News & Impact

By all accounts Micah had a great freshman year—good grades, a nice mix of extracurricular activities and some new friends who shared his passions for music, soccer and anime comics. But by October of his sophomore year, Micah, now 16, had lost interest in school, sports, clubs and friends. He spent a lot of time alone in his room listening to heavy metal music; only emerging for meals where he sat sullenly, responding to his parents’ questions with barely a grunt. “We were out of our minds with concern,” said his mother, Joanne, who contacted Parents Place for help after… Read More

The facts are clear: Attending a Jewish summer camp as a child leads to a stronger identification with the Jewish community as an adult. Without the generous camp scholarships provided by JFCS, Micah and Rachel, 10-year-old twins on the Peninsula, would have missed out on this vital experience. The siblings lost their Israeli-born father to multiple sclerosis five years ago. Since then, it has been the hope of their mother, Pam, who is struggling financially, to connect her children to their father’s heritage through the Jewish summer camp experience. “But I could never afford it,” says Pam. “JFCS has helped… Read More

While many parents are relieved to have their kids back in school, Ellyn’s doing her best to keep her stress at bay. That’s because now is the time that she and her wife, Cindy, have to determine the best kindergarten for their son for next year: public or private, secular or religious, Montessori, or Waldorf. “It’s overwhelming to find a school that reflects our values,” says Ellyn. “That’s why we’ve been consulting with a Parents Place expert to better understand our options and how to make the right decision for Bradley.” “October and November are the busiest times of year… Read More

Amy’s family was in trouble. She and her husband, Bill, argued constantly—mostly about how to raise their son, Ben, now 9. “I felt that Ben was playing off of my and Bill’s differing parent styles,” Amy recounts. “Whenever I said ‘no’ to Ben, he’d run to Bill, who would invariably say, ‘yes.’  We needed help, but given our tight budget, I didn’t know where to turn. Thank goodness for Parents Place, which stepped forward with a scholarship for counseling for us. Otherwise, I’m not sure the three of us would still be living under the same roof.” “It’s surprising… Read More

Mitch P.’s demanding job requires long hours and significant travel. Though mild-mannered and congenial during the day, “I undergo a huge transformation once I walk through the door at night,” he admits. “I turn into this big grouch. I turn away from my 2-year-old’s hugs, and I snap when my 4-year-old starts jumping up and down and squealing. I know they’re excited to see me, but sometimes I feel like a gay Archie Bunker. “All I want,” Mitch adds, “are dinner on the table and a little peace and quiet. Of course, I feel guilty about it—and a little scared,… Read More

Aaron, age 4, was a chronic poker, hitter, and biter. His favorite targets: his mother and fellow preschoolers. “My child was beating me up,” said Laura, a domestic abuse survivor. “He saw what his father did to me, and he started to behave the same way.” Aaron’s pediatrician sent the child and his mother to JFCS’ Parents Place program. Its Child Trauma Training Institute trains professionals and also directly assists children who have been exposed to severe stress and significant violence, such as domestic abuse. “The therapist at Parents Place helped Aaron work through his rage at his father and… Read More