Jewish Board of Family and Child Services History
Two organizations were formed in the year 1893, namely Jewish Prisoner's Aid Society and United Hebrew Charities. These two organizations which made a humble beginning emerged as one of the largest mental health and social service organization known as Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services (JBFCS). The Jewish Prisoner's Aid Society caters to the needs of Jewish prisoners and their families.
United Hebrew Charities helped the poor by providing assistance to improve their condition. In 1920, these two organizations changed their name to Jewish Board of Guardians and the Jewish Social Services Association. These organizations also created programs to address homelessness, apart from the social service programs provided by them.
The Jewish Board of Guardians and the Jewish Social Services Association served numerous children and families between 1940s and 1950s. They provided these thorough counseling and number of mental health care programs. They also provided training to social workers dealing with mental illness patients.
Throughout 1960s and 1970s both the organizations catered to the needs of both Jewish people and those from other backgrounds in New York. This was a period of social turbulence when the society witnessed a high rate of crime, poverty, drug abuse, generational gap conflicts in families and juvenile delinquency.
In 1978, The Jewish Board of Guardians and the Jewish Social Services Association emerged to form The Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services. In the 1980's and 1990's, when JBFCS faced funding problems, UJA-Federation of New York stepped in and provided the much needed funds.
With the help of these funds, JBFCS was able to take number of initiatives to improve lives of thousands of people. Some of the programs undertaken by JBFCS include Day Camp Scholarships for Needy Children, Mental Health GPS, subsidy for treatment of depression in their counseling centers and many others.
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