Program spotlight: JFS Yana Vishnitsky Refugee Resettlement
This month, we’re excited to spotlight our Yana Vishnitsky Refugee Resettlement program. We sat down with JFS Director of Refugee Resettlement Troy Cox to learn about this remarkable team and their work throughout JFS and our communities.
Household Items Needed
New and gently used small household items are needed to help to help furnish resettled refugee’s homes. These items can be donated directly to JFS at 3201 S. Tamarac Drive, Denver, CO 80231.
Providing refugees with a new beginning
When David arrived at Denver International Airport from Uganda, his heart was overflowing with gratitude, having been met by JFS staff and reunited with his family, who had resettled here earlier, including his sister, her husband, and their children. Most of all, he was excited about his new life in Colorado. David credits JFS for building a strong foundation for his new life, and he’s excited to share his experiences to help others.
Creating a New Home in Colorado
It’s unimaginable to have to leave your home, your country, and what and who you know and flee across the world to hope for a better life. While these stories are heartbreaking by virtue of their circumstances, they are also inspiring for families like the Lalzais.
JFS Becomes a Permanent Reception & Placement Agency
JFS is pleased to announce they are returning to their roots and have become a permanent Reception & Placement (R&P) agency as a HIAS affiliate, making them the fourth resettlement agency in Colorado. HIAS is a nonprofit that provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers while advocating for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.
Refugee Mental Health team offered a therapeutic wellness group for recently arrived refugee students
The JFS Refugee Mental Health program provides specialized, culturally sensitive, compassionate mental health care and support services for refugees and immigrants of all ages, faiths, ethnicities, and countries of origin. Last April, the Refugee Mental Health team started a new therapeutic wellness group for recently arrived refugee students at Denver’s South High School to give students a space to feel comfortable sharing their experiences and expressing themselves in a welcoming and safe environment.
Helping Refugees Feel Safe and Protected
When Ellie, a seventh grader preparing for her bat mitzvah, heard about JFS helping to resettle Afghan refugees, she wanted to make a difference. As she learned about the struggles facing these newly resettled refugees, Ellie saw an opportunity to help women and created a meaningful mitzvah project.