programs and services

At Jewish Family Service, we have an unshakable commitment to help our community. Not just in a crisis, but everyday. When a family needs help following a disaster, when a teenage mother needs parenting skills, when an older adult needs a friendly visitor—we make a difference in people’s lives. We're here for you and your family.

We have more than 50 programs and services open to the entire community. To find the right program for you, see below. You can also call our JFS Access Line at (877) 537-1818 and our intake coordinator will help match you with the right program to fit your needs.

Start the process online by clicking here

If you need emergency assistance, please call 911 immediately.  

Learn More About...
Counseling & Family Support
Case Management
HIV Services
Jewish Connections
Older Adult Services
Parenting & Youth Services
Refugee Resettlement
Coachella Valley

Counseling & Family Support

Adoption Alliance of Southern California - We’ll help walk you through the entire adoption process, ensuring it’s the beautiful and exciting experience it should be.

Counseling - We’re here to help you sort out the problem areas in your life. And to help you find the energy and strength to solve them. Our professional counselors will help you through the tough times.

Mental Health Awareness - Our Mental Health Committee of dedicated volunteers is committed to educating the community about mental illness and decreasing the stigma associated with it.

Mood Disorder Program - One out of every 14 Americans suffers from a mood disorder. And many of them don’t come forward to seek help. Our counselors are specially trained in working with mood disorders and offer both individual and group therapy.

Ombudsman Program - We provide advocacy services to residents of Edgemoor Skilled Nursing Facility for seriously ill individuals and ensure they receive the care they need.

Patient Advocate Program - Patient Advocates work with individuals living in either a 24-hour psychiatric hospital or a Board and Care facility to ensure all of their rights are being respected.

Project SARAH - There’s never an excuse for domestic abuse. We offer a safe, confidential place for individuals experiencing abuse to come forward and seek help.

Support & Psychotherapy Groups - Support groups offer a certain emotional comfort and moral support that individual therapy can’t do. We offer several support groups throughout San Diego County.

Back to Top>>

Case Management

Crisis Case Management - Our professional crisis case managers are dedicated to empowering our clients to return to self-sufficiency after a crisis.

JFS Disaster Response - We know what it takes to recover from a natural disaster. We were there after the 2004 wildfires, after Hurricane Katrina, and after the 2007 wildfires. We stand ready and prepared to help.

Hand Up Youth Food Pantry - Run by a dedicated committee of teenagers, the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry distributes food to more than 12 different locations throughout San Diego county.

JFS Economic Crisis Response - This economic crisis is affecting everyone. We're offering several programs, workshops, and services to meet the growing needs of our community during these tough times.

Jewish Employment Network (JEN) - The Jewish Employment Network supports our clients in their job search and helps connect Jewish community members with employers.

Psychiatric Case Management - Our Psychiatric Case Management programs are dedicated to helping mentally ill individuals live independently, socialize, and manage the symptoms of their illness.

Back to Top>>

HIV Services

Behavioral Intervention Services - We offer supportive counseling, education, empowerment, and referrals to all men and women who are HIV+ and struggle with drug or alcohol abuse. 

Counseling and Testing - We provide onsite education; HIV risk assessment; HIV testing and pre/post-test counseling services for individuals enrolled in San Diego County-funded Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs.

Integrated Services Program - We offer mental health services to all individuals living with or at high risk of HIV who struggle with substance abuse and mental health problems.

Support Groups - By giving our clients a chance to talk with other people who are going through similar situations, support groups are often the most effective support available to individuals living with HIV.

Back to Top>>

Jewish Connections

Bikkur Holim—Friendly Visitor Program - Friendly volunteers bring joy, conversation, community connection, and friendship to isolated Jewish older adults and homebound/ill individuals.

Hebrew Free Loan - We offer several interest-free loans to members of the Jewish community to be used for small business and personal needs.

Jewish BIGPals - Jewish volunteer mentors serve as role models and friends to Jewish children from single parent and non-traditional families.

Jewish Healing Center - The Jewish Healing Center provides resources for the spiritual well-being of the Jewish community, including chaplaincy services.

Jewish Response to Breast Cancer - We connect Jewish women facing breast cancer with local Jewish community organizations and provide essential support services.

