Compass Birthright Trip to Israel
You may know that Taglit-Birthright is a 10-day educational trip to Israel for Jewish young adults to visit Israel and leave with a renewed commitment to Jewish values and the Jewish community worldwide. Thanks to JCCA’s Compass Project, young people with learning...
Early Literacy Turns a Life Around
JCCA is heading the charge of increasing literacy for foster children, convincing some of the City’s most respected funders to support its work generously. The New York Community Trust has doubled its first grant to $200,000 to continue JCCA’s Early Literacy program....
Precious Durant, Youth Advocate
Young adolescent women often have a tough time engaging with their families and peers, but those with mental health needs or behavioral challenges may have even more trouble finding their way. Precious Durant, 27, has known some of these difficulties in her own life...
Reana Thorne, Health Care Integrator
Reana Thorne, Health Care Integrator, Bridges to Health (B2H) Reana Thorne is one of JCCA’s 2017 Maslow Excellence in Practice Award winners. She was described in her nomination as “an eager, courageous, empathetic worker, who is committed to B2H’s mission. Whether it...
Thank you, Volunteers!
Dear Volunteers, We are so grateful for all the time, resources, and hugs you have generously given to our kids this year. We thought it would be nice to share some of the highlights as we prepare for a busy 2017-18. The JCCA Cottage Campus volunteer program expanded...
Sharon Adams, Foster Parent: An Open Heart
Children come into foster care because of neglect, abuse or their family’s inability to care for them. Those who identify as LGBTQ have an added layer of challenges to contend with. At JCCA, our staff has worked diligently to bring affirmation and understanding for...
Naethra Sreekrishna, Social Work Coordinator
JCCA’s Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) is a short-term, family-centered program to help children and families resolve problems resulting from trauma such as abuse or violence. Naethra Sreekrishna, who has worked in the program for four years, is just one example...
Message from CEO Ronald Richter: Father’s Day 2017
Dear JCCA Colleagues, Father's Day is a complex holiday, not only for our clients, but for many of us as well. For some, it's a joyful opportunity to celebrate the father figures in our lives. For others, just like Mother's Day, it can be a painful reminder of those...
Michael Gillespie and Patrice: A Forever Home at Last
Michael Gillespie never imagined he would become a foster father to 13-year-old Patrice. At Patrice’s birth, her mother insisted that Patrice was Michael’s biological daughter, but a DNA test proved otherwise. Undeterred, Michael lovingly took on the role of dad, and...
Katherine Iglesias-Garcia, Foster Mother
There are approximately 9,000 children in foster care in New York City. In many cases, kids are removed from their homes because they have been subject to neglect or abuse. The NYC Administration for Children’s Services contracts with JCCA to recruit and train foster...