Orientation manual of the Jewish Family Service Agency of Clark County, 1989

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY ORIENTATION MANUAL "SERVICE IS THE RENT WE PAY FOR TAKING UP SPACE IN THE WORLD. Board Member Code of Ethics As Board members, we consider ourselves trustees of this organization and will do our best to protect, conserve and advance its mission. As Board members, we are motivated by a desire to serve our clients' needs and provide them the best opportunities possible through our organization. We will attempt to appraise both present and future needs of the community and do our best to translate them into the program of this organization. As Board members, we function as a policy making body and not as administrative officers. Our responsibility is to help the organization run properly, not to run it ourselves. We hold the administrator responsible for administration of the organization and we work through administrative employees, not over or around them. As members of the Board, we will attempt to inform ourselves of the proper duties and functions of Board mem-bers. Individual Board members hold an office of shared power and responsibility and recognize that Board business is transacted only with the rest of the Board. Individual Board members exercise authority only as they vote to take action at a Board meeting. What Are My Responsibilities As A Board Member? H A Board must assure that the organization meets the needs of clients. ? A Board sets policies for the administrator to implement and achieve. ? A Board has the financial management responsibility and authority over the entire organization. ? A Board should play an active role in selling services, lobbying, fund raising and other revenue generation. Individual Board members will support the nonprofit with their personal resources and involvement. ? A Board selects and evaluates a chief executive officer who in turn becomes their manager. ? A Board must allow the CEO to make day-to-day management and marketing decisions without interference. Individual Board members will support the administrator with consulting skills when asked. ? A Board's responsibility is to assist, guide and evaluate the performance of the whole organization in meeting the needs of clients. ? Individual Board members will attend Board meetings and actively participate, including service on committees and as officers. The Board/administrator/staff team. . . ? The Board sets the direction - which clients to serve with what services. ? The administrator implements the policies and reports to the Board. H Staff delivers services to the clients and achieves goals set by the administrator. ? The client is the focus of all efforts by the Board, administrator and staff. Jewish Family Service Agency 2 Boundaries of the Agency The Jewish Family Service Agency is a non-sectarian non-profit social service Agency formed to provide a service to any individual and/or family in the Las Vegas community who needs help. It provides a service which is more ac-ceptable to and compatible with the ethnicity of Jewish and other people. To extend the belief that each individual is entitled to be full-functioning, self-sufficient and independent, it provides family and individual counseling, emergency financial assistance and other supportive social services. Last year, the Jewish Family Service Agency with the aid of their volunteers and staff was able to help over 10,000 people to: 1) Resolve family and other social conflicts, 2) Deal with stress constructively, 3) Achieve economic independence, 4) Becomes integrated into the American culture from refugee status, 5) Become informed of basic developmental knowledge which will prepare them to cope with future behavioral, emotional and physical demands of life. The key to Jewish Family Service Agency in the eighties is a variety of programs extending beyond the boundaries of official walls and traditional work-a-day hours. This can only become a reality with greater cooperative efforts with synagogues, other agencies and groups. History The Jewish Family Service was established in 1977 as a result of the interest on the part of leaders of the Jewish community who felt there was a need for an Agency to provide counseling and concrete supportive services to the community. a nthitcfar/o^/ Jewish Family Service is, prnHtfy. a-counseling, social service Agency. It is non-sectarian in nature: the client body is predominantly Jewish because there is an on-going tendency for religious or racial groups to gravitate toward their own organization and/or social service. The Agency provides individual and group counseling on a variety of family problems. All of the Agency's pro-grams gear themselves to family: including parent-child problems, the single parent-child relationships, individuals, widows, marital and pre-marital problems, divorce, parenting, and needs and problems of the older population in the community; including homemaker management service, information and referral, case advocacy, Family Life Education and Russian Resettlement. Jewish Family Service works cooperatively with existing resources in the community. The very nature of its counseling services demands that confidentiality be a main theme of Agency operation. It is financed currently by the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, United Way of Southern Nevada, private donations, grants, and memberships from community members. Jewish Family Service Agency 3 Statement of Goals and Objectives Agency Goals 5 i f * * & the general community with special focus on the needs of the Jewish community, & promote the well-being and healthy functioning