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Author: Rossella Alla

Vaccinations for Seniors 

Posted on by Rossella Alla

Annual Vaccines: What PA Seniors Need to Know 

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). It’s an ideal time to talk about annual vaccines and the protection they offer—especially for adults over 65 years of age. Here’s what older adults need to know: 

Vaccines are a familiar part of our healthcare from the time we are young children through adulthood. Staying up-to-date on vaccines is increasingly important as we age.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, older adults are, “more likely to get diseases like the flu, pneumonia, and shingles — and to have complications that can lead to long-term illness, hospitalization, and even death.” Also, catching an infection like pneumonia or the flu can be particularly serious for anyone who has a chronic health condition like heart disease or diabetes.   

Vaccine Recommendations from the PA Department of Aging: 

Here are the vaccines that the Pennsylvania Department of Aging recommends for adults older than 65: 

Seasonal Flu (Influenza) 

The flu can lead to pneumonia, hospitalization, and even death, especially in people aged 65 and older. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the flu shot reduces flu risk by as much as 60%. Its effectiveness varies from year to year based on which strains of the flu are circulating. In an interview for the AMA website, Dr. Kate Kirley, the organization’s Director of Chronic Disease Prevention, points out that, “Even when the vaccine is only 30% effective at preventing flu, that is still very meaningful and crucial for preventing hospitalizations and deaths.” Getting an annual flu shot is the best way to protect yourself against the flu and its complications. (SOURCE: https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/8-things-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-flu-shots ) 

Pneumonia (pneumococcal) 

Pneumococcal diseases, including pneumonia, can be severe and life-threatening for older adults. This is especially true for those who have a chronic condition, such as diabetes or COPD, says the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Since pneumonia is spread through person-to-person contact, when you get vaccinated you protect others along with yourself. There are several vaccine varieties that will protect you against pneumococcal disease. Your doctor can advise you about which one is right for you. This article from the AAFP offers a wealth of information for seniors about the pneumococcal vaccine: https://familydoctor.org/pneumococcal-vaccines-for-seniors/  

Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap or Td) 

These three diseases are caused by bacterial infections. Tetanus, which is sometimes called “lockjaw,” causes muscle pain and stiffness that can make it difficult to open your mouth or swallow.  Diptheria can lead to heart problems and difficulty breathing. Pertussis, also called “Whooping Cough,” causes violent coughing and can lead to weight loss, loss of bladder control, and other serious problems for adults.  According to Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director of the National Council on Aging’s Center for Healthy Aging, “The Tdap vaccination is an essential part of preventive health care for older adults. By getting vaccinated, older adults significantly reduce their risk of contracting these serious diseases, and they help protect others.” [SOURCE: https://www.ncoa.org/article/tdap-vaccine-what-older-adults-need-to-know ]

Shingles (Zoster) 

Shingles is outbreak of the chickenpox (varicella-zoster) virus. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you have had chickenpox, “the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life” [SOURCE: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054] and it can reactivate at any time. Shingles causes a painful rash. It can also cause complications like long-term nerve pain. Older people are at greater risk of complications. The shingles vaccine is highly effective at preventing both the disease and its complications. 

COVID-19 

COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that can cause severe respiratory illness. In seniors it can lead to serious health problems, hospitalization, and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Everyone aged 5 years and older should get 1 dose of an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.” The CDC recommends that people over 65 get an additional dose “at least four months after their initial updated dose.” For the CDC’s latest recommendations about COVID-19 vaccination, click here: https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html

According to the CDC, “people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have a lower risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19 than people who are unvaccinated” or who did not receive all recommended doses.  

Schedule an Appointment with Your Doctor About Annual Vaccines 

Before you get any vaccinations be sure to check with your doctor. This is especially important if you haven’t been vaccinated for some time or if your health status has changed since your last round of vaccines. Your doctor may have specific recommendations about vaccines based on your health status and any treatment you are receiving. Your doctor can also provide additional information to help you make an informed decision about vaccines and their benefits versus possible risks.  

JEVS Care at Home is committed to helping seniors and adults with disabilities live full and independent lives at home. For more information on the support we provide, contact us today:  Learn More – JEVS Human Services

C2L-PHL on WURD

Posted on by Rossella Alla

The following is a transcription of an interview hosted by Solomon Jones WURD with Kim McCaffrey, Senior Vice President of Intermediary Services at JEVS Human Services along with Matt Kerr and Shairah Kibler and Matt Kerr form C2L-PHL summer program Beyond the Bars. If you would like to listen to the radio segment, click here.

