News & Impact

Our lives can feel upside down or even unlivable if someone seeks to harm us through bullying or deliberate behaviors to maintain a pattern of power and control—the definition of domestic violence. That’s why every day JFCS’ programs work to prevent cycles of abuse so that children, teens, adults, and seniors have the support they need to make healthy choices, leave abuse behind, and live their best lives. For Domestic Violence Survivors, Leaving Is Just the Beginning JFCS’ Dream Program changes the cycle of abuse by providing critically needed support to women and their children so they can rebuild their… Read More

Dear Friend, Julie’s mom came home from waiting tables one evening and found her daughter unconscious. Lying next to her was an empty bottle of sleeping pills. Amazingly, Julie’s life was saved at the emergency room, but it was a very close call. Her cry for help needs to be addressed with ongoing care. Julie isn’t alone in her worries. Reports of major depression have increased by 37 percent nationwide. Experts blame everything from academic pressure to online bullying—and now, sadly, the very real fear of gun violence—as the reasons so many young people seriously contemplate suicide or resort to… Read More

The wildfires that swept through the North Bay last October are out, but the scar on the community is one that will last a generation. Since Day One JFCS has collaborated with many integral organizations in the North Bay to make sure disaster victims are able to access all the help available to them. Last month JFCS honored first responders and survivors at the JFCS Fammy Gala after the deadliest wildfire disaster in California history. First Responders and Victims of the North Bay Wildfires JFCS Fammy Video During the initial days and weeks after the fires JFCS helped people with… Read More

Moving from Emergency Response to Long-Term Recovery Two months have passed since fires swept through the North Bay, leaving in their wake incredible destruction and thousands homeless, jobless, and emotionally scarred. JFCS hit the ground running, working to support the community. Thanks to generous donations from supporters like you, our Sonoma County office has become a community hub where individuals and families are receiving the services they need to re-build their lives and heal. Thank you for your help! Emergency Response and Ramping Up In the initial weeks after the fires JFCS staff witnessed survivors in shock. Over 250 families… Read More

The Press Democrat By Meg McConahey FAUX FLAMES MAY BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THE FIRE-TRAUMATIZED THIS YEAR It’s the season of soft light, when candles are flickering and hearth fires roaring. But in the aftermath of October’s firestorms, which destroyed thousands of homes in Sonoma County and shrouded the air with heavy smoke for days, many people may find themselves looking warily at those flames that used to symbolize cozy comfort and peace. “Fire has been one of those things that keeps us warm and has always had positive memories,” said Diana Klein, director of the Sonoma County Regional… Read More

For Immediate Release: October 9, 2017 SAN FRANCISCO – Jewish Family and Children’s Services, one of the largest and oldest charitable institutions in the Bay Area has a received a grant of $250,000 from Tipping Point Community to support its emergency aid to victims of the North Bay fires. The generous grant will be a welcome addition to JFCS’ Disaster Assistance Fund and will be used to help low-income families and individuals get back on their feet after the fires. “The North Bay fires hurt thousands, but especially those who were already struggling paycheck to paycheck,” said Dr. Anita Friedman,… Read More