Gesher Human Services

Programs: Jvs' programs provide meaningful and productive ways for individuals with disabilities of all ages to participate in their community through paid work, volunteer opportunities and recreational activities. Support is tailored to the interests and needs of each individual served. I. To maximize the potential and self-sufficiency of adults who seek community employment, jvs offers job search support that includes skills assessment, job search assistance, placement and training, and ongoing post-employment support and advocacy. Others benefit from volunteer opportunities that promote personal growth, skill retention and community inclusion. Stimulating activities and trips to local attractions keep individuals with significant disabilities active and engaged. Ii. The veterans empowerment tools (vets) program of jvs re-integrates veterans with service-related disabilities back into their community. Iii. Caring companions is an adult day program for older adults with developmental disabilities who have alzheimer's disease or related memory disorders. It offers socialization, exercise, health maintenance and monitoring, stimulation and skill enhancement in a secure and caring environment. Iv. Bridges and learning innovations for enrichment (life) programs provide supports coordination and personalized planning to help individuals with disabilities live the life of their choosing. V. In partnership with united way of southeast michigan, jvs' bridging the gap program helps people who are homeless, with or without disabilities. Jvs provides vocational counseling, job readiness training, internships, and referrals to appropriate resources such as substance abuse counseling to help these individuals achieve self-sufficiency. Vi. Jvs works closely with michigan rehabilitation services and other agencies to provide a full spectrum of programs to help individuals with cognitive, physical and/or emotional disabilities maximize their personal independence and integration into the community. Jvs' array of rehabilitation services helps individuals with disabilities to identify and overcome barriers to employment, develop their vocational strengths and set realistic goals. Participants in these programs benefit from job coaching, training and job retention services. Through its environmental services program (esp), which offers janitorial skills training, classroom and hands-on work experiences, job seeking skills training and job placement, individuals increase opportunities to obtain and retain competitive employment. Individuals with developmental and/or emotional disabilities and possibly secondary disabilities are served by jvs' supported employment program. Jvs staff provide on-the-job training and supervision. Vii. Tri-county dental health provides referrals to volunteer dentists who will treat area residents (whether with disabilities or not) who do not have insurance, lack access to dental care, or cannot afford emergency care. Viii. Teens with disabilities receive training, support and counseling through various jvs programs. Summer club scene provides recreational and employment opportunities and teaches daily living skills. School-to-work transition programs help students make a successful transition to work, technical training programs or college. Jvs guides young people with disabilities through internships and job shadowing experiences where they can explore a variety of careers to help determine their life paths.

jvs' spectrum of senior adult services helps older adults through different stages of their lives. I. Senior service corps (ssc) provides structured volunteer activities and camaraderie for older adults who would otherwise face isolation. The participants, many of whom remain in the program well into their 90's, work on mailings and other projects for local non-profits. The non-profit agencies benefit from up to 15,000 volunteer hours annually, while the senior volunteers enjoy being active and engaged. In addition to the socialization, the ssc volunteers benefit from vital social work supports. Ssc staff can identify participants' potential health and safety issues and make appropriate referrals. Ssc volunteers experience improved health, self-image, quality of life and friendships, all of which help their family caregivers as well. Ii. Jvs' memory club is for seniors with memory concerns, which may include: mild cognitive impairment, early alzheimer's disease or related disorders. Memory club members enjoy socialization in addition to memory-boosting tips and techniques. Physical exercise, field trips and support groups further enhance the program. Iii. The dorothy and peter brown jewish community adult day program is a non-sectarian program run jointly by jvs and jewish senior life, with a center at each agency's campus. The brown program serves adults with alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders and supports their family caregivers with respite and counseling. The program is considered to be state-of-the-art by virtue of its offerings of individualized care and attention, therapeutic activities, socialization and recreation, creative music and art expression, and spiritual and cultural support. Transportation services and flexible scheduling make the brown program accessible to all in the community.

jvs' diverse career and business services and workforce development programs support job seekers and employers, men and women, young and old. The offerings range from a job search website, actnow. Jobs, that connects job seekers and employers; to workforce development programs that support those who are newly unemployed; to those who are structurally unemployed; to financial education for those who may have lost their jobs or homes; to state-of-the-art computer labs; to career development programs. Jvs helps individuals navigate the job market by teaching the latest job seeking techniques, resume writing, and technical and soft skills. Various interactive events offer opportunities to hear guest speakers, practice interviewing and form networks and success teams. I. Jvs' career development programs are tailored to meet the needs of various groups in the community. It offers a group counseling program for individuals aged 50+ who need to redefine a career plan for the next stage of their lives. It addresses the very specific concerns of this cohort of job seekers through individualized assessments, exploration of the world of work, setting realistic goals and programming that is designed to overcome age-related barriers. Jvs serves women who are in need of a support system and skill development to help them enter or re-enter the workforce. The jvs program gives them a fresh start, guiding them in job search strategies while providing emotional support through group and individual counseling. They learn how the skills they had developed outside the workforce are valuable to employers and how to market these skills while re-building their self-esteem. Jvs helps college students gain valuable career and networking experience through paid summer internships. Participants attend educational seminars and work closely with professionals in business administration, marketing and communications, research and program planning, human services and community relations. Ii. Jvs supports recent college graduates and young adults through specialized employment services and job search coaching to help them connect professionally in metro detroit, and to retain them in the community. They learn about effective, targeted resumes and networking. Success teams offer accountability, peer support and strategic job search guidance. Iii. Jvs supports businesses through a variety of programs. Its actnow. Jobs website links job postings to candidates whose resumes have been screened by jvs employment specialists. Jvs' hr solutions group advises companies on human resources best practices and serves as an hr outsourcing agency for non-profits and small to mid-size companies. At jvs' business connections, a networking meeting open to business people in the community, speakers present on relevant marketing, sales and human resource issues. Iv. Jvs' computer skills training program, which operates labs at two sites in oakland county, provides an extensive suite of classes to help individuals upgrade their skills and keep up with the job market. The training provided at these david b. Hermelin ort resource centers complements jvs' overall career development programs and supports the agency's goal of helping people realize their potential. V. Jvs partners with the michigan state housing development authority to help those experiencing financial challenges such as loss of employment, risk of home foreclosure and credit issues. Homebuyer and financial programs cover topics such as financial capability, homebuyer education, foreclosure prevention assistance, and budgeting and credit repair assistance.