of families in order to provide an optimum environment for the personal growth and fulfillment of family members and a framework in which Jewish values, ethics and culture can be recognized, strengthened and preserved. To promote socially desirable behavior that supports and enhances both the Jewish community and the larger com-munity in which we live. To ensure permanent parents and a secure, loving home for every child. Objectives of Specific Agency Programs Counseling Consists of: diagnostic interview with individuals and family groups, referral to more appropriate community resources if indicated, concrete help with environmental problems, and, ongoing therapeutic intervention for the purpose of alleviating problems of the individual or relationship problems within the family that are interfering with effective functioning. Services to the Aged A program of services to the individuals over 60 and their families. It includes service within institutions and nursing homes and services to elderly individuals living in their own homes. Program consists of: assistance to elderly individuals to maintain satisfying independent living as long as possible, strengthening of existing family relationships to enable children to offer as much support as possible to elderly parents, and, concrete supports of friendly visiting, assistance with shopping and meal preparation and transportation. Information and Referral A service for individuals and agencies. Services as a pipeline to doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists, public health, welfare, and housing authorities. Works cooperatively with the existing resources in the community. Emergency Assistance A limited program of financial assistance and emergency cafe to individuals and families who are ineligible for state and federal aid programs. To attempt to explore in depth the problems presented by each indigent resident individual or family and by each transient who comes to the Agency attention. Food and lodging are provided until that is possible. 's Available resources are explored; including relatives or friends who may be willing to help. Possible return to a community where regular assistance would be available, including medical care or temporary employment if needed. Transportation is not provided to a community where there is no known help available. Jewish Family Service Agency 4 Family Life Education A variety of programs of differently types and with wide ranging subject matter, designed to help people broaden their understanding of family problems and enrich their enjoyment of family life. Discussion groups designed to aid in growth and awareness, and to point out new ideas for problem solving. Speaking engagements by professional staff members on topics related to family relationships and human growth and development. Seminars ajyj. Intirflmpr are planned to deal with family problems. Such programs might involvc-oae-jQiLjwojday ^jsSfssrens. Counseling Service Jewish Family Service Agency counseling services are family focused. Individuals and families from all walks of life and all age groups come with a broad spectrum of psychosocial problems having to do with parent-child relationships, marital difficulties, individual personality adjustment, illness, financial difficulties, etc. Case Management Case Management - assisting a client (Individual or family) to manage environmental needs by assessing which social services are needed and then obtaining those services for the client. The social worker then assumes a coordina-t e role, that is, the worker enables the various service deliverers to work together cooperatively to enhance the client's coping skills. Agency Resources: Financial sources and amounts, physical property, staff - paid and volunteers. Optimally, the budget outline acts as a decision making and planning tool, helping to transform set goals into service realities. On the following page, the financial report clearly shows the primary source of revenue comes from contributions, etc. with only a small portion coming from counseling and service fees. Jewish Family Service Agency was never meant to be self-supportive. Economics will always be a limiting factor in goal-planning and policy-making. Therefore, to attain their basic goals and objectives, the administrative staff must rely heavily on volunteerism. Forced retirement has left many able-bodied, competent experienced individuals unemployed, or worse, "unem-ployable", in this youth oriented working world. The J.F.S.A. has recognized and utilized these senior citizens and their untapped personal resources in their post-retirement years. Jewish Family Service Agency 5 Jewish Family Service Agency Payroll & Operating Expenses Projected for the year ended June 30. 1989 Executive Director Caseworker Volunteer Coordinator Case Aide Bookkeeper HP Coordinator Retirement Health Insurance Disability Payroll Tax Adinistrative Expenses Advertising Agency Insurance Mileage Books/Subscriptions Repair/Maintenance Office Rent Office Expenses Organization Dues Postage Pro. Dues Print/Newsletter Telephone Tel./Conf. Fund Raising Membership Volunteer Expenses Audit/Legal Adoption Miscellaneous Expenses Financial Assistant TOTAL Budget Approved 45,575 22,786 10,000 12,918 6,000 0 4,200 17,299 I,304 II,000 1,500 100 4,800 4,000 450 500 20,144 2,200 850 950 220 500 2,000 2,800 800 2,500 1,100 1,250 0 0 1,000 197,021 Projected 6/30/89 45,894 24,509 9,375 13,872 5,654 5,250 4,200 17,598 1,604 11,440 1,600 255 4,800 3,000 450 400 22,500 2,351 1,015 900 220 922 2,126 1,740 14,163 1,880 2,044 1,325 3,357 200 1,000 222,572 Increase + 28,376 47,094 25,833 10,500 14,582 6,600 10,200 