May 6 - Monthly Insider

MAY

A critical piece of Mental Health Awareness Month is recognition that mental health is not in of itself a negative thing. We are all born with mental health. We all have mental health, just as we have physical health. Our body and mind function together. And just like when our physical health starts to present challenges, so too can our mental health When our physical health is impacted, our mental health can be impacted. And when our mental health is impacted, our physical health may be impacted. This is bidirectional and can be both positive and negative. Being in tune to changes to your mental health is the first step to acknowledging and addressing potential challenges. You may feel more tired, less motivated, participate in hobbies less frequently or feel anxious about tasks that need to be completed

Mental health professionals and para-professionals need to be especially mindful of vicarious trauma, or residual and internalized feelings of trauma from working with traumatized individuals or populations. Our work is difficult and can leave lasting marks on us. It’s important to give ourselves grace and time to feel and process not only what we are experiencing at work but also in our personal lives. Give yourself time to step out to do something you enjoy, if only for a moment. Embrace connections with others or spend some time alone to feel at ease Practicing positive self-talk, meditation and being in the present can help us process in the moment so that we are more available for our clients, our families and other connections that are important. Find ways to shift from a mindset of surviving to thriving, even if that means sacrificing things that were once important to you. It’s okay to let go of things that are no longer serving you

MAY IS ALSO JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH!

RABBI YONINA FOSTER GIVES US A JAHM HISTORY LESSON

In celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, Rabbi Yonina Foster has done some research behind the annual recognition and is eager to share what she’s learned.

Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) was first proclaimed on April 20, 2006 by then President George W. Bush. It first passed unanimously in the US House of Representatives in December 2005 and two months later by the US Senate. The resolution resulted from cooperation with Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the Jewish Museum of Florida, and the South Florida Jewish Community. All Presidents since then have made an annual proclamation recognizing American Jews’ achievements and contributions in the 350+ years since Jews arrived in New Amsterdam, a Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island. This began their now longstanding contributions to the history of American life and culture. May was chosen for the anniversary of when the first Jews arrived on US shores.

The purpose of the month is to encourage the exploration of the meaning of religious pluralism, cultural diversity, and participation in American civic culture. I am intrigued that it is the words of a later Jewish immigrant, Emma Lazarus (1849 – 1887), of Portuguese Sephardic Jewish descent, which are at the base of the Statue of Liberty in the waters not far from where those first Jewish immigrants arrived. Some of us may be most familiar with these lines:

"Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free / the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. / Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me / I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

For many of us at JFS, Lazarus’s words are about what we do. While we may use different language today, our organization helps those who come to these shores as we assist them to resettle and become integrated into Buffalo life. We, long before any of us arrived here. Today, too, I hope we can exp see in the news about who Jews are these days and wonder who we ar

JEWISH COMMUNITY SERVICES HOLDS REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY AT JFA

This past week, Jewish Community Services held a service at the Jewish Federation Apartments to commemorate the residents who have passed away within the last year. Rabbi Yonina Foster led the service. The residents painted one rock for each of the persons who passed on, lit memorial candles and followed that up with desserts and refreshments.

INTRODUCING THE COORDINATED ENTRY PROGRAM

JFS announced last Wednesday its intent to enter into a $22.4 million contract with New York City to manage a Coordinated Entry program for 539 asylum seekers who are currently residing in Erie County. The goal of this program is to move all asylum seekers out of the three hotels, two in Cheektowaga and one in Amherst, where they currently live, and into more permanent housing while helping them better assimilate into their new communities. JFS anticipates having the majority of enrolled clients placed in housing by the end of the year or first quarter 2025 and will provide ongoing services one year from their enrollment date.

At the press conference, held at Temple Beth Zion, CEO Molly Carr outlined the details of the plan, including an intake process for the asylees that is slated to begin this summer.

If you have questions about this work please contact Peter Scott, Vice President of Programs, or Molly Carr, CEO.

ARE YOU READY TO HAVE A MATZAH BALL?

