EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Alan D. Goodman
JEWISH FAMILVERVICE
ACtiOn
IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS .. .
This past year the agency has been engaged in
developing and completing a strategic plan which
has enabled us to re-evaluate and reaffirm our mis-
sion to serve the.Jewish community. It has also pro-
vided an important framework which will be used to
guide our progranis and services in the years ahead.
Rapid changes in the field demand proactive plan-
ning and solutions to address unmet needs. The
completion of the strategic plan represents only the
first step in a long process.
Brent S. Triest has started the program year as
the newly appointed President of the agency. He
replaces Dr. John Marx who made a significant con-
tribution to the agency during his tenure as
President. Brent's strong leadership skills and com-
mitment to the agency and the community at large,
will enable the agency to implement our strategic
plan over the coming year.
Governmental policies and legislative change
have made a more significant impact on our services
and on the Jewish community than we would have
ever predicted. The movement towards managed
care has had far-reaching consequences on the kind
of care and services provided now and in the future.
Welfare reform will create great hardship and suf-
fering for many vulnerable individuals, including
refugees and immigrants.
Our Jewish tradition teaches that "a person
should be more concerned with spiritual than with
material matters, but another person's material wel-
fare is his own spiritual concern." (Rabbi Israel
Salanter, 1810-1883). In light of these changes, our
community's commitment to the poor will be great-
ly challenged in the years ahead.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year.
Parent to Parent Series
Stage Two of the Parent to Parent Series will be offered October 22 and 29, 1996 at the Jewish Community Center it
Oak Park from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. This informal discussion and hands-on exercises deal with specific situations and issue
common to school children, ages six through twelve. This program provides an opportunity to meet other parents wh
share a very common interest and concern - being a better parent. The program is free of charge and is made possial
through a grant from Hudson's Circle of Giving. Please make your reservation by calling 559-1500.
Annual Jewish Community Book Fair
Jewish Family Service will sponsor Rabbi Harold Kushner, noted author, who will speak at the Annual Jewisl
Community Book Fair on Monday, November 11, 1996 at 8:00 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center in Wes
Bloomfield. Rabbi Kushner recently made a guest appearance on the Today Show to discuss his new book, How Good
Do We Have To Be?
Single Moms & Dads
An eight week psycho-educational group on communicating with your ex-spouse and resolving issues around parentini
will begin in November. To register, please contact Marilyn Hertzberg, M.S.W. at 559-1500.
Divorce: Limiting the Casualties
A panel discussion on how to work your way through a divorce with minimal damage and pain to yourself and other
will be held on December 4, 1996 at 7:30 p.m. at the Agency for Jewish Education. The program is being sponsored b2
the Program Planning Committee of the WS Board.
Dating Violence Workshop
Adolescents have historically been an "at-risk" population for alcohol, drugs, rebellion, and depression. Today we an
witnessing a new danger that adolescents are at risk for: DATING VIOLENCE. It's frightening to think that 37% o
teen dating relationships include battering and 18% of teen dating relationships result in rape.
Jewish Family Service is offering a one hour workshop to educate adolescents about what dating violence is, wh ieji
it stems from, and how to protect and prevent victimization. This workshop is an informative, interactive and sensitil
forum for discussing a very real adolescent issue.
If you are interested in hosting this program at your school, temple, synagogue, youth group or organization, contac
Stacey Rautbort, M.S.W. at (810) 559-1500.
MEET THE COZIES
Meet the Gozie family. Their new comic/activity book will have its debut at the
Annual Jewish Community Book Fair. The comic book is co-sponsored by Jewish
Family Service and Jewish Experience for Families.
4
From left to right: "Tam-Tam", "Geezer", "Kroovi", "Teeraz", and "Selek"
APPLICANT SERVICES ASSIST IMMIGRANTS
Jewish Family Service is pleased to introduce Applicant
Services, an expanded service to provide assistance with
required documentation for immigration and naturalization.
An application to become certified by the Bureau of
Immigration Appeals has been submitted to provide a full
range of services to assist with federally required docu-
ments for immigration purposes. These documents may
range from an application for a green card to an application
for citizenship.
Applicant Services is a "one stop shop" that will assist
with completing documents. Services are provided in a pri-
vate and confidential setting. Fees are determined by the
complexity of the document and are approved by the Bureau
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Volunteer of the year
Natalie Sunshine (middle)
with Alan Goodman,
Executive Director and
Fayga Dambey, Board
Member
Since 1985 Natalie Sunshine
has been a friendly visitor for
the agency. She offers .a listen-
ing ear, companionship and
serves as an advocate for
senior adults residing in nurs-
ing homes. Whether visiting
one of her friends in the hospi-
tal or driving to the store to
buy fruit and supplies, Natalie
always makes herself available
to offer assistance. Her moti-
vation for .volunteering -is "to
see people find value and pur-
pose in their lives."
of Immigration Appeals as part of the certification process.
Two JFS staff members from the Resettlement Department,
Tanya Fingerman and Anna Taradash, have successfully
completed course requirements as Certified Immigration
Paralegal Counselors. The agency is already licensed to
administer citizenship tests in cooperation with the
Educational Testing Service and HIAS.
In response to the Welfare Reform Act that was recently
passed, Jewish Family Service is gearing up for an increase
in the number of immigrants seeking assistance with
required documents for citizenship. A request for funds to
establish the Applicant Service program will be submitted to
the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
A service of the IFS WINDOWS Program
3RD ANNUAL
REVA STOCKER LECTURE
Preserving Your Heritage — Building Stronger
Families was this year's theme for the Third Annual
Reva Stocker Educational Lecture Series. The Reva i
Stocker Educational Lecture Series is a services of
the JFS WINDOWS Program on Family Violence
Prevention. JoSeph Giordano, a noted expert on eth-
nicity and family life was the featured speaker.
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Staff person of the year
Bronya Spector shaking
hands with Alan Goodman,
Executive Director
Bronya Spector is the 1996
Employee of the Year. Bronya
serves as the Pre-Migration
Coordinator for the Resettlement
Department. An employee of
Jewish Family Service since
1989, Bronya is enthusiastic,
caring and committed to her
work. Having immigrated to
this country in 1976, Bronya is
grateful to be a citizen of the
United States and fully under-
stands the importance of her
work.
From left: Alan D. Goodman, Executive Director; Joseph 11'
Giordano, Guest Speaker; Stewart Weiner, Board
Secretary; Brent S. Triest, JFS President; and Margaret
Weiner, Associate Executive Director.