May 2012

Featured Event 

JFCS Marin Needs Help with the Food Pantry
Many people in Marin County have provided groceries for the JFCS Marin Food Pantry by placing contributions in our barrels at synagogues, preschools, and the JCC; bringing monthly contributions to our office in San Rafael; or making food centerpieces for simchas. For your generosity and thoughtfulness, we give you a big TODAH RABBAH! Right now, we’re in need of of assistance of a different sort. We need one volunteer to help us with our fresh food program by “shopping” at the Marin Food Bank (in Novato) one morning a month. This program enables us to provide our clients with fruit, vegetables, bread, and dairy products, in addition to non-perishable grocery products. This huge mitzvah will require only two hours of your time each month. Can you help? If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Bonni Schiff at 419-3632 or BonniS@jfcs.org.

Volunteer Programs

JFCS Needs Drivers for Marin Seniors
Help keep our seniors engaged in their community and independent in their own homes! Marin County has an aging population, and many seniors can no longer drive themselves to medical and other vital appointments. Do you have some time to help? We need volunteers who can pick up seniors at their homes and transport them to and from doctors’ offices, the grocery store, and elsewhere. All logistics are coordinated through the JFCS office in San Rafael, and training is provided. Contact Betty Hirschfeld at 415-419-3661 or BettyH@jfcs.org to volunteer or to receive more information.

For Holocaust Survivors

Café by the Bay
Café by the Bay, a monthly JFCS group for Holocaust survivors, will be holding a discussion about the Contemporary Jewish Museum’s current exhibition California Dreaming: Jewish Life in the Bay Area from the Gold Rush to the Present on Wed., May 16, 2:00 – 4:00 pm. Free. For more information, contact Lorraine Harris at LorraineH@jfcs.org or 415-419-3635.

Reparations Claims Assistance

JFCS continues to provide assistance to survivors with Holocaust reparations claims. Click here for detailed information.

YouthFirst Programs

Summer Impact Returns!
Summer Impact is open for registration! Jewish Family and Children’s Services is offering this meaningful and exciting summer camp for middle school students in Marin County on weekdays, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, July 30 – Aug. 10. Summer Impact brings kids together to engage in community service projects, social justice education, and the Jewish values that teach us about gimilut chasidim – acts of loving kindness. In addition to having fun, participants will make friends who share their values and learn about the meaning and role of tzedakah. This program has been met with overwhelming success, and we look forward to another successful session this summer. A program fee of $360 is due Friday, May 11, along with all registration materials. Space is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Checks should be made payable to Jewish Family and Children's Services. Contact Kylie Gordon at 415-419-3641 or KylieG@jfcs.org for an application. See you this summer!

Parents Place Programs

Held at 600 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael. All groups marked with an * are for parents to attend with children. Preregistration is required, unless otherwise noted.

Parent-Child Activities 

Mom and Baby Yoga (pre-crawling babies)
Mom, nurture your relationship with yourself and your body—with your baby right by your side. We will practice basic meditation and yoga poses to restore energy and support strength and flexibility, as well as baby massage to create a deeper mommy-baby connection. Bring a mat, a blanket for your baby to lie on, and toys. With Danielle Hougard, certified Anusara© yoga instructor. Tuesdays, May 1 - 29, 1:30 – 2:30 pm. $62.50 for five classes. http://www.parentsplaceonline.org/marin/classes/mom-and-baby-yoga-5 

Yoga for Children (2 ½ – 5 years)
This four-week series includes a playful interpretation of classical yoga poses, with songs, stories, movement, and quiet breath awareness practices for young children. Parent participation is optional, but supervision is required. This series gives kids an introduction to yoga that is both fun and educational and helps build concentration and mindfulness in preschool-aged children. With Juliana Birnbaum Fox, MA, certified doula, midwife assistant and perinatal yoga instructor. Fridays, May 4 – 25, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. $56 for one child; $28 for each sibling for four-week series.
http://www.parentsplaceonline.org/marin/classes/yoga-children-0 

Parenting Classes

Raising Daughters (2 – 10 years)
Raising a daughter offers delights and frustrations. This workshop will focus on enjoying our relationship with our daughters and guiding them to success, resiliency, and a healthy self-image. Gain an enhanced understanding of girls’ typical development and behavior patterns, identify the issues they face, and learn skills to help them cope and to strengthen their self-esteem. With Bonnie Romanow, childhood development specialist. Thurs., May 3, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. $35. http://www.parentsplaceonline.org/marin/classes/raising-daughters-birth-...

Breaking the Cycle of Bullying: Tools to Help Your Child (3 – 12 years)
Whether a child bullies, is bullied, or is a bystander, he or she is affected by bullying. Examine how parents can empower their children to help break the cycle of bullying. We will address the following questions: What is bullying? How does it differ from conflict and teasing? How and when should you intervene? What tools are available to help if your child is being targeted, is using bullying behavior, or is a bystander? With Holly Pedersen, MFT, PhD. At Congregation Kol Shofar (open to all), 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. Sun., May 6, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. $35.
http://www.parentsplaceonline.org/marin/classes/breaking-cycle-bullying-...

Positive and Effective Discipline: A Crash Course (3 – 5 years)
Starting with a basic understanding of developmental norms for 3- to 5-year-olds, we will break down the components of discipline—communication, listening, modeling, consequences, and more—to learn about improving limit-setting, encouraging responsibility, and fostering communication. With Susan Byrd, LCSW. Tues., May 8, 6:30 – 9:00 pm. $40.
http://www.parentsplaceonline.org/marin/classes/positive-and-effective-d...

Everything You Wanted to Know about Infant and Toddler Development (but Were Afraid to Ask) (birth – 24 months)
Unsure when to expect your baby to roll over? To speak her first words? To do his first high five? Curious about when you need to baby-proof the bathroom or break out the shape sorter? Learning when to anticipate these milestones offers parents the opportunity to engage playfully with their babies and encourage early development. Join pediatrician Nancy Schwartzman, MD, to discuss motor skills, cognitive bursts, social development, and language skills; to learn why development falls off track; and more. With Nancy Schwartzman, MD. Tues., May 15, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. $35.
http://www.parentsplaceonline.org/marin/classes/everything-you-wanted-kn...

Was That Me Yelling? (all ages)
We don’t like to yell, but many of us don’t know what to do when our kids misbehave, especially when they’re ignoring our requests. Yelling can be triggered by many factors, like stress, fatigue, hunger, frustration, anger, or loneliness. We’ll discuss yelling’s causes and talk about how to devise a plan to discipline differently. A recent participant in this workshop said, “This was one of the best seminars I’ve been to. I got very clear information about some of the reasons we yell and what we can do to decrease yelling. Rona was warm…funny…engaging.” With Rona Renner, RN, parent educator, temperament counselor, and host of Childhood Matters radio show. Thurs., May 17, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. $35. 
http://www.parentsplaceonline.org/marin/classes/was-me-yelling-all-ages-3

Donate Your Vehicle
You can turn your CAR into CARE for at-risk children and families in our community by donating it to Parents Place. We pick up the car and handle the paperwork. You receive its value as a tax deduction. All you need to do is call 1-888-415-HUGS (4847).

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