Di rector's Report Executive thrector's Jewish Family Service Hosts "ROOM FOR EVERYBODY." In a world that is constantly changing many Jewish people find themselves wonder- ing how to deal with everyday issues. Jewish Family Service in cooperation with the American Jewish Committee has recognized this need and is offering some help. We are conducting an educational forum, entitled "Room For Everybody". It will consist of six workshops designed to address relevant issues for our Jewish community in a chang- ing Jewish world. The forum will take place on Sunday, April 5, 1992 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, at Hillel Day School, 32200 Middlebelt Road in Farmington Hills. The program is dedicated to the memory of Mary Gussin Lakoff, Past President of Jewish Family Service. Babysitting services will be available for children ages two and over, by reservation only. Advance registration is required. The six workshops include a broad range of topics relevant to today's times. They are: "Working Couples—Whose Turn To Do The Dishes?"—how to juggle the commitments to self, spouse, the kids and the Jewish com- munity; "Raising Caring Jewish Kids - Say Yes/Say No"—how to transmit Jewish values in a materialistic society; "The Club Sand- wich Generation"—how to deal with both parenting your parents and helping your returning adult child; "The Single-Parent Family—Your Challenge"—how to improve your parenting effectiveness; "Self-Esteem vs. Self-Abuse—Are We Listening?"—how to identify substance abuse, food abuse, suicide, plastic abuse and gambling; and "Non- Traditional Life Choices"—how to feel good about who you are, even when the choices you make may not be reflective of those of the society as a whole. Co-sponsored by sixteen local Jewish com- munity organizations, the workshops will be led by area Jewish professionals. For additional information and reserva- tions, please call Betty Barach at Jewish Family Service, at 559-1500. ■ Friends of Jewish Family Service Another way of reaching out to Jewish children, elderly and fam ilies in need of J.F.S. services is to become a member of the Friend of the Family. With sincere thanks, we would like to acknowledge the following new members of the first an- nual Jewish Family Service Friends of the Family. Diane Ash Baila Averbuch Andrew Barbas Mr. and Mrs. Sol Benaderet Anaruth Bernard Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Billes Dr. and Mrs. Charles Blotner Rhea and Robert Brody Lisa Brody Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Cash Bob and Susan Citrin Mr. and Mrs. Leslie E. Colburn Albert and Harriet Colman Fayga Dombey Beatrice Epel David and Trudy Fink Peggy and Dennis Frank Bruce Frankel Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Friedman Edward and Francine Gold Sydney and Grace Goodman Alan and Susan Goodman Bert and Zena Gordon Barbara Grant Amy and Mark Haimann Doreen Hermelin Paula Inowlocki John E. Jacobs Agnes Klein Emery Klein Nikolay and Alice Klemptner Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Kraus Delphine Landau Scott and Susan Leemaster Terran Leemis Caren Landau Levine Irving and Shirley Levitt Madelyn Liss Stuart and Deena Lockman Rabbi Harold S. Loss, Rabbi M. Robert Syme and Rabbi Paul M. Yedwab Joel Lutz Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Madorsky Judy and John Marx Dorothy H. Mazer A. Freda Milstein Joy and Alan Nachman Irving Nussbaum George Nyman Mel and Leslie B. Partovich Stuart and Cynthia Pernick Theodore Pines Esther Ressler Adele and Ben Rosen The Rosenthal Family Foundation Morris and Rosalyn Rubin Molly Sallen Robert Schechter Rosie Schlussel Sandra & Alan Schwartz Alfred Schwarz Janice Shatzman Max M. Shaye Leonard Shebses Sandra M. Sherman Lois Shiffman Dr. and Mrs. Peter G. Shifrin David and Lori Simon Dr. and Mrs. Sheldon Simons Mrs. Perle M. Stahl Barbara Stollman George and Mary Stutz Warren and Charlotte Tessler Brent and Nancy Triest Jerry and DeDe Weinberg Mike and Betsy Winkelman WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK The following individuals for their generous contributions to Jewish Family Service and Resettlement Service. Dr. Gary Chodoroff and Dr. Wendy Hillebrand Furniture Club of Detroit Larry Horwitz and Naomi Pinchuk Dr. and Mrs. Saul Rubenstein Neil and Joan Satovsky Philanthropic Fund Mrs. Sandy Schore Temple Emanu-El limited resources which are available. Too often, we fail to recognize the human and fiscal toll on the elderly and their families which is the result of our ignoring the benefits of early intervention. People with disabilities, be they physical, mental or emotional, constantly struggle to find the support services they need to maintain quality of life. Our community is urgently in need of guardianship and con- servatorship services under agency auspices. They are needed to protect those who have no family or supports and are vulnerable, to care for disabled adult children after their parents are no longer alive and to provide security for the frail elderly living alone or in institutional care. Finally, in addition to those I have already mentioned, there are many other individuals and families in our community at risk of becoming homeless either as a result of poverty, age or disability. During 1992, Jewish family Service plans to apply for a grant