Jewish Family & Children's Service

Today, we honor the strength, resilience, and enduring legacy of Holocaust Survivors. Their stories remind us of the importance of compassion, remembrance, and standing together as a community.

At Jewish Family & Children's Service, we are proud to support Survivors through funding from Seed the Dream Foundation and the generosity of our community, helping provide basic needs support, mental health services, and meaningful connection year-round.

“We are deeply honored to walk alongside Survivors and ensure their stories and legacies are never forgotten.” – Dr. Lorrie Henderson

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at JFCS, we know that mental health impacts every aspect of a person’s life — from relationships and employment to physical health and overall well-being.

Right now, more individuals and families than ever are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, isolation, and the overwhelming stress of daily life. Seeking help is not weakness. It is strength.

For more than 91 years, JFCS has been committed to providing compassionate behavioral health services and support to our community, helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges with dignity and hope.

This month, we encourage everyone to check in on themselves, check in on others, and help break the stigma surrounding mental health.

Read our latest blog here: https://www.jfcsaz.org/jfcs-in-the-news/2026/may/may-is-mental-health-awareness-month/

Tomorrow, May 15th, is Mental Health Day of Action. 💜

Mental health affects all of us, no matter our age, background, or life experience. It's a reminder to check in with ourselves and those around us, to lead with compassion, and to create space for open, judgment-free conversations.

In our April blog, we’re focusing on mental health and how connection matters.

Find out more at https://www.jfcsaz.org/jfcs-in-the-news/2026/april/connection-is-care-why-belonging-matters-for-men/

Every young person deserves someone who believes in them.

Through JFCS’s Real World Job Development (RWJD) Program, young adults facing barriers including foster care involvement, instability, trauma, and disconnection are finding support, confidence, education, and career pathways.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be sharing the stories of incredible RWJD graduates whose lives have been transformed through determination, resilience, and community support. The graduation ceremony took place on May 1, 2026 at the Phoenix Sunnyslope Senior Center.

These are more than success stories. They are reminders of what becomes possible when young people are given the opportunity to thrive and the important work being done at JFCS.

When Donielle’s teenage son began struggling with serious behavioral issues, she was told help could not come unless the situation escalated to a su***de attempt.

“I sat in my car and cried.”

Then she found JFCS.

“JFCS saved my son’s life.”

Today, families like Donielle’s are at risk as Arizona’s Medicaid reimbursement rates continue to fall far below the actual cost of providing behavioral health care.

For more than 91 years, JFCS has served the Greater Phoenix community, but without meaningful action, families across Maricopa County could face reduced access to life-changing mental health services.

Read Donielle’s story:
https://www.jfcsaz.org/stories-of-hope/donielle-s-story/

Learn more about the behavioral health funding crisis:
https://www.jfcsaz.org/jfcs-in-the-news/2026/may/arizona-s-behavioral-health-system-at-risk-as-me/

Arizona’s behavioral health system is under enormous strain.

While the cost of delivering mental health services has risen dramatically, Medicaid reimbursement rates have not kept pace, placing providers and access to care at risk across our community.

For more than 91 years, JFCS has served individuals and families throughout Greater Phoenix, but the growing gap between the cost of care and reimbursement is becoming unsustainable for providers on the front lines.

Without meaningful action, communities across Arizona could face reduced access to behavioral health services at a time when the need has never been greater.

Read more about the growing crisis and why it matters to every Arizona family: https://www.jfcsaz.org/jfcs-in-the-news/2026/may/arizona-s-behavioral-health-system-at-risk-as-me/

After facing the challenges of foster care and dropping out of school, Trish found a path forward through our Real World Job Development program. With JFCS' support, she earned her GED and is now working toward her dream of becoming a cosmetologist.

With just one week left until the April 15 deadline, now is the time to make your 2025 Arizona Charitable Tax Credit donation to JFCS. Your gift not only supports individuals like Trish but also provides you with a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $987 (rising to $1,009 in 2026!) that reduces your tax bill or increases your refund.

At JFCS, we are committed to empowering individuals with the tools and support they need to build brighter futures. As Trish says, "JFCS will focus on you and you will feel valued."

Your donation can be life-changing for young people like Trish, helping them overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams. It's a simple way to give back, make a lasting impact and receive a tax benefit.

Will you help someone like Trish take their next step toward success?

With just two weeks left before the April 15 tax deadline, now is the perfect time to make your 2025 Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Donation to JFCS.

Your gift today provides essential support to people like Lois, who received a Passover Package through our Jewish Programs and shared with us how grateful she was to be remembered by JFCS, while also giving you a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $987 to lower your tax bill or increase your refund.

Can we count on you to help support individuals like Lois?

https://www.jfcsaz.org/donate/donate-online-now/

Thank you for being part of our community of support. To those who observe, we wish you a joyful and meaningful Passover. May this season bring peace to you and your loved ones.

What if happiness wasn’t something you chased, but something you created?

This International Day of Happiness, we’re reminded that giving is one of the most meaningful ways to build a stronger, more connected community. Every act of generosity helps someone feel seen, supported, and hopeful.

And that kind of happiness lasts.

Give your Arizona Tax Credit today to help individuals, children and families in need today.
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/jfcstaxcredit/