Unless otherwise noted, all events are virtual. Some events require an RSVP or enrollment in our programs, so please confirm your spot in advance. Please check directly with JFS on program dates, as dates may change.
An exclusive sneak peek screening and discussion hosted by JFS and the Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition. Clips from the four-part series to be broadcast in June on PBS will be shown followed by discussion.
Join on Facebook Live facebook.com/jfskc
OR Join on Zoom
Meeting ID: 358 566 1652
This year’s Tisha B’Av observances will include a virtual discussion at 4 p.m., July 18: From Destruction to Redemption: Personal Stories of Addiction and Recovery hosted by the Rabbinical Association and Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City.
Hear from members of the community who have suffered personally or have a loved one who has suffered from addiction. The program will also include reflection of the path from addiction to recovery as a form of transition from destruction to redemption.
Participants will include: Rabbi David M. Glickman, Congregation Beth Shalom, who will share the story of his brother’s struggles with addiction; Mia Cohen, a recording artist and social media branding specialist currently working for Jewish Family and Career Services in Atlanta; a college student; an adult who has struggled with addiction; and Marla Kauffman, executive director and founder of Jewish Addiction Awareness Network (JAAN), whose son is in a long-term recovery from substance use disorder. Kauffman has been active in the Seattle Jewish community since relocating there with her husband, Joe, in November 2019.
Sarah Link Ferguson, development officer at First Call and member of Congregation Koi Ami, will moderate the discussion. Ferguson is also a member of the recovery community and has written about her experience as a Jewish person in recovery for outlets such as Tablet magazine and the Temper. She is passionate about destigmatizing issues such as mental illness and substance use disorder especially within the Jewish community.
“We are excited to hold this important community discussion especially at this time. Talking about addiction has always been somewhat of a taboo subject in the Jewish community, but the number of individuals with substance abuse disorder has dramatically increased due to the pandemic,” said Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick, Community Chaplain at Jewish Family Services and co-organizer of the event. “We are hoping this will be the beginning of many more discussions and a pathway to help for many individuals.”
Register for the virtual program : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSer_AM1wqqIJlc75r4FTpuiercPI_eRPrjOM9rBJK28LRcDsQ/viewform.
Tisha B’Av (The nineth day of the Hebrew month of Av) is a day of national mourning. The holiday primarily commemorates the destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples, but also other tragedies of the Jewish people. The community Tisha B’Av observance will be held at 9:30 p.m. July 17 at Beth Shalom and online.
For more information, visit kcrabbi.org or contact Annette Fish, Rabbinical Association Administrator/Program Director at afprogram@aol.com or 913-327-8226.
We live in a hectic, fast-paced world now made more challenging by the ongoing pandemic. More people are experiencing stress and anxiety and are reaching out for tools to help them cope with our complex reality.
To address the rising need, Jewish Family Services is offering Mindful Mondays, a free, virtual mindful training program offered every Monday from 11:30 a.m. to noon through Dec. 13.
Using the Zoom platform, the sessions are free, but registration is required at Mindful Mondays registration link. Once registered, participants will receive a link to join each session. Participants may attend one or all virtual sessions.
Mindfulness is a practice anchored in science and focused on being intensely aware of what an individual is sensing and feeling in the moment without interpretation of judgement.
Led by Sondra Wallace, MSED, JFS YouBeYou and Mental Health Coalition Coordinator and Julia Grimm, LMLP, JFS therapist.
Weekly themes:
Sept. 27: Self-Compassion
Oct. 4: Generosity
Oct. 11: Non-Judging
Oct. 18: Body Scan
Oct. 25: Letting Go
Nov. 1: Sitting with Emotions
Nov. 8: Trust
Nov. 15: Values
Nov. 29: Generosity
Dec. 6: Acceptance
Dec. 13: Patience
For more information, contact Sondra Wallace at swallace@jfskc.org.
We are hosting a free community Health Fair at our Brookside East office and food pantry from 1-3 p.m., Oct 1, 425 East 63rd St.
Participants will have the opportunity to receive free services provided by JFS and several of its community partners including:
- Medicaid or Medicare counseling
- COVID-19 vaccine shots
- HIV testing
- Medical assistance
- Food and household items
- Information about JFS’ Counseling and Wellness programs.
“Taking care of your mental and physical health often takes a back a seat when you are struggling financially and facing food and housing insecurities. We see this everyday among our clients,” said Maggie Haghirian, LMSW,director of KesherKC, JFS’ social service and food pantry program.
“Neglecting your health can obviously lead to other ongoing challenges for you and your family,” she said. “We are excited to offer and provide access to many free healthcare services along with our other community partners.
