Our Community is Our Campus
Categories: 150 social media posts
Beachwood Buzz – July 2025 This article is the fourth in a series celebrating JFSA’s 150-year legacy. JFSA’s 150-year history is not only one of service – but of movement. From our beginnings assisting Jewish immigrants downtown in the late 19th century, to establishing a presence in Glenville, then Kinsman, and eventually to the eastern […]
Supporting Dementia Caregivers: Then and Now
Categories: 150 social media posts
Beachwood Buzz – June 2025 In honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, explore JFSA Cleveland’s long history of supporting individuals living with dementia and the families who care for them. This article is the third in a series celebrating JFSA’s 150-year legacy. In 2013, a community-needs assessment by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland revealed a rise […]
Living with Mental Illness
Categories: 150 social media posts
Beachwood Buzz – May 2025 In recognition of May is Mental Health Awareness month, learn about the pivotal role Jewish Family Service of Cleveland has played in serving the mental health needs of Northeast Ohio. This is the second in a series of articles focused on JFSA’s 150-year history. The deinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospital patients […]
The Beginning
Categories: 150 social media posts
Beachwood Buzz – April 2025 This is the first in a series of articles highlighting JFSA Cleveland’s 150 year history. Established in 1875, the sole purpose of the Hebrew Relief Society (as JFSA was known) was to resettle Jewish immigrants in Cleveland. Today, JFSA is a contemporary health and social service organization. Influenced by local […]
150th Anniversary Box Office
Categories: 150th Anniversary
Click here to purchase tickets, tribute ads or to make a general donation Click here to purchase a sponsorship
150th Anniversary Sponsorship Purchase Form
Categories: 150th Anniversary
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete this form to purchase your sponsorship. The community’s enthusiasm for this event has been outstanding, and we expect this event will sell-out. Learn more about the benefits of sponsorship levels here. If you would prefer to pay with credit card by phone, call Kim in the development department at 216.504.6451. You can also […]
150th Anniversary Tickets & Tribute Ads Purchase Form
Categories: 150th Anniversary
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete this form to purchase your tickets and/or electronic tribute ads. The community’s enthusiasm for this event has been outstanding, and we expect this event will sell-out. Purchase your tickets today! If you would prefer to pay with credit card by phone, call Kim in the development department at 216.504.6451. You can also mail […]
1875
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
The organization began at a meeting at the home of Dr. James Horowitz, who had been an active participant in the Underground Railroad and was a volunteer surgeon during the Civil War. Among those present were Isaac Glauber; Mathias Buchman, Alexander Buchman, Herman Peskin, Marcus Feder, Sr., and Joseph Metzenbaum. Called the Hebrew Immigrant Aid […]
1883
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The group merges with the Hebrew Relief Organization to become Hebrew Relief Association in the interest of better service to the community, intending “not to pauperize, but to foster and maintain self-respect of the poor.” When refugees arrived in Cleveland, they were taken in charge by the association, which found homes and employment for them, […]
1892 merges with Russian
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HRS merges with the Russian Resettlement Committee. It distributes about $5,000 a year in relief.
1893 personal service society
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At a meeting of Jewish women led by Rabbi M.J. Gries, it was proposed that a personal service society be created. Members of the society would visit poor families to counsel and advise them, forming friendly relationships and put them in the way of helping themselves. Cases needing substantial assistance would be directed to regular […]
1893
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Morris Feder, president of the HRA strongly condemns local money lenders who extorts enormous rates of interest from the poor and asks the legislature to pass a law to prevent it. Dr. Steiner, the association’s physician, made 1800 calls to the sick. He indicated that sickness can be avoided through good clothing and good food. […]
1894
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In Supt. Charles Richter’s report to the organization 203 families were provided: 318 shirts, 105 vests, 159 coats, 310 pairs of pants, 741 pairs of shoes, 120 pairs of stockings, 621 suits of underwear, 108 overcoats, 78 cloaks, 315 ladies dresses, 306 waists, 168 jackets, 36 quilts, 30 pairs of rubber shoes, 64 pieces of […]
1895
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According to Supt. Richter, “We have tried to make some of the applicants independent by giving them horses and wagons or establishing them in little places of business, and I am pleased to say that we have accomplished a great deal of good. In conclusion, I wish to state that we have not a half-dozen […]
1897 heavy immigration to Cleveland
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At the annual meeting, it is reported that there is concern over heavy immigration from New York City of poor Jews, and that in comparison to other cities, the proportion of poor Jewish people is greater and the proportion of those who are rich is smaller in Cleveland.
