The JFS Boulder team has responded to unprecedented community need from the Marshall Fire.  Since December 30, 2021, we have responded to 344 applications, representing 944 individuals, and in the first two months following the Marshall Fire, the team has worked with 278 households of 831 individuals.

Since the Marshall Fire, JFS has provided nearly $300,000 in direct, emergency financial assistance, more than $12,000 in gift cards, 127 computers, and case management support and referrals to every household that contacts them.

We continue to provide financial assistance to eligible households who need emergency support to pay for basic needs, such as mortgage or rental assistance.

JFS administers the Boulder County Crisis Counseling (BCCC) program, funded through the Community Foundation of Boulder County’s Wildfire Recovery Fund. The program provides 10 free counseling sessions using a model of private, practice therapists who are on our BCCC panel. Prior to the Marshall Fire, the program had 70 providers on the panel. Since the fire, we have scaled the program (with the unprecedented support of our local mental health providers) and now have more than 240 licensed private practice therapists who provide individual and/or family and couples therapy to impacted residents. JFS pays the provider directly, and access is immediate. Since December 31, 2021, more than 315 households have signed up for services!

JFS has been providing free Group EMDR sessions virtually and in person in Louisville and Superior. This group is designed to help increase one’s sense of balance, calm, and ability to manage disturbing thoughts, feelings, and memories. The Group EMDR protocol is an evidence-based practice used worldwide and is designed specifically to support individuals impacted by disasters such as wildfires. These sessions will continue through mid-May. After May, we will be providing additional group mental health services focusing on grief and loss and addressing vicarious trauma.

Additionally, JFS Boulder is providing psycho-educational webinars in partnership with the City of Louisville, the Town of Superior, Boulder County, and the Community Foundation for Boulder County. The first town hall session on “Understanding Disaster Stress” was attended by more than 140 households. Utilizing expert panels, our team will continue to provide relevant information to support mental health and community building.

If you or someone you know could benefit from any of these counseling services, please visit jewishfamilyservice.org/boulder.