Our Jewish Community Services (JCS) programs are a pillar of support for Jewish people across New York City, integrating mental and behavioral health with the spiritual richness of Jewish traditions. Spanning across different denominations of the Jewish faith, JCS works in partnership with synagogues, Jewish schools, and more to enhance their services and programming, ensuring that mental health support is accessible to people of all ages. With the support of UJA-Federation, our Partners in Caring program places dedicated social workers within these organizations to provide tailored support.
Meet Polina
At 79, Polina embarked on a new chapter in her life, marrying her second husband. Shortly after their wedding, her husband suffered a fall that necessitated a stay in a rehabilitation center and thrust Polina into an unexpected caregiving role. Overwhelmed by anxiety and the demands of her new role, Polina found herself struggling to cope and properly care for herself. When her life felt like it was unraveling, we stepped in to offer support.
Offering a Guiding Light
Dalia, a JCS social worker placed at Polina’s local synagogue, began to turn the tide for Polina. With her experience helping people through personal crises and understanding Polina’s difficulty taking on this new caregiving role, Dalia crafted a plan to help Polina regain her footing.
Over six weeks, Polina and Dalia met regularly, working through these challenges and developing coping strategies. Through evidence-based, therapeutic support, Polina began understanding the shifts in her life from widow to wife to caregiver, learned how to navigate these changes, found new ways to meet her and her husband’s needs, and embraced her evolving roles.
Affirming Dignity and Autonomy
Polina’s wellness plan empowered her to maintain her well-being independently, allowing her to emerge with newfound self-awareness and the tools to adapt to life’s twists and turns. Our short-term support and focused interventions affirmed Polina’s dignity and autonomy, and our strength-based approach helped her realize her power and resilience.
After working together, Polina left feeling optimistic and equipped to face the future with confidence. Reflecting on this experience, Polina shared, “Reaching out to my Rabbi was the best thing I ever did. I was in full-blown crisis mode, unsure of how to function. But the support I received helped me find my way back.”
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our clients.
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Meet some of the New Yorkers The Jewish Board has been serving across the five boroughs of New York City for nearly 150 years.
