Jewish Family and Community Services
Supporting people through life's changes and challenges
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
For more than 80 years, Jewish Family and Community Services has been the safety net for individuals and families in the Greater Pittsburgh community. Since its inception, the focus of JFCS has been to support our community members through all of life's changes and challenges. JFCS is a leader in providing innovative and effective social service solutions to problems facing families and individuals of all ages and walks of life. JFCS helps our community's most vulnerable by making sure that no one is turned away or falls through the cracks. We, as an organization constantly evaluates, evolves and innovates services based on changing times and changing community needs. Services are provided and referrals are made without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, age, handicap or disability.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
Providing supplemental food to low-income residents of 15217 zip code and anyone requiring kosher food assistance outside of Squirrel Hill. Also provides information and referrals to social service agencies. We serve more than 1,000 people a year, half of whom are seniors, many of whom are working families with children, households affected by layoffs or disabled adults. This number is expected to increase as the current economic crisis continues to hit families affected by layoffs, escalating costs for basic needs and diminished savings.
SOS Pittsburgh
This critical needs case management and emergency aid program is based on the concept that assistance should not just address hardships, but should enable people to overcome whatever health and welfare crises arise. The vision of the SOS Pittsburgh program is to make a positive difference in the lives of the most vulnerable people in our community. A licensed outreach social worker comples an intensive assessment, makes referrals to professionals and community resources, provides guidance in managing medical and financial situations, and sometimes helps to secure the provision of immediate cash assistance. To view a video about this program, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdPMSn81J3w
JFCS Refugee & Immigration Services
This program offers assistance in resettling refugees, as well as other services for increasing the self-sufficiency and integration into America for both legal immigrants and refugees. Over the past 15+ years, more than 2,500 refugees from the former Soviet Union, Bosnia, and Burma/Myanmar and Bhutan, were resettled by JFCS, and helped to become productive members of the Pittsburgh region.
JFCS Career Development Center (CDC)
JFCS's Career Development Center has more than 25 years' experience helping thousands of individuals obtain meaningful employment and helping companies attract, retain and transition employees. We help job seekers who are just starting their career, recently laid off and needing assistance with a job search or considering pursuing a new direction. The CDC offers assessment and counseling; job search assistance; networking guidance and opportunities; help with resumes, cover letters, interviewing; and more. Special programs are available for job seekers with additional challenges, including mature workers, professionals with mental health issues and at-risk youth. For companies, the CDC provides outplacement, recruitment and career counseling.
JFCS Senior Services
JFCS is a trusted name for quality services to the elderly, and we are staunch advocated and protectors of our clients' well-being. Whether in the home or in another setting, our staff (including licensed clinical geriatric social workers and a consulting geriatric psychiatrist) help to improve the quality of life for the elderly. We offer caregiver services through our PA-licensed home care registry, care management, counseling, family consultation and information and referral. JFCS is a collaborative partner in AgeWell Pittsburgh.
JFCS Guardianship Services
Comprehensive guardianship services are available to those individuals who have been determined by the Court to be incapacitated and no longer able to make their own life decisions. JFCS serves clients ("wards") through a private guardianship program, as well as through a contract with the Allegheny County Offices of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities. We may serve as guardian of person, guardian of estate or both.
JFCS Immigration Legal Services
JFCS is recognized by the Department of Justice to provide legal services to immigrants with limited financial resources serving immigrants from more than 70 countries, and is the only place in Western Pennsylvania operating this service, which is crucial in helping people stay in the region.
Where we work
Awards
50 Best Places to Work 2010
The Pittsburgh Business Times
"Quality and Consistency of Services" for excelling in communications 2008
The Forbes Fund, in partnership with The Pittsburgh Foundation
Excellence in Service Award 2009
PA Refugee Resettlement Program and the Bureau of Employment and Training
KOVOD Award for Excellence in Websites 2011
Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agencies
Excellence in Health and Human Services 2011
United Way of Allegheny County
1st Place KOVOD Award for Collaborative Program for AgeWell Pittsburgh 2012
Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agencies
Leadership Award to Board Chair, Joel Rosenthal 2012
Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agencies
Corporate Award for partnership with UPMC 2012
International Association of Jewish Vocational Services
Affiliations & memberships
Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies (AJFCA) 2008
International Association of Jewish Vocational Services - Affiliate 2008
National Guardianship Association 2008
External reviews

Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
JFCS departments have goals that are defined by specific programs and/or individual clients. The overview of JFCS programs demonstrates the agency's success in meeting annual goals to address community needs, which include alleviating poverty, increasing access to mental health and social services, and supporting the most vulnerable among us.
The JFCS Career Development Center serves individuals seeking employment, including dislocated workers, at-risk youth, mature workers, individuals with disabilities, legal immigrants and other unemployed individuals. The goals are successful employment, clients maintain employment 3+ months, clients obtain employment quickly and clients become more marketable.
JFCS Counseling Services provides counseling and other services to children and adults, helping them achieve progress toward treatment goals. The goal is improved mental health.
The JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry serves more than 1,600 food insecure individuals annually in zip code 15217. The goal is feeding families in our community with nutritious, healthy, life-sustaining food.
SOS Pittsburgh provides referrals to community resources and direct financial assistance. The goal is for clients to make progress towards goals in their basic needs plans.
JFCS Senior Services provides services and resources to senior citizens. The goal is to help older adults throughout Allegheny County maintain independence while supporting their caregivers and loved ones.
