OUR COMMUNITY
J

VS Human Services + 
Kadima Mental Health 
Services unveiled the 
new name for their joint entity 
at the Strictly Business 25th 
anniversary luncheon this week. 
They will now operate as a com-
bined entity under the name 
Gesher, which means “bridge” in 
Hebrew. 
Their merger, which was 
announced in August of last 
year, reduces operational and 
administrative costs and allows 
the organization to maximize its 
use of funds for programming to 
help its combined client base of 
thousands access vocational, res-
idential and clinical services. 
Janny Milton of Southfield has 
been involved with JVS since 
2006. It’s been a place where her 
son Brian, 42, who is autistic, 
has been able to learn job skills 
and find work. He now holds 
a job cleaning in an apartment 
building with JVS’ support. “To 
me, it’s a big deal,
” she says. “JVS 
is very dear to my heart because 
of that; they got him a job and 
people there are very nice to him 
— I feel that Brian is safe when 
he is at JVS.
” 
She says she appreciates the 
organization and hopes the 
merger only enhances the seam-
less experience she’s known at 
JVS. “They might have more 
programs. I’m hoping that’s what 
will happen,
” she says. “I hope 
they continue doing the good 
work they’re doing.
” 
Paul Blatt, CEO of Gesher, 
says that’s indeed the plan, and 
the new name is designed to let 
people know the essence of the 
new organization. 
“We are still the 
place for our com-
munity, whether it’s 
work-related, resi-
dential services for 
people with mental 
health issues — 
however we can help support the 
community,
” he says. 
The new name came as the 
result of the combination of 

After merging last year, JVS + Kadima rebrands as Gesher.

A New Name 

Paul Blatt

KAREN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

16 | JUNE 23 • 2022 

Maddie, left, and Hern enjoy an outing to an arcade.

GESHER

