News & Impact

Parisa Sayani, a young Jewish-Iranian woman, came to this country almost three years ago with hope and determination … and little else. Denied access to adequate education in her homeland, she set her sights on the Academy of Art University’s School of Architecture in San Francisco. Having few resources, she juggled several jobs while carrying a full class load. Still, no matter how hard she worked, she couldn’t cover tuition, school supplies, and living expenses. Never losing hope, Parisa sought assistance through JFCS’ Educational Loans and Grants Program. It was a life-turning chapter in her educational journey. The agency… Read More

J Weekly by Dan Pine Anita Friedman is waiting for the other shoe to drop. The good news is that on Nov. 17 the state announced a reprieve for 275 Adult Day Health Care centers, which were slated to endure severe budget cuts – and possible closure – on Dec. 1. The cuts would have taken a huge toll on the L’Chaim Adult Day Health Center, run by S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services, for which Friedman servces as executive director. Read More from J Weekly… Read More

J Weekly by Patricia Corrigan Larry Goldberg speaks with gratitude about the people who help him navigate the medical system and cope with his illness – his wife, Nancy, his children, his friends, his nurses and his doctors. He also has high praise for Redwing Keyssar, his health care advocate from the S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services. Read More from J Weekly… Read More

The year 1850 is significant for the Bay Area. California became a state, San Francisco was incorporated, and one of the oldest social service agencies in the country—now known as Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties (JFCS)—was established by a group of Bavarian Jews who had immigrated to San Francisco at the time of the California Gold Rush. This exciting time in history is brought vividly to life in JFCS: Centuries of Pioneering. The book seamlessly connects the agency’s development to the Bay Area’s growth and shows how the stories of San… Read More

J Weekly by Dan Pine For Gayle Zahler, draconian state budget cuts that go into effect Dec. 1 mean one thing: potential disaster for scores of elderly Jews under her charge at the S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services. Read More from J Weekly… Read More

After surviving overt homophobia during the pre-Stonewall days and the devastation wrought by the AIDS crisis, countless older gay men and lesbians—many of whom were on the frontlines of the civil rights battles for the past 40 or 50 years—are creeping back into the closet. Gen Silent, the award-winning documentary to be screened at Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) in San Francisco on Thurs., Oct. 6, 6:00 pm, explains why. The hour-long film focuses on six LGBT seniors who face the challenges of aging and health issues while contending with a health-care system that seems oblivious to the needs… Read More