JFCS Receives $85,000 Grant to Add Trauma Counseling & Senior Concierge Services

SARASOTA, Fla. - May 20, 2014 - PRLog -- Jewish Family & Children’s Service of the Suncoast, Inc. (JFCS), the premier social service organization, received an $85,000 grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation for its Counseling Services to provide specialized and evidence-based trauma care services to all clients and senior concierge services for the community’s seniors, supporting aging in place.

The grant will allow JFCS to expand its service offerings to include trauma counseling and related services using a sliding fee scale. Additionally, the grant supports training eligible JFCS staff using evidence-based and specialized practices for treating children, adults, seniors, and victims of trauma. JFCS’ senior services are also growing to include concierge services for a fee to help our community’s senior’s age comfortably in place.  The personalized concierge services will provide supportive services and case management, helping to manage the everyday and ongoing responsibilities that can be challenging for seniors and their families.

“We identified a need for trauma and senior concierge services within the community and Gulf Coast Community Foundation responded,” said Rose Chapman, LCSW, president and CEO of JFCS. “Thanks to the Gulf Coast grant, JFCS is able to provide additional services to our existing clients and serve more clients in need.”

“This project will enable JFCS to reach more people who need help while also making the organization and its good work more sustainable,” said Teri A Hansen, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.  “It’s a smart approach to ensuring a healthier community and providing greater opportunity for some of our most disadvantaged residents.”

For more information about trauma counseling, call Andy Solum, vice president of clinical services at 941-366-2224, ext. 145 and Tara Booker, director of senior concierge services at 941-366-2224, ext. 178.

About Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Together with its donors, Gulf Coast Community Foundation transforms our region through bold and proactive philanthropy. Gulf Coast is a public charity that was created in 1995 through the sale of the Venice Hospital. Since then, it has become the philanthropic home of more than 550 families who have established charitable funds there, and has invested $170 million in grants in the areas of health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Learn more at GulfCoastCF.org.

About JFCS

Jewish Family & Children’s Service of the Suncoast, Inc. (JFCS) is a fully accredited, community-based social service organization delivering a broad range of services, including counseling, prevention, intervention, outreach and education to children, adults, families, seniors, and veterans on a secular, non-denominational basis. JFCS promotes self-sufficiency, providing people with the resources to cope and overcome life’s challenges.  To learn more, visit JFCS-Cares.org.