Jewish Family Services

Supporting and strengthening lives throughout Greater Kansas City.

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Family Empowerment Program

The Desk Guys

“The Desk Guys,” Mark Pare of US Global Logistics and Jim Wadella of Core Catalysts, made desks for students in our Family Empowerment Program during the COVID-pandemic.

The Family Empowerment Program is a multi-year program between JFS, the United Way of Greater Kansas City, and the Shawnee Mission School District. The goal of this partnership is to prevent homelessness and school disruptions. With a stable home, families thrive, and students succeed academically.

JFS provides community-based social work and advocacy to 30-35 families who are facing housing instability. We work to connect the families we serve with resources to maintain housing, stabilize children in school, and assist families in meeting their personal financial goals.

As we succeed in supporting family stability, we prevent school attendance disruptions which can occur when families move from place to place or have to access housing outside of district boundaries. The Family Empowerment Program also works closely with Shawnee Mission School District’s Project Home, a collaborative effort of service providers and faith communities. It works to help families prevent financial insecurity. Project Home consists of Vineyard Church, Johnson County Mental Health, Catholic Charities, El Centro, Johnson County MultiService Center, Workforce Partnership, Redeemer Presbyterian, New City Church, and Evergy.

“Johnson County benefits and thrives when families are able to live in the same community in which they work and attend school. By providing connections to supportive resources and advocating for living wages and affordable housing, we hope to address the major barriers families are experiencing when obtaining permanent housing within the Shawnee Mission School District.” – Laura Stadler Tobaben, Family Empowerment Coordinator

 

 

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Upcoming Events

Mar
27
Mon
11:30 am Mindful Monday @ Virtual
Mindful Monday @ Virtual
Mar 27 @ 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Mindful Monday @ Virtual
JFSKC’s Mental Health Programs Team is pleased to announce that it will continue to offer the free virtual Mindful Mondays program from 11:30 AM to Noon.  Sondra Wallace, MSED, JFS Mental Health Coalition Coordinator, and[...]
Apr
3
Mon
11:30 am Mindful Monday @ Virtual
Mindful Monday @ Virtual
Apr 3 @ 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Mindful Monday @ Virtual
JFSKC’s Mental Health Programs Team is pleased to announce that it will continue to offer the free virtual Mindful Mondays program from 11:30 AM to Noon.  Sondra Wallace, MSED, JFS Mental Health Coalition Coordinator, and[...]
Apr
10
Mon
11:30 am Mindful Monday @ Virtual
Mindful Monday @ Virtual
Apr 10 @ 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Mindful Monday @ Virtual
JFSKC’s Mental Health Programs Team is pleased to announce that it will continue to offer the free virtual Mindful Mondays program from 11:30 AM to Noon.  Sondra Wallace, MSED, JFS Mental Health Coalition Coordinator, and[...]
Apr
13
Thu
7:00 pm Peer Lead Support Group – A Tran... @ Jewish Community Center
Peer Lead Support Group – A Tran... @ Jewish Community Center
Apr 13 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Peer Lead Support Group - A Transition for Everybody: A Support Group for Jewish Parents/Caregivers of Trans Children @ Jewish Community Center
A Support Group for Jewish Parents/Caregivers of Trans Children Parents/Caregivers of Trans children – of any age – face a difficult transition themselves. This Peer Led Support Group is for Kansas City Jewish parents who[...]
Apr
17
Mon
11:30 am Mindful Monday @ Virtual
Mindful Monday @ Virtual
Apr 17 @ 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Mindful Monday @ Virtual
JFSKC’s Mental Health Programs Team is pleased to announce that it will continue to offer the free virtual Mindful Mondays program from 11:30 AM to Noon.  Sondra Wallace, MSED, JFS Mental Health Coalition Coordinator, and[...]
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Copyright © 2023 Jewish Family Services
5801 W. 115th St., Suite 103 | Overland Park, KS 66211
913.327.8250 · info@jfskc.org

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