1843

Founding of Hebrew Benevolent Society; Pittsburgh’s first Jewish charitable organization.

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1861

Founding of Hebrew Ladies Aid Society to deal with health and welfare problems stemming from the Civil War.

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1880

Merger of Hebrew Benevolent Society with Hebrew Ladies Aid Society to form United Hebrew Relief Association (UHRA) to assist immigrants and to provide relief to the needy.

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1912

Formation of the Pittsburgh Federation of Jewish Philanthropies with UHRA as a charter member to centralize community fundraising and allocations.

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1927

UHRA changed its name to Jewish Welfare Association (JWA).

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1937

Merger of JWA with the Jewish Big Brothers Association, the Girls Bureau, Pittsburgh Bureau for Jewish Children, and Service to Foreign Born of the National Council of Jewish Women, to give the agency its present form and structure under the name of Jewish Social Service Bureau.

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1950

Jewish Social Service Bureau changes its name to Jewish Family & Children’s Service to better indicate the nature of service.

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1959

Establishment of department of services to the jewish aged to meet the needs of elderly members of the community and their families.

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1964

Gusky Child Guidance Clinic (GCGC) established to offer outpatient mental health services to children under the direction and responsibility of a trained child psychiatrist.

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1965

Affiliation with the Office of Economic Opportunity, first affiliation with a publicly funded agency, to provide service to the under-privileged in the East Liberty/Garfield area.

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1974-79

Establishment of resettlement services to meet the needs of refugees from the Soviet Union.

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1982

Licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Outpatient Counseling.

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1984

Established administration of the Career Development Center (CDC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh (UJF) to enlarge the scope of service and allow JF&CS to offer vocational guidance.

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1986

Recognized by the Pittsburgh Foundation as one of the 40 major contributors to the Renaissance of the City of Pittsburgh, which established JF&CS in the secular community as a vital part of the entire community.

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1988

JF&CS celebrated its 50th Anniversary.

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1989

Career Development Center assumes administration of the Central Scholarship and Loan Referral Service of the UJF. Established the Resettlement Division of Jewish Family & Children’s Service to serve the expanding numbers of Jews from the Soviet Union.

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1991

Jews with AIDS in the Family established to offer information and support to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.

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1992

Funding received from the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) for the study of community needs and agency programs and services for the purpose of establishing priorities within the agency. The Ukeles Study by the UJF, a plan for services to the Jewish Elderly, which expands services to the elderly, adoption, and college counseling services. Mobay teams up with the Career Development Center to initiate the Mobay Challenge, to stimulate community recognition of new Americans’ credentials and potential contributions, and to challenge area employers to find creative ways to hire them. JF&CS establishes Domestic Violence Program with funding from Ladies Hospital Aid Society (LHAS) to reach out to and service victims of family violence.

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1993

Established Guardianship program to enable JF&CS to assume legal responsibility for persons unable to make responsible decisions for themselves.

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1994

In an interim move, JF&CS administrative, counseling and senior services moved to Regent Square from space in UJF to provide more space for growing services until move to proposed Darlington and Bartlett site in Squirrel Hill.

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1995

JF&CS established as Trustee of the Goldstein Memorial Fund, a fund with a principle in excess of $2 million, to allow JF&CS and its Career Development Center to award significant scholarships to worthy Jewish students.

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1996

Jewish Care Coordination Program (JCCP) established in cooperation with the Jewish Community Center (JCC) to provide comprehensive supports for children with special needs and their families.

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1996

Career Development Center is named Contractor of the Year by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor’s Job Training Partnership (JTPA). Elderly & disabled refugees who have lived in the U.S. for more than 5 years without becoming U.S. citizens are in danger of losing public support because of The Welfare Reform Act. JF&CS establishes the Pittsburgh Naturalization Project (PNAP) to identify and prepare people for naturalization. JF&CS moves to its current home at 5743 Bartlett Street, and with help from community’s Renaissance Campaign. JF&CS now owns its facility and consolidates JF&CS and Career Development Center offices. Family Hope Connection (FHC) established with funding from the JHF, LHAS, the Haskell Family Endowment and other donors and expands adoption services to help those affected by infertility.

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1998

Grant from the Jewish Material Claims Conference Against Germany allows establishment of Holocaust Survivors’ Project, to identify and assist elderly Holocaust survivors in need. First community-wide Disability Awareness Month project established with the involvement of numerous congregations, schools, and other organizations to enhance community awareness and promotes inclusiveness. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania/ State Department of Public Welfare funds expansion of Pittsburgh Naturalization Assistance Program creating the Pennsylvania Naturalization Assistance Program (PNAP). The increased funding allows resettlement staff to reach beyond the Pittsburgh community to assist legal permanent residents in danger of losing public support if not naturalized.

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1999

Career Development Center receives the International Association of Jewish Vocational Services Best Program Award for their School-to-Work program.

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1999

JF&CS licensed for Foster Family Care to provide FHC professionals another option for prospective adoptive families to consider. Resettlement Department changes name to Refugee & Immigration Service Center (RISC) to reflect the expansion of services to include immigration and naturalization services. The Kosher SuperPantry provides emergency food to community’s most needy population.

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2000

United Way of Allegheny County funds a demonstrative mental health program with JF&CS in East Liberty area of Pittsburgh.

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2001

RISC received recognition from the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) as a Non-Profit Immigration Provider Organization (NIPO) to provide immigration services to individuals with limited financial resources. Career Development Center recognized as CareerLink Community Center to provide a broad range of employment and career services to the Squirrel Hill community.

