For students working on their graduate degree in social work the place they complete their internship has a huge impact on their learning experience. In the JFS Senior Solutions Department we have been fortunate enough to have two fantastic interns this year.

Rene Hickman is a second-year student from the University of Denver who is specializing in geriatric work.

Elizabeth Cossin is also a second-year student, though she came to us from a bit further away. Elizabeth studies at Yeshiva University in New York City.

Typically we see interns learn and supervisors teach but we saw that dynamic change a bit this year. Yeshiva hosts a conference each year for the professionals who supervise their students in the field, and this year I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation. As the vast majority of our student interns come from the Denver area, the opportunity to travel to New York City and represent JFS was an exciting one! I had the chance to learn more about trauma on a community level and how best to help others when your entire community is in need. I also attended a conference educating providers about the many myths and realities of eating disorders. In between conference workshops, I had to take advantage of being in Manhattan, of course, and I enjoyed some of the sights of the city.

Our interns have been dedicated and passionate about helping seniors in need and ensuring that seniors are safe and comfortable in their homes. When asked about her internship experience Elizabeth said, “This internship has played a big part in changing my perspective and thoughts about older adults and how to have an effective supportive role with these clients.” Both students have had the chance to learn about effective support and navigating the benefits that older adults rely on. Out interns have had such a positive impact on our department and we wish them the best as they move into the professional world of social work!

-Laura Harter, JFS Senior Solutions Care Manager         

Want to help improve the health—and access to healthcare—of individuals and families across Metro Denver?

Boomers Leading Change in Health (BLCiH) is seeking to engage full- and half-time AmeriCorps Members age 50+ to serve as Patient Navigators, Community Health Workers, and Volunteer Coordinator Assistants in Host Site Organizations throughout our community. Your term of service will begin in November 2012.

Jewish Family Service will offer two half-time Healthcare Navigator positions, one in our JFS Senior Solutions department and one in our Family Safety Net department. Each position will be a total of 900 hours—an average of 20 hours per week for 11 months.

Applicants must be at least 50 years of age to be considered, but adults 55+ are preferred. All members will receive extensive training, a modest living allowance, and an education award at completion of service.

Read all the details, including how to apply: AmeriCorps Job Announcement 2012-13

Jewish Family Service is a great place to work, so we hope you will apply!

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

If you haven't (or even if you have), now's your chance to discover many aspects of Israeli culture right here in Denver! In a collaboration spearheaded by JFS at the JCC Colorado Senior Connections, several nonprofits and synagogues in the Denver area are bringing education, celebration, and conversation to Jewish seniors beginning October 18th. In a year-long series called Passport to Israel, programs will feature different enrichments and experiences centering around Israel.

There is a suggested donation of $5 per class, unless otherwise noted. Transportation will be provided from Allied Jewish Apartments, the JCC, and Temple Emanuel for $3 round trip. Call Allied Jewish Apartments at (303) 399-1146 to sign up for transportation. For more information about any of these programs, please contact Cathy Grimm at (303) 597-5000.

More information and the full schedule of programs: http://jewishfamilyservice.org/events/JFS-at-JCC-Passport-to-Israel.

So pack your bags and RSVP for some fun Israeli programs today!

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Last week, JFS at the JCC Colorado Senior Connections hosted a party to kick off a new program for older adults that includes social, educational, recreational, and health activities. More than 80 people over the age of 60 attended this event held at the Robert E. Loup JCC Denver (JCC). The attendees enjoyed mingling and learning more about how to get involved in this new program, while feasting on hors d'oeuvres and wine provided by Allied Jewish Apartments and Jewish Family Service.



Cathy Grimm, Suzi Malman, and Lil Shaw are the staff members at both Jewish Family Service and the JCC who are leading the program. Cathy Grimm, program coordinator and director of Senior Solutions at Jewish Family Service says, “This new partnership will take all the social and educational programs older adults love at the JCC and will add exciting new programs and resources that will strengthen and bring the community together.” At the end of the event, we had transportation service available to ensure everyone got home safely.