4,800 20,000 3,000 12,000 1,800 500 5,200 4,000 600 750 24,000 2,500 1,500 1,000 220 2,000 2,500 2,800 15,000 3,500 2,200 1,500 4,500 500 2,000 250,948 Jewish Family Service Agency 6 Traditional ways of working with clients. Listed below are the six major services provided by the J.F.S.A. Due to the wide variety of services offered, no one traditional approach is effective to satisfy all the needs of all the clients. The staff must be perceptive and flexible enough to react appropriately to each new client and situation. For example: in "counseling to individuals or families": this could possibly require long-term counseling and/or psycho-therapy. Whereas, "Life support service" particularly with the elderly, will often require only a volunteer to help with routine tasks like banking, shopping, etc. In "Psychiat-ric Aftercare", crisis intervention may be necessary to protect the health and safety of the client and/or society. A creative blend of knowledge, values and skills are necessary in making prompt, appropriate and accurate assessments. Jewish Family Service's Major Services Are: Counseling to Individuals and Families. . . this includes marriage and divorce counseling, parent guidance services, working with the handicapped and the aged, and counseling with children, adults and whole families. Also, this in-cludes information and referrals to other community resources. Life Supportive Services. . .to the elderly, the isolated and the homebound. This includes the provision of much needed personal services, such as shopping, certification for and the purchase of food stamps, accompanying the older person to doctor's appointments, cashing checks and paying bills. Psychiatric Aftercare. . .comprehensive services for those individuals over sixty years with prior psychiatric hospi-talization. Clients receive a variety of services enabling them to maintain independent lives in the community. Volunteer Service Program. . .Jewish Family Service volunteer services are a supplement to the Agency's counsel-ing service. Volunteers provide resources for the staff when they are planning goals for individuals, families and groups. Our volunteers work in conjunction with Jewish Family Service counselors to enhance services to meet people's needs. Family Life Education. . .educational groups to aid families and individuals in improving their knowledge of family relationships; to strengthen Jewish identify; and to enhance coping skills for the stress of living in a changing world. Resettlement for Refugees. . .having traditionally been the responsibility of the Jewish community and coordinated by the Jewish Family Service. Jewish Family Service assists with the integration and settlement of refugees. Jewish Family Service Agency 7 Presenting Problem At Intake Individual Adjustment: Includes problems of children or adults manifested in dysfunctional behavior disturbing to the individual and/or to his family and society. Parent-Child: Conflict between parent or step-parent and single child (to age 22). Marital: Conflict between husband and wife recognized by one or both as disturbing. Psychiatric Symptoms or Illness: Assistance in managing family and environmental concerns which are affected by past or present mental illness. Usually involves supportive contacts and advocacy with landlords, employers, etc. Separation or Divorce: Counseling oriented to the issues of separation or divorce as they relate to family break-up and child guidance issues of parenting. Sexual: Counseling oriented to sexual dysfunction. Medical Illness: Difficulty presented as caused by illness. Homemaker/Companion: Request for cleaning, cooking, general home upkeep or companionship. Protective Care: Question of protection or guardianship for individuals who, for emotional or medical reasons, are unable to make competent decisions. Financial: Need for financial assistance and/or counseling around financial management. Location/Migration: Request from HIAS or relative in the community for assistance in locating a family or plan-ning for individual or family overseas to come to this country or this community. Legal: Request for planning assistance with legal problems - families would be referred to local attorneys. Employment: Vocational problems where dysfunctional behavior interferes with employment. Education/Vocational Guidance: Self explanatory. Jewish Family Service Agency 8 Sanctions of the Private Agency. Jewish Family Services, a volunteer family service Agency is a non-profit social welfare organization, whose central purpose is the protection, enhancement and strengthening of family life. Volunteerism is an expression of society's hu-manitarian impulse, making it possible for concerned citizens to respond to their community's changing social needs by creating and developing services and resources beyond those that are subject to political control. Because the Board is the keystone of the Agency's structure, the way in which it is organized and discharges its legal and ethical obliga-tions determines the extent to which the Agency truly serves the community. The J.F.S.A. Board of Directors include the following officers: president of the Board, two (2) vice-presidents, a secretary and a treasurer. Among the responsibilities of the Board President are: 1) presiding at Board meetings, 2) working closely with the Executive Director, Bill Feldman, in considering Agency policies and problems, and in the preparation of Board meeting agenda, 3) appointing committees and their chairpersons, 4) insuring that committees meet and carry out their functions as stated in the Agency by-laws, 5) insuring that policy-making is effected in the community. The major responsibility of a vice-president is to discharge the functions of the president when he or she is not available. And, the Secretary and Treasurer have the typical responsibilities of their posts. There are compelling reasons for the Board to operate through committees, a prime one being that a committee structure is the most effective means of dividing the labor and parceling out the work required of the Board. The J.F.S.A. has organized the following eight (8) committees to perform a number of functions essential to the Agency's on?