Jewish Family Services

Supporting and strengthening lives throughout Greater Kansas City.

  • About Us
    • About JFS
    • Board of Directors
    • JFS Leadership
    • Financials
    • Media Corner
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Services
    • Services Overview
    • Chaplaincy
    • Mental Health and Education
    • Family Empowerment Program
    • Family Life Education
    • Food Pantry
    • KesherKC
    • LGBTQ Services
    • Older Adults
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Overview
  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Ways to Give
    • Donors
    • Friends of the Family 2021
    • Momentum KC
    • Fund for the Future
    • Legacy Society
    • Purchase Kesher KC Care Bags
    • Donate A Vehicle
  • JFS Blog
  • Contact Us

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

 

 

Donate Now

Upcoming Events

Jun
1
Wed
11:30 am JFS Grief and Loss Group
JFS Grief and Loss Group
Jun 1 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Meets first and third WednesdayThe ongoing support group is for individuals grieving fromthe death of a loved one. The group provides an opportunityto address issues of loss and grief within a Jewish spiritualcontext in a[...]
11:30 am JFSKC Grief & Loss Support
JFSKC Grief & Loss Support
Jun 1 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
The JFSKC Grief and Loss Support Group meet each first and third Wednesday of each month. The ongoing support group is for individuals grieving the death of a loved one. The group provides an opportunity[...]
Jun
6
Mon
11:30 am Mindful Mondays 2022 (April 18 t... @ Virtual
Mindful Mondays 2022 (April 18 t... @ Virtual
Jun 6 @ 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Mindful Mondays 2022 (April 18 to August 29) @ 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 YouBeYou, and Mental Health Coalition[...]
Jun
13
Mon
11:30 am Mindful Mondays 2022 (April 18 t... @ Virtual
Mindful Mondays 2022 (April 18 t... @ Virtual
Jun 13 @ 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Mindful Mondays 2022 (April 18 to August 29) @ 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 YouBeYou, and Mental Health Coalition[...]
Jun
15
Wed
11:30 am JFSKC Grief & Loss Support
JFSKC Grief & Loss Support
Jun 15 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
The JFSKC Grief and Loss Support Group meet each first and third Wednesday of each month. The ongoing support group is for individuals grieving the death of a loved one. The group provides an opportunity[...]
View Calendar

View the KC Jewish Community Calendar

Connect with us!

Sign up below to receive the latest news and events from JFS:

Jewish Federation logo

Copyright © 2022 Jewish Family Services
5801 W. 115th St., Suite 103 | Overland Park, KS 66211
913.327.8250 · info@jfskc.org

United Way logo