GET TICKETS HERE

Thank you to staff who have already reached out to volunteer and/or purchase tickets for our upcoming Matzah Ball on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Temple Beth Zion.

If you would like to attend the event as a guest, we are happy to offer staff and one guest a discounted general admission ticket ($25/ each). Please use code JFSSTAFF25 at checkout.

Don’t forget to sign up to bring a dish to the Annual Agency Potluck on Wednesday, May 29th at noon. Come enjoy music, food and chill with your coworkers! As a friendly reminder, this potluck is mandatory unless you ’ ve submitted for PTO.

Click the flyer to sign up! See you all there!

By: Bijoux Bahati, TST-R

UPDATES FROM TST-R

It is exciting to share that our very own TST-R team members will be presenting at the NCTSN Conference, May 14-16th. Bijoux Bahati and Hannah Ziske will be joining over 700 National Child Traumatic Stress Network members at an All-Network conference in Maryland for a 90-minutes workshop proposal titled, “Addressing Systemic Gaps in Mental Health: A refugee youth case study.”

Bijoux is also on two other 90-minutes workshop proposals that were accepted in partnership with the University of Maryland Baltimore Network of Early Services Transformation, NCTSN’s steering committee and Young Adult Collective titled, “Addressing Trauma and Poverty Through Innovation” and “Uplifting Community Healing Approaches: A Listening Session with the NCTSN Steering Committee.”

Finally, in recognition of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month, SAMHSA extended an invitation to our TST-R program (an invite only) for their 2024 Children, Youth, and Young Adult Mental Health Symposium on Friday, May 17th

The Symposium will convene multidisciplinary stakeholders and thought leaders to share perspectives and solutions for improved outcomes in prevention, early identification, and treatment for children, youth, young adults, and their families grounded in this year’s theme, “Championing Mental Health Together”

TST-R GRADUATION HIGHLIGHTS!

It’s that time of year! As the end of the school year approaches, our TST-R staff get to celebrate the hard work and progress that the students in their support groups have had. Here are a few photos from the Afghan and Congolese boys’ graduation days. Congrats to these students and to the TST-R staff for all of their work!

PETS! PETS! PETS!

MAY IS NATIONAL PET MONTH! SHOW OFF THOSE PETS!!

MORE PETS!

JFS EMBRACES - OLIVIA RETALLACK

Here at Jewish Family Services, we pride ourselves on exemplifying the four core Jewish values of cultural responsiveness, trust, person centered care and partnership. As a new initiative in the Insider, we'd like our staff to highlight each other's embodiment of these values by nominating one another to be recognized for such values in upcoming editions of the Insider.

This week’s nominee is Olivia Retallack - nominated by Megan Brenner-Zwara. Megan nominated Olivia, a grants and contracts associate, for exemplifying the values of person-centered care and trust. Congrats Olivia on the well deserved recognition!

JAMIE GOODWIN, 5/6, JEWISH COMMUNITY INTENSIVE CASE WORKER

MEGHAN STITH, 5/7, EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR

MATTHEW STEWART, 5/8, MANAGER OF JEWISH COMMUNITY SERVICES

DONG, 5/8, NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR

SIGN UP FOR JFS COMMITTEES!

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

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Did you know that JFS staff receive 50% off their membership at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo!?

Benefits included:

Access to all facilities including the gym, pool, sauna, etc.; Fitness Classes; Personal Training; Sports and Recreation; Use of your wellness card through Independent Health towards the fee

Visit the JCC today with your JFS ID to sign up!

HEALTH & WELLNESS

JEDI; JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

SAFETY

INSIDER CONTRIBUTERS

MADISON RUFFO

KARA KANE

MEGHAN STITH

LAUREN MAGUIRE

MOLLY CARR

KELLY BROWN

DANIELLE BERNAS

BIJOUX BAHATI

RABBI YONINA FOSTER

MEGAN BRENNER-ZWARA

RICH MSW INTERNS

HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE INSIDER? WANT TO SUBMIT AN ARTICLE? WANT TO PROMOTE AN EVENT? SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS HERE!