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So far Miriam Arond has created 97 blog entries.

Building Trust in Community

2024-02-22T09:54:26-05:00February 7th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

To quote Mr. Rogers, “All of us, at some time or other need help. Whether we’re giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world.” WJCS helps people in our community of all ages and backgrounds who face difficult challenges in life and need additional support to build a strong foundation of well-being to strengthen their ability to weather life’s storms. Whether people are experiencing mental health, trauma, disability, aging, educational, or often systemic challenges, we all know that accessing support can be very difficult. Being a champion of WJCS means you ...

WJCS Susan Lewen Staff Excellence Fund Award Recipients

2024-02-01T11:55:26-05:00January 11th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

We are excited to announce the first recipients of awards from The Susan Lewen Staff Excellence Fund! This fund was established in 2023 to honor the profound contributions and spirit of excellence of Susan Lewen who served as WJCS’ Chief Development Officer from 2013-2023. This fund is intended to enable activities, programs, and services to acknowledge staff who follow in Susan Lewen’s footsteps in being exceptional at their job and in their commitment to the mission of WJCS. Four WJCS staff members are selected annually as recipients of this award based on three criteria; exceptional skills & productivity, team ...

Meet Our WJCS 2024 Gala Honorees!

2024-02-22T10:01:32-05:00February 22nd, 2024|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is proud to be hosting its annual Gala on April 16, 2024, at 6pm at the Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, NY. The Gala will be honoring Meira Fleisch, a Board member and longtime Early Learning Specialist at WJCS, and Stephanie Marquesano, Founder and President of the harris project. "We are thrilled to honor Meira Fleisch and Stephanie Marquesano, two remarkable individuals who have consistently used their outstanding skills and deep compassion to improve the lives and future of children, youth, and families,” said WJCS CEO Seth Diamond. "Each of these people are ...

Breaking Through the Barrier: Youth Mental Health

2023-12-20T12:58:40-05:00December 17th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , |

by Brenda Haas, LMSW, Ed.M Why is children’s mental health shrouded with stigma and shame? If a child has diabetes we take them to get their insulin, and if they have asthma, we get them an inhaler. Childhood mental illness is real and very common. The National Institute for Mental Health reports that one out of five children in the U.S. suffers from a mental health disorder. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death in youth ages 15-24. In fact, half of all psychiatric illnesses occur before the age of 14, and 75 percent by the age ...

Aging in Place with Dignity

2024-02-06T09:53:55-05:00December 18th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

By Judy Fink, LCSW and Heidi Weiss, LMSW, MHA The fastest growing segment of the U.S. population is composed of people 85 years of age. This is especially true in Westchester, where 20% of our population is over the age of 65. Most seniors prefer to age safely and well in their homes and communities. Yet needs vary depending upon each individual’s situation, family, friends, and the community in which he or she resides. A thorough assessment of each senior’s situation is required to find the best solution to meet his or her needs At Westchester Jewish Community Services ...

Resources to Address Antisemitism

2024-02-06T15:39:15-05:00January 13th, 2024|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage|Tags: , , , |

Rising antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world has shaken the Jewish community. The FBI reported in October 2023 that antisemitism accounted for over half of all reported religion-based hate crimes. Jews right here in Westchester are grappling with fear, anxiety, and grief as they witness ugly antisemitic slogans written in graffiti on store windows. People are feeling unsafe in places of worship and some hide their Jewish identities to avoid ostracization and hate in schools, on the streets, and online. Parents struggle with how to explain antisemitism to their young children and college students are facing Jew ...

WJCS Named a Community Champion

2023-11-28T14:31:04-05:00November 28th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

WJCS helps seniors throughout Westchester County to help them stay engaged in their communities and age in place safely with dignity. We are thrilled that WJCS has been recognized as a Community Champion by the Westchester Public/Private Partnership Membership Fund for Aging Services. Among the many programs and services offered by our Senior Care program, supervised by Judy Fink, LCSW, are: Care and Case Management which involves our staff assisting clients, families, and caregivers by providing them with the information and assistance they need, whether it is via phone calls, emails, or home visits. “We ensure that seniors obtain ...

