Jewish Family Services, Inc.
Transforming Lives. Strenghtening Our Community.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Over the next 15 years, the number of people 65+ living across the Richmond area will outnumber the school-age population for the first time in history (Greater Richmond Age Wave, 2015). Yet an increasing number of seniors live at or near the poverty level, limiting their access to the social, mental and physical health support they need. We also now understand the deadly consequences of social isolation and loneliness (Natl. Institute on Aging, 4/2019). Many of our clients live in poverty and/or have Medicaid insurance. JFS is one of the few home care or counseling agencies in Richmond accepting Medicaid and subsidizing the gap between the actual cost of care and Medicaid’s reimbursement. Without JFS, these individuals have few choices, and may go without needed care, counseling, or be forced to choose institutional care for solely financial reasons.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Home Care
Life may be challenging sometimes, especially as you get older or have special needs. If you're a caregiver, the responsibilities can be overwhelming. In times like this, we all need a little help. Fortunately, you have somewhere to turn.
JFS provides high-quality home care services and companion services delivered right to you or your loved one's doorstep. Our Home Care team is made up of professional nursing assistants and nurses (both RNs and LPNs), all screened and trained to ensure top quality care.
As a testament to our dedicated service, we handle unique assignments, regardless of the complexities and challenges. We work hard to build thoughtful, considerate relationships with both you and your loved one based on mutual trust, empathy and respect. Whether assistance is needed for as little as four hours per day, or as much as 24/7, we can give you the help you need.
Counseling
At JFS Counseling, we help you find your way. Our experienced therapists work with you through the issues you're facing in a welcoming, supportive environment right here in the Richmond community. Our counselors are highly skilled in assisting individuals of all ages, couples and families, children and adolescents, older adults and those with special needs. For your convenience, we also provide on-site services at Assisted Living Facilities, Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Rehabilitation Hospitals.
In addition to counseling, we offer a range of psychological assessments and testing. While focusing on your personal strengths, our dedicated staff is committed to partnering with you to build your coping skills and help manage your current situation.
Adoption
At JFS Adoption, our small, passionate staff of social workers helps take the complexities out of the adoption process. Whether you're hoping to adopt a child or considering placing a child for adoption, you've come to a well-respected, beloved resource in the Richmond community.
With each and every client, we take the time to get to know you on a personal basis - not only listening, but guiding you through every step of the process. With years of experience, our goal is to help you feel comfortable while addressing any hopes, fears or concerns you may have regarding adoption.
The agency complies with Hague guidelines and is licensed as a child-placing agency by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Care Management
Recognizing you or a loved one needs assistance managing life doesn’t have to mean a loss of independence. In fact, it can be empowering to have options to choose from that help support your needs and wellbeing.
JFS offers each client an individualized Care Management plan based on a comprehensive assessment. Our Care Management staff is made up of social workers (LCSW, MSW and BSW), Certified Geriatric Care Managers, nurses and professional nursing assistants, who work with you and discuss services you would like to receive to enhance your quality of life. Once a plan is set in motion, we review it regularly to ensure your needs and expectations are being met.
We are committed to providing services with the utmost care and respect for a person’s wishes. While we’re able to support an individual wanting to remain in the home for as long as possible, we’re also experienced in having the difficult conversations when home is no longer a safe option and can identify options to help with the transition.
Senior Engagement
For many as they grow older, it’s easy to feel isolated. Lack of mobility, illness and other challenges of aging can often mean less opportunity for interaction and socialization. These years should not be a time of solitude and detachment.
JFS understands that even the smallest gesture of kindness and empathy can go a long way in bettering the lives of those in need. That's why our Senior Engagement program was created. Our Friendly Visitors and Telephone Reassurance volunteers ensure seniors in our community are not forgotten.
Friendly Visitors make weekly social visits with older or homebound adults. These important volunteers offer friendship and companionship to individuals looking for someone to spend time with. They share stories, listen and reminisce, play games, take walks and simply enjoy each other's company.
Telephone Reassurance volunteers call every weekday morning to check in, chat and make sure everything is okay. These dedicated volunteers help start the day of an isolated individual on the right foot. They also offer peace of mind for those living alone.
JFS Connecting Hearts
JFS Connecting Hearts works to recruit and retain foster, adoptive, and kinship families so children in foster care can find permanent, loving families. We do this by sharing the stories and portraits of children in foster care, collaborating with other agencies, and educating prospective foster, adoptive, or kinship parents.
Where we work
Accreditations
Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services - Accreditation 2021
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) - Medicare Certification 2004
Awards
Distinguished Merit Citation 2015
Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities
Affiliations & memberships
Council on Accreditation 2021
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?
JFS' vision is to be recognized as the most trusted and compassionate resource in Richmond for innovative, quality services that empower people through every stage of life.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We consistently work on strengthening our financial sustainability, through business development and marketing efforts in addition to seeking a diverse set of funding partners and new fundraising opportunities for our programs. These fundraising opportunities include individual contributions from the community, special events, and local/corporate/national grants. We are also increasing our program income by administering continuing education trainings for healthcare professionals.
We continue to work on being sustainable programmatically and not just financially. Working with local agencies like the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, Senior Connections, local congregations and the Greater Richmond Age Wave, we continue to expand and strengthen our services to better address rising community needs like social isolation. JFS Senior Engagement Program provides Telephone Reassurance (TR) and Friendly Visitors (FV) to clients. These programs give peace of mind to seniors who live alone, and TR/FV volunteers are there to “check in" and notice any red flags. JFS also works with the Weinstein JCC on the EnRich for Life program which is designed to provide older adults with a monthly activity that can meet their mental and social needs. JFS staff attends community training's and symposiums to gain new tools for success and share JFS best practices.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
JFS is one of the only Richmond, Virginia, health and human service agencies nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA). National accreditation ensures our clients receive the highest level of professional, compassionate care. Attaining accreditation is possible because of our exceptional, experienced staff and executive leadership. Through a combination of education and field experience, our staff delivers superior care to the community. JFS' prudent fiscal management is another of our greatest capabilities. We have worked diligently to attain the right mix of fee-for-service and grant-funded programs, ensuring our clients will continue to have access to needed services over the years to come.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2015, JFS was awarded the Distinguished Merit Citation by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. JFS was nominated based on a long history of promoting humanitarian ideals through service to the greater Richmond community and our collaborations with other organizations in the area. JFS is proud to continue this tradition of humanitarianism, meeting the needs of those who are underserved in the community.
In our Fiscal Year 2020, JFS served 1,302 clients of all ages, races, religions, and walks of life with 123,575 hours of care, counseling, care management, and adoption services.
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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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
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
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
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
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 Services, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 06/13/2023
Dr. Michael Mandel
Bon Secours
Term: 2023 - 2025
Sara Griebel
Capital One
Martin Miller
Truist
Cheri Yochelson
Dominion Resources, Inc.
Cindy Boswell
Community Volunteer
Ken Golden
Golden McNair Group
John Myers
Community Volunteer
Seon Rockwell
Deloitte
Michael Sievers
Tonal Immersion LLC
Rosemary Seltzer
VA DARS
Dr. David Galpern
Inter-Trauma Consulting
Ryan Mitchell
Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery
Ashley Noell, RN
AT Home Care & Hospice
Rabbi Dovid Asher
Congregation Keneseth Beth Israel
Tiffany Ford, JD
Virginia Department of Health
Dan Jackson
Williams Mullen
Chris Way, JD
Way Law PLLC
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
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data