News & Impact

Some families are dreamed into being long before they take shape. From the earliest days of their relationship, Stephane and Marie shared a clear and heartfelt commitment to building their family through adoption. At JFCS’ Adoption Connection, we are grateful to have supported them as they welcomed their second child through adoption.  In her own words, Marie shares how adoption has shaped the heart of their family:  “From the beginning, adoption was part of our story. From our second date to the day we said our vows, welcoming souls was already our shared mission. We dreamed of a home with… Read More

JFCS’ Legal Services is providing immigration services to local families with relatives in Ukraine or recent arrivals from Ukraine. Read below for answers to our most frequently asked questions regarding legal options and immigration status. Based on present information made available on 03/21/2023 by the Department of Homeland Security, subject to change. What is Temporary Protected Status? Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian grant of temporary lawful status available to foreign nationals or habitual residents of listed countries, including Ukraine, where ongoing armed conflict or other emergency conditions make return unsafe. TPS protects against deportation from the United States… Read More

After a lifetime of independence, struggling with day-to-day tasks can feel demoralizing. For Jeanne Halpern, 90, having a little help at home has brought relief and newfound joy. For the past five years, Jeanne has called Rhoda Goldman Plaza—JFCS’ vibrant assisted living community—home. She prizes her independence, so when some tasks started to become challenging for her, the care team introduced her to Seniors At Home’s Personal Assistant Services. Jeanne has found more than help from her Personal Assistant, Q Miller; she’s found a friend. Q helps with calendar and home organization, errands, and appointments—but most importantly, brings laughter and… Read More

At JFCS’ Center for Dementia Care, we believe that healthy aging begins long before memory loss becomes a concern. Our team is dedicated to helping older adults maintain cognitive vitality, supporting those who may be at risk for—or simply worried about—memory changes, so they can stay healthy and independent for as long as possible. As part of this commitment, Seniors At Home recently adopted the Mind Sharpener™ program—an innovative cognitive wellness workshop that offers structured, engaging brain exercises in a supportive group environment. “I define healthy aging as being very well informed about all different topics related to aging and… Read More

For the past fourteen summers, the JFCS YouthFirst Summer Internship Program (now known as the Shmunis Internship Program) has connected hundreds of high school students with Bay Area businesses, offering them meaningful opportunities to explore career paths aligned with their interests. This summer, one of those students joined the JFCS Marketing and Development team with a passion for storytelling. Her project: to interview a Holocaust survivor and transform their testimony into both a written blog and a short video—an unforgettable experience in honoring memory through narrative. We’re deeply grateful for the dedication Poppy brought to her time with JFCS. A… Read More

Simon Miller, volunteer with JFCS’ Legal Services Program: When I first started volunteering with JFCS, I was looking for a way to feel more rooted in my community. I began with grocery deliveries—a simple way to offer help that fit easily into my week. I didn’t expect that a one-off request to accompany a client to the Social Security office would become one of the most meaningful days I’ve spent as a volunteer. The client, Katya, is 77 years old. She recently became a U.S. citizen with support from JFCS and needed to update her records with the Social Security… Read More