The October 1 Health Fair is open to the public – no registration is required. Participating community partners are KC CARE Health Center, Kansas City’s Medicine Cabinet and Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center. JFS provides human services for people facing challenges in everyday life or times of crisis — regardless of faith, age, culture or lifestyle.
Jewish Family Services (JFS) is a hosting a free community Health Fair at its Brookside East office at 425 East 63rd St. in Kansas City on October 12 from 3 to 5 p.m.. Participants will have the opportunity to receive free services provided by JFS and several of its community partners including:
- Medicaid or Medicare counseling
- COVID-19 vaccine shots
- Medical assistance
- Food and household items.
- Information about JFS’ Counseling and Wellness programs.
“Taking care of your mental and physical health often takes a back a seat when you are struggling financially and facing food and housing insecurities. We see this everyday among our clients,” said Maggie Haghirian, LMSW, director of KesherKC, JFS’ social service and food pantry program.
“Neglecting your health can obviously lead to other ongoing challenges for you and your family,” she said. “We are excited to offer and provide access to many free healthcare services along with our other community partners.”
The October 12 Health Fair is open to the public – no registration is required. Participating community partners are KC CARE Health Center, Kansas City’s Medicine Cabinet and Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center. JFS provides human services for people facing challenges in everyday life or times of crisis — regardless of faith, age, culture or lifestyle.
Learn how to bring mindfulness into your home when JFS presents “Get Calm and Connected: Mindful Parenting,” a free, virtual workshop at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 12, via Zoom.
During the interactive workshop, parents and caregivers will learn practices to help with the challenges of parenting and valuable techniques to implement into their family’s daily life.
Mindful Parenting can help parents manage stress, better care for their own well-being, and nurture the parent-child connection. The workshop will be facilitated by Wendy Anderson and Lauren Glass, both licensed clinical social workers with JFS.
Registration is required: Meeting Registration – Zoom
Confirmation and a final Zoom link will be sent after registration is received.
“Get Calm and Connected: Mindful Parenting” convening organizations are Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation Beth Torah, The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, The J, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.
For more information, contact Susie Hurst, JFS Director of Family Life Education/CHAI Program at susieh@jfskc.org or (913) 327-8259.
Learn more about the critical challenges facing Kansas Citians and how JFS is responding during our virtual speaker series.
In our second session, Kerry Scott, LCSW, Child and Family Therapist, will share stories of the increased anxiety facing children and parents today due to the pandemic, the effective strategies for tackling current challenges, and the hope JFS provides. Register here.
“Working with more than 10,000 individuals a year, our team has a unique lens into the complicated problems facing Kansas Citians. This series is an opportunity for the public to learn more about the critical social issues we’re collectively tackling,” said Don Goldman, Executive Director and CEO of JFS. “It’s also an opportunity to have a dialog with us about the evolving challenges due to the pandemic.”
Jewish Family Services (JFS) is a hosting a free community Health Fair at its Brookside East office and food pantry – 425 East 63rd Street in Kansas City on October 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to receive free services provided by JFS and several of its community partners including:
- Medicaid or Medicare counseling.
- COVID-19 vaccine shots.
- HIV testing.
- Medical assistance.
- Food and household items.
- Information about JFS’ Counseling and Wellness programs.
“Taking care of your mental and physical health often takes a back a seat when you are struggling financially and facing food and housing insecurities. We see this everyday among our clients,” said Maggie Haghirian, LMSW, director of KesherKC, JFS’ social service and food pantry program.
“Neglecting your health can obviously lead to other ongoing challenges for you and your family,” she said. “We are excited to offer and provide access to many free healthcare services along with our other community partners.”
The October 29 Health Fair is open to the public – no registration is required. Participating community partners are KC CARE Health Center, Kansas City’s Medicine Cabinet and Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center. JFS provides human services for people facing challenges in everyday life or times of crisis — regardless of faith, age, culture or lifestyle.
Learn more about the critical challenges facing Kansas Citians and how JFS is responding during our virtual speaker series.
For our last session, Sondra Wallace, YouBeYou and Mental Health Coalition Coordinator and chair of the Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition will share how our youth, schools, and adults are using the YouBeYou resources, Sources of Strength model, and JFS services to build communities of strength anchored in caring, connected, positive relationships and social networks. Register here.
“Working with more than 10,000 individuals a year, our team has a unique lens into the complicated problems facing Kansas Citians. This series is an opportunity for the public to learn more about the critical social issues we’re collectively tackling,” said Don Goldman, Executive Director and CEO of JFS. “It’s also an opportunity to have a dialog with us about the evolving challenges due to the pandemic.”