted a status that establishes safety and security in a new home. As a resettlement country, it is our responsibility to protect vulnerable communities and be a model for the protection of human rights.

CONGRATS MATT STEWART!

Congrats to all the Hillel of Buffalo students who participated in the Mental Health First Aid Training led by our very own, Matt Stewart, Jewish Community Care Manager.

NEED A RIDE TO THE HALF DAY RETREAT? OR TO PROVIDE ONE? JFS staff will attend a half day retreat on April 8th from 9AM-12PM. The retreat will be mandatory and the focus will be on self-care and burnout. A breakfast buffet will be provided. The retreat’s location is TBD. If you would like to offer a ride to fellow staff or need a ride, please complete this form.

The second half of the day will be free for staff to enjoy at their leisure. We will be issuing solar eclipse glasses to all staff to enjoy the eclipse as Buffalo is in the line of totality. Let’s hope for good weather!

MATI LORENZO’S GOODBYE RECEPTION

Mati Lorenzo’s last day at JFS will be Friday, March 22nd.

For those who would like to attend, a Goodbye Reception will be held at Resurgence Brewery at 2PM on March 22nd.

The restaurant and bar will be available to order food and drinks. Come say goodbye to Mati and wish her a Happy Retirement!

NEW GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT! The Impact & Outcomes department has received a grant for $14,973 from the Tower Foundation to support their work with CCNY to implement a master client index, allowing staff members to use one central resource to look up high level client demographics.

This will also be used centrally by the Impact and Outcomes team to more strongly evaluate the impact of our programs in the community.

3/4 - Lauren Maguire, Development & Community Engagement 3/8 - Nicole Cuevas Rios, CSP, RICH 3/9 - Dalaina Howell, Finance 3/10 - Darwin Newkirk, Buffalo Career Services

1 YR, Carlos Porras, Buffalo Care Coordination 1 YR, Christina Mathis-Dixon, NF Care Coordination 1 YR, Kathryn Diebold, Care Coordination 1 YR, Rhonda Sat’chell, Buffalo Career Services 2 YRS, Patrick Schroeder, Impact and Outcomes 2 YRS, La-Verne Blades, PSS, RICH 2 YRS, Sara Mintz, Jewish Community Care 3 YRS, Andrew Lockwood, NF Housing Coordination 3 YRS, Paula Valentino, Finance 4 YRS, Jaime Williams, Buffalo Adult Care Coordination 4 YRS, Raymond Khoury, Buffalo Children’s Care Coordination

SIGN UP FOR JFS COMMITTEES

To sign up for committees, contact the following people: Employee Engagement: Meghan Stith (mstith@jfswny.org) or Kara Kane (kkane@jfswny.org) Health & Wellness: Jennifer McNamara (jmcnamara@jfswny.org) or Meghan Stith (mstith@jfswny.org) JEDI, Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Sierra Johnston (sjohnston@jfswny.org) or Danielle Bernas (dbernas@jfswny.org) Safety: Todd Warfield (twarfield@jfswny.org)

ALLERGEN/DIETARY RESTRICTION SURVEY

Sunday, March 10th

Don’t Forget! Turn clocks ahead an hour on Sunday, March 10th!

In an effort to be sensitive to all staff allergens and dietary restrictions, please take this anonymous survey to advise the Employee Engagement Committee for future events.

Specifically, we are going to be utilizing the results of this survey for the Agency Potluck.

Please finish the survey so we can keep all JFS staff safe and healthy!

This survey will be available to complete for the next month.

OPEN Refer a new employee and get a bonus!

JOBS Every two weeks, JFS staff receives an email titled, "Job Referral Opportunities."

To ensure that you receive credit for the referral, make sure that the applicant either uses the links provided in the email or lists your name as the referring party.

Click here for all the open positions at JFS.

Insider Contributors: Meghan Stith Molly Carr Matilda Lorenzo Kara Kane Sierra Johnston

Jennifer McNamara Lauren Maguire Todd Warfield

Dalaina Howell Danielle Bernas Jaimi Stapf Dasha Valuyskaya Patty Hoyt

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