Solomon Jones: We are joined this morning by Kim McCaffrey from JEVS, Jewish Educational Vocational Services. Good morning.

Kim McCaffrey: Good morning.

Solomon Jones: Okay, and Matthew Kerr and Shairah Kibler from Beyond the Bars, good morning. Alright, so this summer, a lot of young people are getting some experiences working in various programs. Beyond the Bars is one of them, JEVS of course, is running this effort. What are you guys doing this summer Miss McCaffrey?

Kim McCaffrey: Yeah, there’s so much happening this summer. JEVS is now responsible for the City’s initiative for summer work based learning experiences for young people, predominately those in high school. It’s called Career Connected Learning, C2L-PHL.

Solomon Jones: What is C2L-PHL?

Kim McCaffrey: Career Connected Learning Philadelphia.

Solomon Jones: Okay, go ahead.

Kim McCaffrey: So we’re offering paid work experiences for young folks across the city of Philadelphia, in lots of different industries. It’s really intended to help young people learn about the world of work, what they like, what they don’t like, what they’re good at, what they’re not good at, and how do they start to earn some money doing those things. And so Beyond the Bars has been doing some really great work, and offering what, almost 25-30 opportunities this summer, which has been really exciting.

Solomon Jones: Yeah, so Matthew, we’ve met before. I’ve seen you around as we’ve talked about programs that are working to end gun violence in the City of Philadelphia. Yours is a novel approach. What do you do?

Matthew Kerr: Absolutely, thank you so much. Thank you again for having us. So yeah, Beyond the Bars, we began as a music program back in 2015 but it was just a program for youth who were incarcerated back then. But around 2017 we branched out. We started running community-based music programs, and one of our main initiatives was like, one of two things, basically. One is that it was always student driven, and two was that it was community based. And trough our youth voice, they kind of pushed to build out a lot of different music labs throughout the city and partner with a bunch of amazing community orgs that do what we don’t. And today, we have 45 music labs throughout the city in locations ranging from schools and community hubs to rec centers, but also youth centers and trauma clinics. And from that, we’re able to meet youth wherever they’re at. Also as they grow as musicians and

artists, we meet a lot of amazing young leaders. We’re with one right now, Shairah, when we met her at her high school, was already a nasty musician, but now she’s in our summer program, our student teacher program. Basically, we meet young people all over the city from all of our programs and identify them like, hey they want to help mentor and lead others. They go through an awesome six-week course thank to JEVS, where they learn about how to teach using social emotional learning, how to teach using trauma informed practices, as well as how to, you know, teach instruments, productions, DJ and MCing, all those different things.

Solomon Jones: Well that sounds fantastic, I want to hear from Shirah though. Shairah, what is it that you do? I know you’re interning there at Beyond the Bars, what is it that you do?

Shairah Kibler: So for the summer program, basically, a lot of real cool, amazing, awesome teachers teach us how we can better teach people younger that us how to get into ways of expressing themselves through music and different types of things like that. But once you, I guess you could say graduate fro the program, we get to go out and branch through different rec centers, different after school programs si we can teach what we have learned from these teachers to apply to ourselves in the way we want to learn and teach kids how to make themselves known. We let them know what they can do without being like, hard on them, or like being strictly just one thing, like being able to really show themselves, who they are, to multiple people.

Solomon Jones: Wow that’s fantastic. So, Kim McCaffrey, what other programs do you guys have in the minute or two we have left?

Kim McCaffrey: We’re actually supporting almost 8,000 young people this summer across the city. So you have young folks who are in other arts programs, you have folks in marketing programs, entrepreneurship programs, in civic engagement programs, construction, basically if you name the job, we have young people doing it this summer. We will be continuing some of these programs into the school year, so definitely check us out at Philla.gov/C2L-PHL to learn more and potentially get yourself connected.

Solomon Jones: Okay, and is there a way for people to apply for what’s going on in the school year?

Kim McCaffrey: Yeah, so young people will be able to apply directly to the non-profits that are offering these programs. So definitely keep an eye on the website, and we will push out these opportunities as the programs get started. Most programs will start for the school year around October.

Solomon Jones: Cool, now is there a number people can call, or do they have to go to the website and do it electronically?

Kim McCaffrey: They will have to go to the website.