JFCS Refugee and Immigrant Services provides comprehensive resettlement services to refugees from around the world by connecting immigrants to a variety of human services. The goal is knowledge of basic survival information (laws, norms, etc), successful employment and increased financial self-sufficiency
JFCS Immigration Legal Services helps immigrants obtain or maintain legal status, providing help with naturalization exams and helping unaccompanied children obtain favorable Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) findings in court. The goal is to serve than 1,500 immigrants annually.
JFCS Guardianship Services acts as Power of Attorney and develops, coordinates, and monitors professional services for individuals unable to make their own decisions. The goals are successful employment while avoiding homelessness and hospitalizations.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
RESPONSIVENESS: We respond to the needs of people in the Jewish and Greater Pittsburgh communities.
RESPECT: We support people of all abilities by building on their strengths.
QUALITY: We deliver high-quality services.
COLLABORATION: We embrace collaborations in order to better serve our clients and community.
STEWARDSHIP: We manage our resources to achieve the greatest possible community benefit.
Through individualized support JFCS Career Development Center works with job seekers to develop their personal marketing tools, offer individualized career counseling, group workshops and accountability groups. We also connect job seekers to critical needs support if they are struggling with barriers to employment, such as food insecurity, lack of housing, childcare needs, etc.
JFCS Counseling Services offers various modalities to achieve wellness at any age. One on one counseling, support groups, and educational presentations are some of the ways we achieve that goal. JFCS Counseling Services employs certified trauma therapists who specialize in helping those in the community affected by the October 27, 2018 synagogue shooting.
JFCS Refugee & Immigrant Services assist vulnerable refugees and immigrants with barriers of language and culture and connects them to the supports, programs and resources they need to transition to life in their new American home. Refugees and vulnerable immigrants typically face challenges of language and culture, and frequently past trauma due to displacement and violence, along with other barriers many local residents face such as poverty, discrimination, lack of formal education and systems navigation issues. JFCS offers individuals and families specialized assistance that is both culturally and linguistically sensitive to help them overcome these barriers and reach stability.
JFCS Senior Services provides a number of programs to keep older adults in the lives and places they want to live. Caregiver services, caregiver supports, memory training programs, volunteer programs and information and referral are all available to the community’s senior citizens. JFCS is a partner in the long term collaboration known as AgeWell Pittsburgh, which provides social recreational programming, meals, and other supports through their partnering agencies.
JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry strives to make sure that no one is food insecure in the service area and community. It provides social services and referrals to support people experiencing transitions in life and achieves this with food procurement and distribution, case management, financial support to those in need of critical needs support.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Jewish Family and Community Services' team is made up of dedicated professionals, committed to careers in social work, therapy, case management, advocacy and fiscal management.
JFCS Career Development Center has been helping the community for nearly four decades and has a strong presence throughout Allegheny County, working in a variety of neighborhoods in the North, South, East and West of Pittsburgh. A variety of funding sources including United Way of SWPA, Partner4Work, CDBG City and County, a variety of family foundations and private donations helps to achieve the goals.
JFCS Counseling Services employs licensed and certified professional counselors, clinical social workers, art therapists, and other well trained clinicians to address community needs.
REFUGEE & IMMIGRANT SERVICES has developed holistic assessments, individualized plan development and connections to existing resources (eg social services, public benefits, employment, health care, education, legal, faith/ethnic/community organizations, etc) , assistance navigating resources, advocacy with providers and others regarding obligation to serve limited English-speaking individuals.
SENIOR SERVICES: JFCS and AgeWell Pittsburgh have a staff of well trained professionals in the field of geriatrics. We have been working with seniors for many decades and have experience with the wide variety of needs of the different age groups within the older adult population.
FOOD PANTRY: We serve everyone who comes to our doors.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
JFCS remains flexible, adaptive and innovative to best serve the community while ensuring that no one
falls through the cracks. This is most evident in JFCS' response to the COVID-19 pandemic by transitioning to virtual support groups and expanded offerings; by moving to telehealth and telemedicine with counseling clients; by launching a community hotline with the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
JFCS will continue to evaluate community need and provide innovative programs such as the newly launched UpStreet Teen Mental Health Initiative which focuses on mental wellness of adolescents and young adults and provides groups, counseling, web-based brief support, peer mentoring, and other teen focused programming.
JFCS is dedicated to forming sustainable collaborations with other agencies to determine community need and how best to connect clients to information and services. JFCS will continue to hold itself to fiscal transparency.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
JFCS' mission is supporting people through life’s changes and challenges and serves families and individuals of all ages and walks of life
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Jewish Family and Community Services
Board of directorsas of 02/14/2023
Mr. Peter J. Lieberman
Scott I. Americus
Normandy Industries Inc
Jason Baim
Rachel Clark
UPMC
Rosalind Chow
Evan I. Durst
Molly Fisher
Cindy Akers Gerber
Raimee R. Gordon
Noah R. Jordan, Esq.
Rothman Gordon, P.C.
Rebecca Knoll
David R. Lassman
Peter J. Lieberman
Schneider Downs
Charlene Newkirk
Somer Obernauer, Jr.
Allstate
Jeffrey Parker
Eric J. Perelman
Nartak Media Group
Andrea Ponce
Jennifer Price
Carol Robinson
Kannu Sahni
Highmark Health
Larry Schwartz
Midnight Blue Technology Services
Jillian F. Zacks, Esq.
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/10/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.