JFCS studies direction

By Deborah Moon

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Under the leadership of Interim Executive Director Marian Fenimore, Jewish Family and Child Service has embarked on a strategic planning process “to determine where we are and where we want to be going to determine what we want to seek in a director.”

Feminore, who joined JFCS in 1997 as the home care coordinator for the agency’s Lifeline program, began the interim post Oct. 15 after the retirement of executive director Marvin Kuperstein.

Times of transition are good times for examining and planning, said Fenimore, noting JFCS followed the same procedure when Rena Waxman released the reins of the agency in 2002.

The JFCS board launched the process at a special board meeting Jan. 8. Surveys of staff, current and past clients, and community members will augment input from a focus group convened by the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. Annual client satisfaction surveys (conducted each spring) also will be reviewed.

“We are going to look at what services we are providing, what services people are familiar with and which they would like to see expanded, and if we were to eliminate services, what would they be?” said Fenimore. “The client survey would ask if services were eliminated, what would they (clients) do?”

Fenimore said that many JFCS clients are those who would fall through the cracks. Most do not qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or Oregon Project Independence (a state-run home health program for the frail elderly), yet they cannot afford to access services in the private sector, she said.

Many JFCS clients are on Medicare, but many private providers and mental health agencies do not take Medicare patients due to requirements for providers, she said.

“JFCS does accept Medicare,” she said. “Many people we see would not be able to access those mental health services elsewhere.”

In addition to mental health services and assistance to help elderly clients remain in their home, Fenimore said JFCS also provides a financial aid program and myriad services to Holocaust survivors and immigrants from the former Soviet Union. The agency’s TASK (Treasuring, Accepting, Supporting Kehilla) program provides disability awareness and support for individuals and families dealing with any form of disability.

“When you look at all the programs and services we offer, we do a heck of a lot with few people,” said Fenimore.

JFCS has 20 employees, including home care staff. More than half of the employees work part-time, she added.

Despite all the agency does, Fenimore said the board and staff are looking at ways JFCS might provide more safety net types of services. She said the challenge is that JFCS does not receive the government funding that many traditional providers do.

“We don’t have the funding to meet the level of need that is out there,” she said. “Part of what we want to do in strategic planning is look at the need and how we can meet it. The challenge for the community is supporting that need.”

Fenimore has a master’s degree in social work and is a licensed clinical social worker. She has a background in program management, community mental health, services to people with disabilities, worker’s compensation and private practice. She served as interim director between Waxman and Kuperstein. Before accepting the current interim post, Fenimore was program services director.

Community members and clients interested in participating in the agency surveys can log on to www.jfcs-portland.org. From Jan. 15 to March 15, the Web site will include links to the community and client surveys.