National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month
National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month
Psychopharmacology and Co-Occurring Disorders: What Clinicians Need to Know
This 1.5-hour training will introduce attendees to the concept of co-occurring disorders- the co-occurrence of one or more mental health and substance use disorders that often act in synergistic ways to exacerbate one another leading to more negative outcomes than if individuals had a substance use or mental health disorder alone.
Mental Health & Substance Use: Overcoming the Challenges
The number of people suffering from mental health and substance use problems are skyrocketing. More than 20% of Americans, including youth, teens, and adults of different socioeconomic groups, are living with a mental illness. Only about half of adults receive treatment. More than 20 million Americans 12 years and older are affected by substance use disorder. These conditions don’t discriminate. They affect people in all socioeconomic groups. "I came to WJCS for therapy at a time of serious distress in my 20’s. I couldn’t afford much, and was able to pay just a very modest amount thanks to financial ...
Building Trust in Community
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 ...
Marijuana: What Clinicians Need to Know
Date: 4/12/24 Time: 9:30 am to 11 am Contact Hrs: 1.5 CEU’s: 1.5 Enrollment Limited to: No limit Method: Lecture, discussion Description: Marijuana and products derived from chemicals within it are used both medically and recreationally by an increasing number of people through the United States. To date, 38 states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use while recreational use has been legalized in 24 states along with the District of Columbia. In this evolving legal landscape, marijuana use has become increasingly prevalent, particularly among teenagers and young adults. ...
Client Alliance, Compliance & Therapist Burn Out
Client Alliance, Compliance, and Therapist Burn Out Date: 3/5/24 Time: 9:00 – 11:00 Enrollment Limited to: 20 Contact Hours: 2 CEU’s: 2 Mental health professionals, perhaps now more than ever, are susceptible to stress and burn out directly related to their job responsibilities. Part of this comes from defining our professional selves based on what we are told our roles should be and what we should ...
YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION: RISK ASSESSMENT & SAFETY PLANNING (FOR WJCS STAFF ONLY)
Date: 1/23/24 Time: 9:00-10:30 a.m. Enrollment Limited To: 20 Contact Hrs: 1.5 CEUs: 1.5 This training will provide a brief overview of suicidality among youth, with a focus on evidence-based suicide risk assessment and safety planning. This training with discuss the risk and protective factors that may increase or reduce risk in youth, the challenges of assessing risk of suicide, and introduce interventions that may be useful in addressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in treatment. Method: Lecture & discussion Learning Objectives: Learn about suicide risk in youth Evaluate risk and ...
Breaking Through the Barrier: Youth Mental Health
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 ...
Now What? 6 Steps After an Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Has your loved one been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia? If so, all of a sudden, you probably have a lot on your plate…. Maybe you have been putting off making financial and legal plans for the future. Perhaps you are rethinking your living situation. Here are first steps you may want to take after a diagnosis: Contact an elder care attorney to discuss your financial planning and need for a power of attorney, will, and advanced directives. Connect your loved one to proper medical care, including a gerontologist and a neurological team. Evaluate your home environment to ensure ...
How WJCS Nurse Practitioners Make an Impact
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, ...
Meaningful Friendships that Promote Mental Wellness
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 ...
WJCS Celebrates Our Peer Specialists
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. ...
September is Suicide Prevention Month
Recent data shows that in the United States suicide rates are the highest they have been since World War II. According to the National Institute of Health, there were more than 47,000 suicides in 2019, twice the number of deaths caused by homicide. Self-violence is a problem we cannot ignore. Suicide affects people of all genders, ages, and ethnicities. We all need to be prepared with information and resources to help someone who is exhibiting signs of despair, isolation, rage, pain, and suicidal thoughts. While there is no single cause for suicidal behavior, common risk factors include: Depression or ...
The DD Diagnoses and Community Mental Health 2023
The DD Diagnoses and Community Mental Health Dates: 10/31/23 & 11/7/23 Time: 9:00 – 10:30 Enrollment Limited to: 20 Contact Hours: 3 CEU’s: 3 Almost all clinicians who are in a general practice setting either in the community, or a school or hospital are finding they need skills in recognizing developmental disorders and adapting treatment strategies to meet the needs of individuals who are either on the spectrum or have cognitive challenges. This course is designed to review the fundamental aspects of these diagnoses, including changes in the DSM 5-TR. The course will address ...