1897 – ncjw
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
The Hebrew Relief Association works in tandem with the Cleveland Council of Jewish Women (known today as NCJW) to “assist its needy brethren, in learning a trade, starting in business, obtaining free medical attention and medicines, to be fed, clothed and housed, and last but not least, to become useful and and educated American citizens.” […]
1898
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The first women are elected as honorary members of the association: Mrs. Schwab, Mrs. Weiner, Mrs. Halle, Mrs. Rosenfeld, and Mrs. Feder.
1901 new supt.
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Rabbi Beckerman replaces Charles Richter as superintendent.
1902 Denver hospital
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The HRA with help from the Hungarian Benevolent and Social Union, the Ladies Charitable Society, and Daughters of Charity sends Jewish men and women with tuberculosis to the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives in Denver Colorado.
1904 new location
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HRA moves to a new location at 294 Woodland Avenue, and establishes a medical dispensary providing free treatment to all applicants.
1904 Federation
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HRA is designated a charter member agency of the newly formed Federation of Jewish Charities. It receives $10,000 in funding to continue its work. All but $300 is spent.
1905
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The following policy was abolished: “The applicants for relief had been obliged to appear at meetings of the board of directors and to personally make their needs known to that body. Much of the aid was distributed then and there during the meetings. This system was neither expedient nor fair, had a pauperizing influence and […]
1905 first paid staff
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A.S. Newman, a graduate of Chicago University, is retained as the new superintendent and is the first paid professionally trained social settlement worker.
1907
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Supt. Newman reports that because of the industrial depression “many who had never in their lives received charitable assistance could hold out no longer and came to us for relief.” In addition, he states, “It takes two or three years for the Jew to adapt himself to the methods and conditions of American life. After […]
1910
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Correspondence from the Hebrew Relief Association to a New York City hospital on behalf of one of its clients.
1911
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A new location at 2554 E40th Street is dedicated as the Isaac N. Glauber Memorial Home. The larger space is needed to support the “constant and increased immigration” to Cleveland.
1915
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The HRA is engaged in dispersing material relief to indigents, most of whom could not be employed. The agency also helps straighten out family difficulties and acclimating immigrants. There are jobs for all who wanted to work and many people worked two shifts per day.
1919
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With the signing of the Armistice, the aftermath of the Great War brings an increased load to the HRA.
1924 kittner
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Violet Kittner is hired as the agency’s first executive director.
1924 name change
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The Hebrew Relief Association name is changed to the Jewish Social Services Bureau reflecting the change from a relief agency to promoting better family life. “The responsibility of the agency is the development of a positive piece of work, towards the promotion of a better Jewish family life by (1) Strengthening the organization in including […]
1925
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Affiliation with Western Reserve University School of Applied Social Services for field training of caseworkers is established. Over a two-year period, Jewish students wishing to become social workers receive their practical training at JSSB and at the same time receive their technical training at the School of Applied Social Services. The first two women to […]
1926
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Jewish Big Brother and Big Sister Associations affiliate with JSSB. Big Sisters are given course instruction by the agency director and are required to complete a period of training in field work before any assignment are made. One of the benefits of this affiliation is that it provides a “continuous supply of newly trained volunteer […]
1929
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In a survey of the agency, the Bureau of Social Research reports that the agency is a recognized casework agency.
1931
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The JSSB, a private agency, begins to disburse public funds for unemployment relief as no public agency exists at the time.
1932
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Because of availability of public funds, JSSB discontinues cash relief, which is contrary to the agency’s philosophy and practice. “The practice of giving relief in kind has definitely undermined our standard…The constantly imposed restrictions of public officials make it increasingly difficult to function with the purpose of maintaining sound family life.”
1933
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When new public relief agencies take over responsibility for unemployment relief, JSSB returns to its function of family casework. “The Jewish Social Services Bureau believes its work to be in the fields of prevention and re-construction: salvaging families from the disaster into which social conditions have plunged them; preventing those on the margin of economic […]
1935
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Vocational guidance and adjustment service are initiated as departments of JSSB.