Solomon Jones: And the website again, is phila.gov/C2L-PHL. So Beyond the Bars, how do we learn more about it? Is there a phone number Matthew, and a website? Matthew Kerr: Absolutely, thank you so much. Yeah, our website is www.BeyondTheBarsMusic.org and the phone number is 267-225-7247. We have tons of programs, always plenty of openings for awesome

young people to be making music. And actually, tomorrow night, we have our student teacher graduation show at Underground Arts. It’s totally free, so you can see a lot of awesome young people perform, play some amazing music, as well as get celebrated for the awesome leaders that they are.

Solomon Jones: Alright, well I want to thank you so much for that. Kim McCaffrey, I want to thank you, Matthew, as well as Shairah Kibler form Beyond the Bars. Kim McCaffrey from JEVS. Thank you all for joining us this morning on WURD and for sharing the great work that you do.

JEVS Work Ready Get Paid Work Experience through Glitter

Posted on by Rossella Alla

JEVS Work Ready and Glitter recently partnered to provide paid work experiences for individuals in the JEVS Work Ready program. Through this partnership, 1,200 city blocks were cleaned. Plus, 8 participants became permanent workers.

From April to June 2024, 19 clients from JEVS Work Ready got jobs cleaning up neighborhoods around Philadelphia. Work Ready is a JEVS program that offers resources and training to help move clients to a path of self-sufficiency. Glitter is a mission-driven company that hires cleaners to maintain residential blocks throughout the city. Through the Glitter partnership, clients earned $20 an hour to pick up litter from sidewalks, streets, and storm drains. Over this time, Glitter supervisors helped train clients to do a great job.

Emily, one of the Glitter supervisors, said leading the group was a great experience. “It was a privilege and an amazing experience,” she said. “Despite the weather, people kept their spirits up, and the amount of work we got done brought residents to tears. It’s great to do a job where you are constantly acknowledged.”

The program was a success because of teamwork. The clients were able to get great work experience, and neighbors got cleaner, nicer blocks. Many neighbors were happy with the changes they saw and thrilled to share their excitement about the improvements.

Albresha was one of the clients who got a job cleaning with Glitter following the pilot. “In my second week, someone told me they were proud of me,” she said. “I feel that I’m making a difference, and my kids are proud of me. Now I’m coming up with ideas to start cleaning my own blocks.”

Luis Gonzalez, JEVS Vice President of Workforce Development, said, “This is the outcome of a great collaboration.”

Managed by JEVS Human Services, Career Connected Learning (C2L-PHL) gives 8,000 young people real-world experience

Posted on by Rossella Alla

by Lynette Hazelton

Published 

“This is the first year of operation for the city’s Career Connected Learning PHL (C2L-PHL) program, which gives 8,000 young people, ages 12 to 24, a summer job, real world experience, and a paycheck. The program is a collaboration between the city, the School District of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Works and is managed by JEVS Human Services.”

Read the full article in the Philadelphia Inquirer

 

When you have so many options for home care, why choose JEVS Care at Home?

Posted on by Rossella Alla

By Thomas H.

Choosing a home care provider can be a difficult decision. According to one source there are over 1300 providers operating in Pennsylvania, with hundreds operating in Philadelphia alone. With numbers like that and advertisements for home care services everywhere you turn, how do you know which provider you can trust to offer the best care for you or your loved ones?  

In a crowded field of providers, JEVS Care at Home stands out. Here’s why: 

A Mission-Driven Nonprofit 

JEVS Care at Home is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are mission-driven to help seniors and adults with disabilities live fully and independently. This mission keeps our focus squarely on the needs of our clients. 

Experience and Expertise 

JCAH is a program of JEVS Human Services, which has been serving the SE Pennsylvania community for over 80 years. We’ve been providing home care services since 2012, and we are consistently recognized as an industry leader. Most recently, we earned the 2024 Provider of Choice, Leader in Experience, and Employer of Choice awards from Home Care Pulse, a consumer satisfaction research firm that specializes in home care. JCAH is also fully accredited by CARF, a non-profit accreditor of health and human services organizations.  

Medicaid Expertise and Family Caregiver Program 

We have long experience working with qualified Medicaid recipients. We are experts in navigating the application process for free services through the various Medicaid “waiver” programs. Also, our Family Caregiver Program allows Medicaid clients to choose a family member or friend as their caregiver. This option provides comfort and familiarity while ensuring professional-level care.  

Serving Our Veterans 

We proudly support Pennsylvania veterans who are eligible for free services through the VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program. Our team is highly experienced in coordinating care through the VA system. If you’re a veteran looking to switch from another agency, we’ll make the transition smooth and hassle-free. 

