Our Commitment to the CNY Community
Our Community
Syracuse Jewish Family Service is proud to be part of a dynamic family services community in Central New York. We actively participate on numerous projects and are part of collaborations and coalitions designed to improve care for the older citizens and their families in our region.
These are just a few of our partnerships!
SJFS - Menorah Park Partnership
Syracuse Jewish Family Service joined the Menorah Park continuum of care in 2009, and today operates under the Menorah Park umbrella as its human services arm connecting the campus to the general community. On campus we provide clinical consultation, BeWell Initiative programming such as Learning Groups and BeWelll Institute offerings, as well as care management: at The Oaks, The Inn, the Jewish Health and Rehabilitation Center, at the Rothschild Medical Adult Day program, Ahavath Achim Apartments, and Beit Tikvah Group Home. With our sister agency IMPARA: The Marjorie and Rodney Fink Institute at Menorah Park for Applied Research on Aging, we conduct innovative programming and research in the area of geriatric mental health and wellbeing in later life.
During this unprecedented shut-down of the Menorah Park campus to visitors, SJFS is offering liaison between residents and their families, and between families and staff. Families appoint one “point of contact” for SJFS staff to connect with and funnel the family’s questions and requests for specific attention and services. SJFS facilitate phone calls and FaceTime, Skype and Zoom video calls between residents and loved ones. Staff helps reduce isolation with friendly chats, and now that restriction are being eased, step by step, SJFS staff are assisting Menorah Park staff introducing some individual creative activities.
Community Collaborations
We are proud to partner with these agencies to assist older adults and their families:
Christopher Community, Inc
PACE CNY
Onondaga County Office for Aging & Long-Term Care
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
Human Services Leadership Council of Central New York
Community Living Advocates
Syracuse Area Domestic and Sexual Violence’s Elder Justice Committee
Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter
Community Coalitions
SJFS has been awarded several grants that each establish a coalition of partners for a specific project:
Dementia Friendly CNY, supported by a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, is addressing community needs of individuals with cognitive impairment and dementia, and is piloting a regional emergency elder shelter for victims of elder abuse or financial exploitation. Coalition partners include 211 CNY, Catholic Charities, Center for Court Innovation, Christopher Community, Elder Justice Committee, FMF&E Wealth Management LLC, Legal Aid Society of Mid-NY, Nascentia, Salvation Army, Syracuse Housing, United Way, Vera House, Onondaga County Office for Aging, Adult Protective Services, Legal Services, Department of Social Services – Economic Security division, Cortland County Department of Social Services and Cortland YWCA.
SECURE (Supporting the Experience of Caregivers to Upstate Region’s Elders) Coalition is co-led with Erie County Department of Senior Services in Buffalo, to improve support for family and friends providing care for older adults in the WNY & CNY regions. In addition to SJFS, CNY partners include InterFaith Works, LeMoyne College CARE, Menorah Park Home Care, Onondaga County Office for Aging, Prevention Network, Vera House, WHOLE ME, and WRVO Media. In addition to Erie County DSS, WNY coalition members include the Alzheimer’s Association WNY Chapter, Center for Elder Law and Justice, Faith-based Caregiver Respite, Healthy Community Alliance, and Senior Outreach Services.
Onondaga County Elder Identity Theft Coalition is a joint venture led by Vera House’s Evergreen Network to raise awareness of elder abuse, provide community education and professional training in an effort to intercept mistreatment earlier and ultimately, reduce the incidence of elder abuse and financial exploitation. Besides SJFS, coalition partners include the Elder Justice Committee, Onondaga County Office for Aging, Adult Protective Service, District Attorney’s Office, County Sheriff’s Office, and a wide range of legal, finance, health and senior care professionals.
FOOD PROJECT coalition of 35 CNY partners seeks to provide food for any individual who feels food insecure. ARISE Child and Family Service, Inc. is implementing the project under a grant from NY State’s Medicaid Innovation Fund. SJFS participates as a food provider through our Kosher Meals on Wheels (KMOW), and by referring individuals to other food pantries and MOWs programs. The program ends August 31, 2020.
Community Resources service was set up at the beginning of CNY’s COVID-19 pandemic to connect community-living older adults who are asking for help with volunteers to address their needs. An informal coalition of agencies and organizations, including the Onondaga County Office for Aging, Vera House, Jewish Community Center, Jewish Federation of CNY, and various faith-based organizations have participated in outreach to the community and connecting their members and clients to CommunityResources@sjfs.org or by calling (315) 446-9111 ext. 226. Though initiated during the pandemic, SJFS expects to continue Community Resources for as long as it is of value to the community.
Community Partners
We are proud and grateful for funding from and collaboration with the following:
Jewish Home of CNY Foundation of Syracuse
Jewish Federation of Central New York
United Way of Central New York
Brookdale Foundation
Pomeranz, Shankman & Martin Charitable Foundation
Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation
Richard S. Shineman Foundation
John Ben Snow Foundation and Memorial Trust
Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation
Central New York Community Foundation