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Friends 2023 with co-chairs, Karri Neal and David Ovson

Please Help Us Reach our Goal by Donating to the CJFS’ Friends 2023 Campaign!

Talking to Kids About War

by Amy Neiman, LMSW Finding the right way to speak with a child or teenager about death, war or terrible uncertainty is not easy. It is our job as parents to reassure our children even when we ourselves are feeling vulnerable. We want to be truthful but not give them more information than they need […]

The Crisis in Israel

by Executive Director, Lauren Schwartz, MSW This is a time of uncertainty, fear, anger, pain, and sadness. The shock and brutality of the Hamas attacks have left our Jewish community in a state of emotional crisis. Regardless of the degrees of separation we have from that attack, we are–all of us–affected and are trying to […]

Simple Ways to Make Life Better for an Older Adult

By LaBrena Friend, LBSW When an older adult is experiencing new age-related problems, their friends and loved ones may not always recognize what is wrong. But by taking a few proactive steps, you can find out if an older adult you know or care for needs help – and you can be part of the […]

So, What Else Does CJFS do for Older Adults & Their Families?

Many people in greater Birmingham know CJFS because of our bright purple Buz-A-Bus, which for decades has been providing affordable door-to-door transportation for older and disabled adults. Or they’re familiar with CARES, our acclaimed respite program for people with dementia. But for many other older adults and their families, CJFS provides confidential services that don’t […]

CJFS Caregiver Support Group

by Pam Leonard, LBSW, CDP Twice a week, in my role as director of the CJFS CARES dementia respite program, I co-facilitate virtual support groups with Lise Grace (CARES Assistant Program Director) for family caregivers of people with dementia. CJFS initiated these support groups more than twenty years ago, before CARES existed. We offer these […]

Establishing Healthy Boundaries

by Mark Driskill, LICSW These days it is common to hear people talking about setting boundaries—at work, with their extended families, and in other personal relationships. Healthy boundaries are an important part of mental health and wellness, and they can be challenging to understand and even more challenging to establish. The concept of boundaries refers […]

CJFS Welcomes New Clinician

CJFS is excited to announce the appointment of Social Worker Mark Driskill, LICSW, as the agency’s Lead Clinician. Mark is a seasoned clinical program manager with many years’ experience treating substance abuse, as well as helping clients address mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and family issues. Mental health problems nationwide spiked during the […]

The Journey through Grief

My world changed in 2004, when I lost my dad to melanoma. Even though his death was not sudden, I was unprepared for the grief I experienced. I was fortunate to have a strong support system of family and friends, but I often felt alone in dealing with the overwhelming sadness and confusion caused by […]

Deciding to Leave a Job…and Then What?

by Gail Schuster, LICSW, ACSW ‘Denise’, who is in her 40s, had worked with the same company for more than a decade. She had always considered herself fortunate to work in a supportive professional environment, where she was well compensated and performed work that had a positive impact on others. She had believed it highly likely she […]

Celebrating 20 Years of CJFS Personal Care Program

The CJFS Personal Care Program helps older adults with limited income continue to live independently for as long as possible – even if they need help with cooking, cleaning, bathing, or other daily living tasks. With support from the Lucille Beeson Fund at Canterbury United Methodist Church, CJFS launched this program in 2003 to provide […]

With Support from CJFS, Judy Still Lives a Full Life Despite Blindness

Despite her vision loss, Judy is able to live a full and meaningful life with personal care, transportation, and other services she receives from Collat Jewish Family Services.

Helping a Child with Anxiety Starts with You

By Amy Neiman, LMSW We have all experienced the signs of ANXIETY when facing an intimidating or challenging situation:  sweaty hands, heart beating faster or butterflies in the stomach. These feelings are sometimes referred to as “stage fright”, “nerves” or “anticipation.” Scientifically, it is our body’s physical reaction to the stress of the unknown. At […]

Showing Love to a an Older Adult

by LaBrena Friend, LBSW On our calendars, we just checked off Valentine’s Day – a day when the whole world seems focused on expressions of romantic love.  But how do we show love to the older adults in our lives – the parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends who have meant so much in our lives, […]

For Caregivers: How to Counter ‘False Beliefs’

by Pam Leonard, LBSW, CDP The emotional and physical demands of family caregiving can be overwhelming under the best circumstances. When you add anxiety and self-doubt into the mix, the strain only worsens. Anxiety can lead a family member to believe, falsely, that they are failing in the role of caregiver, and that whatever they […]

2023 Resolution: Help to Repair the World

by Caleigh Rathmell Alevy, LMSW With 2023 fast approaching, many of us find ourselves reflecting on the past year and resolving to change ourselves, our routines or the interests we will pursue in the New Year. When we make New Year’s Resolutions, we often focus on changes we want to see within ourselves. But what if, instead, we […]

Community Resources

Birmingham Crisis Center Hotline  (205) 323-7777 www.crisiscenterbham.org PIRC – Psychiatric Intake Response Center (205) 638-7472 Childrensal.org Glaad/LGBTQ Resource List https://www.glaad.org/resourcelist Collat Jewish Family Services  (205) 879-3438 http://cjfsbham.org/ Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County (205) 458-3330 National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 […]

It’s Time to Order Your 2023 Mah Jongg Cards

>>>TO PRINT A COPY OF THE ORDER FORM, USE THIS LINK: https://cjfsbham.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Mahjongg-Order-Form-2023.pdf If you have any questions contact Stephanie at 205.936.3910. Thank you!

Lynn Rathmell & Caleigh Alevy: Mother & Daughter Now CJFS Colleagues

If an adult child accepts a position with an organization where her parent has worked for decades, that says something! At least that’s what we’ve been thinking since Social Worker Caleigh Rathmell Alevy joined the CJFS staff last month. Caleigh’s mother, Lynn Rathmell, has been an important member of our team since 1994 (with one […]

Traveling with a Loved One Who has Dementia

by Pam Leonard, LBSW, CDP: Traveling with a loved one who has dementia can be challenging and intimidating. Families often long to be together over the holidays, but it’s important to be realistic about the challenges and limitations of traveling with someone who is cognitively impaired. Before promising to go, caregivers need to ask themselves […]
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