News & Impact

“When did you lose your virginity?” Don’t be surprised if your son or daughter asks you that or another intimate question. “It’s often a sign of a warm, open family dynamic when your children come to you with questions about sex and sexuality,” says John Gusman, LCSW, Marin Parents Place Clinical Director. “The key is to take advantage of the opportunity to have a good conversation. “Many of us,” John continues, “come from families in which our parents would or could not have these conversations with us, so the subject of intimacy continues to be shrouded in embarrassment or shame.… Read More

Cleanerific, JFCS’ social enterprise, is not only receiving rave reviews from the many customers who use the green-friendly cleaning service to keep their homes and offices sparkling clean. Cleanerific’s employees, including Maria Linares, appreciate its mission: providing training, employment, medical benefits, and support so that they can become independent and advance in their lives. Maria is singlehandedly raising three children, including a 7-year-old with medical problems. It can be challenging, but Cleanerific helps ease the burden. It pays her a living wage, provides full benefits, and treats her with kindness and care. “They are very understanding,” Maria says of… Read More

As small business owners who have seen their own enterprises grow over the years, Vlad and Sandra Shmunis have a particular affection for budding entrepreneurs who are trying to get a good start in life. That’s why they have invested in JFCS’ Financial Aid Center, which offers assistance to young, promising upstarts in the Bay Area. “We’re big believers in helping those who are helping themselves,” says Sandra, “and we wanted to invest in a program that is already well established so that we didn’t need to reinvent the wheel. In addition, we have a great deal of respect for… Read More

JFCS has been invited to participate in the San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative, a joint project of seven agencies that have come together to help city residents who are citizenship-eligible become naturalized citizens. JFCS invites you to help members of our community who are interested in becoming citizens to take the next steps. We are seeking volunteers, in the morning and the afternoon, to assist in a variety of capacities. Volunteers will: Help register applicants at the next free naturalization clinic (see details below). Help manage traffic flow. Fill out necessary paperwork, and more. The next naturalization clinic… Read More

Palo Alto Online News by Sue Dremann Like Robbie the robot in Isaac Asimov’s 1940 science fiction book, “I, Robot,” digital devices may be today’s nursemaids for children. And as a result, some kids are becoming more interested in playing with their computers and smartphones than with other children, according to researchers. Read More from Palo Alto Online News … Read More

San Francisco Business Times by Renée Froj As congress continues the seemingly endless debate over immigration reform, San Francisco is taking things into its own hands. As part of a three-year private-public partnership, the city started a program Tuesday to help San Francisco’s estimated 100,000 eligible immigrants navigate a path to naturalization. Read More from the San Francisco Business Times… Read More