If you are interested in learning more about this program and the weekly events and activities taking place, check out the JFS at the JCC program schedule!



Thank you to the partners of this program: Rose Medical Center, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Community Center, Shalom Cares, Allied Jewish Apartments, and local synagogues for coming together to keep our community united.

Also, thank you to Howard Lutz for generously donating his photography skills for the party!

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Spring is here, which means graduation season is upon us and our JFS Senior Solutions interns are wrapping up their work this week. Before they left, we asked them a few questions about their internship experience and what they're doing next.

Lindee Burns

Q: What were your responsibilities at JFS during your internship?
A: I worked about 30 hours/week and saw a small caseload of about 10 to 12 isolated senior clients either weekly or every other week. I did assessments, provided companionship to the seniors, and helped them with errands. I also helped one day/week at Colorado Senior Connections in Edgewater and often helped with their special events. In addition, I attended community meetings, seminars, and local events to learn about senior issues.

Q: What did you learn during your internship or what was your favorite part of the experience?
A: My passion is working with seniors, so I really enjoyed this opportunity! I loved working with the people at JFS. JFS values its employees; everyone is so dedicated and committed, and they believe in the mission of the agency. I received a lot of support from the Senior Solutions staff, which is really important and especially helpful in social work and case management. I also learned a lot about community work from Alison Joucovsky, Colorado Senior Connections coordinator, about what it takes to enter a community without alienating them, find out what programming the population wants/needs, and create programs to fit their needs.

Another important lesson I learned is that sometimes just being present with someone (an elderly client) is helping – you don’t need to always do something. For example, I saw a 102-year-old woman with dementia and sometimes just being there with her was all she needed.

Q: What are you doing next?
A: I am graduating from Colorado State University with a master's in social work on Friday, May 13th and looking for a job working with seniors. I am having a baby at the end of August, so I may wait until after baby is born to start a job.

Jason Polk

Q: What were your responsibilities at JFS during your internship?
A: I worked 16 hours/week at JFS and provided companionship and emotional support for seven senior clients. I usually visited them weekly and got to know them well. They opened up a lot to me – some talked about their problems and some just told jokes.

Q: What did you learn during your internship or what was your favorite part of the experience?
A: JFS was a good place to intern – the staff was supportive and interested teaching the interns. I learned a lot about the Jewish culture, which I enjoyed. This was my first experience working with an older population and I became more aware of the personal struggles that seniors face.

Q: What are you doing next?
A: I am working on my master's degree in social work at Newman University in Colorado Springs and graduating next year. I have an internship next semester through Denver Health at Lake Middle School in their school-based counseling department.

Renate Fettig

Q: What were your responsibilities at JFS during your internship?
A: I worked 16 hours/week with a caseload of eight senior clients that I visited in their homes, took on errands, and was there for them when they wanted to talk.

Q: What did you learn during your internship or what was your favorite part of the experience?
A: My favorite part of the internship was working with the JFS staff. I learned so much including how to be a team player, how to discern what the clients really meant when they said they wanted certain things, and about the Jewish religion from my clients and the staff. I also had to learn to like getting up early to beat rush hour since I live in Boulder! I am really going to miss working at JFS!

Q: What are you doing next?
A: I am finishing my bachelor's degree in social work from Metro State University this Sunday and starting a one-year master’s program next fall at Metro. I have an internship next fall at Halcyon Hospice.

Congratulations to Lindee, Jason, and Renate for completing your internships and doing such a great job at JFS! We appreciate all your hard work and wish you the best of luck in your careers!

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Earlier this week, JFS Senior Solutions honored some of their exemplary Friendly Visitor volunteers at a breakfast hosted at our office. While the senior department has many wonderful volunteers, these four go above and beyond. The staff members who work closely with these volunteers presented each of them with a certificate of appreciation and a gift card for their hard work and commitment to the agency.