1936
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JSSB develops the Homemaker Service and is one of five social services nationally to establish this unique service for families needing to plan for the care of small children when the mother is out of the home or too ill to assume their care herself. Working with the professional social workers, the Homemakers help to […]
1938
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
Setting the future direction of the JSSB, Board Chair Edward Rosenfield states, “The JSSB is not a relief organization. All applications for relief are turned over to the public agency. The only relief cases we carry are those which require intensive casework service along with relief.”
1939
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
Jewish Vocational Service is established as a separate agency and JSSB staff and service become a part of this newly formed agency. The creation of JVS is a direct result of the need for and the value recognized by the community.
1940 refugee services
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The Cleveland Coordinating Committee for Immigrants becomes a formal part of the family casework service of the agency and is renamed Refugee Services.
1940 Rae Weil
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Upon the death of Violet Kittner, Rae Carp Weil is appointed Executive Director.
1941
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With the entrance into World War II, draft and defense preparations are bringing new and intensified problems to the agency.
1943
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JSSB is renamed Jewish Family Service Association to better indicate the nature of services offered. A fee system is established to make services more accessible to people who would normally hesitate to accept free service.
1945
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The Heights Referral Office on the corner of Lee and Cedar Road opens, providing an expansion of services to the community. “The Heights Office of the Jewish Family Service Association was opened on October 1, 1945 according to the marked need in the community for confidential consultation service to people of all income groups.”
1949
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
Mrs. Hedgwig Peiser Levine is elected the first woman chair of the board of directors.
1952
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JFSA leadership Mrs. Alex Miller, Committee for Newcomer Services Chair, Mrs. Rae Weil, JFSA Board Chair, and Mrs. Joseph Bloomfield, attend the United Service for New Americans (USNA) conference where the discussion of the national “quota ” system is keeping many Jewish refugees from the US.
1954 Family life
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
Family Life Education is formally introduced as agency service under the direction of Herbert L. Rock. The program provides experienced family counselors to lead groups in the discussion of everyday problems with which members of all families are confronted and the ways in which these problems can be handled.
1954 friendly visitor
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
The Friendly Visitor program is established to help service the aged.
1955
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JFSA moves to 2060 So. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights, a central location for the convenience of most of its clientele. The agency shares space with the Jewish Children’s Bureau.
1956
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Caseworker Helen Glassman conducts a study of 100 Jewish families who came to Cleveland from displaced person camps of Europe between 1949 and 1952. Entitled “Adjustment in Freedom” the study was published by JFSA and United HIAS Service.
1960
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Adding to its list of pioneering efforts in the field of social work, JFSA develops Parent Guidance Service, a three year demonstration project in child health-parent guidance. The service is open to the entire community on a non-sectarian basis and represent a cross-section of Greater Cleveland. It helps parents understand the psychological, emotional and social […]
1966
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
JFSA is one of five family service agencies nationally participating in a research project to determine the value of the approach in service to older persons.
1967
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The Volunteer Aid Program is created to enhance special services to older persons chronically ill and resettlement families.
1968 youth talk lounge
Categories: 150 Empowering Youth - timeline150 Timeline -1
The Youth Talk Lounge is established as an experimental outreach program for youth.
1971 rap center
Categories: 150 Empowering Youth - timeline150 Timeline -1
The Rap Center is established.
1972 pass
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Psychiatric Aftercare Support Services (PASS) is developed to assist people discharged from psychiatric hospitals.
1975
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The Irene and Sidney Zehman Library was established in tribute to Sidney and Irene Zehman for their commitment to Judaism and to learning. The Zehmans were devoted workers for Cleveland Jewish community throughout their lives. The model agency library provides professional staff at JFSA and in the community with a wide range of information from journals, books and audio-visual materials about social work in a Jewish communal setting.
1976
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
A new group for Divorced Mothers of Adolescents is created with the aim to share concerns with others who are in similar circumstances. As a result, mothers can gain both support from each other as well as a greater understanding of themselves and their relationship with their teenagers. Similarly a program for divorced fathers is […]
1979
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Council House established as the first home for adults with mental illness.
1981
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Personal Emergency Response Systems offered to clients on a lease basis.