Celebrating LGBTQIA+ History Month

2023-12-20T12:24:40-05:00November 5th, 2023|Categories: Center Lane for LGBTQ+ Youth, Feature, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

On October 14, 2023, a rainy cold Westchester Saturday, in a series of rainy Saturdays, youth from all over Westchester attended WJCS’s Center Lane Youth Pride event, celebrating LGTQIA+ History Month, hosted at Westchester Jewish Community Service (WJCS) headquarters in North White Plains. WJCS Center Lane is the first and still is the only center in Westchester County for LGBTQIA+ youth. The event was originally scheduled to take place outdoors, but the weather brought everyone inside, where two levels of the building were utilized and full of the bright good cheer of the day’s participants. Upstairs, Center Lane staff ...

You Can Help Us Comfort the Westchester Community

2023-11-20T10:53:16-05:00November 16th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

The attacks in Israel on October 7th and the ensuing war have sparked shock, horror, and fear. Our community continues to experience stress and we are continuing to provide services for those who are suffering. Together we can ease the pain and create a healing space for our community. WJCS clinicians have led dozens of support groups for individuals struggling with emotional difficulties due to these horrible events and the rise in antisemitism worldwide. We've provided individual and group counseling to terrified teens, adults, and the elderly, including Holocaust survivors who are seeing their worst fears of "Never Again" ...

Response to Trauma in the Face of Attacks Against Israel

2023-10-20T15:49:19-04:00October 20th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Trauma has been described as an overwhelming physiological response in which an individual experiences a loss of control, vulnerability, and immobilization. This week, 75 WJCS employees and board members came together online to share and process their sadness, grief, and anxiety about Hamas attacks against Israel, including the kidnapping of over 200 people. In gathering together as a community and in hope, members of our WJCS staff focused on what experts say about responses to trauma and opened up about their own reactions to recent horrific news reports. We are sharing these insights in the hope that they may help ...

WJCS Domestic Violence Resources

2023-10-19T13:33:15-04:00October 18th, 2023|Categories: Gala, Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

October is designated Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you know who lives in Westchester is a victim or survivor of domestic violence, please consider contacting WJCS. Our WJCS Trager Lemp Center for Treating Trauma & Promoting Resilience provides comprehensive outpatient, evidence-based treatment programs to help adult and child survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assault and harassment, and domestic violence. We also have programs for youth who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence as well as programs to help high school students cultivate the skills to build healthy relationships. Founded in 1982, our WJCS trauma center has ...

A Joyous Sukkot Celebration for Westchester Holocaust Survivors

2023-10-19T13:37:54-04:00October 16th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

On Wednesday October 5th, WJCS hosted a Sukkot celebration luncheon for Holocaust survivors at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale. More than 90 people attended the joyous festivities, including relatives and caregivers of the survivors. “Sukkot is one of the most joyful festivals on the Jewish calendar," said WJCS CEO Seth Diamond. "We are so fortunate to have a large number of Holocaust survivors living in Westchester. Celebrating the holiday with individuals who suffered so much in the past is moving and meaningful. The survivors are aging and facing many challenges but they possess a spirit of gratitude and an appreciation of ...

WJCS Celebrates Our Peer Specialists

2023-10-19T13:47:21-04:00October 13th, 2023|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, General|Tags: , , , , , , |

October 19th is Global Peer Support Celebration Day. At WJCS, our Peer Specialists play an important role in aiding the recovery of individuals from mental illness and/or substance use. Peer Specialists walk hand in hand with our clients from the perspective of a “shared experience.” The Peer Specialist is in a unique position to truly understand what it is like for someone who struggles with challenges related to mental illness and/or substance use. Our WJCS Peer Specialists assist individuals by using the skills they have learned, the connections they have made, and the resources they know from first-hand experience. ...

Response to the Hamas Terrorist Attacks: A Message from WJCS CEO Seth Diamond

2023-12-20T13:05:03-05:00December 19th, 2023|Categories: General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

I know we all have been devastated by the reports of the horrific terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel. As President Biden said, “there are moments in this life when pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world.” That is what we witnessed over the weekend, pure evil. Words cannot adequately express our anger at the murderous acts and torture , our sorrow for the victims, and our worry about the fate of those taken hostage. Coming after the close of a joyous Jewish holiday, the scenes are particularly painful. Many who only a few days earlier ...