under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to provide perma- nent housing and supportive services to such individuals and families. Now, more than ever, the agency needs community support to fulfill its mission. Won't you reach out and help someone through establishing an endowment or name fund, by purchasing a tribute, by becoming a "friend of the Family" or by participation as a volunteer. You can help ensure that we will be here to support you or someone you love in a time of need. Alan D. Goodman Executive Director Group Apartment for the Elderly Program Receives Grant Adoption Connection We are asking for your help in spreading the word—adoption can be a viable alter- native for women with an unplanned pregnancy. There are many wonderful couples on the Jewish Family Service adoption list waiting for a child to share their love and their lives. We need your help to make their dreams of adopting a child come true. Perhaps you know of someone who may benefit from our services or someone who Last year, Michigan cut its basic Aid to Families with dependent Children (AFDC) grants by 13 percent, terminated all cash and medical assistance for 82,000 poor adults as of October 1 and cut Supplemen- tal Security Income (SR) payments to the elderly poor by more than half. This came at a time when the state's unemployment rate was among the highest in the nation. It is estimated that 400,000 jobless workers now qualify for no cash or medical assistance from any level of government. This situation has had a devastating ef- fect on the local community and more specifically, on the agency and our clients. As a result of the "slow" economy and the loss in funding support, we have sustained budget reductions in excess of $100,000 for 1992. Simultaneously, requests for financial assistance have increased by 20% and more individuals and families require subsidized service due to unemployment or layoffs. The refugee population from the former Soviet Union, has seen a reduction in Refugee Assistance as well as the elimina- tion of General Assistance. Since many are unable to find work within the first six to nine months of their arrival in the country, these reductions have placed them at risk of homelessness and poverty. In keeping with findings in other com- munities, economic hardship leads to an in- crease in domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. Referrals to the agency's Family Violence Prevention Program have been steadily growing. Simultaneously, we are struggling to restore $250,000 in fun- ding which will be lost from this program in 1993. Our plans to establish a shelter for battered women could be jeopardized, if we are unable to raise the funds needed. We are appealing to the community to help us to establish an endowment fund for the program and to provide the ongoing operating funds needed to keep the pro- gram functioning. The fastest growing segment of the population is the elderly and more specifically, the population which is 75 years old and above. This population is in- creasingly at risk of premature institu- tionalization at great cost to the communi- ty. In many cases, less costly community support services could be provided to keep them in their homes. The time has come for our community to recognize this pro- blem and to plan responsibly and effective- ly for the care of our elderly, despite the could be helpful in connecting pregnant women with our program. Jewish Family Service offers high quality, compassionate and professional counseling to provide the birth mother with support throughout her pregnancy. Please help the Jewish Family Service Adoption program make a difference. For more information call Esther Krystal M.S.W. at 559-1500. ■ A special thank you to Brian Hacker for developing fund-raising software for Jewish Family Service. Jewish Family Service's Group Apartment For The Elderly Program has received a grant for additional funding from the Fisher Foundation. The money is to be used to pay for personal care services for residents of the G.A.E.P. program. In the Group Apartment For the Elderly Program, three people share a three bedroom apartment in a family-like at- mosphere. The social work staff assists in facilitating a comfortable life. There are currently seven Geriatric workers who help the residents Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by doing their laundry, shopping and cleaning. In addition, they prepare dinners for every day of the week. Recently, the needs of the residents have changed. The new population entering the program are older. Many of the residents have resided in the apartments for a long period of time and are now more frail then when they initially entered the program. This is why additional personal care services are needed. Each resident has different personal needs which are assessed and met by personal care services. Some residents require help seven days a week, in the mornings and the even- ings, for bathing, taking medication, getting meals and walking to program activities. The personal care service program is coor- dinated with Fleishman Residence-Jewish Home for the Aged. There are currently openings for residents in the Group Apartment for the Elderly Pro- gram. Limited subsidies are available. For additional information, please contact co-program managers, Zena Baum or Jan Bayer, M.S.W. at 559-1500. ■