JFCS of Minneapolis - Community Services

	Caring Connections Phone - 952-542-4840 Email - jmarcus@jfcsmpls.org Calendar - click here Caring Connections provides opportunities for Jewish adults with developmental disabilities to connect with their faith community and take part in Jewish life and learn about holidays and traditions. Monthly programs may feature a storyteller, an art project, or link to larger community events to create a sense of celebration and enjoyment. Caring Connections is a joint effort of JFCS, Jewish Family Service of St. Paul, the St. Paul JCC, and the Sabes JCC.

	Family & Parenting Center Phone – 952-417-2139 Email - bgoldman@jfcsmpls.org Web site - www.familyandparentingctr.org The Family and Parenting Center provides a welcoming environment where families with children, up to age 5, engage in Jewish learning, fun, and friendship. Programs facilitate personal growth and learning, while connecting young families with one another. JFCS and the Minneapolis Jewish Federation sponsor the Family and Parenting Center, located at the Sabes JCC.

	Jewish Community Health Awareness Initiative (J-CHAI) Phone - 952-542-4833 Email - bsitkoff@jfcsmpls.org J-CHAI works to raise awareness and provide education and services to individuals and families struggling with domestic abuse and mental health issues. Currently, J-CHAI plans to develop new community health initiatives that address the diverse social service needs of the Twin Cities’ Jewish community. The Jewish Domestic Abuse Collaborative (JDAC) and the Mental Health Education Project (MHEP) are both programs of J-CHAI, which is a collaborative effort between Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis (JFCS) and Jewish Family Service of St. Paul. J-CHAI Healthy Youth – Healthy Communities Phone - 952-542-4835 Email - cstein@jfcsmpls.org Support group for Jewish domestic abuse victims and survivors - more information Healthy Youth – Healthy Communities, is a preventive program for Jewish high school and college students that addresses relationship violence, drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues. College interns present interactive programs that help high school students age 13 to college gain a greater understanding of healthy relations. In addition, it provides tools on how to manage their own or their family's issues when faced with a mental health, chemical or drug abuse problem. Along with encouraging healthy choices, the program strives to dispel myths and change negative attitudes surrounding these issues. The program is free and available to all Jewish programs that serve teenagers. Healthy Youth – Healthy Communities is a program of J-CHAI (Jewish Community Health Awareness Initiative).

	Minneapolis Jewish Community Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities Phone - 952-542-4838 Email - schristensen@jfcsmpls.org Learn more - click here Disability Resource - click here Program Brochure - click here Just published "Jewish Community Guide to Inclusion of People with Disabilities" - click here The Jewish Community Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities is the clearinghouse for information and resources to support Jews with disabilities and their families. The Inclusion Program coordinates community-wide efforts to raise awareness, provide consultation and help Jewish organizations understand how to overcome barriers to facilitate their meaningful participation and involvement for all people. From Invisibility to Visibly In - An article in the Journal of Jewish Communal Services by Shelly Christensen and Margie Weil about the groundbreaking Minneapolis Jewish Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities.

	Jewish Domestic Abuse Collaborative (JDAC) Phone – 952-542-4833 Email - bsitkoff@jfcsmpls.org The Jewish Domestic Abuse Collaborative works to raise awareness about domestic abuse in our community. The collaborative strives to provide education, coordinate resources, and assure safe environments for Jewish individuals and families in the greater Twin Cities area. The program is a collaboration of JFCS and Jewish Family Service of St. Paul.

	Jewish Free Loan Program Phone – 952-546-0616 JFCS helps members of the Twin Cities Jewish community who face unexpected financial challenges. The program makes it possible for eligible individuals to secure an interest-free loan up to $7,500. A co-signer is required.

	Mental Health Education Project Phone – 952-542-4833 Email - bsitkoff@jfcsmpls.org The Mental Health Education Project strives to raise awareness of mental health issues, provide support for individuals and families, offer education on topics affecting all ages, and develop training for people who work with mental health issues. This collaborative has 35 Twin Cities community co-sponsors, including JFCS. Together, these sponsors seek to ensure enhanced delivery of mental health services through agencies, organizations, and congregations. The Mental Health Education Project is a collaboration of JFCS and Jewish Family Service of St. Paul.

	Volunteer Resources Phone - 952-542-4859 Email - dsavitt@jfcsmpls.org Newsletter - Mitzvah Madness Current Needs - Click here Each year, nearly 900 JFCS volunteers provide services to those in need in both the Jewish and general communities. JFCS provides short and long-term, flexible, volunteer opportunities in a variety of programs. Each month an email newsletter, Mitzvah Madness, is sent to over 700 people listing current volunteer opportunities. Please download and print out the JFCS Volunteer Application Form. For more information or to submit your Volunteer Application, contact: Debra Savitt, Supervisor of Volunteer Resources 13100 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 400 Minnetonka, MN 55305 Phone 952-542-4859 Fax 952-593-1778

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