Photo credit: Scott McDermott

Making It Work: Life Lessons from Global Fashion Icon Tim Gunn
A Virtual Event Presented by the JFS Behavioral Health Committee
Thursday, April 29, 2021 | 12:00–1:00pm
VIP After Party: 1:00–1:30pm
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMITTEE
About the Committee
Chairs: Lisa Goldberg, Rachel Goldenhar
Members: Mona Angel, Bonnie Baron, Phyllis Bendett, Kira Finkenberg, Carla Fox, Meg Goldstein, Lisa Goldberg, Nancy Gordon, Claire Grezemkovsky, Gloria Harris, Marcia Hazan, Linda Janon, Cecile Jordan, Barbara Kent, Debbie Kramer, Mimi Lee, Cheryl Levitt, Teddie Lewis, Alyssa Mass, Dr. Jenny Meiselman, Marie Raftery, Dara Bliss Schwartz, Lori Shearer, Karen Shein, Devorah Shore, Fern Siegel, Karen Foster Silberman
We are very fortunate at Jewish Family Service to have a dedicated committee of community members who strive to eliminate the stigma of mental illness through education and outreach.
The Behavioral Health Committee (BHC) founded by Linda Janon in 1997, is aligned with the Programs and Services Committee of the Jewish Family Service of San Diego Board of Directors. The BHC is responsible for advising and assisting JFS in identifying behavioral health issues and implementing programs and events that focus on reducing the stigma associated with serious mental illness and its impact on the individual, the family, and the community. The Committee will work with the Development and Advancement Departments of JFS to support the implementation of behavioral health events and programs that raise community awareness about mental health issues and provide education and resources about emerging mental health topics.
Committee Structure and Responsibilities
The Behavioral Health Committee will have two components chaired or co-chaired by the same person(s): a) a Leadership Committee of no more than eight members that advises, assists and supports JFS in identifying and implementing behavioral health programs and events; and b) an Advisory Committee composed of a larger group of members that advises and assists the Leadership Committee.
- The Behavioral Health Leadership Committee will meet four times a year to plan for upcoming BHC Advisory Committee meetings and as needed to engage in long-term planning.
- The Behavioral Health Advisory committee will meet quarterly to provide advisory input to and receive updates from the Leadership Committee and JFS.
- The BHC currently has two task forces, comprised of BHC Advisory Committee members and at least one member of the Leadership Committee to assist JFS with the annual Luncheon and Panel/Resource Events. Each task force is chaired by a member of the BHC and works with JFS in support of the event.
- Other ad-hoc subcommittees or task forces may be formed and will meet as needed for matters requiring additional study, recommendation or action.
- With JFS in the lead role, the BHC will convene a community engagement event that is aligned with the JFS Strategic Plan, dedicated to mental health resource awareness building, community education and stigma reduction; and partnered with the Jewish and secular communities.
- With JFS in the lead role, the BHC will hold a fundraising and social engagement luncheon with a speaker that highlights a mental health/behavioral health issue and connects people to JFS services.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
The Behavioral Health Committee works to open up the discussion around mental illness and behavioral health through a series of events and educational panels featuring a variety of powerful and impactful speakers.

Past speakers have included:
- Kevin Hines, brain health advocate and author of Cracked, Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt
- Judy Batalion, author of White Walls: A Memoir About Motherhood, Daughterhood, and the Mess In Between
- Suzy Favor Hamilton, author of Fast Girl: A Life Spent Running from Madness
- William Cope Moyers, author of Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption
- Pete Earley, author of Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness
- Margaret Trudeau, author of Changing My Mind
- Lauren Manning, 9/11 survivor and author of Unmeasured Strength
- Jeff Bell, author of Rewind, Replay, Repeat
- Liza Long, author of the blog post “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother”
- Cinda and Linea Johnson, authors of Perfect Chaos