Alexander Jewish Family Service

Congratulations to Gittel Francis on becoming a National Instructor for Teen Mental Health First Aid! It's an important step in addressing the critical issue of mental health awareness, especially during National Su***de Prevention Awareness Month.

Also check out Gittel' s article in the BeWell column of the Jewish Herald-Voice titled, Elul and Su***de Prevention Month.

Alexander JFS is contributing greatly to supporting teen mental health and equipping more people with the tools to help young individuals in need. Visit the link below for more information:
https://bit.ly/JFS-MHFA

Thank you to our corporate sponsor, Ham Langston & Brezina LLP., for supporting this year's JFS LiVE! 2024.

Thank you to our JFS LiVE! 2024 corporate sponsor, J.P. Morgan!

Grateful to Triple-S Steel Supply Co./ The Stein Family for their generous sponsorship of JFS LiVE! 2024. Your support fuels our mission and meaningfully impacts our community.

September is Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. Saving a life starts with a conversation.

Register for a free Mental Health First Aid certificate training today.
Be the change, equip yourself, save a life.

bit.ly/JFS-MHFA

Our sponsors are the true stars of JFS LiVE! 2024. Thank you, The Center for Audiology, for your unwavering support!

We’re so thankful for the generosity of our sponsor, MD Anderson Cancer Center, for JFS LiVE! 2024. Your donations are changing lives!

A huge thank you to our sponsor, Goodman Even, for their support for JFS LiVE! 2024. Your kindness makes all the difference!

From Generation to Generation💫

Here’s a few photos from the Alexander JFS Board meeting. Past President, Robert Reader, presented to our Board in which his grandson , Michael Mazvinsky, is a member of today!

We’re so thankful for the generosity of our sponsor, BoyarMiller Gary & Toni Miller for JFS LiVE! 2024. Your donations are changing lives!

Thank you to our sponsor, Baker Botts , for their incredible contributions to JFS LiVE! 2024. Together, we’re building a brighter future! 💫

We couldn’t do it without you! Huge thanks to our sponsor, Cadence Insurance, for supporting JFS LiVE! 2024. 💖

A huge thank you to Amegy Bank (Amegy Bank) for their generous support of JFS LiVE! 2024. Your contribution is making a difference!

On behalf of ReelAbilities Houston and Alexander Jewish Family Service, we want to thank Cindy Ivanhoe, MD for bringing together a group of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) residents from UT and Baylor, at TIRR Memorial Hermann to view two movies from ReelAbilities.

Dr. Ivanhoe shared “It is not just books and clinics that make good physiatrists. It takes empathy and understanding of the REEL world (pun intended) experiences of the people who are differently abled. I hope that early in this academic year, these films will expand perspectives, empathy, and limit imposed biases.”

As a founding sponsor of the ReelAbilities Houston Film & Arts Festival, Dr. Ivanhoe and her non-profit, Ivanhoe Foundation (IF), work tirelessly to advocate access to care and quality of life for her patients and the community.

A heartfelt thank you to Charter Title for their donation to JFS LiVE! 2024. Your support helps us change lives!

Empowering our community! 🌟
For the past 2 days, 88 dedicated staff members at The Emery/Weiner School participated in Mental Health First Aid Training, guided by our 8 incredible trainers! Together, we're building a stronger, more supportive environment for everyone. 💪

If you are interested in signing up your group or organization for Mental Health First Aid Training for Adults, Youth, or Teens , please visit the link below for more information!
bit.ly/JFS-MHFA

Thank you, IMG Financial Group, Inc./ Jeff & Julie Applebaum, for your amazing generosity and support at JFS LiVE! 2024. We couldn’t do it without you!

We are excited to announce two music groups starting at the end of this month! There will be two Social Music Groups for ages 4-6 and 7-10. These 6-week groups help children improve social skills such as turn-taking, following directions, regulating social anxiety, and communication, through a creative and fun outlet: music!

To register now - please visit alexanderjfs.org/forms/workshop-registration

We are grateful to L2TMedia for their incredible donation to the JFS LiVE! 2024 gala. Your support helps us continue our mission.

A huge thank you to Sysco for their generous support of JFS LiVE! 2024. Your contribution is making a difference!

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the 2024 JFS LiVE! Gala on November 21, 2024, at the Hilton Americas-Houston! Don't miss this opportunity to be part of something truly special!

