jews d

in
the

Then: A counselor speaks with a young boy.

Now: Mentor Alan Simons and his mentee Jacob.

Impacting
Lives

For 90 years, Jewish Family
Service responds to the needs
of the community.

JOYCE WISWELL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Then: Meals on Wheels volunteers prepare meals.

Now: A volunteer delivers meals to a thankful senior.

Then: Soviet Jews await the arrival of relatives.

Now: Members of 2015 citizenship class celebrate.

Then: Elderly adults received visits from volunteers.

Now: Technology helps seniors stay safe.

Then: Older adults share Chanukah candle-lighting together.

Now: Two young girls donating Chanukah gifts.

36

May 17 • 2018

jn

F

or a 90-year-old, Jewish Family Service (JFS) is
pretty darn nimble. While its mainstay is provid-
ing services for older adults, mental health and
substance abuse counseling, coordination of health care
access and ensuring basic needs are being met, the agen-
cy can also act quickly to help out in times of crisis, be
it helping those affected by the 2014 floods or last year’s
fire at Baptist Manor in Farmington Hills.
“It’s part of our DNA,” said Perry Ohren, MSW, who was
first hired by the agency in 1991 and became its CEO in
2011. “While there is core stuff we do
every day, we have the ability to be flex-
ible and respond to what impacts peo-
ple on an individual basis to meet their
needs. We balance those two things,
thanks to the generosity of our donors.”
JFS staff, volunteers and others will
gather on May 30 for a 90th anniversary
celebratory event expected to attract at
Perry Ohren
least 800 participants.
The basic mission hasn’t altered
much since 1928, when the Jewish Social Service Bureau
was incorporated to promote “family welfare and welfare
of children among the Jewish people of Detroit and envi-
rons.” One major change, however, was expanding into
non-sectarian services in 1983.
“When we started to diversify our funding and get
some from government sources, my predecessors decid-
ed that to serve the Jewish community better, let’s open
the door wider, serve the whole community and repair
the entire world,” Ohren said. “Most people, whether
Jewish or not, might reflexively assume JFS is for Jews.
We are Jewish in our name, our history and our values,
but we provide human and family services for people
whoever they are. It’s a challenge to let everyone know
we are a non-sectarian agency.”
Still, 85 percent of those JFS serves are Jewish, he said,
adding that Detroit’s percentage is higher than many.
For fiscal year ending May 31, JFS’ budget is $11.2
million; revenue sources include various grants, federal
and state government funds, contracts with community
partners for specific targeted programs, insurance and
self-pay fees for certain services, and allocations (total of
$3 million) from the Jewish Federation. The agency has
114 employees.
“The fundraising part is a constant challenge,” Ohren
said. “The reality is that funders, whether the Federation
or United Way or the government, sometimes change