Jewish Federations of North America’s Center on Holocaust Survivor Care and Institute on Aging and Trauma has announced its largest allocation in any single year -- $6.9 million -- to support more than three dozen Jewish and non-Jewish agencies to deliver social services to tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors, diverse older adults with a history of trauma, and their family caregivers. 

“Caring for Holocaust survivors is a core value and deep commitment of our Jewish Federations,” said Jewish Federations of North America board chair Julie Platt. “As we grapple with the psychological impact of the October 7th terrorist attacks, our work supporting older trauma survivors has never been more important.”

"Holocaust survivors are our teachers and our heroes,” added Shelley Rood Wernick, granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and Managing Director of the Center on Holocaust Survivor Care and Institute on Aging and Trauma at Jewish Federations of North America. “Widespread trauma among many populations places high demand on our innovative services, and thanks to generous philanthropists and our government partners, we are able to provide care that recognizes this trauma history.”

Experts estimate as many as 90% of older Americans have a history of trauma. Acknowledging Jewish Federations’ profound impact, the federal government has empowered Federations through funding to be the national resource center on aging and trauma. 

The administration has also highlighted Jewish Federations’ person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) approach as a model for serving all older adults and family caregivers. PCTI care promotes trust, dignity, strength, and empowerment of all individuals by incorporating knowledge about trauma into agency programs, policies, and procedures.

Jewish Federations launched this initiative in 2015. Since then, Federations have supported through this program approximately 47,010 Holocaust survivors; 15,051 older adults with a history of trauma; 21,993 professional caregivers, and 8,390 family caregivers.

The allocations support local human service agencies, nursing homes, Jewish Federations, and national groups that scale PCTI care throughout their networks. Federations are supporting organizations that serve both Jewish and non-Jewish older adults and their families with a combination of one-year and two-year grants. In addition to direct services, Jewish Federations of North America supports intensive education and training to all grantees.

Programming through these grants improves physical, cognitive, and mental health, and helps older adults and their family gain access to critical services. The grant to the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA) addresses social isolation by connecting older adults to technology, and the grant to Habitat for Humanity International provides PCTI home modifications for older adults impacted by trauma. The grant to KAVOD provides emergency homecare for Holocaust survivors in need, and grants to Jewish Federations support local services in those communities. 

To learn more about how Jewish Federations advance care for Holocaust survivors and other older adults, visit www.AgingandTrauma.org. 

Grantees:  
 
Expanded Critical Supports Program 
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta 
Jewish Federation of Broward County  
The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago  
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit  
Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles  
Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ  
Greater Miami Jewish Federation  
UJA-Federation of New York  
 
National Network Program 
Habitat for Humanity International  
KAVOD – Ensuring Dignity for Holocaust Survivors 
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies 
 
Innovations Program 
Chaldean Community Foundation 
CJE SeniorLife 
Colorado Health Network, Inc. 
Disability Network Southwest Michigan 
Jewish Family & Children's Service, an agency of Jewish Federation of Southern NJ 
Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia 
Jewish Family & Children's Services of Northern New Jersey, Inc.  
JFCS East Bay 
Jewish Family Service of Dallas, Inc. 
Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ 
Jewish Family Service (Seattle) 
Jewish Family Service of Saint Paul 
Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati Area 
Jewish Family Services (Columbus) 
Jewish Family Services, Inc. (Richmond) 
Jewish Family Services Inc. (Rochester) 
Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago 
Menorah Home and Hospital for the Aged and Infirm 
Minot State University 
New York City Department for the Aging 
NYU Grossman School of Medicine 
Nova Southeastern University 
Pesach Tikvah Hope Development 
Project Lead, Inc. 
Raymond and Miriam Klein KCC, dba KleinLife 
Ruth and Norman Rales JFS 
SelfHelp Community Services, Inc.  
Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders, Inc. (dba SAGE) 
Swords to Plowshares Veterans Rights Organization 
Young Men's Young Women's Hebrew Association of Boro Park 
 
This work is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $8,440,276 with 75% funded by ACL/HHS and $2,813,425 and 25% funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.