4 Steps to Cultivating Strong Parent-Child Bonds in the Digital Age
Electronic addiction is increasingly becoming an area of concern. A recent study conducted by the Center for Humane Technology found that people check their phones more than 150 times per day. Digital devices and distractions consume our time, influence our communication, affect our sleeping patterns, and impact our relationships and mood. The “ping” on our smartphone, alerting us to incoming texts, news flashes, and “likes” on our social media feeds, have become the background music of our lives. The effect on children who are growing up in such tech-focused environments is a matter worthy of attention by all parents. ...
Overcoming Self-Sabotage: How to Get Out of Your Own Way
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 ...
WJCS Chief Psychologist & Director, Liane Nelson, Ph.D., Presents at NatCon23
WJCS Chief Psychologist & Director Presents at National Conference About Importance of Trauma-Informed Supervision to Respond to the Collective Traumas of COVID-19 and Racism The National Council for Behavioral Health Conference, typically referred to as NatCon, is the largest mental health and substance use conference in the world. Dr. Liane Nelson, Ph.D, Chief Psychologist at Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) and Director of the WJCS Trager Lemp Center for Treating Trauma and Promoting Resilience, and Reverend Daphne Swinton, LMHC, MPA, gave a presentation on Implementing Trauma-Informed Supervision to Respond to the Collective Trauma of COVID-19 and Racism at ...
10 Tips for Mental Wellness and Self-Care
As an agency serving the mental health and wellness needs of individual across the lifespan, WJCS is focusing not just on the mental health of our clients, but also our team members. In order to guard against burnout and vicarious trauma while boosting connections, stress-reduction, self-care, and community spirit, WJCS is hosting Employee Mental Health & Wellness activities such as gardening, fun & games in the sun, and a workshop on stress reduction & relaxation techniques. We’re also reminding our employees of our Employee Assistance Program and sharing 10 tips for Self-Care and Mental Wellness. We’re sharing those tips with ...
WJCS 80th Anniversary Gala: A Huge Success!
WJCS Gala honorees Michele Brettschneider and William Shirley (right) with CEO Seth Diamond Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) welcomed 250+ guests to their 80th Anniversary Gala on March 28th. WJCS Board members Michele Brettschneider, a Scarsdale resident, and William Shirley, a longtime Larchmont resident, were honored at the Brae Burn Country Club event. The evening was especially celebratory as WJCS, now one of the largest human services organization in Westchester, is commemorating its 80th anniversary. "We were founded in 1943 as a small organization that served a few families who were struggling in Westchester. WJCS now has over 80 programs and ...
10 Reasons to Support the WJCS Gala!
Support the WJCS Gala!
Please join us at our 2023 WJCS Gala!
Our 2023 WJCS Gala will take place Tuesday, March 28th, from 6:30-9 pm at the Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, NY. We are thrilled to honor WJCS Board Members Michele Brettschneider and William Shirley, two remarkable individuals whose commitment to improving the lives of people struggling in Westchester is exemplary. Our 2023 Gala will feature our renowned Give for Good Auction and celebrate WJCS’s 80th Anniversary! It is because of our generous donors, supportive government officials, and dedicated staff and volunteers that WJCS has grown from a tiny agency in 1943 to a human service organization that serves ...
What a Year 2022 Has Been!
subscribe to our e-newsletter
Client Alliance, Compliance and Therapist Burn Out
Client Alliance, Compliance, and Therapist Burn Out Date: 12/13/22 Time: 9:00 – 11:00 Enrollment Limited to: 20 Contact Hours: 2 CEU’s: 2 Mental health professionals, perhaps now more than ever, are susceptible to stress and burn out directly related to their job responsibilities. Part of this comes from defining our professional selves based on what we are ...
Words Have Power: Stand Up, Speak Out, and Make Change
At our Margaret’s Place-Joe Torre Safe At Home program, WJCS created, with the help of our youth Peer Leaders, a special campaign in October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, to spread the messages that our words have the power to support survivors of domestic violence, ask important questions, and reach out for help. WJCS Margaret’s Place is situated in White Plains High School, Peekskill Middle School, and Cross Hill Academy in Yonkers. It encourages education and conversation about healthy relationships as well as trauma, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), Domestic Violence (DV), and counseling for trauma and DV-exposed youth. Cross Hill Academy ...