-Y ^ program: Executive Committee, Nominations Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, Membership Subcommit-tee, Program Committee, Personnel Practice Committee, and the Long Range Planning Committee. p*<j? IS - oncvy 'i.3 N?rr\6S The Board of Directors is composed of 25 well rounded representatives, who have a wide variety of skills that reflect diversity in the socioeconomic population the Agency serves. The Board is legally responsible for formulation of the Agency's policies concerning management, fiscal control, and nature of the service programs. It is responsible for insuring that sufficient funds are provided to finance the Agency. In order to make sound decisions in these areas, the Board must have adequate information. In summary, the responsibilities of the Board members are to: 1) gather information, 2) establish Agency goals and objectives, 3) design service programs and assess community needs, 4) fund the Agency, and, 5) represent the Agency and interpret it to the community (public relations). Jewish Family Service Agency 9 Jewish Family Service Agency Organizational Chart Board of Directors Executive Director Office?Manager Atf Caseworkers Volunteer Coordinator Volunteers 1 1 Elderly Case CHISS Las Vegas Match Aide Worker Coordinator Coordinator Clerk Nomination Committee Budget & Finance Committee Program Committee Personnel Practices Committee Professional Committee Publicity Committee Long Range Planning Committee Jewish Family Service Agency 10 Organizational Structure of the Agency The Board of Directors is the body held legally and ethically accountable to the community to the Agency's overall operation. The Board chooses the Executive Director to administer the Agency. The Executive Director, Mr. Bill Feldman, is directly responsible to the Board for program operations. Also, as the "Chief of Staff', he must maintain an inter-relationship between the Board ad the personnel of the Agency. Mr. Feldman is delegated the authority for administering the policies that the Board sets and is accountable to the Board for the quality of the service programs and for employing professional staff with the skills necessary for providing service. Staff members are accountable to the Agency's clientele and to Mr. Feldman for doing a professionally responsible and effective job. The basic organizational structure of this Agency is classically bureaucratic; but the interaction within the Agency follows the organic contingency theory. There is a highly creative, flexible, informal atmosphere with a free-flow of communication. The "Board-Executive Director- Staff' partnership share a common purpose and the mutual confi-dence, consideration and respect creates an atmosphere of goodwill. The Staff Mr. Bill Feldman, the Executive Director, and his small staff have established a congenial atmosphere. Mr. Feldman shows complete confidence in his staff members, and he assumes that they are capable of participating in the decision-making process. It is evident that he is very conscious of employee satisfaction and makes every effort to participate and cooperate, rather than dictate. He has shown me concern and respect while providing me with protec-tion and morale-building support. The utilization of volunteers is carefully planned as illustrated by the "Volunteer Folder" on the following page. In recruiting volunteers, they must be selected with the Agency's purpose in mind, as well as the volunteer's personal needs. The relationship between volunteer and professional worker must be based on mutual respect and a sharing of responsibility. Supervisory recognition, feedback, support and interaction create an attitude of teamwork. This partner-ship between volunteers and professional workers also proves invaluable in the area of public relations, fund-raising campaigns, establishing policies and indirect services. Therefore, they select, train and treat all their volunteers ex-tremely well, with appreciation and gratitude. Their volunteers are never underestimated. Professional Staff William Feldman ACSW, LCS>t/J Executive Director Linda Stroud MSWjLCsu) Counselor K v p l v n Schramm 5<?/L VUsn Y Support Staff Homesharing Lorraine Cohen Elena Miller B o b b e H o r b e r g S t e p h a n i e S m i t h Executive Administrative Assistant Bookkeeper H o m e s h a r i n g V o l u n t e e r C o r d i n a t o r Volunteer Coordinator Stephanie Smith Jewish Family Service Agency 11 Jewish Family Service Agency Volunteers Jewish Family Service Agency 12 Philosophy of J.F.S.A. Volunteer Services J.F.S.A. Volunteer Services are a supplement to the Agency's counseling services. Volunteers provide resources for the staff when they are planning goals for individuals, families, and groups. Our volunteers work in conjunction with the counselors to enhance the services J.F.S.A. can provide to meet people's needs. The Role of the J.F.S.A. Volunteer As a volunteer, you bring to your client a type of relationship which is designed to be different from that which the counselor develops with the same client. Working in conjunction with professional staff, you augment and