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2002

JF&CS partners with UJF, JCC, and JAA to provide services to the elderly under a new federal grant. NORC or the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Program of the Department of Aging is designed to help senior citizens maintain their independence as long as possible in their homes.

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2004

The continuum of services to the elderly in the Jewish community is integrated into the AgeWell Pittsburgh model. AgeWell is created to ease access to aging services for families and to eliminate duplications in service.

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2005

Established the Welcome Center for Immigrants and Internationals (as a supporting non-profit of JF&CS). The Center was established to be a central resource for information and services designed to help immigrants and multi-cultural populations as they relocate and adapt to living in the Greater Pittsburgh region.

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2006

The Counseling department of JF&CS launches its new name — Squirrel Hill Psychological Services. The new name better represents the population served, as well as the range of services offered to the community through JF&CS. JF&CS recognized by Pittsburgh Business Times as one of the 50 best places to work in southwestern Pennsylvania.

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2007

The Kosher SuperPantry changes its name to Squirrel Hill Food Pantry to more accurately reflect what the pantry is and who it serves.

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2008

Established new entity, Legal Services for Immigrants and Internationals, to provide legal services to low income and indigent immigrants. JF&CS refocused on refugees from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, to meet the needs of refugees by providing case management services. Making Hope Happen Exhibit celebrates JF&CS’s 70 years of service to the community. Eight artists were commissioned to create works that interpret and respond to stories of individuals served by JF&CS in each of the agency’s eight services areas. JF&CS recognized by the Non-profit Sector of Southwestern Pennsylvania for quality and consistency of services and excellence in communications on Community Trends: Acceleration of the Contributions of the Nonprofit Sector in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

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2009

Established Care Coordination Program, launched with foundation funding and sustained through fees for service, providing a new model of support to the elderly living in the community. Establishment of Career Program for Adults with Special Needs, funded by foundations and established to provide career/employment services to adults suffering from mental health disorders.

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2010

JF&CS licensed to operate Home Care Registry Facility by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which establishes guidelines for home care registries. JF&CS Refugee Services expands and JF&CS is appointed the lead contractor for refugee resettlement service in Allegheny County by the Department of Welfare. JF&CS begins using monthly financial snapshot, an annual fiscal wellness report comparing JF&CS performance to regional and national benchmarks, and annual outcome reporting to Board. The Squirrel Hill Food Pantry is renamed “Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry” and moves to new location at 828 Hazelwood Avenue. Aging Up Not Out (AUNO) established in collaboration with YouthWorks, funded by the United Way. AUNO helps young adults aging out of the foster care system transition successfully to independent living. The program assists with educational, employment and daily living needs. Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry endowment launches. The campaign aims to raise a 3 million dollar endowment to support the ongoing work of the expanded SHCFP.

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2011

JF&CS successfully obtained Certificate of Copyright Registration (# TX 7-376-386) for the Protective Factors instrument. JF&CS and AgeWell Pittsburgh partners are using the new system to record their Protective Factors (outcome measurement) data.

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2012

Launched collaboration with Quest Therapeutic Camps to offer summer behavioral management learning experiences to all school grade children with moderate to mild behavioral, emotional or social difficulties. An after school program is also offered. Language Link (fee for service), a collaboration with JF&CS, Northern Area Multi-Service Center (NAMS) and the Center for Hearing and Deaf Services (HDS), provides trained interpreters for immigrants and refugees who will assist them in obtaining the specialized services needed to help them become self-sufficient community members in our region. WorkAble, funded by the United Way, expands Career Development Center services to additional sites in North and South Hills through collaborations with South Hills Interfaith Ministry and North Hills Community Outreach. JF&CS 75th Anniversary is celebrated with a year of special events that culminated with the Lifecycles & Laughtracks fundraiser, a gala to celebrate 75 years of JF&CS with five-time Emmy Award winner Alan Zweibel, renowned writer of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and the original “Saturday Night Live.”

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2013

JF&CS is named the winner of the prestigious Wishart Award, recognizing excellence in non-profit management.

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2014

JF&CS launches AgeWell Rides, a volunteer transportation program connecting volunteer drivers with seniors who need a lift to medical appointments, classes, grocery shopping, religious services or lunch with a friend. The service is offered to eligible seniors at no cost. Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC), a collaboration with JF&CS, AIU, Casa San Jose, GPLC, NAMS and South Hills Interfaith is established to provide information, referrals and connections to services for immigrants or refugees in Allegheny County. The SHCFP Tribute Wall unveiled July 20, 2014: a glass and ceramic mural created by James Simon to honor all the donors to the Food Pantry. The new EmployAble program provides a range of services to help career-oriented individuals with mental illness or autism spectrum disorders to choose, obtain, and keep a job.

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2015

Jewish Family & Children’s Service changed the Vision/Mission statement and developed a new 5-year Strategic Plan. JF&CS launches AgeWell Visits, a volunteer program that connects a volunteer visitor with a senior citizen in his/her home for a friendly visit, to talk and listen, help with reading or writing, play easy games, share oral histories – anything that helps promote communication between people in our community. This service is offered to seniors at no cost.

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2016

JF&CS appointed Jordan Golin, Psy.D., to assume the leadership of the organization as the President & CEO, effective October 1, 2016 following the retirement of Aryeh Sherman, September 30, 2016.

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2017

AgeWell Pittsburgh wins the national Lodestar award for inter-agency collaboration. Jewish Family & Children’s Service changes name to Jewish Family and Community Services and rebrands service programs to better reflect clients served and services offered.

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