Visit the link for tables and tickets!
alexanderjfs.org/events/jfs-live-2024

Congratulations to the six outstanding scholars who were recipients of The Lloyd and Morissa Parkans Scholarship Fund, The Edith and Robert Zinn Scholarship, The Alexander JFS Scholarship, and The Aileen and Mark Weycer Scholarship! Your dedication and hard work have truly paid off, and we are excited to see the incredible impact you will make.

Keep shining bright! 🌟

Alexander JFS Shares Community Update On Conditions in Houston!

Friends of JFS gathered in Aspen for an event hosted by Lori & Phil Cohen and Vicki & Andy Bursten to hear stories of impact from Case Manager Specialist, Jessie Bursten, and agency updates from CEO, Carl E. Josehart and Senior Development & Donor Engagement Officer, Tiffany Dorsey.

If you or your group are interested in hosting a briefing, please reach out to Rachel Davis at [email protected].

Hannah and Daniel are volunteers assembling Shabbat Boxes for the Velva G. and H. Fred Levine Jewish Chaplaincy Program.

Bright, colorful, and full of Shabbat items and fresh challah rolls, these boxes provide warm and welcome community connection to patients in the hospital.

Today marks 2 years since the launch of 988. This service provides 24/7 su***de and crisis support with trained counselors. Remember, you are not alone.

In the recent weeks and months Houston and surrounding areas have experienced two scary weather events with Hurricane Beryl and the Derecho. With support from family, community, and organizations most children will recover from these events over time.

Some common reactions that you may see from your child after a hurricane or scary weather event include:
• Increased anxiety and concerns related to storms and safety
• Changes in behavior such as difficulty concentrating, being clingier than usual, difficulty expressing self and emotions
• Complaints about physical ailments
• Changes in school performance
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep

Parents and caregivers are a source of strength and support for their children to help them be resilient and recover from the storm. Some ways parents and caregivers can support their children include:
• Model appropriate coping and problem solving
• Provide accurate information, and answer questions with age-appropriate details
• Keep routines as much as possible
• Monitor media and social media information that children are viewing
• Seek additional help if behavioral changes or reactions worsen or persist after 6 weeks of the hurricane or scary weather event

Parents, if you have questions about supporting your child or their behavioral reactions to Hurricane Beryl, Alexander JFS' Children’s Therapists will be available via Zoom on Thursday, at 12:00pm for support.

Please drop in using the link below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89394379988

On July 9, 2024, President Biden approved major disaster declaration DR-4798-TX for Hurricane Beryl to support Texas residents and their families living in Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker and Wharton counties. Residents with a primary home in these communities impacted by Hurricane Beryl, may be eligible for disaster assistance even if they have already received FEMA assistance for the severe storms that occurred in April 2024.

Serious Needs Assistance, is available to eligible applicants as a one-time $750 payment per household for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breast feeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies, while Displacement Assistance, may provide help with housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster.

In addition to Serious Needs and Displacement Assistance, eligible survivors may receive money for rental assistance, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other eligible expenses related to Hurricane Beryl, but the first step to recovery is to apply.

There are four easy ways to apply:
1. Online at DisasterAssistance.gov,
2. On the FEMA App for mobile devices,
3. Visiting any Disaster Recovery Center (for locations and hours, go online to fema.gov/drc), or
4. Calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. Calls are accepted every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT.

In addition to FEMA resources, the U.S. Small Business Administration will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at local Disaster Recovery Centers. Additional information and details on the location of disaster recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

Through volunteer organizations, some residents may receive free debris cleaning services with the help from Crisis Cleanup by calling 979-217-3791. The hotline is open through July 19 and can connect people with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and the faith-based community who may be able to assist.

A huge thank you to Airbnb.org for partnering with us to help provide temporary housing for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl. Your support is making a tremendous difference in the Houston community. 💙 We would also like to thank Abbie Kamin, from the City of Houston, for making this connection!

If your company or organization is interested in partnering with our agency, please contact Michelle Fredricks at [email protected].

Celebration Company Central employees made a quick pivot out to Celebration Company West to work today! Great to spend the day with new & old co-workers/friends!

Crisis Clean-up is a registry that will assist with free emergency repairs. You can register with them by calling 979-217-3791. See flyer for more details.

If you have any questions or need more information about tree removal at your residence or at any other location, please call 3-1-1.