IAJVS Meetings and Conferences:

2009 Board of Directors Meeting and Executive Leadership Forum

October 31 - November 2, 2009

Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa

Phoenix, Arizon

2010 Annual Conference

April 25 - 27, 2010

The Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis

St. Louis, MO

Contact Karen Rosen with any questions.

NEWS FROM IAJVS MEMBER IDEL IN ARGENTINA!

AMBASSADOR WAYNE AT FUNDACION JUDAICA
April 24, 2009

Ambassador Wayne met on April 24 with the President of Fundacion Judaica Rabi Sergio Bergman and IDEL´s Directors Alejandra Goldschmidt and Adriana Oybin. Ambassador Wayne presented a donation of a copier, a printer, 3 PCs and a fax, and talked with Rabi Alejandro Avruj and representatives of 12 of the companies participanting in the project. Also present at the event were 15 employees who work both at IDEL and the companies.

IDEL (Labor Integration and Development)

IDEL is a non-profit organization which forms part of Fundacion Judaica´s network that enables disabled people to work both at their facilities and in companies. IDEL focuses on disabled adults, cabable of working and assuming responsibilities, offering a place for them to grow and develop themselves through insertion into the workforce. Beneficiaries at IDEL comply with working rules and hours to produce goods and services required by the hiring companies.

At present, approximately 10 people ranging in age between 25 and 50 years work at IDEL´s offices making design and decoration items that are marketed locally and abroad.

"An active society is key to any democracy. I applaud IDEL's efforts to strengthen participation in civil society activities with this project aimed at integrating disabled people into the labor market," said Ambassador Wayne.

Awards Updates:

IAJVS Awarded $1 million Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor

IAJVS is pleased to announce the receipt of a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. The grant is for the training and employment of individuals with disabilities within the financial services sector.  The goal of the IAJVS program is to engage the financial services sector and build its capacity to attract, employ, and retain workers with disabilities to meet their growing demand. Services will be provided by JVS Los Angeles, JVS San Francisco, and JVS MetroWest in East Orange, NJ.

For more information please view the press release.

To visit the DOL-ETA website please click here.

IAJVS and Member Agencies Awarded an Earmark from the U.S. Department of Labor

The International Association of Jewish Vocational Services was awarded a $150,000 earmark from the U.S. Department of Labor for a career-training program to be offered to displaced workers in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In addition, three member agencies were granted an earmark as well. Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Pittsburgh received a $100,000 earmark for a program, which will provide intensive and individualized employment assistance to immigrants that will address the unique barriers that group faces. Jewish Vocational Service of Los Angeles was granted a $200,000 earmark for a certified nursing assistant training and job placement initiative. Finally, Jewish Vocational Service of Boston received a $400,000 earmark for job training and workforce development.

IAJVS is the Recipient of a $75,000 Grant From Bank of America

This is the 4th year Bank of America has supported the important work IAJVS does in helping our member agencies to bring the dignity and financial security of daily work to diverse populations. The generous grant supported the 4th IAJVS Train-the-Trainer Initiative which was held at the IAJVS Annual Conference 2006 at the Hilton Minneapolis on Tuesday May 23.  The "Enhancing Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities: An Employer Directed Approach" workshop was designed to build capacity among the network's career counselors and job developers to serve persons with disabilities who are seeking employment. This initiative was modeled after the highly successful Bank of America funded programs executed during the past three years to deliver financial education for low-income seniors, build micro-enterprise and entrepreneurial skills of workers, and enhance youth development leadership training. Building capacity among the network's staff is a key activity in ensuring that our clients receive quality services on a continuing, long-term basis.  

To visit the Bank of America web site click here.

Upcoming Professional Development Conference Calls:

IAJVS Professional Development Calls

Check back soon for updated call announcements!

IAJVS Response to Helping Victims of Hurricane Katrina

The International Association of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS), a network of twenty nine health and human services organizations across North America, Israel and Argentina, joins the national and international community in mourning the tragic deaths and devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Our Jewish tradition of tikun olam (repair the world) guides us in helping people during tragic times. The member agencies of IAJVS, through their many years of experience in assisting refugees, immigrants, and displaced persons, will continue in this tradition as we come together to assist our fellow Americans in rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of this tragedy. Our extensive social services system stands ready to provide employment assistance including job development, job referral and placement services, counseling services, and referral services, to families and individuals seeking relocation to communities in which we serve.

To insure that critical services are delivered in the most effective and efficient way possible, the IAJVS network will coordinate its efforts in collaboration with the United Jewish Communities, HIAS, and other Jewish and non-sectarian national organizations, as well as appropriate governmental agencies.

To access our national job database, please click here.

For more information on services available through the IAJVS network of organizations and how to access them, please contact Genie Cohen, Executive Director, at coheng@iajvs.org or call 215-854-0235.