JVS Programs Aided Amid Budget Cuts

The boards of the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit and the
United Jewish Foundation approved a
$75,000 grant to help fund the short-
fall in the JVS Adult Day programs,
caused by a steady decline in income
from the county mental health con-
tract.
"JVS has maintained a strong pres-
ence in the metropolitan Detroit com-
munity in providing essential support
services for individuals with severe
developmental disabilities or chronic
mental illness," said Lawrence Jackier,
Federation president.
Approximately 70 percent of JVS'
clients are part of the Jewish commu-
nity.
Judge Helene White, Community
Services Division chairperson, report-
ed that the largest income provider for
this $4.7 million program includes
contracts with community mental
health boards, the principal of which
is the Macomb-Oakland Regional
Center. MORC has not raised its rates
for the past 10 years. JVS has been
able to address the increasing costs not
covered by reimbursements through
some cost cutting and by eliminating
non-essential" therapeutic services,
such as speech and music therapy and
recreational activities.
"One of the most important mis-
sions of the partnership between
Jewish Federation and the Foundation
is to support the community's most
vulnerable populations," said Linda
Klein, chair of Federation's Planning
and Allocations Committee. "It was
very important to suppoit this popu-
lation and the work at JVS during this
•
time of governmental cuts."
Adding to existing financial bur-
dens, the county recently notified JVS

"

Akiva Hosts
Prayers, Fast

Students at Yeshivat Akiva in
Southfield fasted, made special
prayers and held a one-hour presen-
tation about Israel and terror March
13. The Akiva family also joined
Jews worldwide in a special day of
prayer and fasting both in memory
of the Israeli victims of the 18-
month-old Palestinian intifada
(uprising) and as a plea for peace.
The special day of prayer and fast-

of another 10 percent cut retroactive
to Nov. 1, 2001, affecting the reim-
bursement arrangement of medical
personnel. To sustain essential services
to medically fragile participants in the
program, JVS applied for and recently
received an additional $75,000 from
the Jewish Fund.
"The combined grants of $150,000
from Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit and the Jewish
Fund were essential in keeping open
the medical component in our corn-
munity for people with severe disabili-
ties and chronic mental illness," said
Dennis Bernard, JVS board chairman.
"Very simply, without this money our
friends and family members in JVS
Adult Day programs would not be
able to have on site medication and
medical staff support, and therefore
their well-being would be severely at
risk. This grant will allow JVS time to
endow this vital medical component
for the safety of our community's citi-
zens."
To offset the decrease in income,
JVS has made significant progress in
establishing income-generating pro-
grams. The work programs continue
to grow, and the agency has recently
signed a contract for work at Detroit
Metropolitan Airport's new Romulus
terminal.
Since 1941, JVS has helped people
meet life challenges affecting their self-
sufficiency through counseling, train-
ing and support services.
The Jewish Fund was established
from proceeds of the sale of Sinai
Hospital of Detroit. It has provided
more than $3.2 million this past year
in support of 32 programs, serving
16,000 people.

.

ing worldwide was called for by
Israel's two chief rabbis, Rabbi
Eliahu Bakshi-Doron and Rabbi
Yisrael Lau, because of the continu-
ing bloodshed and deteriorating
security situation. Calling upon Jews
throughout the world to mark the
day, as Akiva did, thousands of rab-
bis outside of Israel received phone
and e-mail messages to participate.
Akiva students have been reciting
special prayers, including penitential
prayers known as selichot and the
Psalms. They also erected a memori-
al display in the school's main lobby.

Jewish Community Center
D. Dan and Betty Kahn Building
Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
Marion and David Handleman Hall and Auditorium

Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres
Dinner and dancing to the music of Nouveaua
Video and photo exhibition of JCC through the decades

Black tie preferred • Couvert $125 per person

Dinner Chairs: Florine Mark Ross and Ronald B. Rich
To request an invitation, please contact the JCC at 432-5418.

WE'RE PART Of THE TEAM

TCC

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Jewish
L___ J J Federation

of net,wein

.19C

"9 rm.-
,4,`Rzar.

TRADITION!
TRADITION!

Call Alicia R Nelson

for an appointment

(248) 557-0109

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3/29
2002

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