For many of us, fun childhood memories include trips to summer camp. The parent-free zone gave us a chance to spread our wings and, perhaps, make some lifelong friends.
As shared in more detail below, JSSA is operating a summer camp for students in Montgomery County for the first time this summer. This camp is unique in that it’s specifically designed for children who may have limited access to these types of traditional summer experiences (and mental health support) otherwise.
There’s no denying their joy and the fun our 65 campers are having as they splash in the pool, enjoy snacks from an ice cream truck, and get creative with their art. We’re grateful to our dedicated mental health services staff who worked tirelessly to run the camp program, and to you, for your ongoing support of our work. Together, we are providing vulnerable youth with the tools they need to thrive.
With appreciation,
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What’s Inside
- Camp Greentree Offers Summer Haven for Youth in Need
- Expanding Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community
- You’re Invited to Campus Conversations
- Clinical Director Earns Recognition for Service
- Turning Over the Keys – Donor Profiles
- Former Board President Earns Invest in Others Recognition
- Join Us for Family Wellness Day
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Camp Greentree Offers Summer Haven for Youth in Need
The sounds of splashing, laughter over lunch, and shrieks during a game of kickball are all staples of camp and summer programs everywhere.
But at Camp Greentree, JSSA’s first-ever five-week summer camp designed to support
youth experiencing homelessness in Montgomery County, our 65 campers aged 5-12 are getting much more. In addition to the vital breakfast, lunch, and snacks for these students who may have to do without during the summer months, our campers are getting additional emotional and behavioral health support. Our camp counselors are compassionate and caring clinicians who provide a safe space and fun activities designed to build resilience and improve mental health and well-being.
Camp Greentree helps children having limited success in school and making friends develop the core skills they need to build positive and productive relationships with peers and adults in their lives.
The Camp, which opened July 1, is a partnership between JSSA and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), the key referral partner. JSSA provides staffing and programming to operate the camp, which is being funded through grants from MCPS, the McKinney-Vento National Center for Homeless Education, the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports (the Consortium), and the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC).
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Mental Health Support for All
Expanding Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community
For our Deaf and Hard of Hearing neighbors, counseling and mental health support can be especially important for individuals as they navigate:
- Coping with a new diagnosis.
- Emotional and social challenges.
- School, life, and work transitions.
At JSSA, we are proud of our team’s ability to personalize care to meet the unique needs of the diverse communities we serve. This includes offering our Deaf and Hard of Hearing neighbors individual and group counseling with licensed therapists fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) who can address these (and other) mental health challenges.
JSSA’s team of ASL therapists is growing. We’re excited to be expanding our ability to serve the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, offering comprehensive care so people feel confident and can access the support they need when they need it.
Deaf or hard of hearing individuals seeking therapy or group counseling should visit www.jssa.org/contact-us/. Our intake specialists will arrange a video call.
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Supporting Lone Soldier Parents
JSSA Clinical Director Thanked for Service
Alex Hammer, JSSA’s Clinical Director of Operations in Mental Health Services, has been an important support figure for local Jewish families since October 2023. Following the attacks on Oct. 7, Alex partnered with the local chapter of the
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Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces (FIDF) to host a support group meeting for Lone Soldier parents. A Lone Soldier is the term for a soldier fighting with the IDF without family in Israel to support them. A number of young men and women from the National Capital Region are fighting in the IDF. Alex meets monthly with Lone Soldier parents.
At a recent FIDF fundraiser, Alex was recognized for his commitment to this community. Jennifer Scher, the FIDF MidAtlantic Region Vice President said, “[Alex] has given all of his love to these parents and created the space for them to dialogue and to share about the fears and to share about their pride and about courage. They’ve really bonded as a result, and they really felt supported by FIDF and by the community really deeply since Oct. 7.”
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Cultivating Resilience
Support groups can help individuals feel less alone and isolated when dealing with challenges. Participating in a support group provides an opportunity to be with people who are experiencing the same problems, process concerns, and learn mental wellness practices.
