JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF ATLANTIC COUNTY INC

JFS' mission is to motivate and empower people to realize their potential and enhance their quality of life through a wide range of supports regardless of their religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, or background. In keeping with Jewish values and the spirit of "tikkun olam" or healing the world, JFS provides services with integrity, compassion, respect, and professionalism. JFS serves more than 8,000 individuals and families annually through dozens of programs, including counseling, mental health services, homeless programs, vocational services, older adult services, and an on-site food pantry. The agency delivers holistic, wrap-around supports that address the multiple needs of youth, adults, and families, with the primary goal of increasing the stability, self-sufficiency, and well-being of the people it serves. JFS is a leading mental health provider in the region. It is licensed by the NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and employs a professional staff of 175 representing disciplines that include psychiatry, clinical psychology, clinical social work and case management. Its youth-focused outpatient counseling programs offer services using evidence-based practices including Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Parent Management Training, and Functional Family Therapy. It has instituted a proven client-centered behavior change process called Motivational Interviewing agency-wide and is pioneering the first US-based pilot and randomized control trial of Connecting People, an evidence-based intervention to reduce social isolation. Staff frequently collaborate across JFS’ program areas to provide holistic support, drawing upon best practices in the field to meet projected goals. Programs are regularly evaluated for their impact and are continually enhanced in response to community needs. For example, JFS conducts an annual satisfaction survey for clients of the case management and counseling programs. Results are reviewed by JFS’ Quality Assurance committee, informing discussions that may trigger trainings, changes in processes, or the addition of services to address unmet needs or improve outcomes. JFS maintains reasonable caseloads, effective supervision, and a sophisticated database.