Traci Lato (with Khai), Sherry Goodman, Elise Zakroff, and Gail Levy

Sherry Goodman, Traci Lato, Gail Levy, and Elise Zakroff are Friendly Visitors who provide companionship to our elderly adult clients on a regular basis. These volunteers have been dedicated to the senior clients they visit and have helped them through many of life's transitions including moving and losing friends and family. All four women have forged strong bonds with the seniors and get as much out of the relationships as they put in!

Sherry began volunteering as a Friendly Visitor at JFS in 2007. She has been a faithful visitor to our client, visiting her through three moves from independent living, to assisted living, and finally to Shalom Park. In addition, Sherry volunteers four hours a week with JFS at Home helping with time sheets and client billing.

Traci brings her canine companion, Khai, on her visits to her elderly friend. Khai's presence lights up the client's face and she loves feeding him treats and giving him hugs and kisses! The ladies often enjoy going out for lunch, to a movie, or going to an art studio.

Gail started as a Weinberg Food Pantry volunteer in 2006 and then became a Friendly Visitor a year and a half ago. Gail helps the woman she visits by taking her to doctor's appointments and on errands, and also acts as her advocate.

Elise and her companion enjoy celebrating Shabbat together. The client has many nostalgic memories of celebrating the holiday with her family and Elise has helped re-create those memories when she visits. They chant many of the prayers, light candles, and eat delicious food. Elise also includes other residents in the celebrations by bringing enough food to share with everyone.

Thank you to all these volunteers for all that you do! Your kindness, generosity, and creativity with the people you visit are recognized and much appreciated!

If you would like to become a Friendly Visitor volunteer, please contact Nancy Benyamin, director of volunteer services, at (303) 597.5000 x369.

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Jennie Creasey, Lindee Burns, Jason Polk, and Becca Lobel

Four members of the Jewish Family Service Senior Solutions Department recently attended the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work’s kick off for their year long celebration of their 80th anniversary – a day-long symposium titled Healthy Aging: National and Local Perspectives.

Jennie Creasey, MSW (’97), LCSW was invited by the school to be on the planning committee for the day’s event. Also in attendance were Becca Lobel, Senior Solutions volunteer outreach coordinator, Lindee Burns, Senior Solutions MSW intern from Colorado State University, and Jason Polk, Senior Solutions MSW intern from Newman University.

The morning of the symposium focused on national perspectives. Dr. Corinne Rieder, executive director of the John A. Hartford Foundation, spoke on America’s Aging Society: Social Work’s Unique Contribution. Then, Dr. Nancy Morrow-Howell, faculty member of the George Warren Brown School of Social Work in St. Louis, spoke on Maximizing the Productive Engagement of an Aging Society.

The afternoon breakout sessions led by local professionals addressed some of the most cutting-edge issues facing practitioners and students today in the field of aging. Some of the topics included: ethical issues, aging at home, exercise, and spirituality.

Jennie shared, “Being part of the planning committee and attending the event were opportunities that enable us to experience the work we do on a daily basis set into a broader context. The informative content of the day both affirmed the invaluable work of Jewish Family Service’s Senior Solutions department and inspired us to carry on!”

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department

Alison Joucovsky and Claire Gordon staffing the CSC table at the Resource Fair

Last week, JFS Colorado Senior Connections held a resource fair for seniors in Edgewater called "Living Well in Edgewater." JFS Colorado Senior Connections (CSC) brings seniors together through fitness, education, and social events. At the resource fair and community event, participants learned about CSC and how they could get involved with the program. 

The free event featured healthy food, reflexology and foot care, chair massages, benefit consultations by St. Anthony Hospital, identity theft information from Edgewater police, and a Tai Chi demonstration. The event was hosted by Jewish Family Service Colorado Senior Connections in Edgewater, City of Edgewater Parks and Recreation Department, St Anthony Hospital, and the Edgewater Police Department.

The event was a great kickoff to the many upcoming classes and programs for seniors planned this fall through CSC. If you would like more information about these programs or ways to get involved, please contact Alison Joucovsky, CSC coordinator at (303) 597.5000 x376.

-Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department