Our In-house Nursing Team: Personalized Care and Highly Trained Caregivers 

Not many home care agencies have staff nurses. Our in-house nursing team plays a critical role in making sure we deliver the best care possible. This begins with the personalized Plan of Care that our nurses create for each client. The Plan of Care ensures that our caregivers deliver consistent care that perfect matches the client’s unique situation and needs. Our nurses also train our caregivers, from basic skills to CPR to advanced training in Dementia Capable Care. These are just two of the ways that our in-house nursing team helps us deliver industry-leading care.  

Flexibility and Affordability 

For those who self-pay for home care services, we offer flexible scheduling options. We can provide support for as few as 4 hours per week, and we offer Respite Care for family members who serve as the primary caregiver for loved ones. We also pride ourselves on our affordable rates, making quality care accessible to more people in our community. 

Choose JEVS Care at Home 

Selecting a home care provider is a big decision, and we’re confident that we provide the highest-quality home care available. From our nonprofit status and decades of experience to our expertise with Medicaid and VA services, personalized care plans, trained caregivers, flexible options, and award-winning service – we’re a partner you can trust to help you or your loved ones live independently and comfortably at home. 

JCAH serves clients in Greater Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, the Lehigh Valley, and Gettysburg. For more information about our services for seniors and adults with disabilities, contact us today: https://www.jevshumanservices.org/jevs-care-at-home-form/

Orleans Technical College Commemorates 50th Anniversary with 1.3 Million Dollar Facelift

Posted on by Rossella Alla

The renovation project, funded in part by RACP, is currently underway and slated to be completed in the fall.

Philadelphia, PA (August 6, 2024) — Orleans Technical College, a program of JEVS Human Services (JEVS), is undergoing a 1.3-million-dollar improvement project at its Northeast Philadelphia location. The renovations which began this week, are funded through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) by the PA Office of the Budget.

Renderings of the million-dollar improvement project at Orleans Technical College which is underway. Credit: FIFTEEN Architecture + Design

Over the next few months, INTECH Construction LLC. will be upgrading the college’s atrium and student lounge to provide new security features, and a place for students, staff, community, and board members to convene.

These renovations come as Orleans Technical College celebrates its 50th anniversary. The institution has a rich 5-decade history of teaching in-demand skills and providing industry-

recognized credentials. Orleans Technical College provides a vital service to the Greater Philadelphia community through preparing and connecting students to well-paying, family sustaining wage jobs across the Delaware Valley.

“We are thrilled to begin this renovation project, which will greatly benefit our students, faculty, and surrounding communities,” said Cynthia F. Figueroa, JEVS President & CEO. “With the support of RACP, these upgrades will enhance the physical infrastructure of Orleans Technical College, which will in turn strengthen JEVS mission to deliver high-quality, in-demand education and training that helps individuals create sustainable paths to independence and economic security. We anticipate sharing our updated, modern, state of the art space with the community at large in the fall.”

JEVS was awarded a $500,000 RACP grant in 2023, with the support of Senator Jimmy Dillon and Representative Martina White. Funding is awarded to improvement projects with multijurisdictional impact, which will generate substantial increases in employment, tax revenues or other economic activity. The RACP funding, a critical component in making this project possible, underscores the importance of investing in educational institutions that provide essential skills and training. Renovations are expected to be completed by the fall. All classes and services provided at the Orleans Technical College campus will continue during the construction. Signage has been translated into Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Ukranian to help assist program participants in navigating around the construction. This initiative ensures that all members of the diverse community that Orleans Technical College serves can easily find their way around the building.

 

ABOUT JEVS

JEVS Human Services (JEVS) has an 80+ year history in working with individuals to create sustainable paths to independence and economic security. JEVS’ vision is to help every person achieve personal independence and fulfillment. Our mission and vision reflect JEVS’ long-standing history of helping people connect to opportunity and cultivate independence.

Orleans Technical College, operated by JEVS Human Services, is an accredited, non-profit career training school. It prepares adults for careers in building trades and healthcare. Since 1974, Orleans Technical College has helped students move toward one common goal: learning new skills to enhance their success in the workforce. Orleans Technical College offers job training programs in building trades and healthcare

From Haiti to Philadelphia: A JEVS Center for New Americans Story

Posted on by Rossella Alla

By Miguenson N. 

In Haiti, James M. worked as a police officer. This job involved many challenges and risks that put civilians and officers in dangerous situations.

In search of a stable and secure life, James M. and his wife left Haiti. They lived in Chile for a while, where their son was born. Then they traveled to Mexico and eventually arrived in the United States. James M. and his family faced daily challenges, including how to provide for his family’s basic needs.

