The Children and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative of JFS provides a range of services to children, adolescents, and parents including:

•Individual, group, and family consultation and clinical counseling

•Ruth Sagner Center for Family Play Therapy

•Information and Referral

•Psycho-educational workshops and seminars (i.e. parenting workshops)

•Community forums on topics related to children and adolescent mental health issues

•Consultation services to community agencies, schools, etc.

•Preschool consultation

•Crisis intervention services

•First STEPS: Support, Training, and Education for Pre-Schools

A Friend Advocate volunteer provides visitations and assists needy older adults with bill paying, reading and sorting through mail, and by providing information and referrals to community resources. This program helps older adults in Essex County to live as independently and safely as possible in their own homes. Volunteers often act as the “eyes and ears” of JFS social work staff, and can extend the resources of the agency. Client referrals come from JFS clinicians or other professionals in the community. Volunteers serve as an integral part of the treatment team, working with clients in need. The Friend Advocate Program provides training and on-going supervision for volunteers.

The Hebrew Free Loan provides interest-free loans to Jews with no other place to turn. Loans up to $3,000 must be repaid within three years. Loans above that amount (up to $20,000 for a business-related loan) must be repaid within four years. All loans require a co-signer(s) who must assume responsibility for repayment in the event of default by the borrower.

Loans are provided for virtually any situation in which a needy family might find itself. All information is held in strictest confidence by HFL. To apply, contact the HFL office or a MetroWest rabbi.

At the Leon & Toby Cooperman JCC in West Orange, JCC MetroWest serves diverse populations in the community with social, cultural, arts, community, recreational, and educational activities. Our programs include fitness, pre-school, kindergarten, camp, aquatics, sports leagues and activities, fine arts, music and dance classes for children and adults, theater performances, after-school care, school vacation programs, senior center, teen center, Maccabi, Jewish celebrations, enrichment classes, special needs, Jewish education, and more.

Adult programs are held at the Lautenberg Family JCC in Whippany.

JFVS is a multi-purpose social service agency providing for the needs of the Jewish community and the general community. Service areas include: counseling; services for senior adults including geriatric care management, Kosher Meals on Wheels, and socialization programs; The  Joel Gensler Career Center; community services including Kosher Food Pantry, services for individuals with disabilities, immigrant and refugee services, licensed adoption agency, and volunteer opportunities. Services are provided regardless of religious affiliation.

All services can be accessed by telephone and a discussion with the intake worker who directs potential clients to the appropriate agency department and/or provides information on community resources.

JFVS is a multi-purpose social service agency providing for the needs of the Jewish and general community. Service areas include: counseling; services for senior adults including geriatric care management, Kosher Meals on Wheels, and socialization programs; The  Joel Gensler Career Center; community services including Kosher Food Pantry, services for individuals with disabilities, immigrant and refugee services, licensed adoption agency, and volunteer opportunities. Services are provided regardless of religious affiliation.

All services can be accessed by telephone and a discussion with the intake worker who directs potential clients to the appropriate agency department and/or provides information on community resources.

Branch offices are located at:

• 570 W. Mt. Pleasant Ave.

   Livingston, NJ 07039

   Tel: 973-740-1233

• 921 Bergen Ave., Suite 627

Jersey City, NJ 07306

Tel: 201-604-9991

Jewish Family Service of MetroWest is a comprehensive social service agency providing counseling and support services, on a non-discriminatory basis, to help strengthen and restore the family. Traditionally, half of the agency’s services help older adults and their families cope with the changes of aging through extensive in-home services including home health aides, medication monitoring, case management services, counseling, caregiver education, transportation, volunteer friendly visitors, and specialized programs for Holocaust survivors.

For individuals and families, JFS provides individual, couple, child, and family counseling, case management, support groups, adoption services, school and synagogue-based social work services, debt counseling, domestic violence services, family life education, and other assistance needed to maintain healthy families.

The committee appoints professionally trained chaplains to hospitals, nursing homes, senior residences, assisted-living facilities, homes for the developmentally disabled, and hospice patients and families. The chaplains make pastoral visits and arrange group programming for Shabbat and holidays. The committee also serves as the address for the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and is in contact with Jewish chaplains nationwide. The Chaplaincy Committees of Central New Jersey and Monmouth County have affiliated with the Joint Chaplaincy Committee and share its address.

Elderlink, launched in December 2006, is MetroWest’s first dedicated professionally staffed telephone/web-based information and referral service. Access additional information and resources at www.elderlinkmetrowest.org. Centralized eldercare issues and concerns are addressed including homecare, mental health and counseling, housing, transportation, health, financial and legal issues, and nutrition. Analysis and determination of needs and referrals to appropriate agencies within the Jewish community and beyond are provided. Jewish Family Service of MetroWest administers Elderlink in collaboration with MetroWest CARES (Coalition for Addressing Resources for Eldercare Services) agencies, UJC, JFS, JCC MetroWest, JVS of MetroWest, The Jewish Community Housing Corporation, Daughters of Israel, Jewish Partnership for Life and Learning, and Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled. 

The Rachel Coalition, established in 1997, is MetroWest’s coordinated response to domestic violence. Among its services are a 24-hour crisis response line, emergency suburban safe house with kosher provisions, transitional housing and planning, counseling services, support groups, access to legal and medical services, and information and referrals. The coalition also sponsors workshops and community forums.

The Rachel Coalition is coordinated by Jewish Family Service of MetroWest; National Council of Jewish Women, Essex County and West Morris Sections; Women’s Philanthropy of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey; MetroWest Rabbinic Cabinet; Saint Barnabas Medical Center; Hadassah, Northern New Jersey Region; Jewish Women International, North Atlantic Region; and JCC MetroWest.