Russian Jewish Community Services - We bring Jewish communal events and programs to the Russian Jewish community to help connect them to their heritage and Jewish traditions.

Serving Older Holocaust Survivors - We are dedicated to ensuring our community’s Holocaust survivors spend their older adult years living in safe, happy, and healthy environments.

Stars of David - Stars of David International, Inc. is a nonprofit information and support network for Jewish and interfaith adoptive families.

Supporting Jewish Single Parents - By providing support, advocacy, and social activities, we’re dedicated to ensuring Jewish single parents and their families stay connected to the Jewish community.

Youth Assessment & Development - We place specially trained child therapists within Jewish preschools to provide support to children, parent, and teachers and early intervention when needed.

Back to Top>>

Older Adult Services

Brain Fitness Program - The Brain Fitness Program is an innovative cognitive fitness program for older adults currently being implemented at leading retirement communities across the country, including Jewish Family Service Older Adult Centers.

Creating Opportunities for Older Persons (Co-Op) - We bring social programming and activities to residents in naturally occurring retirement communities.

Foodmobile - Our dedicated volunteers deliver hot nutritious kosher meals to isolated older adults and younger homebound disabled adults.

Geriatric Care Management - Our professional care managers are experts in the field of aging. They help manage the growing and complex demands and responsibilities of caring for you or your loved one.

JFS Fix-It Service - Dedicated volunteers provide home safety modifications and minor home repairs for older adults age 60 and over.

Older Adult Centers (North County Inland Older Adult Center, College Avenue Older Adult Center, University City Older Adult Center) - Our three older adult centers provide a fun location to exercise your mind, body, and spirit through a variety of social, recreational, and educational programming.

On the Go - On the Go provides group and individual transportation solutions for older adults to necessary medical and personal appointments, community events, older adult centers, shopping centers, organized excursions, and more.

Back to Top>>

Parenting & Youth Services

CHAMP (Children Are More Protected) - We empower children to feel safe and protected by building knowledge and awareness of child abuse and victimization.

Foothills Teen Family Program - We support the health, well-being, and education of teen parents and their children at Foothills High School in San Marcos.

Mentoring Mothers - Mature adult women are matched with a teenage mother attending high school to help mentor and guide them through the transition into motherhood.

Peaceful Parenting - Our specially trained staff provides parent education, coaching, and support for families with children ages 0-5.

Peaceful Parenting Let's Play - Volunteer older adults make home visits to families with preschool-age children and help parents realize the importance of their role as teachers to their children.

Positive Parenting Program - Free parenting workshops throughout San Diego County in Head Start preschools, elementary schools, and other community sites.

Preschool in the Park - A preschool in a familiar setting the neighborhood park! This mobile preschool for children ages 1-4 travels to Escondido and San Marcos.

Back to Top>>
 
Refugee Resettlement

Family Strengthening - Many relationships among refugee families feel the stress and pressure of leaving home for a new country. Our staff works with them to help maintain healthy personal and professional relationships.

Immigration - We offer help applying for green cards or citizenship, replacing missing immigration documents, applying for work authorizations and refugee travel documents, and petitioning for family members.

Prins Asylum Program - We offer pro-bono legal assistance for qualified individuals who are seeking protection in the United States from persecution.

Refugee Reception & Placement - When a newly arrived refugee family arrives to the United States, we pick them up from the airport, place them in a fully furnished apartment, and immediately begin acculturation services and help them adjust to life here.

Back to Top>>

Coachella Valley Services

Coachella Valley Services and Overnight Shelter (CV-SOS) - The CV-SOS program feeds and houses 25 homeless people per night at synagogues and churches throughout the Coachella Valley. JFS staff works with clients to help them in the transition of getting off the streets.

Desert Horizons SOS - Desert Horizons is a transitional housing program in Riverside County that places homeless individuals directly from the streets and emergency shelters into transitional housing units. Our staff provides crucial supportive services to help transition individuals into permanent housing.

Nightengale Manor - Nightengale Manor provides supportive services and a safe, comfortable, 24-hour emergency shelter to homeless families in the Coachella Valley. It is the only shelter serving families in the western part of the valley.

Back to Top>>