1983
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In response to a community study that noted “Jewish children with handicaps are often unable to participate in the usual activities of community life,” JFSA assigns a dedicated resource for parents of children with special needs, such as hearing impairment, restriction to a wheel chair, mental retardation, serious learning disability or hyperactivity.
1984 alcohol/drugs
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3 year demonstration project on alcohol/chemical dependency program including development of professional training for staff and aftercare support group for young adults returning from treatment for alcohol/drug addition.
1984 divorce
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Divorce Mediation Service is established, becoming the first in the state to offer this service.
1984 alzheimers
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The first support group for family members of loved ones with Alzheimer’s is established.
1985 group homes
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In response to the critical need for support of adults with mental retardation, JFSA establishes the Residential Services department offering housing and social services.
1986 Holocaust
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Holocaust Survivors Together is created to assist Survivors with processing experiences during the War.
1986 Lomond CIL
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Lomond House becomes the first residential home for Jewish adults with intellectual disabilities. The Center for Independent Living prepares adults with intellectual disabilities for community living.
1988 DVS
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
JFSA becomes the lead agency of the Jewish Community Family Violence Consortium. A community event includes in-service training of professionals, on-going support groups for victims of abuse, and community advocacy.
1988 Alzheimer respite
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JFSA sets Respite Program for Alzheimer’s caregivers.
1988 Lander
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Lander House becomes the 2nd residential home for Jewish adults with intellectual disabilities.
1989
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New office on Lee Road houses Resettlement Services providing one central location for comprehensive immigration services.
1991 Iraq war response
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A community support group is created in response to individuals and families fears for loved ones living in Israel during Iraqi war.
1992 award
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JFSA receives the Award for Excellence from the National Association of Jewish Family and Children Agency Professionals for services to persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
1993 campaign
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JFSA achieves its $1.1 million capital campaign goal to complete the purchase of the Drost Family Center.
1994 new director
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Dr. Arthur Weidman is appointed executive director following the retirement of Burt Rubin.
1995 Lifetime Endowment
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JFSA’s MRDD Program Services Committee launches The Lifetime Endowment Campaign to raise $1 million to support programming.
1995 COA
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JFSA is accredited by COA (Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children), an independent national accrediting body.
1996 Survivor
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JFSA receives funding from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, Inc. to provide essential services to elderly Jewish victims of Nazi persecution. The goal of the Holocaust Survivor Support Program is to enable survivors to age with dignity and remain in their home as long as possible.
1996 TAPP
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
The TAPP (Training and Placement Program) for individuals with disabilities is established to provide job readiness training, job placement assistance and job coaching for people with severe disabilities.
1996 resettlement award
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Resettlement Services receives Jewish Professional of the Year Award from the Network of Jewish Communal Professionals.
1996 project chai
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Project Chai created to care for victims of domestic violence.
1998 MRDD award
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JFSA receives the Provider of the Year award from the Ohio Provider Resource Association for its MR/DD programming.
1998 hiv/aids
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Living with HIV/AIDS is created, an 8 week workshop educating the community about preventing the disease and helping those who live with it
1999 Cafe Europa
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As part of the Holocaust Survivor Support Program, JFSA creates Cafe Europa, a weekly social program exclusively for Holocaust Survivors. Programming includes entertainers, informative seminars on health issues, Zionism and current Israeli affairs.
1999 Kesher
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The Kesher program is launched to provide social work and psychological services exclusively to the Orthodox community.
2000 125th
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JFSA celebrates its 125th year with a series of family events held throughout the year.
2000 Goldberg computer ctr
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The Charlotte Goldberg Computer Education Center opens as part of the Career Center. It provides computer training and literacy to job search candidates, individuals with disabilities, and adults seeking a career change.
2000 PDC
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JFSA Administration and MRDD services move to the PDC Building in Beachwood.
2001 Ascentia
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Faced with dramatic increases in the number of clients with developmental disabilities and serious mental illness, the PASS, MRDD and Employment Services are combined into one division Ascentia: Pathways to Community Living. This represented a major shift in how services are delivered to clients and family members.
2001 Forever Children
Categories: 150 Timeline -1
Forever Children, a supported living residence for four severely disabled young adults, is established by a consortium of four families, with JFSA providing 24/7 management of the residence. It is JFSA’s 4th consortia residence in 12 years. JFSA was the first agency in Cuyahoga County to create housing under the consortia model.