enrich services without which our community would not be as well served. In your role as a volunteer, you serve as a liaison between the isolated and the Jewish community. Many of our clients need the opportunity to share the friendly warmth and caring of a special friend from the community. J.F.S.A. volunteers use their skills to help many individuals and families. The services that you provide are varied. They include providing transportation, visiting older isolated persons in their own homes, phoning to special clients each week, and office work at the Agency. Through your many services, you are enriching the lives of others and offering friendship to those whose lives are difficult or empty. The Clients "New Beginnings" are the catch words for J.F.S.A. services. Their volunteers are reaching out into the community and helping the lonely and isolated. J.F.S.A. Volunteer Services have expanded in this past year. The volunteers act as "extended family" for people with no support in our community. The Agency has truly become family to those in need. Jewish Family Service counseling services are family focused. Individuals and families from all walks of life and all age groups come with a broad spectrum of psycho-social problems having to do with parent-child relationships, marital difficulties, individual personality adjustment, illness, financial difficulties, etc. J.F.S.A. Volunteer Services Opportunities Volunteer Aide - This role is an assignment to one client with whom you may spend time with weekly. The rela-tionship you develop is the key to growth, opportunity and change for the individual you help. This person is usually very much alone and needs the care and concern you will be able to offer. Under the supervision of the counselor a three-way relationship, counselor - client - volunteer, strengthens and grows into a truly special J.F.S.A. Service. Transportation and Shopping Volunteer - This role requires a commitment that you will be "on-call" to meet the transportation needs of J.F.S.A. Clients. Most assignments will take the time necessary for you to pick up the person at home, take him/her where the individual needs to go, wait with him and return him safely home. Most of these needs are for medical appointments and special shopping. Office Volunteers - These volunteers assist our staff in accomplishing specific Agency business. A variety of clerical skills are necessary and the services you will give range from "on-call" help with mailings, to office help such as answering phones, typing and filing. Jewish Family Service Agency 13 J.F.S.A. Volunteer Services' Benefits and Recognition The J.F.S.A. welcomes the wonderful commitment made by each individual who has chosen to become a volunteer. In return, we make a commitment to you to provide you with the resources of our Agency, to create opportunities for you to grow, and to learn both as a volunteer and as a special individual. There are several ways that we hope to provide opportunities for that growth. Participating as a volunteer in J.F.S.A. offers opportunities for interaction with representatives of other agencies and involvement with professional social workers. Volunteer Education Workshops are designed to bring volunteers together to learn more about the services they are helping to give and to provide information that will support and enhance their contribution to J.F.S.A. From our heartfelt "thank you" for your contribution of service, to newspaper articles and pictures of you "on the job", to opportunities to represent us at meetings - we continue to say thank you. Role Guidelines Confidentiality In your work as a direct service volunteer for a social Agency, you will be asked to observe certain special rules and to accept special responsibilities. One especially important rule refers to the practice of confidentiality. This means strictly refraining from sharing personal, or identifying information about your clients (and their families) with anyone outside of J.F.S.A. staff. Because your information and sensitive feelings, you, as the client's special friend, will want to keep those feelings and that information confidential within the Agency. Therefore, the obligation of confiden-tiality is yours as a responsible volunteer. Supervision Each direct service volunteer works in conjunction with a caseworker. You are part of a team providing service to an individual family or group; however, the caseworker remains ultimately responsible for the planning of these services. You will discuss specific concerns about your client with this professional staff member. (It will occasionally be neces-sary and helpful to talk with the Director of Volunteer Services about your assignments). Your caseworker's guidance and support will contribute to the quality of your volunteer experience and the quality of service to your client. Commitment You are J.F.S.A.'s representative to the community, and by practicing in our volunteer program, you accept that commitment. We want people to know about us and to turn to us if the need arises. We appreciate the help you contribute by sharing with others the knowledge you gain about our various services and ways of giving help in our community. To be a direct service volunteer in an Agency such as J.F.S.A. is indeed a privilege. You are taking the opportunity to work as part of a warm, skilled, and talented group of individuals. Like all privileges, this one carries responsibili-ties, including the ones just described. We feel that you will meet them well. Please do feel free to discuss them and any related questions with your supervisor or the Director of Volunteers. Jewish Family Service Agency 14