JULY 8 • 2021 | 17

COVID-19, the pandemic 
hit especially hard.
“We’ve seen a huge 
increase of suicide 
attempts,” Clayton explains. 
“We had more severe 
mental health problems 
with our adolescents 
because of the isolation 
from the pandemic and 
socially from school.”
Though these numbers 
were “devastating,” 
Clayton says there was 
one silver lining of the 
pandemic: A switch to 
virtual appointments gave 
more people access to care 
who weren’t able to find 
transportation or childcare 
to attend in-person 
appointments at Oakland 
Family Services.
“The demand went up for 
services,” she explains. “The 
people who were getting 
mental health treatment 
during the pandemic 
tended to engage more in 
our sessions as well.”

JEWISH LINKS
Clayton says Oakland 
Family Services opens 
its doors to everyone, 
including the Jewish 
community. As the 
organization’s president, 
Clayton, who is Jewish and 

attends Temple Israel, says 
the agency has partnered 
with JVS and Jewish 
Federation of Metropolitan 
Detroit in the past.
Yet as a non-
denominational 
organization, it simply 
strives to provide services 
to those who need it, while 
helping to break down 
the stigma around mental 
health and substance abuse 
treatment. 
With 100 years under 
its belt, Oakland Family 
Services is now looking to 
the next 100 years and how 
it can continue to serve 
the Southeastern Michigan 
community.
To celebrate the major 
birthday, the organization 
will host a “Fun Run” walk-
run event at Waterford 
Oaks County Park on July 
24 and a 100th anniversary 
gala celebration at 
Bloomfield Hills Country 
Club on Sept. 24.
“If we could make it the 
last 100 years, survive the 
pandemic and come out in 
just as good of a position,” 
Clayton says, “having 
treated and provided 
a safety net for our 
community, then we can be 
here for 100 more.” 

“WE PROVIDE 
SERVICES FROM 
PRE-BIRTH ALL 
THE WAY 
TO OLDER 

ADULTHOOD.”

— JAIMIE CLAYTON

Honorary Co-Chairs
Julia Schechter • Rachel Schechter • Susie Schechter

Honorary Chairs
Judy Karp • Karen Weiss

Temple Israel
5725 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, Michigan 48323

Please join us under the tent for the

Benefiting the IMPACT! Scholarship Program

Granting Academic Scholarships to Combat Veterans in Need

Honoree
Bluma Schechter

Women of Valor
Outdor Luncheon

For more information, please contact:
michigan@fidf.org | 248.926.4110 | www.fidf.org

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

11:00am Registration & Silent Auction • 12:15pm Lunch & Program

FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES
MICHIGAN CHAPTER

Guest Speaker
Shir Peled

THEIR JOB IS TO LOOK AFTER ISRAEL.

OURS IS TO LOOK AFTER THEM.