2001 expect respect
Categories: 150 Empowering Youth - timeline150 Timeline -1
JFSA creates Expect Respect: Healthy Teen Relationships, a live play performed by local student volunteer actors showing real life dating scenarios.
2002 Shakno
Categories: 150 Empowering Youth - timeline150 Timeline -1
Robert Shakno named president and CEO.
2003 teen gambling
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The Teen Gambling Outreach program is established.
2004 Mary byron
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Project Chai receives the Celebrating Solutions Award from the Mary Byron Foundation. It is one of only four programs nationally to receive this award.
2005 schacter
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Milton Schachter is named president and CEO following Robert Shakno’s retirement.
2007 TOV
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The TOV (Tikkun Olam Volunteer) program is established to provide companionship and socialization for aging Holocaust Survivors. Working with Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Kol Israel Foundation, Second Generation Kol Israel, and Jewish Volunteers in Action, JFSA matches volunteers, ages 16 and up, with survivors to help with transportation to appointments and friendly visits.
2009 ccr
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The Center for Cognition and Recovery, LLC is established to disseminate cognitive enhancement therapy (CETCLEVELAND) on a national level.
2011 samhsa
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The Center for Cognition and Recovery, one of 11 organizations nationally, is awarded the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Science and Services Award for disseminating CET (Cognitive Enhancement Therapy). CET helps people with schizophrenia and related mental illnesses improve their processing speed, cognition, social cognition and increase job preparation.
2013 Alyson’s place
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Alyson’s Place Medical Clinic is established, providing clients with direct access to primary medical care.
2015 ruder man prize
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The Ruderman Family Foundation awards the Horvitz YouthAbility program the Ruderman Prize in Inclusion in recognition of its innovative program and services that foster inclusion of people with disabilities in their local Jewish community. The foundation, based in Boston and Israel, names only five organizations internationally to each receive a $50,000 award.
2017 rebrand
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With the increased sophistication of JFSA programs and services, the agency creates a simple positioning statement to help the community understand what JFSA does: “JFSA helps individuals and families with solutions to face life’s challenges with confidence”
2017 home care elite
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JFSA’s Caring at Home home care service is named to the Top 500 of the HomeCare Elite. The ranking is developed by ABILITY Network, a leading information technology company helping providers and customers simplify the administrative and clinical aspects of healthcare. HomeCare Elite recognizes 2,353 agencies out of 9,406 considered.
2017 aip
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Aging in Place is created in partnership with CWRU and University Hospitals. Under the guidance of board member Dr. David Rosenberg, the program pairs student teams with the elderly living at home to help students learn geriatrics and communications skills, the importance of team work and how social factors affect health care results.
2018 chagrin
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JFSA relocates all programs and services to new headquarters in Pepper Pike. The move consolidates operations from three locations in Beachwood and Lyndhurst into one facility offering the efficiency of a central location.
2018 AKRON
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JFSA acquires Jewish Family Service of Akron. The acquisition expands the service opportunities offered at JFS Akron through the addition of high level clinical oversight, electronic health record keeping, Medicare/Medicaid documentation and billing, service to Holocaust survivors living in Summit County and access to other support and services to families.
2019 Alzheimer $1 million
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JFSA is awarded $1 million in federal funding for Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support. It is one of 14 provider sites nationwide to receive funding to create a comprehensive program of education and support for caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias.
2019 covid
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The COVID19 Pandemic compels the agency to develop new ways of delivering healthcare services to clients. Because of social distancing requirements and the shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment) clients use telehealth and virtual clinical appointments to stay connected with JFSA. In some cases, when domestic violence clients need to meet their caseworkers in person, […]
2021 chesed
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JFSA merges with the Cleveland Chesed Center, providing direct access to JFSA’s Strengthening Families services for Chesed Center clients. The merger offers expanded access to Jewish families facing financial distress, homelessness and domestic violence with wrap‐around services, including employment, financial literacy, temporary housing, kosher food, clothing and school supplies.
2023 kindness
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With the purchase of additional office space in Beachwood, The Kindness Center is established, creating a special space for socialization and activities for Horvitz YouthAbility, Adult Day Support and PLAN programs.
JFSA helps individuals and families with