Boosting Your Child’s Emotional and Social Skills

2023-08-31T13:51:26-04:00August 31st, 2023|Categories: General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

New parents often bemoan that their newborns didn’t arrive in this world with a manual. They, rightfully, sense that the early years of a child’s life are an essential foundation for later success—in school, career, and in life. WJCS has numerous early childhood programs. We are committed to providing parents and young children with the tools they need to develop a healthy bond, early literacy and language skills, and social-emotional capabilities, including empathy, problem-solving, persistence, collaboration, confidence, communication, curiosity, creativity, cooperation, and self-control. Cultivating a child’s social and emotional skills takes thoughtfulness and patience on the part of parents. ...

Meaningful Friendships that Promote Mental Wellness

2023-10-19T13:41:06-04:00October 14th, 2023|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , |

This year the WJCS Compeer program, a supportive friendship program in which each volunteer is matched with an individual recovering from mental illness, celebrates its 50th anniversary. By facilitating friendships, Compeer helps mental health clients feel less isolated and more integrated into their communities. Compeer started as a small program in upstate New York and has grown into an international organization with over 40 chapters. Compeer volunteers commit to spending time with a mental health client for a year or more. Research has shown that most Compeer clients see improvements in multiple areas of their lives as a result ...

How WJCS Nurse Practitioners Make an Impact

2023-11-15T12:25:26-05:00October 30th, 2023|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

This week, November 12-18, is National Nurse Practitioners Week. Thank you to the incredible contributions of our exceptional nurse practitioners at WJCS. Your hard work, compassion, and dedication to improving the mental health of the clients we serve is truly commendable. Your commitment and skill is appreciated. We are grateful to have such a talented and caring team. At WJCS, our team of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) support both the mental and physical health of our clients. LPNs in each of our clinics meet with all new admissions for Health Monitoring Visits. During these visits LPNs check vital signs, ...

Overcoming Self-Sabotage: How to Get Out of Your Own Way

2023-09-28T15:23:50-04:00July 18th, 2023|Categories: Mental Health, Feature, Featured Homepage|Tags: , , , , , , |

We’ve all heard the saying, “getting out of your own way,” but what does it truly mean? Donna Brooks, a social worker who co-leads parenting and domestic violence survivor groups at the WJCS Trager Lemp Center for Treating Trauma and Promoting Resilience, has recently published a book called B.O.S.S.: A Self Guide on How to Be the Boss You Were Meant to Be. B.O.S.S. stands for Brave Outstanding Sense of Self. Here is a brief excerpt providing guidance for how to get out of your own way and prevent self-sabotage so you can lead the life you want to ...

Just Published: Our WJCS Impact Report!

2023-07-26T15:03:56-04:00July 13th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|

2022 IMPACT REPORT We Transform Lives Together. We are thrilled to share with you our WJCS 2022 Impact Report. With the wonderful skills and dedication of our WJCS staff and the support of our donors, we transform lives together. Please look through our Impact Report so you can see the enormous range of programs and services we offer Westchester residents who are struggling with significant life challenges. Please know that we could not provide the care and support Westchester residents need without the help of our generous donors, and foundations, and government grants that support our work. ...

WJCS Hosts 3rd Annual Holocaust Survivor Day Luncheon

2023-09-12T15:27:50-04:00July 13th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Photo at left, from left: Gillian Rittmaster, Assistant Executive Director of WJCS Jewish Programs, New York State Senator Shelley Mayer, and Allison Danzig, Coordinator of WJCS Holocaust Support Services. Photo at right: Holocaust survivors and their relatives and caregivers joined hands in celebrating being together. WJCS celebrated the 3rd Annual Holocaust Survivor Day by hosting a festive luncheon on Wednesday July 12th at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale. Eighty people, which included 50 survivors and their support network of family and caregivers, attended the gathering. New York State Shelley B. Mayor choked up with emotion as she spoke to ...

WJCS Awarded Westchester Community Foundation Grant for Gender Affirmation Programming

2023-10-31T11:05:37-04:00June 29th, 2023|Categories: Feature, Featured Homepage, Featured Internal, General|Tags: , , , , , , |

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is pleased to announce that its Center Lane for LGBTQIA+ youth program has been awarded a two-year grant of $50,000 by the HVCS Legacy Fund in Westchester Community Foundation. These funds will enable the continued development of WJCS Center Lane’s Gender Euphoria programming, a series of community-building events and activities focused on helping our transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) youth affirm their identities while also having fun. Intended to reflect the joy, happiness, and enhanced quality of life a person experiences upon embracing their true gender identity, Center Lane’s Gender Euphoria aims to provide “gender ...

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