The Philadelphia County Assistance Office referred James to JEVS Human Services in February 2024. He applied for training and employment services. I enrolled James M. in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and started looking for a job for him. He applied to Amazon where he completed the drug test and background check and was offered a job.

Today, James M. is happy and is grateful for the support and help from JEVS Center for New Americans (CNA).

The JCAH Difference: The Importance of the Plan of Care | JEVS Care at Home 

Posted on by Rossella Alla

By: Thomas H.

JCAH Plan of care

The JCAH Difference: The Importance of The Plan of Care

JEVS Care at Home (JCAH) differs from other home care providers in several important ways. For one, we have our own team of nurses who play an essential role in making sure our clients receive the best care possible.

One of their responsibilities is creating a Plan of Care (POC) for each client. You might think of the POC as the map that our caregivers follow every time they work with a client. The Plan of Care helps ensure that our caregivers consistently deliver care that meets each client’s unique needs.  Here is an overview of the POC and how it helps us deliver award-winning home care.

What is The Plan of Care?

The Plan of Care is a document that summarizes a client’s health conditions and outlines the services they will receive to help them live independently in their home. The Plan of Care is a living document. It can be updated as needed so that we continue to provide the care the client needs.

Creating the Plan of Care

The first step in creating the Plan of Care is a conversation between a new client and one of our Community Engagement Specialists (CES). The CES asks some general questions about the client’s health, their home, their need for home care services, and their support network of family and friends. The CES shares this information with our nursing team who provide the initial approval to move forward with our client intake process.

Next, the CES visits the client at home. The CES will confirm the accuracy of the information already collected and take a detailed health history. This history covers all aspects of the client’s health status, including past and current medical conditions and injuries, ongoing treatment, prescription medications, and more.

Our nursing team reviews this detailed information and uses it to draft a working Plan of Care. The Plan of Care is then finalized following a visit to the client. The Plan of Care becomes part of the client’s record, which is stored in the system we use to coordinate care with other professionals who play a role in the client’s healthcare, for example, insurance providers.  

A Living Document

JCAH caregivers follow the client’s Plan of Care closely. Our Client Care Managers check in with caregivers regularly to review the Plan of Care and make sure it still meets the client’s needs. Sometimes, a caregiver will report a change in the client’s health status. This change could be due to a new diagnosis or a medical emergency like a fall. Changes in the client’s health status may require us to adjust the Plan of Care or create a new one.  Our nursing team will get in touch with the client to discuss any change in health status and review the client’s needs. If the client’s needs have changed, we will update the Plan of Care accordingly. If the client’s needs have changed so much that they require care beyond what we can provide, our nursing team will make an appropriate recommendation or referral.

Creating a unique Plan of Care for every client is just one of the steps we take to deliver industry-leading care. For more information about our services for seniors and adults with disabilities, contact us today at https://www.jevshumanservices.org/jevs-care-at-home-form/

For 25 years, the Franklin C. Ash Internship Program has connected college students to nonprofit work

Posted on by Rossella Alla

The Franklin C. Ash Internship program began in 1999 to help connect college students to nonprofit organizations through a paid internship operated by JEVS Humans Services (JEVS). During that time, 332 interns from 107 different colleges and universities have had real life work experiences at Philadelphia area nonprofits.

Alan Raisman, a 2008 intern, says “The Ash internship was an incredible opportunity to get involved in the nonprofit sector, build incredible connections, and keep lifelong friends. I’m now celebrating 13 years in the nonprofit sector.”

The program was championed by Frank Ash, who, for 25 years, has funded the program. On July 30, 2024, alumni and current interns gathered for a celebratory luncheon with Mr. Ash, who says, “Firsthand exposure to the programs can be a real inflection point for young adults who may not have awareness of people and places and social issues outside of their known circle of friends and family.”

The Franklin C. Ash Internship Program builds awareness about needs in the community where they could contribute and find career paths, often impacting career choices. Noa Seligsohn, a 2017 intern says, “Since completing the internship, I have been pursuing a Master of Science degree at Columbia School of Social Work in New York City. The Ash internship program served as my first introduction to the social work profession and non-profit world. The experience and professional skills I gained during my internship at the Mitzvah Food Program have been instrumental in my development as a future social worker.”

The program runs for seven weeks each summer and gives college students a chance to learn about jobs in non-profit organizations and gain real world experience. This year, 20 students are in the program. It is the largest cohort to date.

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