Since 1892, Jewish Family Service has been an outstretched, helping hand in our local community. Essential services are delivered with compassion and respect to offer vulnerable people in our region the tools they need to build healthier, more stable lives.
The life-changing services of JFS are provided by professional staff, enhanced by dedicated volunteers and supported by our broad-base of generous community donors.
JFS helps vulnerable individuals and families in the Puget Sound region achieve well-being, health and stability.
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Services Offered
Children & Youth We believe that all children deserve opportunities that promote healthy physical, social and emotional development. JFS is committed to providing services that enable each child to feel loved, cared for and valued by the community * Alternatives to Addiction - The JFS Alternatives to Addiction Program is designed specifically to increase awareness, further understanding and, at the same time, offer a culturally sensitive response to the disease of addiction within the Jewish community.
* Counseling -Counseling at Jewish Family Service focuses on recovery and healing for people with mental health challenges, physical or social stressors, addiction and past or current trauma. Through individual and/or group therapy, counselors help to address mental health symptoms, build skills around managing emotions and develop pathways toward resiliency. We assist members of the Jewish community, as well as people in the general community impacted by trauma, poverty and disability. > Individual Counseling - We provide up to six months of individual counseling for each person, adults and children starting at age 10. We will partner with you to create a tailored treatment plan, carefully identifying and addressing your goals.
Our counselors, including an addiction specialist, have training in a variety of therapeutic methods including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness and motivational interviewing. You and your therapist will decide on the tools and techniques most appropriate to meet your needs.
> Group Counseling - Peers often learn as much or even more from each other as they do from professionals. This concept of community learning and social support is central to our philosophy. We offer groups focused on building skills around stress-reduction, trauma-coping, mindfulness, and interpersonal connection.
> Addiction Counseling - Addiction services at JFS are designed specifically to increase awareness, expand understanding and offer a culturally sensitive therapeutic response to addiction within the Jewish community. In addition to individual and group counseling, our addiction services include family consultation and counseling, drug and alcohol assessment and referral, case management and community outreach.
* Project DVORA - Project DVORA strives to create the conditions in the Jewish community to support loving, safe, and respectful relationships; and to build the capacity in the community to respond to intimate partner violence.
Young Adults & Singles * Alternatives to Addiction * Counseling * Domestic Violence
Older Adult Services At JFS, we envision a community in which older adults are valued for the wisdom and experience they possess, and for the contributions they have made and continue to make. We are proud to offer programs and services that encourage active older adults to engage in intrinsically meaningful activities; that support adult children of aging parents; and that enable those older adults challenged by disability, illness or declining health to live in comfort and dignity. We offer: * Care Management - Our geriatric care managers assist low-income older adults with health and mental health care navigation, benefits assistance, housing advocacy, social supports (including volunteer companion services), and basic needs assistance.
* Holocaust Survivors - With support from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, Inc., Holocaust survivors can receive care management services in addition to emergency financial assistance and limited in-home care. * Information & Assistance - JFS collaborates with a wide variety of community organizations who provide a multitude of services for aging adults and/or their families. Our staff can help you navigate the complex system of long-term care, community resources and medical benefits.
Fees and Payment
We offer sliding-scale rates for self-pay clients and are in-network with the following insurance providers: * Regence * Kaiser Permanente PPO (formerly Group Health PPO) * Premera * Lifewise * First Choice PPO * Molina (Medicaid)
This is a non-profit agency.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual Faith-Based
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono Medicare Medicaid
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Qualifying for assistance from Washington's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to Washington's program.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.