At JSSA, we consistently seek to find ways to connect individuals who may benefit from extra support as they deal with life’s challenges. We offer a series of workshops and group counseling services in the community. One of our newest groups is designed to support our Jewish neighbors in this period of heightened antisemitism and war.
Our free, virtual, drop-in supportive spaces will be offered as we move in the Jewish calendar from the solemn remembrance of trauma on Tisha B’Av to the strength and renewal provided in the celebration of Rosh HaShana. In this season of building hope and resilience, we can draw on the power and comfort of the community to help us address our fears, share resources, and build connections.
Wednesdays from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
August 14 – October 2
Zoom link sent to registrants ahead of meeting time.
Facilitated by JSSA Mental Health Therapist Marna Schoen, LMSW and JSSA Director of Jewish Enrichment & Engagement Rabbi Rachel Hersh, MSW.
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Turning Over the Keys
Donna Goldman and her husband began donating to JSSA back in 1992. Their young family was active in their community and synagogue – Donna also taught at the Jewish Day School her children attended. Their routine donations for more than 30 years were further supplemented by a car donation in 2023 after Donna’s husband passed away. No longer in need of two vehicles, Donna said it was “less complicated and more satisfying” for her to give the car to JSSA.
“It’s such an easy process, and I’m glad the money went somewhere good,” she said. “Giving back to the community is important, no matter how you do it.”
Similarly, Katalin Swanson, a clinical application specialist in JSSA’s IT department, found donating a car to be a very simple process. So easy, in fact, that she’s given a car more than once.
“I think it says a lot about how easy it is that I did it twice,” Katalin said. “I also know that our donations directly support the people JSSA serves.”
Both women described speaking with a member of JSSA’s development team to get the process started. From there, JSSA handled the communication with a third-party auction company who scheduled a time to pick up their vehicles from their homes.
Donna and Katalin, like anyone else who has donated a car, were provided with a letter noting the amount their cars sold for at auction to file with their tax returns, providing deductions with their returns. Money raised at auction from the vehicle directly supported JSSA’s programs and services.
If you’re interested in donating a vehicle – car, boat, etc. – call 301-610-8370 to get started. Vehicles can be donated in any condition. It’s easy for you and very impactful for a neighbor in need.
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Former Board President Earns Well-Deserved Recognition
JSSA’s Board of Directors are, too often, unsung heroes. Serving on the Board of an organization as dynamic as JSSA requires tremendous dedication, time, and commitment. Board members give countless hours to ensure JSSA meets its fiduciary and legal responsibilities and is accountable for our quality services and programs. And this month, a former Board President received some well-earned recognition for her service.
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Candace (Candi) Kaplan served as JSSA’s Board President for an unprecedented five years, helping to guide the organization through COVID and spur our recent, rapid growth. When Candi joined the Board in 2012, JSSA’s operating budget was $16 million. By the end of her presidency in 2021, the annual budget was $37 million. Her hard work, leadership, and tenacity profoundly impacted JSSA, our teams, and the people we serve every day.
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During Candi’s tenure, JSSA expanded services to help more people in more neighborhoods in the National Capital Region, keeping pace with increasing demand for support during the pandemic, particularly around mental health and hospice. JSSA kept its doors open without interruption in services during the pandemic and retained every staff member at a critical time.
For her outstanding leadership and accomplishments, Candi is being recognized by the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation for her lasting contributions to JSSA. As a finalist for the organization’s annual Community Service Award, JSSA will receive at least $25,000 from the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation to honor her commitment to JSSA. If Candi is the ultimate winner in her category, JSSA will receive $60,000. The winner will be announced in Boston at a September gala.
According to Invest in Others, Candi and the other finalists were selected based on their leadership, dedication, contribution, inspiration, and impact on their designated charities and the communities they serve.
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The Ina Kay Building
200 Wood Hill Road,
Rockville, MD 20850
donate@jssa.org
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